Patent US5565847A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5565847A
Expired / Lapsed
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Magnetic tag using acoustic or magnetic interrogation
Assignee: Intermec IP Corp
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Filing: 1994-11-23
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Granted: 1996-10-15
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Expires: 2014-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A tag structure suitable for attachment to an object and for being remotely sensed, includes at least one soft magnetic element mounted for being excited in an inhomogeneous magnetic field. The soft magnetic element includes first and second ends and is clamped at at least one of the first and second ends. Each soft magnetic element responds to the excitation to produce a unique, time-varying magnetic field corresponding to its resonant frequency, when excited. A system incorporating the tag includes an excitation device and a detector for detecting the mechanical vibrations of the soft magnetic element.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Gambino
- 👤 Alejandro G. Schrott
- 👤 Robert J. VON Gutfeld
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:54
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/02; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2405; G08B13/2408; G08B13/2414; G08B13/2417; G08B13/2428; G08B13/2437; G08B13/2442; G08B13/2451; G08B13/2462
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A magnetic tag for being remotely sensed, comprising: at least one soft magnetic element mounted for being excited in an inhomogeneous magnetic field, said at least one soft magnetic element having first and second ends and being clamped at at least one of said first and second ends, wherein no part of said at least one soft magnetic element other than said at least one of said first and second ends is clamped, each said at least one soft magnetic element responding to said excitation to produce a unique, time-varying magnetic field corresponding to its resonant frequency, when excited by an energy field which includes at least one distinct frequency corresponding to the resonant frequency of said magnetic element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A magnetic tag for being remotely sensed, comprising: at least one soft magnetic element mounted for being excited in an inhomogeneous magnetic field, said at least one soft magnetic element having first and second ends and being clamped at at least one of said first and second ends, wherein no part of said at least one soft magnetic element other than said at least one of said first and second ends is clamped, each said at least one soft magnetic element responding to said excitation to produce a unique, time-varying magnetic field corresponding to its resonant frequency, when excited by an energy field which includes at least one distinct frequency corresponding to the resonant frequency of said magnetic element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A magnetic tag as in claim 1 wherein said excitation is magnetic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A magnetic tag as in claim 1 wherein said excitation is acoustic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A magnetic tag as in claim 1, wherein said inhomogeneous magnetic field is provided by at least one element of a hard magnetic material in close proximity to said at least one soft magnetic element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A magnetic tag as in claim 1 wherein said inhomogeneous magnetic field is provided by a magnetic field external to said tag.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A magnetic tag as in claim 1, wherein a plurality of soft magnetic elements for being excited in an inhomogeneous magnetic field are provided, and wherein the presence or absence of a predefined resonant frequency associated with at least one soft magnetic element of said plurality of soft magnetic elements constitutes a code.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A magnetic tag for being remotely sensed, comprising: at least one soft magnetic element mounted for being acoustically excited in an inhomogeneous magnetic field, each said at least one soft magnetic element vibrating at its respective resonant frequency to produce a unique, time-varying magnetic field corresponding to said resonant frequency, when excited by acoustic excitation, said at least one soft magnetic element being mounted within a Helmholtz resonator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A magnetic tag for being remotely sensed, comprising: at least one soft magnetic element mounted for being acoustically excited in an inhomogeneous magnetic field, each said at least one soft magnetic element vibrating at its respective resonant frequency to produce a unique, time-varying magnetic field corresponding to said resonant frequency, when excited by acoustic excitation, said at least one soft magnetic element being mounted within a Helmholtz resonator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A magnetic tag as in claim 7 wherein said inhomogeneous magnetic field is provided by at least one element of a hard magnetic material in close proximity to said at least one soft magnetic element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A magnetic tag as in claim 7 wherein said inhomogeneous magnetic field is provided by a magnetic field external to said tag.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A tag as in claim 7 wherein said each of said at least one soft magnetic element has first and second ends and wherein one of said first or second ends of each of said at least one soft magnetic element is clamped thereby forming a cantilever.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A magnetic tag as in claim 7, wherein a plurality of soft magnetic elements tier being excited in an inhomogeneous magnetic field are provided, and wherein the presence or absence of a predefined resonant frequency associated with at least one soft magnetic element of said plurality of soft magnetic elements constitutes a code.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A magnetic tag as in claim 1 or 7 wherein said at least one soft magnetic element has first and second ends and wherein both of said first and second ends are clamped.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
