Electronic system and method for remote identification of coded articles and the like

Apparatus for interrogating/identifying coded articles comprising:

• an interrogator/reader (I/R) unit for transmitting at a suitable frequency to the articles a stream of binary bits of instruction and data words and for receiving responses from each article;
• and
• a plurality of coded articles, each of the articles having electronic circuitry for storing as digital bits an identifying code number, the circuitry having means for detecting and demodulating the incoming bit stream from the I/R unit, and for generating clock and timing signals slaved to the bit stream for framing the incoming digital words, the circuitry having logic means for responding internally to the instruction and data words of the bit stream and for responding externally to the I/R unit at selected times such that the code number of an article is uniquely identified and that article alone among many communicates solely with the I/R unit when so identified,
• wherein the I/R unit transmits a short burst of a microwave carrier signal to represent a binary "0", a longer burst of the carrier to represent a binary "1", and an extended burst of the carrier to represent a binary "1" and to provide the means whereby the article can respond to the I/R unit.

Apparatus for remote identification of coded articles comprising:

• a transmit unit for transmitting to the articles a stream of binary bits of instruction and data words and for receiving responses from the articles together or separately on command;
• and
• an electronic circuit for each article comprising:
• an input block for detecting and decoding an incoming bit stream from the transmit unit, and for applying to other portions of the circuit digital data bits and clock signals slaved to the incoming bit stream;
• a reset wake-up block connected to the input block for receiving a reset command and for activating other portions of the circuit when the article comes within range of the transmit unit and for returning the circuit to a quiescent state in which it draws very little current when outside the range of the transmit unit;
• a control logic data memory register (CLDMR) block connected to the input and reset blocks for responding to the instructions and data from the transmit unit to identify coded information stored within the electronic circuit;
• and
• a modulator block connected to the CLDMR block for sending a signal back to the transmit unit as the coded information is identified such that a plurality of the articles can be simultaneously detected and each one uniquely identified as to its respective coded information.

Apparatus for remote identification of coded articles comprising:

• a transmit unit for transmitting to the articles a stream of binary bits of instruction and data words and for receiving responses from the articles together or separately on command;
• and
• an electronic circuit for each article comprising:
• an input block for detecting and decoding an incoming bit stream from the transmit unit, and for applying to other portions of the circuit digital data bits and clock signals slaved to the incoming bit stream;
• a reset wake-up block connected to the input block for receiving a reset command and for activating other portions of the circuit when the article comes within range of the transmit unit and for returning the circuit to a quiescent state in which it draws very little current when outside the range of the transmit unit;
• a control logic data memory register (CLDMR) block connected to the input and reset blocks for responding to the instructions and data from the transmit unit to identify coded information stored within the electronic circuit;
• and
• a modulator block connected to the CLDMR block for sending a signal back to the transmit unit as the coded information is identified such that a plurality of the articles can be simultaneously detected and each one uniquely identified as to its respective coded information,
• wherein the transmit unit transmits a short burst of an RF carrier signal to represent a binary "0", a longer burst to represent a binary "1", and an extended burst to represent a binary "1" and to provide the RF energy enabling each article to respond.

A circuit for storing coded information in the form of binary words and for sending signals in response to interrogating binary word signals regarding the information comprising:

• an input unit for receiving the interrogating signals and for generating binary pulses in the form of "0's" and "1's" and clock pulses having a timed relation to the "0's" and "1's";
• a reset unit connected to the input unit for enabling portions of the circuit to active state upon receipt of a reset instruction of the interrogating signals and for returning the circuit to a quiescent state when there is no interrogating signal;
• an instruction latch unit connected to the input unit for receiving instruction words of the interrogating signals;
• a data latch unit connected to the input unit for receiving data words of the interrogating signals;
• an instruction decoder unit connected to the instruction latch unit for receiving and decoding instruction words;
• a memory comparator controlled by the instruction decoder unit for receiving data words and for comparing them with coded word information stored in memory positions;
• a modulate decoder unit connected to the instruction decoder unit and the memory comparator unit for tabulating the comparison of data words with stored coded word information;
• and
• signal response means controlled by the modulate decoder unit for generating response signals when data words are matched with the stored coded word information.

