Method and apparatus for storing and reading data
US6056199A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 20, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 2, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 20, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06K17/0022
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for storing, reading, and updating information abode a plurality of target objects. The apparatus includes a data reader and a plurality of readable and writable tags, each tag including a memory. The reader produces a modulated interrogation signal or beam for activating and writing to the tag. The detector within the tag detects the modulated interrogation signal and, in response thereto, accesses the memory for reading or writing. The tag also includes an emitter so that the tag may be read by the reader. During reading, data is retrieved from the memory and the emitter within the tag is modulated to produce a data signal representing the retrieved data. The tags also include optically readable symbols that supply control information for use by the reader in reading from and writing to the memories of the tags. In one embodiment, the tag takes the form of a photonic tag, the interrogation signal being formed as a modulated optical beam. In another embodiment, the tag is provided in the form of an RF tag, the interrogation signal comprising a modulated RF transmission.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.