Article detection and/or recognition using magnetic devices
US4940966A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jul 10, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S428/90
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
This application discloses a method of recognizing and/or locating preselected categories of articles, which comprises applying to the articles a plurality of magnetic elements in predetermined associations (e.g. with predetermined numbers of magnetic elements and with predetermined spacings between said elements), whereby when the articles are caused to move relative to a predetermined interrogating magnetic field, each particular association of magnetic elements gives rise to a magnetic signature whereby the article or category of article carrying each of the predetermined associations can be recognized and/or located. A series of tags or markers for use in such a method, as well as a system for determining the location and/or identity of an article within an article conveying network, are also disclosed. Typically, one of such a series of tags will have a plurality of magnetic elements (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) whose individual magnetic characteristics, and whose number, shape, location and orientation on a substrate, determine the individual character of the magnetic response of the tag. By varying one or more of these parameters, a large family of magnetically individually …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.