A magnetic tag as in claim 1 or 7 wherein said at least one element is formed of an amorphous material formed as a strip having predetermined fundamental and overtone frequencies which are determined by its length, width, thickness and boundary conditions, wherein said excitation produces mechanical vibrations in said strip which cause a change in magnetization of said strip, said change being detected as a magnetic signal in a pickup coil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
A magnetic tag for being remotely sensed, comprising: at least one soft magnetic element mounted for being excited in an inhomogeneous magnetic field, each said at least one soft magnetic element responding to said excitation to produce a unique, time-varying magnetic field corresponding to its resonant frequency, when excited by said excitation, wherein the tag is mounted in a Helmholtz resonator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
A magnetic tag for being remotely sensed, comprising: at least one soft magnetic element mounted for being excited in an inhomogeneous magnetic field, each said at least one soft magnetic element responding to said excitation to produce a unique, time-varying magnetic field corresponding to its resonant frequency, when excited by said excitation, wherein the tag is mounted in a Helmholtz resonator.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for identifying an object, comprising: a magnetic tag for attachment to said object and for identification of said object upon being interrogated, said magnetic tag including at least one element of a soft magnetic material and having predetermined fundamental and overtone frequencies, said at least one element of soft magnetic material having first and second ends and being clamped at at least one of said first and second ends, wherein no part of said at least one element of soft magnetic material other than said at least one of said first and second ends is clamped; means for exciting said magnetic tag thereby to excite said at least one element of soft magnetic material to cause said soft magnetic element to mechanically vibrate; and means for detecting the mechanical vibrations of said soft magnetic element.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for identifying an object, comprising: a magnetic tag for attachment to said object and for identification of said object upon being interrogated, said magnetic tag including at least one element of a soft magnetic material and having predetermined fundamental and overtone frequencies, said at least one element of soft magnetic material having first and second ends and being clamped at at least one of said first and second ends, wherein no part of said at least one element of soft magnetic material other than said at least one of said first and second ends is clamped; means for exciting said magnetic tag thereby to excite said at least one element of soft magnetic material to cause said soft magnetic element to mechanically vibrate; and means for detecting the mechanical vibrations of said soft magnetic element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 15, further comprising means for receiving an output from said means for detecting, and for decoding said output, thereby to identify said object.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 15, wherein said excitation is magnetic and said means for detecting comprise either acoustic or magnetic detection means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 15, wherein said excitation is acoustic and said means for detecting comprise acoustic means or means for detecting changes in magnetic flux caused by said mechanical vibrations.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
103 words
A multibit magnetic tag for being remotely sensed, comprising: a plurality of soft magnetic elements mounted for being excited in an inhomogeneous magnetic field, each soft magnetic element of said plurality of soft magnetic elements having first and second ends and being clamped at at least one of said first and second ends, wherein no part of said each soft magnetic element other than said at least one of said first and second ends is clamped, each of said soft magnetic elements responding to said excitation to produce a unique, time-varying magnetic field corresponding to its resonant frequency, when excited by said excitation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
103 words
A multibit magnetic tag for being remotely sensed, comprising: a plurality of soft magnetic elements mounted for being excited in an inhomogeneous magnetic field, each soft magnetic element of said plurality of soft magnetic elements having first and second ends and being clamped at at least one of said first and second ends, wherein no part of said each soft magnetic element other than said at least one of said first and second ends is clamped, each of said soft magnetic elements responding to said excitation to produce a unique, time-varying magnetic field corresponding to its resonant frequency, when excited by said excitation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A multibit magnetic tag according to claim 19, wherein the tag is mounted in a Helmholtz resonator.
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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) | 1999-10-15 | 2000-04-15 | 2000-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-15 | 2004-04-15 | 2004-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-15 | 2008-04-15 | 2008-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |