System and device for storing objects

Claim 2

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of locations each of which are adapted to receive an identification device; an electronic row column matrix having a plurality of row circuits and column circuits; a two terminal electronic memory device associated with each identification device, wherein each electronic memory device comprises an individualized code; a plurality of signal paths, each signal path being through a row circuit, an electronic memory device and a column circuit, for addressing an identification device at a location and for communicating electrically coupled serial transmission signals of the individualized code from the electronic memory device; and a reader, coupled to the signal paths, for receiving the serial transmission from an identification device.

Claim 3

The storage system as claimed in claim 1 , including a keypad for entering the identity of a selectable object.

Claim 4

The storage system as claimed in claim 1 , including a display that indicates the location of a selectable object.

Claim 5

The storage system as claimed in claim 1 , including a plurality of LED's each of which are associated with a location, for indicating the location of the selectable object.

Claim 6

The storage system as claimed in claim 1 , including a resistance coupled to the electronic memory device for reducing susceptibility to unwanted signals.

Claim 7

The storage system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each location has associated therewith a first connection and at least a second connection; and the reader provides a selection signal at one of the two terminals of the electronic memory device and receives serial transmissions from the other of the two terminals of the electronic memory device.

Claim 8

The storage system as claimed in claim 1 , including a processor for associating an individualized code with an object.

Claim 9

The storage system as claimed in claim 1 , including a processor for controlling the signal paths.

Claim 10

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of locations each of which are adapted to receive an identification device; a two terminal electronic memory device associated with each identification device, each electronic memory device including an individualized code serial transmittable from the electronic memory device; a plurality of signal circuits, each signal circuit comprising a unique row and column circuit for addressing an identification device at a location and for communicating electrically coupled serial transmission signals; and a reader, coupled to the signal circuits, for selectively receiving the serial transmissions from respective identification devices; wherein the individualized code is received via the second terminal of the electronic memory device while the first terminal of the electronic memory device is maintained at a reduced voltage level.

Claim 11

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of locations each of which are adapted to receive an identification device; a two terminal electronic memory device associated with each identification device, each electronic memory device including an individualized code serial transmittable from the electronic memory device; a plurality of signal circuits, each signal circuit comprising a unique row and column circuit for addressing an identification device at a location and for communicating electrically coupled serial transmission signals; and a reader, coupled to the signal circuits, for selectively receiving the serial transmissions from respective identification devices; wherein the individualized code is received via the second terminal of the electronic memory device while the first terminal of the electronic memory device is maintained at a reduced voltage level.

Claim 12

The storage system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein each location includes a coupling arrangement comprising a first connector and at least a second connector for receiving the serial information from the electronic memory device.

Claim 13

The storage system as claimed in claim 9 , including a keypad for entering the identity of a selectable object.

Claim 14

The storage system as claimed is claim 9 , including a display that indicates the location of a selectable object.

Claim 15

The storage system as claimed in claim 9 , including a plurality of LED's each of which are associated with a location, for indicating the location of the selectable object.

Claim 16

The storage system as claimed in claim 9 , including a resistance coupled to the electronic memory device for reducing susceptibility to unwanted signals.

Claim 17

The storage system as claimed in claim 9 , including a processor for associating an individualized code with an object.

Claim 18

The storage system as claimed in claim 9 , including a processor for controlling the signal circuits.

Claim 19

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of locations each of which are adapted to receive an identification device; an electronic memory device, associated with each identification device, comprising a data connection and a ground return connection and an individualized code; a plurality of signal circuits, each signal circuit comprising a unique row circuit and column circuit for communication with an identification device at a location; and a reader, coupled to the signal circuits, for receiving the serial transmission from an identification device; and wherein communication with the electronic memory device is accomplished by switching its ground return connection to a near ground voltage and receiving an identification code from the data connection.

Claim 20

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of locations each of which are adapted to receive an identification device; an electronic memory device, associated with each identification device, comprising a data connection and a ground return connection and an individualized code; a plurality of signal circuits, each signal circuit comprising a unique row circuit and column circuit for communication with an identification device at a location; and a reader, coupled to the signal circuits, for receiving the serial transmission from an identification device; and wherein communication with the electronic memory device is accomplished by switching its ground return connection to a near ground voltage and receiving an identification code from the data connection.

Claim 21

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects, said system comprising: an identification device associated with at least one object; a housing comprising a plurality of locations each adapted to receive an identification device, wherein each location has associated therewith a first contact and at least a second contact; an electronic memory device associated with each operable identification device, wherein each electronic memory device comprises a serially transmittable individualized code; and a plurality of unique paths each path including a row circuit, a location's first contact and second contact, and a column circuit; a reader, coupled to the row and column circuits, for reading a serially transmittable individualized code from an identification device located at a selected location; and wherein all communication with the identification device is via the first and at least second contact.

Claim 22

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects, said system comprising: an identification device associated with at least one object; a housing comprising a plurality of locations each adapted to receive an identification device, wherein each location has associated therewith a first contact and at least a second contact; an electronic memory device associated with each operable identification device, wherein each electronic memory device comprises a serially transmittable individualized code; and a plurality of unique paths each path including a row circuit, a location's first contact and second contact, and a column circuit; a reader, coupled to the row and column circuits, for reading a serially transmittable individualized code from an identification device located at a selected location; and wherein all communication with the identification device is via the first and at least second contact.

