Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of communicating between an identification reader and a transponder unit, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting a first interrogation signal from said reader, said first interrogation signal having a first read range; receiving a first response signal at said reader; transmitting a second interrogation signal from said reader, said second interrogation signal having a second read range which is different than said first read range; receiving a second response signal at said reader; and comparing said first response signal to said second response signal to determine a correct response signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of varying the distance between the reader and the transponder unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising the step of displaying an output based upon said correct response if said first and second response signals match.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
50 words
The method of any preceding claim, further comprising repeating said steps of transmitting a first interrogation signal, receiving a first response signal, transmitting a second interrogation signal, receiving a second response signal, and comparing said first and second response signals if said first and second response signals do not match.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
55 words
The method of any preceding claim, further comprising the steps of: transmitting a third interrogation signal from said reader, said third interrogation signal having a third read range; receiving a third response signal at said reader; and comparing said third response signal to said first and second response signals to determine a correct response signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 5, wherein: said step of transmitting a first interrogation signal comprises transmitting said first interrogation signal two to three times; said step of transmitting a second interrogation signal comprises transmitting said second interrogation signal one to four times; and said step of transmitting a first interrogation signal comprises transmitting said first interrogation signal one to six times.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
29 words
The method of any preceding claims, wherein said first interrogation signal has a first duration and said second interrogation signal has a second duration different than said first duration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising producing said first duration to be longer than said second duration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 or claim 8, further comprising providing said first interrogation signal having a duration of about 50 msec.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 or 8, further comprising providing said first interrogation signal having a duration of about 20 msec.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 or claim 8, further comprising providing said first interrogation signal having a duration of about 10 msec.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
31 words
The method of any preceding claims, wherein said first interrogation signal has a first power level and said second interrogation signal has a second power level different than said first duration.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
30 words
The method of any preceding claims, further comprising providing said first read range higher than said second read range and transmitting said first interrogation signal before the second interrogation signal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
22 words
The method of any preceding claim, wherein said step of transmitting a first interrogation signal comprises transmitting more than one interrogation signal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
17 words
The method of any preceding claim, further comprising providing said reader as a hand held interrogation unit.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
18 words
The method of any preceding claim, further comprising providing said first and second interrogation signals as FSK signals.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
180 words
A method for identifying each object within a plurality of objects, said method comprising: providing a plurality of transponders associating one of said transponders with each object such that each of said transponders is disposed near one of said objects; directing a first interrogation signal toward at least two of said plurality of objects, said first interrogation signal having a first read range; transmitting a first response signal from at least one of said transponders in response to said first interrogation signal; receiving said first response signal at a reader; transmitting a second interrogation signal from said reader, said second interrogation signal having a second read range which is different than said first read range; directing a second interrogation signal toward at least two of said plurality of objects, said second interrogation signal having a second read range; transmitting a second response signal from at least one transponders in response to said second interrogation signal; receiving said second response signal at said reader; and comparing said first response signal to said second response signal to determine a correct response signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
86 words
An interogation unit comprising a transponder unit and an identification reader wherein a first interrogation signal is transmitted from said reader, the first interrogation signal having a first read range; a second interrogation signal is transmitted from said reader, said second interrogation signal having a second read range which is different than said first read range; the first and seond response signal are received at said reader; and wherein said first response signal is compared to said second response signal to determne a correct response signal.