An electronically coded article having a support, an antenna, and an electronic circuit, the circuit comprising:

• an input detector/demodulator connected to the antenna for detecting incoming signals wherein a short burst of signal represents a binary "0", a longer burst represents a binary "1", and an extended burst represents a binary "1" and also provides RF energy for a response signal, the detector/demodulator generating binary "0" and "1" pulses and clock pulses in accordance with the digital signals;
• memory means for storing coded information as a plurality of digital words;
• logic and control means for receiving the binary "0's" and "1's" and clock pulses from the detector/demodulator and for comparing the binary pulses in sequence with the coded words stored in the memory means and for determining when the stored words have been matched to data sent by the RF signal;
• and
• signalling means controlled by the logic and control means for modulating the antenna during extended "1" signals to generate response signals as data is matched to stored words.

An electronically coded article comprising:

• an insulating support;
• an RF antenna mounted on the support;
• a battery mounted on the support;
• and
• an electronic circuit mounted on the support and being connected to the antenna and battery, the circuit comprising:
• an input detector/demodulator (D/D) for detecting incoming signals wherein a short duration burst of the RF signal represents a binary "0", and a longer burst represents a binary "1", the detector/demodulator generating binary "0" and "1" bit pulses and clock pulses slaved to the signals;
• memory means for storing digital bit information as a plurality of coded words;
• logic and control means for receiving the binary bit and clock pulses from the D/D and for comparing the binary bit pulses with the coded words stored in the memory means;
• reset means connected to the D/D for placing the circuit in quiescent state in the absence of an RF signal and for enabling the circuit to active state on receipt of a reset instruction;
• and
• signalling means connected to the logic and control means for generating a response signal when the stored coded words match with respective binary bit pulses.

An electronic circuit for a coded article comprising:

• an input detector/demodulator (D/D) for detecting incoming digital word signals, the input D/D having a first pair of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors connected as a common-gate source-driven amplifier, the source of one of the transistors being connected to an input for the signal, the D/D also having a second pair of MOS transistors supplying the first pair of MOS transistors with substantially constant currents which are unequal, the D/D generating binary "0" and "1" pulses corresponding to the digital word signals;
• memory means for storing coded information as a plurality of digital words;
• logic and control means connected to the D/D and memory means for comparing digital words from the signal with the words stored in the memory means;
• and
• signalling means connected to the logic and control means for generating a response signal when the digital words of the signals and the stored words match.

A method of interrogating and identifying electronically coded articles comprising the steps of:

• storing coded information in the article in the form of a plurality of stored digital word fragments;
• interrogating an article or articles by means of sequential digital instructions and data words on all possible combinations of stored words;
• responding by each article when a match between a data word and a stored word occurs;
• determining that at least one article has a matched data and stored word in all of the word fragments of its coded information;
• sorting through the possible combinations of matched word fragments in all of the articles which have responded;
• and
• identifying the articles one-by-one, each with its unique stored word fragments until all of the articles are identified.

A method of remotely interrogating and identifying articles in which a plurality of coded digital words are electronically stored comprising the steps of:

• transmitting a bit stream of instruction and data words to each and all articles present to determine the presence of at least one article;
• sequentially sorting through all possible combinations of values of the plurality of coded words stored in each and all articles;
• tabulating the matches found between transmitted and stored words of each and all articles and responding by the article when a match is found;
• determining that at least one article has matches with all of its stored words;
• transmitting instruction and data words to the articles to sort out all possible combinations of matched words in all of the articles which have responded;
• and
• responding by the articles one-by-one when each is uniquely identified.

A method of remotely interrogating and uniquely identifying a number of articles in which coded information is electronically stored in the form of a plurality of digital words comprising the steps of:

• transmitting signals in the form of a bit stream of instruction and data words to determine whether an article or articles are present within the range of the signals and if present instructing each article to wake-up from a quiescent state to an active state and to generate a signal response;
• tabulating the matches found between transmitted and stored words of each and all articles and activating the articles to respond when matches are found;
• determining that at least one article has matches with all of its stored words;
• transmitting instruction and data words to the articles to try all possible combinations of matched words in all of the articles and instructing the articles to respond as combinations of matches are found;
• and
• communicating exclusively with each article after all of its stored words are uniquely identified and thereafter placing the article in inactive state in which it no longer responds to the instruction and data words while other articles are being identified.