US7250865B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Object tracking system with non-contact object detection and identification
Assignee: Key Control Holding Inc
•
Filing: 2005-03-15
•
Granted: 2007-07-31
•
Expires: 2025-03-15
Abstract
Abstract An object tracking system is provided for tracking the removal of objects from a location and the replacement of the objects at the location. The system includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached to each of the objects to be tracked and each tag has an antenna. When activated, the RFID tag of an object transmits a unique code identifying the object. A storage unit is provided at the location and the storage unit has a plurality of receptacles configured to receive objects replaced at the location. Each receptacle has an associated antenna for activating the RFID tag of an object in the receptacle and receiving the radio frequency transmitted code of the object. The antennae of the system can be capacitive plates for conveying the radio frequency transmissions through capacitive coupling or inductive loops for conveying the transmissions through inductive coupling. A computer-based controller is coupled to the antenna of the receptacles for receiving transmitted codes and determining based thereon the absence or presence and location of objects within the storage unit.
Inventors
- 👤 William C. Maloney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:25
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/02; G08B21/0202; G08B21/0286; G06; G06K; G06K17/00; G07; G07B; G07B15/00; G07B15/02; G07B15/04; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/00174; G07C9/00896; G08B13/00; G08B13/02; G08B13/14; G08B13/1427; G08B13/1445; G08B13/1454; G08B13/1463; G08B13/22; G08B13/24; G08B13/2402; G08B13/2405; G08B13/2414; G08B13/2417; G08B13/2428; G08B13/2431; G08B13/2434; G08B13/2448; G08B13/2451; G08B13/2462; G08B13/2465; G08B13/2468; G08B13/2471; G08B13/2474; G08B13/2477; G08B13/2482; G08B21/023; G08B21/0288; G07C11/00; G07C2009/00936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
An object tracking system for tracking the removal of objects from a storage unit and the replacement of the objects at a storage unit, said object tracking system comprising: a non-contact ID tag attached to each of the object to be tracked, each non-contact ID tag including an electronic storage device carrying a stored code associated with the object corresponding to the non-contact ID tag, each of said non-contact ID tags being capable of transmitting its stored code; a plurality of receptacles in said storage unit wherein each receptacle is configured to receive a single object and to allow each single object to be selectively removed from each receptacle; at least one non-contact sensor associated with a receptacle for polling the non-contact ID tag of an object in a receptacle and detecting the resulting transmission by the non-contact ID tag of the stored code associated with the object; selection circuitry coupled to said sensor for selecting said sensor, said sensor, when selected, detecting the stored code associated with an object if an object is present in the associated receptacle and detecting no code if an object is not present in the associated receptacle; and a controller coupled to said sensor for receiving stored codes detected by said sensor and for determining, based on the received codes, the absence of objects removed from the location and the presence and location within the storage unit of objects present at the location; said non-contact ID tags being adapted to transmit their stored codes to said sensor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
An object tracking system for tracking the removal of objects from a storage unit and the replacement of the objects at a storage unit, said object tracking system comprising: a non-contact ID tag attached to each of the object to be tracked, each non-contact ID tag including an electronic storage device carrying a stored code associated with the object corresponding to the non-contact ID tag, each of said non-contact ID tags being capable of transmitting its stored code; a plurality of receptacles in said storage unit wherein each receptacle is configured to receive a single object and to allow each single object to be selectively removed from each receptacle; at least one non-contact sensor associated with a receptacle for polling the non-contact ID tag of an object in a receptacle and detecting the resulting transmission by the non-contact ID tag of the stored code associated with the object; selection circuitry coupled to said sensor for selecting said sensor, said sensor, when selected, detecting the stored code associated with an object if an object is present in the associated receptacle and detecting no code if an object is not present in the associated receptacle; and a controller coupled to said sensor for receiving stored codes detected by said sensor and for determining, based on the received codes, the absence of objects removed from the location and the presence and location within the storage unit of objects present at the location; said non-contact ID tags being adapted to transmit their stored codes to said sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The object tracking system of claim 1 , wherein said non-contact ID tag is a radio frequency ID tag.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The object tracking system of claim 1 wherein each of said non-contact ID tags includes an antenna for transmission of its stored code and wherein each of said sensors includes an antenna for receiving stored codes transmitted by said non-contact ID tags.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The object tracking system of claim 3 wherein said antenna of each non-contact ID tag comprises a pair of capacitive plates and wherein each of said sensors includes a pair of capacitive plates, said capacitive plates of each non-contact ID tag aligning with said capacitive plates of a sensor when the object to which said non-contact ID tag is attached is disposed in the receptacle associated with the sensor, the radio frequency transmission of said non-contact ID tag being capacitively coupled to said sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The object tracking system of claim 4 wherein said capacitive plates are formed of conductive foil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The object tracking system of claim 4 wherein said capacitive plates are formed of resistive ink.