System for supervision and control of objects or persons

• US 6,433,689 B1
• Filed: 01/12/2001
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonitor Technologies AS
• Original Assignee: Filetrac As
• Inventors: Sandmol, Eric, Hovind, Ole B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/673,345
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/573.3, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/539, 340/531, 340/825, 340/825.01, 340/3.1, 340/3.21, 340/2.1, 340/2.71, 340/2.7, 340/5.21, 340/5.22, 340/5.27, 340/5.32, 340/5.33, 340/5.5, 340/5.3, 340/825.4, 340/7.27, 340/7.29, 340/825.49, 340/10.2, 340/10.31, 340/10.32, 340/457, 340/457.4, 340/309.15, 340/572.1, 340/540, 367/197, 367/199, 367/117, 367/93, 342/44, 455/422, 455/462, 455/464, 705/32
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A system for supervision and control of objects or persons within a limited area, such as a building, comprising a plurality of electronic identification chips for placing on respective objects/persons to be supervised/controlled, each chip having stored therein a special ID code and being provided with respective transmitters and receivers for communication via ultrasound as well as audible sound, a plurality of stationary detectors which are interconnected in a network and arranged for both-way communication with the chips, and a central control unit in communication with the chips via the detectors. Each chip is continuously active in operation and is arranged to transmit its ID code at predetermined time intervals. At least one of the detectors or the control unit are being arranged to trigger an alarm unit if an incorrect code is received or an approved code is not received continuously at predetermined time intervals.

Claims

1. A system for supervision and control of objects or persons within a limited area, comprising a plurality of electronic identification chips for placing on respective objects/persons to be supervised/controlled, each chip having stored a special ID code and being provided with a transmitter and a receiver for communication via ultrasound, a plurality of stationary detectors interconnected in a network and arranged for both-way communication with the chips, and a central control unit communicating with the chips via the detectors, wherein each chip and each detector also is provided with a transmitter and a receiver for communication via audible sound (audio), a means being provided for switching between ultrasonic and audio communication, and that each chip in operation is continuously active and is arranged to transmit its ID code at predetermined time intervals, at least one of the detectors or the control unit being arranged to trigger an alarm unit if an incorrect code is received or an approved code is not received continuously at chosen time intervals.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein selected, special chips, are provided with a signal transmitter, which is arranged to deliver a signal in case of an alarm triggered by a neighboring detector.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the chips are each programmed with a different gradation, the gradation specifying a larger or smaller part of said limited area to which the chip has access.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of the chips and the detectors contains a switching means in the form of a selector which is arranged to be controlled by a control circuit in the chip or detector in question, so that the selector provides for said switching at chosen time intervals.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitters and receivers in the chips comprise electroacoustic transducers in the form of a piezoelectric film of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), wherein the film is mounted in a curved shape with a suitable angle of curvature which is optimized in dependence on the thickness and area of the film and the relevant operating frequency range.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the PVDF film has a thickness of about 10 μ

m and is supported in a circular-cylindrically curved shape by a flexible supporting material which is supported by a rigid support plate.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein the PVDF film is formed as a self-supporting diaphragm.

8. A system for supervision and control of objects or persons within a limited area, comprising a plurality of electronic identification chips for placing on respective objects/persons to be supervised/controlled, each chip having stored a special ID code and being provided with a transmitter and a receiver for communication via ultrasound, a plurality of stationary detectors interconnected in a network and arranged for both-way communication with the chips, and a central control unit communicating with the chips via the detectors, wherein each chip and each detector also is provided with a transmitter and a receiver for communication via audible sound (audio), a means being provided for switching between ultrasonic and audio communication, and that the central control unit is arranged to selectively call a selected chip via the detectors, and that the chips are arranged to give an answer as a reaction to the call, the closest situated detector then identifying the site/locality of the chip.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the chips are arranged to activate themselves after a preprogrammed time interval, and then to transmit a message to the central control unit.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the chips is provided with at least one input and at least one output for receiving and delivering information concerning service life or active operating time of respective objects on which the chips are mounted.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein each of the chips and the detectors contains a switching means in the form of a selector which is arranged to be controlled by a control circuit in the chip or detector in question, so that the selector provides for said switching at chosen time intervals.

12. A system according to claim 8, wherein the transmitters and receivers in the chips comprise electroacoustic transducers in the form of a piezoelectric film of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), wherein the film is mounted in a curved shape with a suitable angle of curvature which is optimized in dependence on the thickness and area of the film and the relevant operating frequency range.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the PVDF film has a thickness of about 10 μ

m and is supported in a circular-cylindrically curved shape by a flexible supporting material which is supported by a rigid support plate.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the PVDF film is formed as a self-supporting diaphragm.