US5063380A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Discrete object searching apparatus for search of discrete files and the like
Assignee: Asahi Electronics Institute Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-10-04
•
Granted: 1991-11-05
•
Expires: 2010-10-04
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is disclosed which enables efficient search of a particular file out of a multiplicity of files arranged on shelves, such that a display light, such as light-emitting diode, lights to externally indicate the location of the file only when a signal receiver attached to the file receives a predetermined signal from a signal transmitter connected to a computer. More particularly, a discrete object searching apparatus is provided for searching and locating discrete files wherein the signal transmitter and the signal receiver are, respectively, an infrared signal transmitter and an infrared signal receiver. An optical receptor portion of the receiver is provided with a means for cutting off visible light to eliminate wasteful use of the battery of the receiver. The receiver has no amplifier portion, the receptor portion being thus directly connected to a data processing portion in the receiver. The apparatus can perform not only search of a discrete file, but also search of a group of files. Further, the apparatus permits two-way communication so that the location of the file can be displayed on the display screen of the computer, whcih facilitates easy management of file inventory.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinji Wakura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/74; G01S7/00; G01S7/48; G01S7/481; G01S7/4816
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
348 words
A discrete object search apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects comprising: at least one cabinet having a plurality of shelves therein, each shelf having a groove defined therein with a transparent plate covering each of the grooves; a plurality of infrared signal transmitters on each shelf for transmitting signals corresponding to the discrete objects being searched, each of the grooves having a plurality of said transmitters disposed therein along a longitudinal length thereof, adjacent transmitters being generally equidistantly spaced from one another, each of said discrete objects having a unique signal associated therewith; infrared receivers individually mounted to each of the objects, each of said infrared receivers being associated with one separate, single one of said infrared transmitters, each of said infrared receivers having a receptor, a data processing portion and an external indicator, said receptor portion and said data processing portion being directly connected to each other without an amplifier portion therebetween and said data processing portion being operatively connected to the external indicator, said receptor portion receives infrared signals from the one infrared signal transmitter associated therewith, the infrared signals being transmitted from the infrared transmitter through a transparent plate covering the groove and to the receptor portion of the receiver, said data processing portion being actuated when the signal associated with the discrete object in which the infrared receiver is mounted is received, said external indicator thereafter being actuated to indicate correspondence between said signal transmitted by the infrared signal transmitters and said receivers to show a location of a desired one of the discrete objects, said infrared transmitters being located in a position to enable the infrared transmitters to transmit to the receptor portion a necessary amount of infrared light for actuating the data processing portion, and the receptor portion of each infrared receiver being in close proximity to the infrared signal transmitter associated therewith; and means for cutting off visible light to the receptor portion to thereby prevent actuation of the data processing portion by visible light, said means for cutting off visible light permitting infrared light to reach the receptor portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
348 words
A discrete object search apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects comprising: at least one cabinet having a plurality of shelves therein, each shelf having a groove defined therein with a transparent plate covering each of the grooves; a plurality of infrared signal transmitters on each shelf for transmitting signals corresponding to the discrete objects being searched, each of the grooves having a plurality of said transmitters disposed therein along a longitudinal length thereof, adjacent transmitters being generally equidistantly spaced from one another, each of said discrete objects having a unique signal associated therewith; infrared receivers individually mounted to each of the objects, each of said infrared receivers being associated with one separate, single one of said infrared transmitters, each of said infrared receivers having a receptor, a data processing portion and an external indicator, said receptor portion and said data processing portion being directly connected to each other without an amplifier portion therebetween and said data processing portion being operatively connected to the external indicator, said receptor portion receives infrared signals from the one infrared signal transmitter associated therewith, the infrared signals being transmitted from the infrared transmitter through a transparent plate covering the groove and to the receptor portion of the receiver, said data processing portion being actuated when the signal associated with the discrete object in which the infrared receiver is mounted is received, said external indicator thereafter being actuated to indicate correspondence between said signal transmitted by the infrared signal transmitters and said receivers to show a location of a desired one of the discrete objects, said infrared transmitters being located in a position to enable the infrared transmitters to transmit to the receptor portion a necessary amount of infrared light for actuating the data processing portion, and the receptor portion of each infrared receiver being in close proximity to the infrared signal transmitter associated therewith; and means for cutting off visible light to the receptor portion to thereby prevent actuation of the data processing portion by visible light, said means for cutting off visible light permitting infrared light to reach the receptor portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects according to claim 1, wherein said means for cutting off visible light comprises a paint coat on an optic face of the receptor portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects according to claim 2, wherein said paint is a red paint.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects according to claim 1, wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of book ends, records and medical charts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects according to claim 1, further comprising a multiplicity of signal receivers for each of the shelves, and each of said files as objects for search further having transmitters for transmitting signals to the receivers mounted on the shelves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects according to claim 1, wherein the objects for search are present in a plurality of groups and further including group indicators for each of the groups.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects according to claim 6, wherein the at least one cabinet is a plurality of cabinets and wherein said objects for search are files and a multiplicity of files are housed in the plurality of cabinets so that the files are present in groups in individual cabinets, each of the cabinets being equipped with one of the group indicators.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating objects according to claim 6, wherein said group indicator is an electric lamp.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating objects according to claim 7, wherein said group indicator is an electric lamp.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects according to claim 1, wherein the external indicator is a light emitting diode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects according to claim 1, wherein each discrete object has one of said infrared signal transmitters positioned less than 5 cm from the receptor portion thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects according to claim 2, further comprising a multiplicity of signal receivers for each of the shelves, and each of said files as objects for search further having transmitters for transmitting signals to the receivers mounted on the shelves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects according to claim 3, further comprising a multiplicity of signal receivers for each of the shelves, and each of said files as objects for search further having transmitters for transmitting signals to the receivers mounted on the shelves.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects according to claim 1, wherein the receptors of each of the infrared receivers are located on a bottom side of the object, the receptor being located above the associated infrared signal transmitter when the object is placed on one of the shelves of the at least one cabinet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The discrete object searching apparatus for searching and locating discrete objects according to claim 14, wherein the receptor, data processing portion and external indicator of each of the infrared receivers are located on a front portion of the object.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3937949A
Cited
US3906232A
Cited
US4115006A
Cited
JPS55133153A
Cited
US4276472A
Cited
US4476469A
Cited
JPS57113642A
Cited
US4392132A
Cited
JPS594239A
Cited
US4814742A
Cited
JPS639592A
Cited
JPS63245095A
Cited
WO1988004868A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-04 | 1995-05-06 | 1995-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-04 | 1999-05-06 | 1999-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-04 | 2003-05-06 | 2003-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |