TRANSPONDER APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

• US 3,713,148 A
• Filed: 05/21/1970
• Issued: 01/23/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mario W. Cardullo, William L. Parks III
• Original Assignee: Mario W. Cardullo, William L. Parks III
• Inventors: Cardullo, Mario W., Parks, William L. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Tubbesing, T. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/039,309
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 343/6.5R,6.5LC,6.5SS,6.8R,6.8LC
• US Class Current: 342/42
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/765 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

A novel transponder apparatus and system is disclosed, the system being of the general type wherein a base station transmits an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'interrogation'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal to a remote transponder, the transponder responding with an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'answerback'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' transmission. The transponder includes a changeable or writable memory, and means responsive to the transmitted interrogation signal for processing the signal and for selectively writing data into or reading data out from the memory. The transponder then transmits an answerback signal from the data read-out from its internal memory, which signal may be interpreted at the base station. In the preferred inventive embodiment, the transponder generates its own operating power from the transmitted interrogation signal, such that the transponder apparatus is self-contained.

Claims

1. A transponder comprising:

memory means for storing date;

means responsive to a transmitted code signal for selectively writing data into or reading data out from said memory means, and for transmitting as an answerback signal data read-out from said memory means; and

means for internally generating operating power for said transponder from said transmitted code signal, whereby said transponder is self-contained.

2. A transponder as defined in claim 1, wherein the transmitted code signal comprises a modulated carrier wave, said means for generating operating power comprising detecting means for detecting said carrier wave and producing an operating power output signal therefrom, and means responsive to said operating power output signal for powering said transponder, and wherein said modulations of said carrier wave contain data and command information.

3. A transponder as defined in claim 2, wherein said carrier wave is of radio frequency.

4. A transponder as defined in claim 2, wherein said carrier wave is of light frequency.

5. A transponder as defined in claim 2, wherein said carrier wave is of acoustic frequency.

6. A transponder as defined in claim 2, wherein said means responsive to the transmitted code signal detects the modulations thereof and operates to transmit said answerback signal in accordance with pre-selected logic data stored in said memory means.

7. An interrogation system comprising:

base station means for transmitting an interrogation signal; and

remote station means, said remote station means including a receiver means for receiving said interrogation signal, a memory means, means for processing said signal in accordance with predetermined logic to selectively write data into and read data out from said memory means, and transmitter means for transmitting an answerback signal to said base station means; and

said remote station means further includes means for generating operating power from said received interrogation signal, whereby said remote station means is self-contained.