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The object tracking system of claim 4 wherein said capacitive plates are formed of resistive ink.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The object tracking system of claim 4 wherein said capacitive plates are applied to the surface of said object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The object tracking system of claim 3 wherein said antenna of each non-contact ID tag comprises an inductive loop and wherein each of said sensors includes an inductive loop, said inductive loops of each non-contact ID tag aligning with said inductive loop of a sensor when the object to which said non-contact ID tag is attached is disposed in the receptacle associated with the sensor, the radio frequency transmission of said non-contact ID tag being inductively coupled to said sensor.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
168 words
A system for tracking the removal and replacement of a plurality of keys from a storage unit, said system comprising: a plurality of key tags each for association with one or more keys to be tracked; a non-contact RFID tag on each of said key tags, each non-contact RFID tag storing an identification code associated with its key tag and being adapted to transmit said identification code via radio frequency transmission without electrical contact with said storage unit; a storage unit, said storage unit being adapted to receive and to allow selective removal of said key tags and keys attached thereto; at least one radio frequency sensor at said storage unit for sensing identification codes transmitted by RFID tags of key tags in said storage unit; and a controller coupled to said at least one sensor, said controller being programmed to receive identification codes from said at least one sensor and to track removal and replacement of key tags and thus keys in said storage unit based thereon.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
168 words
A system for tracking the removal and replacement of a plurality of keys from a storage unit, said system comprising: a plurality of key tags each for association with one or more keys to be tracked; a non-contact RFID tag on each of said key tags, each non-contact RFID tag storing an identification code associated with its key tag and being adapted to transmit said identification code via radio frequency transmission without electrical contact with said storage unit; a storage unit, said storage unit being adapted to receive and to allow selective removal of said key tags and keys attached thereto; at least one radio frequency sensor at said storage unit for sensing identification codes transmitted by RFID tags of key tags in said storage unit; and a controller coupled to said at least one sensor, said controller being programmed to receive identification codes from said at least one sensor and to track removal and replacement of key tags and thus keys in said storage unit based thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said storage unit comprises a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle disposed for receipt of a key tag.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
86 words
A key tag for use with a system for tracking the removal and replacement of a plurality of keys from a storage unit, said key tag comprising: a front face and a rear face and a fastener for securing one or more keys thereto; and a non-contact RFID tag attached to said key tag, said non-contact RFID tag storing an identification code associated with its key tag and being adapted to transmit said identification code via radio frequency transmission without electrical contact with said storage unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
A key tag for use with a system for tracking the removal and replacement of a plurality of keys from a storage unit, said key tag comprising: a front face and a rear face and a fastener for securing one or more keys thereto; and a non-contact RFID tag attached to said key tag, said non-contact RFID tag storing an identification code associated with its key tag and being adapted to transmit said identification code via radio frequency transmission without electrical contact with said storage unit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US29236A
Cited
US527589A
Cited
US2971806A
Cited
US3451043A
Cited
US3648241A
Cited
US4060795A
Cited
US4209787A
Cited
US4112717A
Cited
US4267942A
Cited
US4275385A
Cited
US4419734A
Cited
US4519522A
Cited
US4549170A
Cited
US4636950A
Cited
US5062151A
Cited
US4827395A
Cited
US4635053A
Cited
US4658357A
Cited
US4575719A
Cited
US4636634A
Cited
US4783655A
Cited
US4595922A
Cited
US4845492A
Cited
US4661806A
Cited
US4737910A
Cited
US4673915A
Cited
US4866661A
Cited
US4885571A
Cited
US4839875A
Cited
US4814592A
Cited
US4796209A
Cited
US4812985A
Cited
USD308777S
Cited
US4960651A
Cited
US4940966A
Cited
US4967906A
Cited
US4896024A
Cited
US4853692A
Cited
US4889977A
Cited
US4882569A
Cited
US4918432A
Cited
US5038023A
Cited
US5099227A
Cited
US5021778A
Cited
US4926161A
Cited
US5182570A
Cited
US5319544A
Cited
US5805074A
Cited
US5426284A
Cited
US5287414A
Cited
US5218344A
Cited
US5172829A
Cited
US5521815A
Cited
US5448110A
Cited
US5335170A
Cited
US5404384A
Cited
US5533079A
Cited
US5374815A
Cited
US5402104A
Cited
WO1995004324A1
Cited
US6131808A
Cited
US6431438B1
Cited
US5434775A
Cited
WO1995012858A1
Cited
US5510770A
Cited
US5745366A
Cited
US5905653A
Cited
US5703785A
Cited
US5528222A
Cited
US5574470A
Cited
US5554974A
Cited
US5971593A
Cited
US5635693A
Cited
US5671362A
Cited
WO1996031790A1
Cited
US5836002A
Cited
US5794213A
Cited
USD375857S
Cited
US5661457A
Cited
US5627520A
Cited
WO1997004338A1
Cited
WO1997009687A1
Cited
US5801628A
Cited
US5777884A
Cited
USD383341S
Cited
US6069563A
Cited
US5689238A
Cited
US5821859A
Cited
US5736929A
Cited
WO1997048990A1
Cited
US5957372A
Cited
US6073834A
Cited
US5961036A
Cited
US5708419A
Cited
US6075441A
Cited
US5771003A
Cited
US6054924A
Cited
WO1998015851A1
Cited
WO1998015853A3
Cited
WO1998026312A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-07-30 | 2011-01-29 | 2011-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-07-30 | 2015-01-29 | 2015-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-07-30 | 2019-01-29 | 2019-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |