Patent US5952935A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5952935A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Programmable channel search reader
Assignee: Destron Fearing Corp
•
Filing: 1996-10-23
•
Granted: 1999-09-14
•
Expires: 2016-10-23
Abstract
Abstract An interrogator for use with a plurality of identification systems using different frequencies and different methods of demodulation and decoding is provided. Each of the identification systems includes at least one transponder adapted to attached to an article to be identified and each transponder includes an antenna for receiving an interrogation signal from the interrogator and for responding to the received interrogation signal with a responsive signal. The responsive signal includes at least an identification portion. The interrogator includes an antenna assembly for transmitting the interrogation signal from the interrogator to the transponder and receiving the responsive signal from the transponders. A processor is provided for processing the responsive signal received by the antenna assembly and creating an output signal substantially corresponding to the identification portion of the responsive signal. A display is provided for displaying the output signal. A programmable version of the interrogator is also provided as well as a method of using the interrogator to read a plurality of identification systems.
Inventors
- 👤 E. Zeke Mejia
- 👤 Ian Griffiths
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10009; G06K7/10297; G06K7/0008; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/74; G01S13/75; G01S13/751; G01S13/76; G01S13/78
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
An interrogator for use with a plurality of identification transponders, the interrogator producing an interrogation signal for interrogating one of the plurality of transponders, the plurality of transponders using different frequencies and different methods of modulation and encoding to transmit an identification signal in response to the interrogation signal, each of the plurality of transponders being adapted to attach to an article to be identified, said identification signal including at least an identification component, said interrogator comprising: an antenna assembly for transmitting said interrogation signal from the interrogator to one of the plurality of transponders and for receiving said identification signal from said transponder; a processor for processing said identification signal received by said antenna assembly and creating an output signal substantially corresponding to said identification component of said identification signal; and a display for displaying said output signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
An interrogator for use with a plurality of identification transponders, the interrogator producing an interrogation signal for interrogating one of the plurality of transponders, the plurality of transponders using different frequencies and different methods of modulation and encoding to transmit an identification signal in response to the interrogation signal, each of the plurality of transponders being adapted to attach to an article to be identified, said identification signal including at least an identification component, said interrogator comprising: an antenna assembly for transmitting said interrogation signal from the interrogator to one of the plurality of transponders and for receiving said identification signal from said transponder; a processor for processing said identification signal received by said antenna assembly and creating an output signal substantially corresponding to said identification component of said identification signal; and a display for displaying said output signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The interrogator of claim 1, wherein said processing means processes identification signals from at least two different identification transponders.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The interrogator of claim 1, wherein said processor includes a mixer for demodulating the identification signal from said transponder to form a demodulated signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The interrogator of claim 3, wherein said interrogator includes at least a first processing channel and a second processing channel, said mixer transmitting said demodulated signal to at least said first processing channel and said second processing channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The interrogator of claim 4, wherein each of said processing channels includes a filter and a comparator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The interrogator of claim 5, wherein said first processing channel processes demodulated signals in a range of about 10 to 16 kHz and said second processing channel processes demodulated signals less than about 10 kHz.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The interrogator of claim 4, wherein said processing means includes a third processing channel for processing an unmodulated identification signal from said transponder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The interrogator of claim 7, wherein said third processing channel includes an amplifier and a comparator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The interrogator of claim 8, wherein said unmodulated identification signal is a frequency-shift-keyed identification signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The interrogator of claim 7, wherein said first, second and third processing channels transmit the identification signal through a microprocessor to convert the identification portion thereof for display on said display.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The interrogator of claim 1, wherein said antenna assembly includes an exciter antenna and a receive antenna.