Claim 23

The storage system as claimed in claim 18 , including a keypad for entering the identity of a selectable object.

Claim 24

The storage system as claimed in claim 18 , including a display that indicates the location of a selectable object.

Claim 25

The storage system as claimed in claim 18 , including a plurality of LED's each of which are associated with a location, for indicating the location of the selectable object.

Claim 26

The storage system as claimed in claim 18 , including a resistance coupled to the electronic memory device for reducing susceptibility to unwanted signals.

Claim 27

The storage system as claimed in claim 18 , including a processor for associating an individualized code with an object.

Claim 28

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of locations each of which receive an identification device; an electronic row colunin matrix having a plurality of row circuits and column circuits; a two terminal electronic memory device associated with each identification device, wherein each electronic memory device comprises an individualized code; a plurality of signal paths, each signal path being through a row circuit, an electronic memory device and a column circuit, for addressing an identification device at a location and for communicating electrically coupled serial transmission signals of the individualized code from the electronic memory device; and means, coupled to the signal paths, for receiving the serial transmission from an identification device and for associating an individualized code with an object.

Claim 29

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of locations each of which receive an identification device; an electronic row colunin matrix having a plurality of row circuits and column circuits; a two terminal electronic memory device associated with each identification device, wherein each electronic memory device comprises an individualized code; a plurality of signal paths, each signal path being through a row circuit, an electronic memory device and a column circuit, for addressing an identification device at a location and for communicating electrically coupled serial transmission signals of the individualized code from the electronic memory device; and means, coupled to the signal paths, for receiving the serial transmission from an identification device and for associating an individualized code with an object.

Claim 30

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of locations each of which receive an identification device; a two terminal electronic memory device associated with each identification device, each electronic memory device including an individualized code serial transmittable from the electronic memory device; a plurality of signal circuits, each signal circuit comprising a unique row and column circuit for addressing an identification device at an operable location and for communicating electrically coupled serial transmission signals; and means, coupled to the signal circuits, for selectively receiving the serial transmissions from respective identification devices and for associating an individualized code with an object; wherein the individualized code is received via the second terminal of the electronic memory device while the first terminal of the electronic memory device is maintained at a reduced voltage level.

Claim 31

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of locations each of which receive an identification device; a two terminal electronic memory device associated with each identification device, each electronic memory device including an individualized code serial transmittable from the electronic memory device; a plurality of signal circuits, each signal circuit comprising a unique row and column circuit for addressing an identification device at an operable location and for communicating electrically coupled serial transmission signals; and means, coupled to the signal circuits, for selectively receiving the serial transmissions from respective identification devices and for associating an individualized code with an object; wherein the individualized code is received via the second terminal of the electronic memory device while the first terminal of the electronic memory device is maintained at a reduced voltage level.

Claim 32

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of locations each of which receive an identification device; an electronic memory device, associated with each identification device, comprising a data connection and a ground return connection and an individualized code; a plurality of signal circuits, each signal circuit comprising a unique row circuit and column circuit for communication with an identification device at a location; and means, coupled to the signal circuits, for receiving the serial transmission from an identification device and for associating an individualized code with an object; wherein communication with the electronic memory device is accomplished by switching its ground return connection to a near ground voltage and receiving an identification code from the data connection.

Claim 33

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects each associated with an identification device, said system comprising: a housing comprising a plurality of locations each of which receive an identification device; an electronic memory device, associated with each identification device, comprising a data connection and a ground return connection and an individualized code; a plurality of signal circuits, each signal circuit comprising a unique row circuit and column circuit for communication with an identification device at a location; and means, coupled to the signal circuits, for receiving the serial transmission from an identification device and for associating an individualized code with an object; wherein communication with the electronic memory device is accomplished by switching its ground return connection to a near ground voltage and receiving an identification code from the data connection.

Claim 34

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects, said system comprising: an identification device associated with at least one object; a housing comprising a plurality of locations that receive an identification device, wherein each location has associated therewith a first contact and at least a second contact; an electronic memory device associated with each operable identification device, wherein each electronic memory device comprises a serially transmittable individualized code; and a plurality of unique paths each path including a row circuit, a location's first contact and second contact, and a column circuit; means, coupled to the row and column circuits, for reading a serially transmittable individualized code from an identification device located at a location and for associating an individualized code with an object; wherein all communication with the identification device is via the first and at least second contact.

Claim 35

A storage system suitable for storing a plurality of objects, said system comprising: an identification device associated with at least one object; a housing comprising a plurality of locations that receive an identification device, wherein each location has associated therewith a first contact and at least a second contact; an electronic memory device associated with each operable identification device, wherein each electronic memory device comprises a serially transmittable individualized code; and a plurality of unique paths each path including a row circuit, a location's first contact and second contact, and a column circuit; means, coupled to the row and column circuits, for reading a serially transmittable individualized code from an identification device located at a location and for associating an individualized code with an object; wherein all communication with the identification device is via the first and at least second contact.