Electronic band tag and method of storing ID information therein
US6104295A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 20, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08B21/22
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electronic band tag includes a plurality of conductive wires supported within a band of material wherein each of the wires provide either an open circuit or a closed circuit to form a coded pattern of open and closed circuits. After an electrical discontinuity has been formed in at least one of the wires, the coded pattern of the wires is converted into a unique tag ID. The band tag utilizes both the radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) parts of the electromagnetic spectrum to enable a system including multiple tags to locate subjects (i.e. objects and persons) within a tracking environment. Each band tag includes a battery-operated, microprocessor-based electronic circuit for each subject to be located. Each band tag automatically transmits digitized infrared light signals to provide a fine determination of its subject's location. Each band tag transmits RF and IR signals upon actuation of a page request/alert push button switch on its electronic circuit. An RF signal is also generated at a timed interval as a "heartbeat" pulse. This pulse informs a host computer that the band tag is both present and fully functional. The IR and RF signals are modulated or encoded with the un…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.