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US 8,284,058 B2Granted
Electronic tag with indicator
AssigneeThe Invention Science Fund I, LLC
InventorsRoderick A Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic tag may include a human perceptible indicator configured to indicate a need for one or more treatments by at least one corresponding plant.
Claims54
An electronic tag, comprising:
- an interrogation interface;
- a memory circuit operatively coupled to the interrogation interface and carrying data corresponding to at least one plant, the data including a count value;
- an actuatable indicator operatively coupled to at least one of the interrogation interface and the memory circuit;
- and
- a microcontroller operatively coupled to the interrogation interface, the memory circuit, and the actuatable indicator, the microcontroller configured to,
- modify the count value when time passes;
- and
- activate the indicator when the count value reaches a limit.
5 more elements
A method for identifying at least one plant, comprising:
- receiving via an interrogation interface, an interrogation signal corresponding to a request for data corresponding to at least one treatment for the at least one plant, wherein the data includes a count value, wherein the interrogation interface is operatively coupled to a memory circuit carrying the data and a microcontroller that is further operatively coupled to the interrogation interface and the memory circuit, wherein the microcontroller is configured to modify the count value responsive to time passing;
- transmitting the data via the interrogation interface;
- responsive to the count value reaching a limit, receiving via the interrogation interface, an indicator activation command;
- and
- responsive to the indicator activation command, activating an indicator to place the indicator in a condition for human perception.
2 more elements
A method for indicating a need for treatment for at least one plant, comprising:
- receiving via an interrogation interface data corresponding to a time or date for applying at least one treatment to at least one plant;
- setting a timer to a value corresponding to the time or date;
- activating the timer;
- and
- when the time tracked by the timer elapses, activating an indicator to place the indicator in a condition for human perception.
2 more elements
A method for enabling a human-perceptible indication of a need for plant care, comprising:
- transmitting an interrogation signal to an electronic tag associated with at least one plant;
- and
- receiving a human-perceptible indication from the electronic tag if at least one plant care treatment is needed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.