Identification system with a passive activator

Claim 3

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said electromagnet comprises a primary coil wound around a U shaped core and generates said electromagnetic field at a frequency that is less than 10 kHz.

Claim 4

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller comprises: a signal processor for receiving and processing said signal to obtain said code; a code processor coupled to said signal processor for comparing said code with an authorization code; and an oscillator coupled to said code processor for providing a clocking signal for operating said code processor.

Claim 5

The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said signal processor comprises: a receiver coupled to an antenna, said receiver tuned to receive said signal; an amplifier circuit coupled to said receiver for amplifying said signal to a readable voltage level; a demodulator coupled to said amplifier for separating said code from said signal.

Claim 6

The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said code processor comprises: a memory for storing operating instructions and said authorization code; a microprocessor being in communication with said memory, said microprocessor accessing said memory to fetch said operating instructions and authorization code therefrom for comparing said code with said authorization code according to said operating instructions and generating an output when said code matches said authorization code.

Claim 7

The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said code processor stores a plurality of said authorization codes in said memory, said code processor generating an output when said code matches one of said plurality of authorization codes.

Claim 8

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said rectifier comprises a Zener diode for limiting said plurality of direct current pulses to a predetermined voltage level.

Claim 9

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said passive activator further comprises an oscillator, said oscillator having a frequency sufficient for transmitting said code within one of said plurality of direct current pulses, said oscillator being powered by said plurality of direct current pulses.

Claim 10

The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said transmitter comprises: a counter circuit coupled to said oscillator; a shift register circuit connected to said counter circuit for storing said code and shifting said code so that said code is transmitted serially during one or more of said pulses, said shift register being controlled by said divider circuit; and a modulator circuit coupled to said shift register for encoding and transmitting said code, said modulator circuit coupled to said oscillator such that said carrier wave is generated by said oscillator.

Claim 11

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said activator is encased in a ring band.

Claim 12

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said activator further comprises a full wave rectifier coupled to said secondary coil, said full wave rectifier for generating said direct current pulses at a frequency that is twice the frequency of said alternating current signal.

Claim 13

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said activator further comprises; a first full wave rectifier coupled to said secondary coil, said first full wave rectifier providing a plurality positive voltage direct current pulses; a first rectifier coupled to said first full wave rectifier for restricting said plurality of positive voltage direct current pulses to a predetermined voltage level to prevent damaging said activator, said first rectifier comprising a Zener diode; a second full wave rectifier connected to said secondary coil, said second full wave rectifier providing a plurality of negative voltage direct current pulses; and a second rectifier coupled to said second full wave rectifier for restricting said plurality of negative voltage direct current pulses to a predetermined voltage level to prevent damaging said activator, said second rectifier comprising a Zener diode.

Claim 14

The apparatus as recited in claim 12 further comprising: a receiver for receiving a transmission from said controller; and an amplifier coupled to said receiver for boosting said transmission to a readable voltage level, said amplifier being powered by said plurality of positive direct current pulses and said plurality of negative direct current pulses.

Claim 15

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said transmitter comprises: a microprocessor; and a memory coupled to said microprocessor for storing said code and operating instructions, said operating instructions used by said microprocessor for transmitting said code during one or more of said DC pulses.

Claim 16

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said electromagnet comprises a primary coil wound around a C shaped core and generates said electromagnetic field at a frequency that is less than 10 kHz.

Claim 17

The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller further comprises an encryption circuit for transmitting an encryption code.

Claim 18

The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said passive activator further comprises: a receiver for receiving data transmitted from said controller, said data comprising an encryption code; an amplifier circuit coupled to said receiver for amplifying said encryption code to a readable voltage level; a rectifier coupled to said amplifier and said microprocessor for limiting the amplified encryption code from said amplifier to a predetermined voltage level into said microprocessor, said microprocessor encrypting said code with said encryption code according to an encryption program stored in said memory to form an encrypted code and transmitting said encrypted code to said controller.

Claim 19

A passive activator said passive activator comprising: a secondary coil for producing an alternating current signal therein when placed in an alternating current electromagnetic field, a rectifier connected to said secondary coil for converting said alternating current voltage to a plurality of direct current pulses, each of said plurality of direct current pulses corresponding to a peak segment of said alternating current signal, and an electronic circuit powered by said plurality of direct current pulses, wherein said electronic circuit is inactive outside the duration of said direct current pulses.

Claim 20

A passive activator said passive activator comprising: a secondary coil for producing an alternating current signal therein when placed in an alternating current electromagnetic field, a rectifier connected to said secondary coil for converting said alternating current voltage to a plurality of direct current pulses, each of said plurality of direct current pulses corresponding to a peak segment of said alternating current signal, and an electronic circuit powered by said plurality of direct current pulses, wherein said electronic circuit is inactive outside the duration of said direct current pulses.

Claim 21

The passive activator as recited in claim 18 wherein said electronic circuit comprises a processor, said processor being inactive outside the duration of said pulses.

Claim 22

The passive activator as recited in claim 18 wherein said rectifier comprises a Zener diode for limiting said plurality of direct current pulses to a predetermined voltage level.

Claim 23

The passive activator as recited in claim 18 wherein said electronic circuit comprises a transmitter for transmitting a signal comprising a code, said transmitter being inactive outside the duration of said pulses.

Claim 24

The passive activator as recited in claim 21 wherein said code is transmitted serially during a single pulse.

Claim 25

The passive activator as recited in claim 21 wherein said passive activator comprises an oscillator, said oscillator having a frequency sufficient for transmitting said code within one of said plurality of direct current pulses, said oscillator being powered by said plurality of direct current pulses.

Claim 26

The passive activator as recited in claim 21 wherein said transmitter comprises: a counter circuit coupled to said oscillator; a shift register circuit connected to said counter circuit for storing said code and shifting said code so that said code is transmitted serially during one or more of said pulses, said shift register being controlled by said divider circuit; and a modulator circuit coupled to said shift register for encoding and transmitting said code, said modulator circuit coupled to said oscillator such that said carrier wave is generated by said oscillator.

Claim 27

The passive activator as recited in claim 23 wherein said transmitter and said oscillator turn on when said direct current pulses exceed a voltage V1 and turn off when said direct current pulses drop below V1.

Claim 28

The passive activator as recited in claim 18 wherein said activator is encased in a watch.

Claim 29

The passive activator as recited in claim 18 wherein said activator is encased in a bracelet band.

Claim 30

The passive activator as recited in claim 18 wherein said activator is implemented as a custom integrated circuit.

Claim 31

The passive activator as recited in claim 18 wherein said activator is encased in a ring band.