RFID systems and methods for automatically detecting and/or directing the physical configuration of a complex system
US8138925B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 15, 2009 |
| Grant date | Mar 20, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 4, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q1/149
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A radio-frequency identification (RFID)-based configuration detection system for automatically detecting, directing, and/or configuring the physical configuration of a complex system constituted by a set of one or more types of mateable components. The RFID configuration detection system utilizes a set of mateable RFID tags arranged so that each mateable component includes at least one mateable RFID tag. Each RFID tag includes information about its associated component and is arranged so that when the components are mated, their associated RFID tags also are mated. The system uses at least one RFID reader to read RFID tag signals from the RFID tags. The RFID tag signals provide information about mating status of the component, as well as information about components themselves. An information processing system operably connected to the RFID reader receives and process information concerning the number and type of mated connections and thus the configuration. Changes to the configuration, such as mated connections being unmated, can be tracked to provide real-time configuration information.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.