Article management system

• US 8,427,306 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2007
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Mizoguchi, Takafumi, Kobayashi, Hidetomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US11/979,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20080111678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,988 Days
• Field of Search: 3405733-5734, 34053911-53923, 3405681-5727, 340/457
• US Class Current: 340/539.15
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0266 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact distance between parent and child or surveyor and item
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

The present invention is an article management system using a central management device with an interrogator and an alarm portion. Because the central management device and a central response device worn by a user of the system are provided separately, loss of the central management device can be prevented. The central response device is worn by a user. The central response device communicates with the central management device wirelessly and includes a detector that detects when the communication distance reaches or exceeds a given value and an alarm portion that notifies the user of this. The central management device communicates wirelessly with one or more articles in which a response device is installed.

Claims

1. An article management system, comprising:

a central response device incorporated into a first article, wherein the first article is configured to be worn by a user;

a response device incorporated into a second article;

a central management device incorporated into a third article, wherein the central management device can communicate with the central response device wirelessly,

wherein the first article is less frequently removed from the user than the second article and the third article, and

wherein the central management device comprises;

an interrogator that communicates wirelessly with the central response device and with the response device,

wherein the central response device comprises;

a detector that detects a communication distance between the interrogator and the central response device; and

an alarm portion that notifies the user when the communication distance detected by the detector reaches or exceeds a standard value,

wherein the central response device is installed in a metal accessory, and

wherein the metal accessory is electrically connected to the central response device, and is used as an antenna.

2. The article management system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller that controls the central management device.

3. The article management system according to claim 1, further comprising a second response device incorporated into a fourth article,

wherein the interrogator communicates wirelessly with the second response device incorporated into the fourth article.

4. The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the response device incorporated into the second article is a semiconductor device.

5. The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the central response device is a semiconductor device.

6. The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the central response device comprises a battery that can be charged up wirelessly.

7. The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the first article implanted into the user comprises a conductive material, and the conductive material functions as an antenna for the central response device.

15. The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the second article is a bag, an umbrella or a jacket.

16. The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the third article is a cellular telephone.

19. The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the first article worn by the user is a ring, a buckle of a belt or an earring.

21. The article management system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm portion notifies the user by applying an electric current to the user, and wherein the electric current applied to the user is set to be greater than or equal to 1 mA and less than 20 mA.

8. An article management system, comprising:

a central response device incorporated into a first article, wherein the first article is configured to be worn by a user;

a response device incorporated into a second article, wherein the response device includes an antenna circuit;

a central management device incorporated into a third article, wherein the central management device can communicate with the central response device wirelessly,

wherein the first article is less frequently removed from the user than the second article and the third article, and

wherein the central management device comprises;

an interrogator that communicates wirelessly with the central response device and with the response device,

wherein the central response device comprises;

a detector that detects a communication distance between the interrogator and the central response device; and

an alarm portion that notifies the user when the communication distance detected by the detector reaches or exceeds a standard value,

wherein the central response device is installed in a metal accessory, and

wherein the metal accessory is electrically connected to the central response device, and is used as an antenna.

9. The article management system according to claim 8, further comprising a controller that controls the central management device.

10. The article management system according to claim 8, further comprising a second response device incorporated into a fourth article,

wherein the interrogator communicates wirelessly with the second response device incorporated into the fourth article.

11. The article management system according to claim 8, wherein the response device incorporated into the second article is a semiconductor device.

12. The article management system according to claim 8, wherein the central response device is a semiconductor device.

13. The article management system according to claim 8, wherein the central response device comprises a battery that can be charged up wirelessly.

14. The article management system according to claim 8, wherein the first article implanted into the user comprises a conductive material, and the conductive material functions as an antenna for the central response device.

17. The article management system according to claim 8, wherein the second article is a bag, an umbrella or a jacket.

18. The article management system according to claim 8, wherein the third article is a cellular telephone.

20. The article management system according to claim 8, wherein the first article worn by the user is a ring, a buckle of a belt or an earring.

22. The article management system according to claim 8, wherein the alarm portion notifies the user by applying an electric current to the user, and wherein the electric current applied to the user is set to be greater than or equal to 1 mA and less than 20 mA.