EP0409016A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for locating labelled objects
Assignee: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
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Filing: 1990-07-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A locating system 10 for locating predetermined labelled objects 20 includes a transceiver unit 12 which comprises a narrow beamwidth antenna means 14 for transmitting an energising signal 16 at a predetermined first frequency and for receiving a returned signal 22 at a predetermined second frequency from an object 20 to be located, the energising signal 16 incorporating a predetermined transponder identification code. A plurality of label-like transponders 18 is provided, each of which is affixable to an object 20 to be located, each transponder 18 including logic circuitry in order that only that transponder 18 to which the said identification code relates is energised by the energising signal 16 to radiate the returned signal 22.
Inventors
- 👤 Theunis Christiaan Verster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/077; G06K19/07749; G06K19/07773; G06K19/07786; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/74; G01S13/75; G01S13/751; G01S13/758; G06K7/00; G06K7/0008; G06K7/10; G06K7/10009; G06K7/10019; G06K7/10069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A locating system for locating predetermined labelled objects which includes a transceiver unit which comprises a narrow beamwidth antenna means for transmitting an energising signal at a predetermined first frequency and for receiving a returned signal at a predetermined second frequency from an object to be located, the energising signal incorporating a predetermined transponder identification code; and a plurality of label-like transponders each of which is affixable to an object to be located, each transponder including logic circuitry in order that only that transponder to which the said identification code relates is energised by the energising signal to radiate the returned signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A locating system for locating predetermined labelled objects which includes a transceiver unit which comprises a narrow beamwidth antenna means for transmitting an energising signal at a predetermined first frequency and for receiving a returned signal at a predetermined second frequency from an object to be located, the energising signal incorporating a predetermined transponder identification code; and a plurality of label-like transponders each of which is affixable to an object to be located, each transponder including logic circuitry in order that only that transponder to which the said identification code relates is energised by the energising signal to radiate the returned signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system as claimed in Claim 1 in which each transponder is substantially omni-directional in order to operate effectively irrespective of the orientation of the object to which it is affixed relative to the transceiver unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as claimed in Claim 2 in which each transponder includes a patch antenna.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
35 words
The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the logic circuitry comprises a register means for receiving a predetermined transponder identification code from the transceiver unit via the energising signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as claimed in Claim 4 in which the logic circuitry includes a comparator for comparing the received transponder identification code with a code stored in a memory means of the logic circuitry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system as claimed in Claim 5 in which a category code is stored in the memory means of the logic circuitry, the category code being comparable by the comparator with a predetermining encoded energising signal rransmitted by the transceiver unit for facilitating location of predetermined objects within a predetermined category of objects.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system as claimed in Claim 6 in which the logic circuitry includes a time delay means, a different time delay being allocated to each transponder to delay the transmission of individual identification codes by the transponders by varying amounts of time such that the codes are received serially by the transceiver unit.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
45 words
The system as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 7 inclusive in which each transponder includes a switching means which is controlled by the logic circuitry, the switching means being activated by the logic circuitry to cause the returned signal to be transmitted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as claimed in Claim 8 in which the switching means is an RF switch.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
20 words
The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the transceiver unit is a portable unit.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
37 words
The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the said predetermined first frequency of the energising signal falls within the UHF range for indicating the direction of a response from the transponder.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
32 words
The system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the said predetermined second frequency of the returned signal is an harmonic of the frequency of the energising signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as claimed in Claim 12 in which the frequency of the returned signal is the third harmonic frequency of the energising signal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of locating predetermined labelled objects which includes modifying an energising signal to incorporate a predetermined transponder identification code; transmitting the energising signal via a narrow beamwidth antenna means at a predetermined first frequency; and receiving a returned signal at a predetermined second frequency radiated by a label-like transponder which is energised by the energising signal and to which the predetermined identification code relates, the said transponder being one of a plurality of such transponders, each of which is affixed to an object to be located.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of locating predetermined labelled objects which includes modifying an energising signal to incorporate a predetermined transponder identification code; transmitting the energising signal via a narrow beamwidth antenna means at a predetermined first frequency; and receiving a returned signal at a predetermined second frequency radiated by a label-like transponder which is energised by the energising signal and to which the predetermined identification code relates, the said transponder being one of a plurality of such transponders, each of which is affixed to an object to be located.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as claimed in Claim 14 which includes transmitting the signal at a frequency in the UHF range and causing the returned signal to be radiated at a frequency which is an harmonic of the energising signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as claimed in Claim 15 which includes causing the returned signal to be radiated at a frequency which is the third harmonic frequency of the energising signal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
30 words
The method as claimed in any one of Claims 14 to 16 inclusive, which includes modifying the energising signal by modulating the predetermined transponder identification code onto the energising signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in any one of Claims 14 to Claim 17 inclusive, which includes further modifying the energising signal in order to enable a range determination to be made.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in Claim 18 which includes further modifying the energising signal by modulating a predetermined waveform onto the energising signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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