← Back to Patent Explorer
US5485154A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Communication device and method(s)

Assignee: Magellan Corp Australia Pty Ltd
•
Filing: 1994-01-18
•
Granted: 1996-01-16
•
Expires: 2014-01-18
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to the areas of communication and/or identification of remote devices (active or passive). The invention has application where there is a need to identify or communicate with more than one remote device. The remote device may be embodied as a transmitter arrangement, transducer, transponder or responder. In particular, the present invention calls for each remote device to include a transmitter means in which, at each transmission, a carrier frequency or medium is newly selected.

Inventors

  • 👤 David R. Brooks
  • 👤 Graham A. Murdoch

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 12:21
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10009; G06K7/10316; G06K7/10336; G06K7/0008; G06K7/10019; G06K7/10029; G06K7/10059; G06K7/10069; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/20; G07C9/28; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/01; G08G1/017; H; H04; H04B; H04B5/00; H04B5/20; H04B5/22; H04B5/24; H04B5/26; H04B5/266; H04B5/40; H04B5/45; H04B5/70; H04B5/77

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim 86 words
A transmitting arrangement adapted to provide communication and/or identification, said arrangement comprising: transmitter means adapted to transmit a communication signal via a carrier signal having a frequency selected from a set of possible carrier signal frequencies; selection means for selecting the carrier signal frequency from the set of possible carrier signal frequencies; and generating means for providing the set of possible carrier signal frequencies for use by the selection means; wherein the communication signal is transmitted, at each transmission, at a newly selected carrier signal frequency.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 86 words
A transmitting arrangement adapted to provide communication and/or identification, said arrangement comprising: transmitter means adapted to transmit a communication signal via a carrier signal having a frequency selected from a set of possible carrier signal frequencies; selection means for selecting the carrier signal frequency from the set of possible carrier signal frequencies; and generating means for providing the set of possible carrier signal frequencies for use by the selection means; wherein the communication signal is transmitted, at each transmission, at a newly selected carrier signal frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein selection of the carrier signal frequency from the set of possible carrier signal frequencies is random.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter means is adapted to go to an idle state in order to provide a break in transmission for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein each carrier signal generated is assigned a probability weighting in accordance with a desired use of each carrier signal at each transmission.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, where a plurality of carrier signal frequencies is selected for use at transmission.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication signal is a unique signal identifiable with the arrangement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein each signal is transmitted at selected carrier frequencies sequentially or cyclically.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication signal is transmitted, at each transmission, at a set of newly selected carrier signal frequencies and is transmitted at different selected carrier frequencies, simultaneously.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 22 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency generating means includes a memory means for storing possible carrier signal frequencies.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein selection or reselection of a carrier frequency is performed in accordance with a predetermined probability weighting.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means uses a pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) logic circuit to randomly select or reselect said selected frequency.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 37 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 11, wherein the PRBS is adapted to have an initial value loaded therein when the transmitting arrangement is first powered, the value being stored in a memory in the transmitting arrangement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the signal and value are arbitrarily assigned to the transmitting arrangement before use of the transmitting arrangement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 32 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein upon receipt of an external timing signal, the selection means selects or reselects at least a new one of the carrier signals for transmission.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein frequency of the set of possible carrier signals is programmed in the transponder from an external source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 21 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection means acts to select the carrier signal frequency without external influence.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 20 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selection means determines internally the selection of the carrier signal frequency.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 21 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, where the carrier signal and/or communication signal medium is optical, electrical, magnetic or acoustic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 16 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which the arrangement is incorporated in a device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 21 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 19 in which the arrangement is incorporated in a device, the device being passively powered.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 21 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 19 in which the arrangement is incorporated in a device, the device being actively powered.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 117 words
A system adapted to provide communication and/or identification, the system comprising: at least two remote transmitter arrangements, each arrangement comprising transmitter means adapted to transmit a communication signal via a carrier signal having a frequency selected from a set of possible carrier signal frequencies; selection means for selecting the carrier signal frequency; frequency generating means for providing the set of possible carrier signal frequencies for use by the transmitter means; where the communication signal is transmitted, at each transmission, at a newly selected carrier signal frequency; and system receiver means including at least two receiver channels, each channel being adapted to demodulate a corresponding communication signal sent by a transmitter arrangement at a corresponding carrier signal frequency.
Claim 24
Independent Claim 117 words
A system adapted to provide communication and/or identification, the system comprising: at least two remote transmitter arrangements, each arrangement comprising transmitter means adapted to transmit a communication signal via a carrier signal having a frequency selected from a set of possible carrier signal frequencies; selection means for selecting the carrier signal frequency; frequency generating means for providing the set of possible carrier signal frequencies for use by the transmitter means; where the communication signal is transmitted, at each transmission, at a newly selected carrier signal frequency; and system receiver means including at least two receiver channels, each channel being adapted to demodulate a corresponding communication signal sent by a transmitter arrangement at a corresponding carrier signal frequency.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 24 words
A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the number of receiver channels is the same as the number of possible carrier signal frequencies.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 25 words
A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the receiver means further includes logic means for ignoring information signals having the same newly selected frequency.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 17 words
A system as claimed in claim 22, adapted to communicate with at least two transmitter arrangements simultaneously.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 27 words
A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the receiver means is synchronised to the frequency of an electromagnetic field to facilitate demodulation of each communication signal.
Claim 29
Independent Claim 91 words
A method of communication between an interrogator and at least one remote device, said method comprising the steps of: each remote device generating a first signal for transmission via a carrier signal at a frequency selected by each respective remote device from a respective predetermined set of carrier signal frequencies, the frequency of the carrier signal being determined by each remote device; transmitting said first signal from each remote device to the interrogator; and generating and transmitting the first signal successively or repetitively at each transmission via a new carrier signal.
Claim 30
Independent Claim 91 words
A method of communication between an interrogator and at least one remote device, said method comprising the steps of: each remote device generating a first signal for transmission via a carrier signal at a frequency selected by each respective remote device from a respective predetermined set of carrier signal frequencies, the frequency of the carrier signal being determined by each remote device; transmitting said first signal from each remote device to the interrogator; and generating and transmitting the first signal successively or repetitively at each transmission via a new carrier signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein each remote device transmits the first signal to the interrogator simultaneously.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the selection of carrier signal by each remote device is random or pseudo-random.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 16 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 18 in which the arrangement is incorporated in a device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the selection of carrier signal by each remote device is random or pseudo-random.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 23 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the communication signal is transmitted, at each transmission, at a set of newly selected carrier signal frequencies.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 31 words
The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the transmitter means is adapted to transmit on a redundant channel in order to provide a break in transmission for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 23 words
The arrangement of claim 22 wherein the communication signal is transmitted, at each transmission, at a set of newly selected carrier signal frequencies.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-01-15 1999-07-17 2000-01-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-01-15 2003-07-17 2004-01-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-01-15 2007-07-17 2008-01-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag