Method and device for the detection and identification of objects, secure containers and systems which are provided with said device, and objects adapted for same

• US 7,701,340 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcea Co.
• Original Assignee: Alcea Co.
• Inventors: Poasevara, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, JACK K
• Application Number:
  US10/553,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,196 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/10.52
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10019 resolving collision on the communication channels between simultaneously or concurrently interrogated record carriers. collision between the communication channels used by wireless communication devices, where the solution is not particularly adapted for RFIDs or the like, H04W74/08
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment

Abstract

A method of detecting and identifying an object (O) which is provided with identification elements (Io) and wireless transmission elements (Ao), the object being disposed close to one receiver module (Mi) from among a plurality of receiver modules (M1, . . . , Mi, . . . , Mn). The inventive method includes: (i) an electromagnetic coupling between the object'"'"'s wireless transmission elements (Ao) and a fixed antenna (Ai) which is associated with the aforementioned receiver module (Mi); and (ii) an electrical coupling between the fixed antenna (Ai) of the receiver module (Mi) and a secondary fixed antenna (3) which is common to all of the fixed antennas (A1, Ai, . . . , An) of the receiver module. Moreover, the common secondary fixed antenna (3) is electromagnetically coupled to a primary fixed antenna (2) which is connected to a read module (4) that is designed to read the identification data originating from the identification elements (Io).

Claims

1. A method for the detection and identification of an object provided with identification means and wireless transmission means, the object being located close to one receiver module among a plurality of receiver modules, the method comprising the steps of:

electromagnetically coupling the wireless transmission means of the object with a first of a plurality of fixed antennae each associated with a receiver module among said plurality of receiver modules; and

switching, in an analogue manner, between each of the fixed antennae and a secondary fixed antenna common to all of the fixed antennae such that the common secondary fixed antenna is electrically connected to each of the fixed antennae of each receiver module in succession,

wherein the common secondary fixed antenna is electromagnetically coupled to a primary fixed antenna connected to a reader module configured to read identification data originating from the identification means.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting information from the reader module to the identification means of a previously detected and identified object.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein each electromagnetic coupling induces a supply of electrical energy to the identification means of the object by inductive coupling, the electrical energy originating from a power supply module connected to the primary fixed antenna.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein each electromagnetic coupling induces a transmission of identification data transmitted by the identification means of the object towards the reader module.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

processing the identification data originating from the identification means of an object; and

selectively controlling a blocking/locking means associated with the receiver module when the antenna of the receiver module is electromagnetically coupled to the wireless transmission means of the object.

6. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the electromagnetic coupling between the secondary fixed antenna and the primary fixed antenna of the reader module is permanent, and

wherein the secondary fixed antenna is connected to the primary fixed antenna via a plurality of link sections in cascade, each link section comprising an electrical link between a secondary intermediate antenna of the link section and a primary intermediate antenna of the link section and an electromagnetic coupling between the primary intermediate antenna and a secondary intermediate antenna of a following link section.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object is comprised of an identification means and wireless transmission means configured to exchange information by proximity radiofrequency with the receiver module.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein a means for mechanical coupling with selective blocking/locking means is arranged in the receiver module.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission means is configured for the management of keys or bunches of keys in a lockable cabinet.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission means is configured for the management of documents in a filing cabinet.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission means is configured for the management of weapons in a weapons locker.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless transmission means is configured for the identification of a vehicle in a parking space.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fixed reception antenna is associated with a parking space, and is electrically connected to the primary antenna configured to be common to all of parking spaces of a parking area and electromagnetically coupled to an antenna of a common reader module, and the identification means and the wireless transmission means are arranged as an identifier module in a vehicle in order to be electromagnetically coupled to the fixed reception antenna of the parking space when the vehicle is parked in the parking space.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the identifier module of the vehicle is included in one and/or more of the number plates of the vehicle.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the identifier module of the vehicle is provided in the form of a radiofrequency tag (RF tag).

7. A device for the detection and identification of an object provided with identification means and wireless transmission means, the object being present close to one receiver module among a plurality of receiver modules, the device comprising:

a plurality of fixed antennae each associated with one receiver module among the plurality of receiver modules;

analogue switching means for selectively electrically connecting one antenna among the plurality of fixed antennae to a common secondary fixed antenna;

a primary fixed antenna electromagnetically coupled to a secondary fixed antenna; and

a common reader module configured to read identification data originating from the identification means, the reader module being connected to the primary fixed antenna.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the common reader module is further configured to transmit information to an object close to a receiver module.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the selective connection means is configured to connect each fixed antenna of the module to the secondary fixed antenna in a sequence.

10. The device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a power supply module connected to the primary fixed antenna, the power supply module configured to transmit electrical energy to the identification means of the object, the wireless transmission means the object being inductively coupled to a fixed antenna of a receiver module via the electromagnetic coupling between the primary fixed antenna and the secondary antenna and the electromagnetic coupling between the fixed antenna of the receiver module and the wireless transmission means.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the common secondary antenna is electromagnetically coupled to a primary intermediate antenna, the primary intermediate antenna being electrically connected to a secondary intermediate antenna electromagnetically coupled to the primary fixed antenna of the reader module.

12. The device according to claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of pairs of intermediate antennae each constituted by a primary intermediate antenna and a secondary intermediate antenna which are electrically connected.

13. Equipment for securely storing a plurality of objects each provided with identification means and wireless transmission means, comprising:

a group of modules each configured to receive one object among the plurality of objects, each receiver module comprising means for selectively blocking/locking an object;

means for controlling the selective blocking/locking means;

a plurality of fixed antennae each associated with one receiver module among the plurality of receiver modules;

means for selectively electrically connecting one antenna among the plurality of fixed antennae to a common secondary fixed antenna;

a primary fixed antenna electromagnetically coupled to the secondary fixed antenna; and

a common reader module configured to read identification data originating from the identification means, the reader module being connected to the primary fixed antenna and cooperating with the control means.

14. The equipment according to claim 13, further comprising:

electrical supplying means connected to the primary fixed antenna configured to supply power to the identification means of the object, the wireless transmission means the object being inductively coupled to one antenna of one of the receiver modules of the equipment.

15. The equipment according to claim 13, wherein each receiver module comprises:

a housing arranged to receive a mechanical coupling part of a key or a key ring, the coupling part including the wireless transmission means,

a fixed antenna of the module arranged close to the housing to produce an electromagnetic coupling between the fixed antenna and the wireless transmission means of the object, the mechanical coupling part of the object being engaged in the receiver housing, and

an electromagnet comprising a mobile part configured to engage in the mechanical coupling part.

16. The equipment according to claim 15, wherein the mechanical coupling part has one end comprised of a substantially cylindrical cavity, the wireless transmission means of the object, and the identification means of the object.

17. The equipment according to claim 15, wherein the mechanical coupling part is comprised of a first part with a head including the wireless transmission means and the identification means, an indented part for receiving the mobile part of a blocking/locking electromagnet, a nonreversible mechanical coupling part, and a second part with at least one housing for receiving the non-reversible mechanical coupling part of the first part.

18. The equipment according to claim 13, wherein the group of modules is configured to store in a secure manner weapons provided with identification means and wireless transmission means.