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for interrogating one of a plurality of identification transponders that use different frequencies and different methods of modulation, each of said plurality of transponders being adapted to attach to an article to be identified and each of said plurality of transponders including a transponder antenna assembly for receiving an interrogation signal from an interrogator and for responding to said received interrogation signal with an identification signal, said responsive signal including at least an identification component, comprising the steps of: transmitting an interrogation signal from an interrogator antenna assembly of the interrogator to said transponder; receiving by said interrogator antenna assembly said identification signal from said transponder, said identification signal exhibiting at least one of a plurality of modulations, encodings, frequencies, phases and intervals and; processing said responsive signal received by said interrogator antenna means; creating an output signal substantially corresponding to said identification component of said responsive signal; and displaying said output signal on a display of said interrogator.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for interrogating one of a plurality of identification transponders that use different frequencies and different methods of modulation, each of said plurality of transponders being adapted to attach to an article to be identified and each of said plurality of transponders including a transponder antenna assembly for receiving an interrogation signal from an interrogator and for responding to said received interrogation signal with an identification signal, said responsive signal including at least an identification component, comprising the steps of: transmitting an interrogation signal from an interrogator antenna assembly of the interrogator to said transponder; receiving by said interrogator antenna assembly said identification signal from said transponder, said identification signal exhibiting at least one of a plurality of modulations, encodings, frequencies, phases and intervals and; processing said responsive signal received by said interrogator antenna means; creating an output signal substantially corresponding to said identification component of said responsive signal; and displaying said output signal on a display of said interrogator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12, further including the step of demodulating the responsive signal of from said plurality of transponders to form a demodulated signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13, further including the step of transmitting said demodulated signal to at least a first channel and a second channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14, further including the step of processing an unmodulated identification signal from said transponder in a third channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 15, further including the step of transmitting the identification signal from said first, second and third channels to a microprocessor for conversion of the identification component thereof for display by said interrogator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
156 words
A programmable interrogator for use with a plurality of transponders attached to an article to be identified, the interrogator for transmitting an interrogation signal for interrogating one of the plurality of transponders that respond to an interrogation signal by transmitting an identification signal having different frequencies, different methods of modulation, and at least an identification component, said one of the plurality of transponders receiving said interrogation signal from the interrogator and responding to said received interrogation signal with an identification signal, said interrogator comprising: an antenna assembly for transmitting the interrogation signal from the interrogator to said transponder and for receiving said identification signal from said transponder; a processor for processing said identification signal received by said transponder antenna assembly and creating an output signal substantially corresponding to said identification component of said identification signal; and a programmer connected to said processor for programming the specific types of identification signals of the different transponders to process.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
156 words
A programmable interrogator for use with a plurality of transponders attached to an article to be identified, the interrogator for transmitting an interrogation signal for interrogating one of the plurality of transponders that respond to an interrogation signal by transmitting an identification signal having different frequencies, different methods of modulation, and at least an identification component, said one of the plurality of transponders receiving said interrogation signal from the interrogator and responding to said received interrogation signal with an identification signal, said interrogator comprising: an antenna assembly for transmitting the interrogation signal from the interrogator to said transponder and for receiving said identification signal from said transponder; a processor for processing said identification signal received by said transponder antenna assembly and creating an output signal substantially corresponding to said identification component of said identification signal; and a programmer connected to said processor for programming the specific types of identification signals of the different transponders to process.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The programmable interrogator of claim 17, wherein said programmer includes an EEPROM coupled to a microprocessor, said EEPROM being programmed by an external computer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The programmable interrogator of claim 18, wherein said processor includes a mixer for demodulating the identification signal, when said identification signal is formed of at least one of different frequencies, variable phases and intervals, to form a demodulated signal, said mixer transmitting said demodulated signal to at least a first channel and a second channel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The programmable interrogator of claim 19, wherein said processor includes at least a third channel for processing unmodulated identification signals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The programmable interrogator of claim 20, wherein said programmer programs said processor to read any combination of at least said first, second and third channels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-13 | 2003-03-15 | 2003-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-13 | 2007-03-15 | 2007-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-13 | 2011-03-15 | 2011-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |