US4399441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for remote temperature reading
Assignee: Unisearch Ltd
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Filing: 1981-01-19
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Granted: 1983-08-16
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Expires: 2001-01-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for remote temperature reading particularly for the reading of the temperature of an article or animal at a distance by means of an electromagnetically interrogatable label attached to or implanted in the article or animal the label being constructed to be capable of receiving an electromagnetic signal from a transmitter, converting the signal to a surface acoustic wave, passing the wave over a path on the label, reconverting the surface acoustic wave to an electromagnetic signal and retransmitting it to a receiver. The path of the surface acoustic wave is of a material such that the time of travel of the surface acoustic wave over the path is a function of the temperature of the path and thus of the label. The receiver is constructed to measure the time interval between electromagnetic signals produced by the passage of the surface acoustic wave past a transducer or transducers in the path and thereby provide an output indicative of the temperature of the environment of the label. It is preferred that the label includes a plurality of transducers at coded locations along the path arranged for retransmitting to the receiver a coded sequence of electromagnetic signals indicative of an article or animal to which the label is affixed or in which it is implanted in the manner described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,094.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Vaughan
- 👤 Peter H. Cole
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/0672; G06K19/0675; B; B61; B61L; B61L25/00; B61L25/02; B61L25/04; B61L25/045; G01; G01K; G01K1/00; G01K1/02; G01K1/024; G01K11/00; G01K11/22; G01K11/24; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/74; G01S13/76; G01S13/765; A; A61; A61K; A61K38/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
Apparatus for remote temperature reading comprising transmitter means for transmitting electro-magnetic signals, label means adapted for attachment to or implantation in an article or animal for receiving a signal transmitted from said transmitter means and for retransmitting a reply, and receiver means for receiving and processing the reply; said label means including antenna means for receiving said transmitted signal, transducer means for converting said electromagnetic signal to a surface acoustic wave, a path on said label over which said surface acoustic wave travels, the time of travel of said surface acoustic wave over said path being a function of the temperature of the path, the same or further transducer means being arranged to convert said surface acoustic wave to a first electromagnetic signal after it has travelled over a first part of said path and to feed said signal to said antenna means for retransmission to said receiver means and thereafter to convert said surface acoustic wave to a second electromagnetic signal after it has travelled over a second part of said path and to feed said second electromagnetic signal to said antenna means for retransmission to said receiver means, said receiver means including circuitry for measuring the time interval between said first and second electromagnetic signals resulting from the passage of said surface acoustic wave over said path and for providing from said measured time interval an output indicative of the temperature of the environment of the label means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
Apparatus for remote temperature reading comprising transmitter means for transmitting electro-magnetic signals, label means adapted for attachment to or implantation in an article or animal for receiving a signal transmitted from said transmitter means and for retransmitting a reply, and receiver means for receiving and processing the reply; said label means including antenna means for receiving said transmitted signal, transducer means for converting said electromagnetic signal to a surface acoustic wave, a path on said label over which said surface acoustic wave travels, the time of travel of said surface acoustic wave over said path being a function of the temperature of the path, the same or further transducer means being arranged to convert said surface acoustic wave to a first electromagnetic signal after it has travelled over a first part of said path and to feed said signal to said antenna means for retransmission to said receiver means and thereafter to convert said surface acoustic wave to a second electromagnetic signal after it has travelled over a second part of said path and to feed said second electromagnetic signal to said antenna means for retransmission to said receiver means, said receiver means including circuitry for measuring the time interval between said first and second electromagnetic signals resulting from the passage of said surface acoustic wave over said path and for providing from said measured time interval an output indicative of the temperature of the environment of the label means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said label means includes a plurality of transducer means at coded locations along said path arranged for retransmitting to said receiver means a coded sequence of electromagnetic signals indicative of an article or an animal to which said label is affixed or in which it is implanted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the transmitter means is constructed and arranged to transmit electromagnetic signals in the form of pulses of radio frequency energy and the receiver is constructed and arranged to receive reply signals in this form and to measure the time interval between said first and second electromagnetic signals by measurement of the change in phase between said signals resulting from the passage of said surface acoustic wave over said path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said path is closed on itself and a single transducer means is included in said path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a single transducer means is provided in said path having reflector means provided on each side of it, said reflector means being at different distances from the transducer means, said path extending between said reflector means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-15 | 1987-02-14 | 1987-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-15 | 1991-02-14 | 1991-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-15 | 1995-02-14 | 1995-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |