Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080223936 | SECURITY FOR BLISTER PACKS - Various RFID based blister pack embodiments are provided for improving the ability to detect and prevent tampering and counterfeiting of blister packs and/or facilitating the chain of custody tracking of blister packs during manufacture. Some embodiments employ an RFID chip network on the blister pack and some embodiments employ an RFID strap network on the blister pack, wherein the integrity of the network (or lack thereof) is used to indicate the possibility of tampering. Other embodiments determine the possibility of tampering based on the frequency of an RF signal that is received from a chip provided on the blister pack, which will vary depending on whether the associated antenna has been detuned as a result of some type of tampering. | 09-18-2008 |
20090033465 | WIRELESS SYSTEMS HAVING MULTIPLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND EMPLOYING SIMPLIFIED FABRICATION AND MATCHING, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A means and method to connect multiple IC chips to a single apparatus where the IC chips may function as a passive system or network in space. The collection of antennae and coupled near field devices form a pool of energy in which multiple devices may be introduced so as to provide a pool of energy and/or to function as a network or networks of devices including IC chips. | 02-05-2009 |
20090049415 | METHOD AND SOFTWARE TOOL FOR AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF SOFTWARE FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A method of generating software code for a processor of an IC based on a simple input description of the IC's standards. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives from the standards and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, wherein the macros description includes information relating to a number of first fields for each of the primitives and a number of second fields for each response. The method further includes generating a blank version of a template that includes each of the second fields and receiving a completed version of the template, wherein the completed template specifies a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives. Finally, the method includes compiling the software code based on the macros description and the completed version of the template. Also, a software tool implementing the method is provided. | 02-19-2009 |
20090070729 | METHOD AND SOFTWARE TOOL FOR DESIGNING AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A method of designing an integrated circuit for use in an application having standards having a plurality of primitives, wherein each of the primitives has a corresponding response. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, generating a template relating to the response corresponding to each of the primitives, receiving information specifying a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives based on the template, and generating a hardware description language representation for the integrated circuit based on the macros description and the information. | 03-12-2009 |
20090098915 | RECHARGING METHOD AND APPARATUS - The present invention provides apparatus and an associated method for remotely energizing power storage devices. Energization may preferably be effected through the use of RF energy from a base station, ambient energy or ultra-wide band energy. The remote station preferably has at least one antenna having an effective area greater than its physical area. The system may have an antenna and associated circuitry provided on an electronic chip such as a monolithic chip or on a printed circuit with a suitable substrate. | 04-16-2009 |
20090105782 | VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION APPARATUS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - Methods and apparatus for providing vagus nerve stimulation for the treatment of diseases such as depression and epilepsy that do not require an onboard, implanted power supply. Power may be supplied from outside of the body by near-field inductive coupling with an external power supply provided in a support article (e.g., garment) worn by the patient. Power may also be supplied by providing an antenna for harvesting ambient RF energy and converting it into DC power. In addition, the methods and apparatus provide for remote, wireless programming of the parameters that specify the nature of current pulses provided to the vagus nerve by probes implanted in the body of the patient. The preferred stimulation profile is 1-2 milliamp pulses of 250 microseconds in duration at a frequency of 20 to 30 Hz, wherein the profile is repeatedly on for 30 seconds and off for 5 minutes. | 04-23-2009 |
20090207000 | Multiple Antenna Energy Harvesting - Energy harvesting circuits and associated methods are provided that employ multiple antennas to optimize the amount of energy that is harvested while at the same time making efficient use of tag space. In some embodiments, matching networks are chosen in a manner that optimizes the DC energy that is created from the harvesting process. In other embodiments, phase shifts are introduced into the received signals to allow the signals to be more efficiently combined after they are rectified. | 08-20-2009 |
20090310393 | Motion Activated Amplifier - An electronic device that includes a motion activated amplifier structured to receive a first DC signal having a first DC voltage level and output a second DC signal having a second DC voltage level that is greater than the first DC voltage level. The motion activated amplifier includes a motion activated switch operatively coupled to transformer/rectifier circuitry, wherein the motion activated switch is structured to receive the first DC signal and in response to being moved output an AC signal, and wherein the transformer/rectifier circuitry is structured to receive the AC signal and convert the AC signal into the second DC signal. | 12-17-2009 |
20100073188 | System and Method for Real Time Asset Location and Tracking - A system for estimating the current position of an asset within a location that includes a transponder associated with the asset, a plurality of wireless interface devices provided within the location, and a central computer system in electronic communication with the wireless interface devices. The central computer system is adapted to: (i) identify a particular one or more of the wireless interface devices that have received a wireless signal from the transponder, and (ii) determine an estimate of the current position based on the identified particular one or more of the wireless interface devices. | 03-25-2010 |
20100191174 | HAND-HELD ELECTRICAL STIMULATION DEVICE - Apparatuses and methods for the safe and efficient electrical stimulation of tissue. The apparatuses of the present invention are preferably hand-held and are capable of providing electrical waveforms that are effective in promoting wound healing, improving circulation, stimulating peripheral nerves, administering pharmaceutical compounds via electrophoresis, and electroporating DNA into tissue. The present invention also generally contemplates the safe and efficient transfection of DNA into mammalian tissue via electroporation. Particularly, apparatuses of the present invention are useful in the delivery of DNA vaccines and in gene therapy. The present invention also preferably provides for the direct measurement of in vivo tissue resistance. Tissue resistance measurements may then be used to adjust stimulation intensity during electroporation or electrostimulation, so as to avoid damaging tissue during operation of the unit. | 07-29-2010 |
20110012728 | Sensor and System to Detect Bridge Scour - A system for detecting scour associated with a structure having a part thereof extending into a bed of material located under a body of water is provided. The system comprises a sensor unit buried in a portion of the bed of material located in proximity to the part. The sensor unit is structured to float to a surface of the body of water and automatically wirelessly transmit a message after being released from the bed of material in response to at least some of the portion of the bed of material being scoured. The system also comprises a receiver unit structured to wirelessly receive the message. | 01-20-2011 |
20110103312 | Methods and Apparatus for Switching A Transponder To an Active State, and Asset Management Systems Employing Same - A transponder that may be used as an RFID tag includes a passive circuit to eliminate the need for an “always on” active RF receiving element to anticipate a wake-up signal for the balance of the transponder electronics. This solution allows the entire active transponder to have all circuit elements in a sleep (standby) state, thus drastically extending battery life or other charge storage device life. Also, a wake-up solution that reduces total energy consumption of an active transponder system by allowing all non-addressed transponders to remain in a sleep (standby) state, thereby reducing total system or collection energy. Also, the transponder and wake-up solution are employed in an asset tracking system. | 05-05-2011 |
20110298591 | Methods and Apparatus for Switching A Transponder To an Active State, and Asset Management Systems Employing Same - A transponder that may be used as an RFID tag includes a passive circuit to eliminate the need for an “always on” active RF receiving element to anticipate a wake-up signal for the balance of the transponder electronics. This solution allows the entire active transponder to have all circuit elements in a sleep (standby) state, thus drastically extending battery life or other charge storage device life. Also, a wake-up solution that reduces total energy consumption of an active transponder system by allowing all non-addressed transponders to remain in a sleep (standby) state, thereby reducing total system or collection energy. Also, the transponder and wake-up solution are employed in an asset tracking system. | 12-08-2011 |
20120071115 | Method of Controlling RF Transmissions to Mitigate Interference with Critical Care Medical Equipment - Various methods of mitigating RF inference with one or more critical care medical devices is provided, wherein a predetermined threshold energy acceleration value is associated with the one or more critical care medical devices that, if exceeded, will cause RF inference with the one or more critical care medical devices. The methods includes generating and transmitting RF energy, wherein at least a portion of said RF energy follows an RF power profile of power versus time having a particular format designed to mitigate interference. | 03-22-2012 |
20130178158 | WIRELESS SYSTEMS HAVING MULTIPLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND EMPLOYING SIMPLIFIED FABRICATION AND MATCHING, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A means and method to connect multiple IC chips to a single apparatus where the IC chips may function as a passive system or network in space. The collection of antennae and coupled near field devices form a pool of energy in which multiple devices may be introduced so as to provide a pool of energy and/or to function as a network or networks of devices including IC chips. | 07-11-2013 |
20130200152 | LOW-POWER PULSE WIDTH ENCODING SCHEME AND COUNTER-LESS SHIFT REGISTER THAT MAY BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH - A method of decoding an encoded signal includes steps of receiving the encoded signal, creating a decoding signal by delaying the encoded signal by a predetermined amount of time Δ, sampling the encoded signal using the decoding signal, and determining a value of each of a plurality of decoded bits represented by the encoded signal based on the sampling. Also, a method of operating a shift register wherein the shift register has an initialization state wherein a first binary symbol is stored in a first position and a second binary symbol different than the first binary symbol is stored in each of one or more intermediate positions and a last position. The method includes determining that the shift register is full responsive to detecting that the first binary symbol has been stored in either one of the intermediate positions or the last position. | 08-08-2013 |
20130260701 | Method of Controlling RF Transmissions to Mitigate Interference with Critical Care Medical Equipment - Various methods of mitigating RF interference with one or more critical care medical devices is provided, wherein a predetermined threshold energy acceleration value is associated with the one or more critical care medical devices that, if exceeded, will cause RF interference with the one or more critical care medical devices. The methods includes generating and transmitting RF energy, wherein at least a portion of said RF energy follows an RF power profile of power versus time having a particular format designed to mitigate interference. | 10-03-2013 |
20140353378 | LOW-POWER PULSE WIDTH ENCODING SCHEME AND COUNTER-LESS SHIFT REGISTER THAT MAY BE EMPLOYED THEREWITH - A method of decoding an encoded signal includes steps of receiving the encoded signal, creating a decoding signal by delaying the encoded signal by a predetermined amount of time Δ, sampling the encoded signal using the decoding signal, and determining a value of each of a plurality of decoded bits represented by the encoded signal based on the sampling. Also, a method of operating a shift register wherein the shift register has an initialization state wherein a first binary symbol is stored in a first position and a second binary symbol different than the first binary symbol is stored in each of one or more intermediate positions and a last position. The method includes determining that the shift register is full responsive to detecting that the first binary symbol has been stored in either one of the intermediate positions or the last position. | 12-04-2014 |