US5519381A — Detection of multiple articles

Claim 1

Independent Claim 133 words

An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, wherein: the interrogator comprises transmitter means for transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the transponders simultaneously, each independent interrogation signal being adapted to independently activate any one or more transponders receiving said signal, receiver means for receiving response signals from the transponders in response to any one or more of the independent interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, and processor means for identifying the transponders from data in the response signals; and each transponder comprises receiving means, a code generator, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of any one or more of the independent interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means the transponder transmits a response signal containing data which identifies the transponder.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 133 words

An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, wherein: the interrogator comprises transmitter means for transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the transponders simultaneously, each independent interrogation signal being adapted to independently activate any one or more transponders receiving said signal, receiver means for receiving response signals from the transponders in response to any one or more of the independent interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, and processor means for identifying the transponders from data in the response signals; and each transponder comprises receiving means, a code generator, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of any one or more of the independent interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means the transponder transmits a response signal containing data which identifies the transponder.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

An identification system according to claim 1 wherein the at least two interrogation signals have respective different frequencies which are selected to fall within the reception bandwidth of the receiving means of the transponders.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 45 words

An identification system according to claim 2 wherein the at least two interrogation signals are relatively narrow bandwidth signals, the receiving means of each transponder having a relatively broad reception bandwidth within which the respective different frequencies of the at least two interrogation signals fall.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

An identification system according to claim 3 wherein each interrogation signal is modulated with data, the data modulation bandwidth of each interrogation signal being less than a spacing between the respective different frequencies of the interrogation signals.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

An identification system according to claim 2 wherein the at least two interrogation signals have respective different frequencies which are selected so that there are no overlapping nulls in the electric fields of the interrogation signals within a predetermined distance of the transmitter means of the interrogator.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 50 words

An identification system according to claim 1 wherein the transmitting means of the transponder comprises an antenna and means for modulating the signals received on the antenna, so that the response signal of the transponder comprises at least one interrogation signal carriers modulated with the data which identifies the transponder.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

An identification system according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter means of the interrogator comprises at least two spaced apart transmitting antennas and the receiver means comprises at least two spaced apart receiving antennas.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 37 words

An identification system according to claim 7 wherein the transmitter means and the receiver means comprise at least two spaced apart antenna units, each antenna unit comprising a transmitting antenna element and an adjacent receiving antenna element.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

An identification system according to claim 8 wherein each antenna element comprises a patch array designed to operate at a frequency between 800 MHz and 1 GHz.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

An identification system according to claim 7 wherein at least two of the respective transmitting and receiving antennas are polarized differently from one another.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

An identification system according to claim 7 wherein the transmitter means and the receiver means of the interrogator are mounted in proximity an interrogation zone through which the transponders to be identified may be passed.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 40 words

An identification system according to claim 11 wherein the transmitter means and the receiver means of the interrogator are supported by a frame defining a passage through which a conveyance containing articles to which respective transponders are attached can pass.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 34 words

An identification system according to claim 1 further comprising another processor means for recording data received from each identified transponder and for relating the received data to stored data corresponding to the received data.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

An identification system according to claim 13 wherein said processor means stores price or identification data of articles to which different transponders are attached, and relates the identification codes of identified transponders thereto.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

An identification system according to claim 14 including display means for generating a display in which descriptions of the articles to which respective transponders are attached are associated with price data.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

An identification system according to claim 15 including printer means for generating a printout of the display.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 156 words

An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, wherein: the interrogator comprises transmitter means for transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the transponders, receiver means for receiving response signals from the transponders responsive to at least one of the interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, and processor means for identifying the transponders from data in the response signals; each transponder comprises receiving means, a code generator, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of at least one of the interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means the transponder transmits a response signal containing data which identifies the transponder; and the transmitter means of the interrogator transmits the at least two interrogation signals intermittently, with an interval between successive interrogation signals which is less than a minimum period within which transponders which have been disabled by a disable instruction in an interrogation signal reset themselves automatically.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 156 words

An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, wherein: the interrogator comprises transmitter means for transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the transponders, receiver means for receiving response signals from the transponders responsive to at least one of the interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, and processor means for identifying the transponders from data in the response signals; each transponder comprises receiving means, a code generator, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of at least one of the interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means the transponder transmits a response signal containing data which identifies the transponder; and the transmitter means of the interrogator transmits the at least two interrogation signals intermittently, with an interval between successive interrogation signals which is less than a minimum period within which transponders which have been disabled by a disable instruction in an interrogation signal reset themselves automatically.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 204 words

An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, wherein: the interrogator comprises transmitter means for transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the transponders, receiver means for receiving response signals from the transponders responsive to at least one of the interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, and processor means for identifying the transponders from data in the response signals; the transmitting means of the interrogator comprises a transmitting antenna, at least first and second transmitters for generating interrogation signals at respective different frequencies, and switch means for switching the outputs of the transmitters alternatively to the transmitting antenna; the receiver means and the processor means of the interrogator distinguish response signals from transponders in response to interrogation signals transmitted at the respective different frequencies of the at least first and second transmitters; each transponder comprises receiving means, a code generator, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of at least one of the interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means the transponder transmits a response signal containing data which identifies the transponder; and the processor means detects duplicate transponder response signals transmitted on two or more of the respective different frequencies and disregards them.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 204 words

An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, wherein: the interrogator comprises transmitter means for transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the transponders, receiver means for receiving response signals from the transponders responsive to at least one of the interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, and processor means for identifying the transponders from data in the response signals; the transmitting means of the interrogator comprises a transmitting antenna, at least first and second transmitters for generating interrogation signals at respective different frequencies, and switch means for switching the outputs of the transmitters alternatively to the transmitting antenna; the receiver means and the processor means of the interrogator distinguish response signals from transponders in response to interrogation signals transmitted at the respective different frequencies of the at least first and second transmitters; each transponder comprises receiving means, a code generator, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of at least one of the interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means the transponder transmits a response signal containing data which identifies the transponder; and the processor means detects duplicate transponder response signals transmitted on two or more of the respective different frequencies and disregards them.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 173 words

An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, wherein: the interrogator comprises transmitter means for transmitting an interrogation signal and an inhibiting signal having respective different frequencies to the transponders, receiver means for receiving response signals from the transponders responsive to the interrogation signal transmitted by said transmitter means, and processor means for identifying the transponders from data in the response signals; and each transponder comprises receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal and the inhibiting signal transmitted by said transmitter means, a code generator, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, the respective different frequencies of the interrogation signal and the inhibiting signal being selected to fall within the reception bandwidth of the receiving means of the transponder, the transponder being adapted to transmit a response signal containing data which identifies the transponder on receipt of the interrogation signal, to be disabled by a turn-off instruction in the interrogation signal on successful identification of the transponder, and to remain disabled while it continues to receive the inhibiting signal.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 173 words

An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, wherein: the interrogator comprises transmitter means for transmitting an interrogation signal and an inhibiting signal having respective different frequencies to the transponders, receiver means for receiving response signals from the transponders responsive to the interrogation signal transmitted by said transmitter means, and processor means for identifying the transponders from data in the response signals; and each transponder comprises receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal and the inhibiting signal transmitted by said transmitter means, a code generator, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, the respective different frequencies of the interrogation signal and the inhibiting signal being selected to fall within the reception bandwidth of the receiving means of the transponder, the transponder being adapted to transmit a response signal containing data which identifies the transponder on receipt of the interrogation signal, to be disabled by a turn-off instruction in the interrogation signal on successful identification of the transponder, and to remain disabled while it continues to receive the inhibiting signal.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 26 words

An identification system according to claim 19 wherein the interrogation signal is a relatively directional signal, and the inhibiting signal is a relatively widely dispersed signal.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 28 words

An identification system according to claim 20 wherein the inhibiting signal has a beam width which is at least 5 times greater than that of the interrogating signal.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 27 words

An identification system according to claim 19 wherein the interrogation signal is a relatively high power signal and the inhibiting signal is a relatively low power signal.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

An identification system according to claim 19 wherein the turn-off instruction to the transponder is transmitted in both the interrogation signal and the inhibiting signal.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 105 words

An interrogator for identifying at least one transponder of a plurality of transponders, the interrogator comprising: transmitter means for simultaneously transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the transponders, each independent interrogation signal being adapted to independently activate any one or more transponders receiving said signal; receiver means for receiving at least one response signal from any of the transponders in response to any one or more of the independent interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, each response signal including data identifying a respective transponder; and processor means for identifying the respective transponder from data contained in the at least one response signal.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 105 words

An interrogator for identifying at least one transponder of a plurality of transponders, the interrogator comprising: transmitter means for simultaneously transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the transponders, each independent interrogation signal being adapted to independently activate any one or more transponders receiving said signal; receiver means for receiving at least one response signal from any of the transponders in response to any one or more of the independent interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, each response signal including data identifying a respective transponder; and processor means for identifying the respective transponder from data contained in the at least one response signal.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 26 words

An interrogator according to claim 24, wherein the at least two interrogation signals have respective different frequencies which fall within the reception bandwidth of the transponders.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 40 words

An interrogator according to claim 25, wherein the at least two interrogation signals are relatively narrow bandwidth signals, each transponder having a relatively broad reception bandwidth within which the respective different frequencies of the at least two interrogation signals fall.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 36 words

An interrogator according to claim 26, wherein each interrogation signal is modulated with data, the data modulation bandwidth of each interrogation signal being less than a spacing between the respective different frequencies of the interrogation signals.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 46 words

An interrogator according to claim 25, wherein the at least two interrogation signals have respective different frequencies which are selected so that there are no overlapping nulls in the electric fields of the interrogation signals within a predetermined distance of the transmitter means of the interrogator.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 30 words

An interrogator according to claim 24, wherein: the transmitter means comprises at least two spaced apart transmitting antennas, and the receiver means comprises at least two spaced apart receiving antennas.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 36 words

An interrogator according to claim 29, wherein the transmitter means and the receiver means comprise at least two spaced apart antenna units, each antenna unit comprising a transmitting antenna element and an adjacent receiving antenna element.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 26 words

An interrogator according to claim 30, wherein each antenna element comprises a patch array designed to operate at a frequency between 800 MHz and 1 GHz.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 23 words

An interrogator according to claim 29, wherein at least two of the respective transmitting and receiving antennas are polarized differently from one another.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 31 words

An interrogator according to claim 29, wherein the transmitter means and the receiver means are mounted in proximity to an interrogation zone through which the transponders to be identified may pass.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 36 words

An interrogator according to claim 33, wherein the transmitter means and the receiver means are supported by a frame defining a passage through which a conveyance containing articles to which respective transponders are attached can pass.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 33 words

An interrogator according to claim 24, further comprising another processor means for recording data received from each identified transponder and for relating the received data to stored data corresponding to the received data.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 33 words

An interrogator according to claim 35, wherein said another processor means stores price or identification data of articles to which different transponders are attached, and relates the identification codes of identified transponders thereto.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 30 words

An interrogator according to claim 36, including display means for generating a display in which descriptions of the articles to which respective transponders are attached are associated with price data.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 16 words

An interrogator according to claim 37, including printer means for generating a printout of the display.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 133 words

An interrogator for identifying at least one transponder of a plurality of transponders, the interrogator comprising: transmitter means for transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the plurality of transponders; receiver means for receiving at least one response signal from any of the transponders in response to any one or more of the independent interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, each response signal including data identifying a respective transponder; and processor means for identifying the respective transponder from data contained in the at least one response signal, wherein the transmitter means transmits the at least two interrogation signals intermittently, with an interval between successive interrogation signals which is less than a minimum period within which transponders which have been disabled by a disable instruction in an interrogation signal reset themselves automatically.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 133 words

An interrogator for identifying at least one transponder of a plurality of transponders, the interrogator comprising: transmitter means for transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the plurality of transponders; receiver means for receiving at least one response signal from any of the transponders in response to any one or more of the independent interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, each response signal including data identifying a respective transponder; and processor means for identifying the respective transponder from data contained in the at least one response signal, wherein the transmitter means transmits the at least two interrogation signals intermittently, with an interval between successive interrogation signals which is less than a minimum period within which transponders which have been disabled by a disable instruction in an interrogation signal reset themselves automatically.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 180 words

An interrogator for identifying at least one transponder of a plurality of transponders, the interrogator comprising: transmitter means for transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the plurality of transponders, wherein the transmitter means comprises a transmitting antenna, at least first and second transmitters for generating interrogation signals at respective different frequencies, and switch means for switching the outputs of the transmitters alternatively to the transmitting antenna; receiver means for receiving at least one response signal from any of the transponders in response to any one or more of the independent interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, each response signal including data identifying a respective transponder; and processor means for identifying the respective transponder from data contained in the at least one response signal, wherein: the receiver means and the processor means distinguish response signals from transponders in response to interrogation signals transmitted at the respective different frequencies of the at least first and second transmitters, and the processor means detects duplicate transponder response signals transmitted on two or more of the respective different frequencies to disregard them.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 180 words

An interrogator for identifying at least one transponder of a plurality of transponders, the interrogator comprising: transmitter means for transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the plurality of transponders, wherein the transmitter means comprises a transmitting antenna, at least first and second transmitters for generating interrogation signals at respective different frequencies, and switch means for switching the outputs of the transmitters alternatively to the transmitting antenna; receiver means for receiving at least one response signal from any of the transponders in response to any one or more of the independent interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, each response signal including data identifying a respective transponder; and processor means for identifying the respective transponder from data contained in the at least one response signal, wherein: the receiver means and the processor means distinguish response signals from transponders in response to interrogation signals transmitted at the respective different frequencies of the at least first and second transmitters, and the processor means detects duplicate transponder response signals transmitted on two or more of the respective different frequencies to disregard them.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 150 words

An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, wherein: the interrogator comprises transmitter means for transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the transponders simultaneously at respective different interrogation frequencies, receiver means for receiving response signals from the transponders in response to any one or more of the interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, and processor means for identifying the transponders from data in the response signals; and each transponder comprises receiving means, a code generator, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of any one or more of the independent interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means the transponder transmits a response signal containing data which identifies the transponder, said response signal being on one or more of the respective different interrogation frequencies depending on which one or more of the independent interrogation signals are received by the transponder.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 150 words

An identification system comprising an interrogator and a plurality of transponders, wherein: the interrogator comprises transmitter means for transmitting at least two independent interrogation signals to the transponders simultaneously at respective different interrogation frequencies, receiver means for receiving response signals from the transponders in response to any one or more of the interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means, and processor means for identifying the transponders from data in the response signals; and each transponder comprises receiving means, a code generator, and transmitting means connected to the code generator, so that on receipt of any one or more of the independent interrogation signals transmitted by said transmitter means the transponder transmits a response signal containing data which identifies the transponder, said response signal being on one or more of the respective different interrogation frequencies depending on which one or more of the independent interrogation signals are received by the transponder.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-05-21	1999-11-20	2000-05-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-05-21	2003-11-20	2004-05-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-05-21	2007-11-20	2008-05-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Detection of multiple articles

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