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US 6,075,441 AGranted
Inventoriable-object control and tracking system
AssigneeKey-Trak, Inc.
InventorWilliam C. Maloney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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AssigneeKey-Trak, Inc.
InventorWilliam C. Maloney
Estimating the term…
A system for tracking objects such as keys is provided. The system includes a plurality of units, each associated with an object to be tracked. Each unit carries a memory device storing a unique code identifying the unit and its associated object. A receptacle for receiving and storing the units has a top panel with a plurality of slots each configured to recieve one of the plurality of units. A backplane is mounted in the receptacle underlying the top panel. The backplane is provided with a plurality of connectors each aligned with a corresponding one of the slots in the top panel for engaging a unit disposed in the slot. The connectors are configured for readably coupling with the memory devices of objects disposed in the slots to read the unique codes of the objects. A computer based controller is connected through a data matrix to the connectors for receiving the unique codes and processing the unique codes to determine the presence or absence of units in the slots in order to track the disposition of objects associated with the units.
A system for tracking objects, said system comprising:
A system for storing and tracking objects, said system comprising:
A container assembly for use in an object tracking system for tracking objects inserted in and removed from said container assembly, said container assembly comprising a frame defining an interior compartment, a panel in said interior compartment, said panel being formed with an array of receptacles configured to removably receive objects to be tracked, a backplane in said interior compartment spaced from said panel, and an array of couplers mounted to said backplane and aligned with said array of receptacles for coupling with objects inserted in said receptacles, said array of couplers interacting with objects inserted in said receptacles for transmitting information from said objects to a controller of the object tracking system.
In an object tracking system having a container for receiving and storing tags associated with objects to be tracked, a code stored on each of said tags identifying the tag and thus identifying the object associated with the tag, and a controller coupled to said container for reading and processing said codes as said tags are inserted in and removed from said container, the improvement comprising a panel in said container, said panel having an array of receptacles configured to receive tags inserted in said container, a backplane in said container spaced from said panel, and an array of connectors mounted to said backplane, each of said array of connectors being aligned with a corresponding one of said receptacles and being configured to couple to the stored code on a tag inserted in the receptacle for transmitting the code to said controller.
A system for tracking objects, said system comprising a plurality of units each associated with an object to be tracked, memory means on each unit for storing a code identifying the unit and the object associated therewith, a container for receiving and storing units, a top panel in said container formed with an array of receptacles configured to receive units to be stored in said container, a backplane in said container spaced from said top panel, and means on said backplane for receiving codes from units located in said receptacles to determine at least the absence or presence of units within said container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.