Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090195363 | RFID SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETECTING AND/OR DIRECTING THE PHYSICAL CONFIGURATION OF A COMPLEX SYSTEM - 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. | 08-06-2009 |
20100051817 | Systems and methods for determining the shape of glass sheets - Disclosed are systems and methods for determining the shape of a glass sheet during and/or after the forming process. In one example, a system for determining the shape of a glass sheet defining an interior bulk can include a light source, an image capture device and a processor that are configured to calculate the location of an energy centroid within a selected portion of the bulk of the glass sheet. | 03-04-2010 |
20100245057 | COMPONENTS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR ASSOCIATING SENSOR DATA WITH COMPONENT LOCATION - Components having one or more sensors adapted to provide sensor data relating to a condition(s) of the component are disclosed. The component is adapted to communicate with another mating component to associate sensor data with identity information of the mating component. The sensor and identity information can be communicated remotely including via radio-frequency communications employing RF identification devices (RFIDs). Location of the mating component can be determined using the identity information of the mating component. In this manner, the sensor data can be associated with the location of the mating component using the identity information in a “component-to-component” configuration to provide location-specific sensor data. Having the ability to localize sensor data to a specific location can assist in pinpointing areas where performance or other condition issues may exist in a component, a mating component, an article of manufacture associated with the components, and/or communication and/or transmissions lines coupled between components. | 09-30-2010 |
20110140856 | RFID Condition Latching - A passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) system has an RFID reader that communicates with and provides power to an RFID tag. The RFID tag has an RFID integrated circuit chip that contains a memory device for storing information to be transmitted to the RFID reader, and energy storage device that stores energy for powering the integrated circuit chip. In the event that the RFID tag is activated during periods when the RFID integrated circuit chip is not receiving sufficient energy from the RFID reader, then either an energy storage device is provided to allow the activation event to be recorded at the RFID integrated circuit chip, or a memory device is provided that senses and records the activation event and communicates this activation event once power has been restored. | 06-16-2011 |
20120126949 | Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Connected Tag Communications Protocol And Related Systems And Methods - Protocols, systems, and methods are disclosed for two or more RFID tags to communicate with each other using direct connections, wherein the two or more RFID tags are configured to mate and directly exchange identification information. A disclosed method includes detecting that a first RFID tag is connected to a second RFID tag. A first message comprising a first tag identification is sent directly from the first RFID tag to the second RFID tag, and the first RFID tag receives a first acknowledgement from the second RFID tag if the first tag identification was correctly received. A second message comprising a second tag identification may be sent directly from the second RFID tag to the first RFID tag and a second acknowledgement may be received from the first RFID tag if the second tag identification was correctly received. | 05-24-2012 |
20120126950 | Protocol For Communications Between A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tag And A Connected Device, And Related Systems And Methods - Protocols, systems, and methods are disclosed for at least one RFID tag and a device, to communicate with each other using direct connections, wherein the at least one RFID tag and the device are configured to mate and directly exchange identification information. A message comprising a tag identification may be sent directly from the RFID tag to the device, and the RFID tag may receive a first acknowledgement from the device if the first tag identification was correctly received. A connection may be detected between the RFID tag and the device prior to directly exchanging information. The exchange of information may include sending data from the device to the RFID tag. | 05-24-2012 |
20120133490 | Communications Between Multiple Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Connected Tags And One Or More Devices, And Related Systems And Methods - Protocols, systems, and methods are disclosed for two or more RFID tags to communicate with each other and a device using direct connections. A disclosed system includes a first RFID tag, a second RFID tag, and a device. The first and second RFID tags are configured to mate to each other and directly exchange information. The second RFID tag is further configured to directly exchange information with the device such that information received directly at the second RFID tag from the first RFID tag may then be directly exchanged with the device. The first RFID tag may send a first tag identification directly from the first RFID tag to the second RFID tag. The second RFID tag may then send a first acknowledgement to the first RFID tag if the first tag identification was correctly received by the second RFID tag. | 05-31-2012 |
20120274452 | RADIO FREQUENCY (RF)-ENABLED LATCHES AND RELATED COMPONENTS, ASSEMBLIES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Radio frequency (RF)-enabled latches and related components, assemblies, systems, and methods are disclosed that affect control of mating and/or demating of components. In one embodiment, a component is provided that includes a body configured to be mated to a second component to establish a connection. A latch is disposed in the body and configured to either affect demating of the body from the second component or mating of the body to the second component, when the latch is not actuated. A transponder disposed in the body can be configured to actuate the latch to either affect demating of the body from the second component or mating of the body to the second component. The transponder can also be configured to actuate the latch based on the identification information of the second transponder received through the communication connection or lack of receiving identification information from a second transponder or reader. | 11-01-2012 |
20120326844 | RADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) TAG EVENT OCCURRENCE DETECTION, REPORTING, AND MONITORING, AND RELATED RFID READERS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Disclosed herein are radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag event occurrence detection, generation, and monitoring. Related components, RFID readers, systems, and methods are also disclosed. The RFID tags are configured to sense an event(s) that occurred in the RFID tag or in proximity thereto. In response, the RFID tags are configured to set an event occurrence indicator(s) in a memory of the RFID tag indicating the occurrence of the sensed event(s). A RFID reader is configured to perform a query of a population of RFID tags in communication range to detect which RFID tags have a set event occurrence indicator(s), so a RFID reader can then specifically communiate with RFID tags that experienced an event(s) to request and service the event(s) type without having to perform those same operations for the entire RFID tag population. The RFID reader can be configured to take desired actions based on detection of events. | 12-27-2012 |
20130272696 | OPTICAL FIBER-BASED DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, AND RELATED METHODS FOR CALIBRATION THEREOF - Optical fiber-based wireless systems and related components and methods are disclosed. The systems support radio frequency (RF) communications with clients over optical fiber, including Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) communications. The systems may be provided as part of an indoor distributed antenna system (IDAS) to provide wireless communication services to clients inside a building or other facility. The communications can be distributed between a head end unit (HEU) that receives carrier signals from one or more service or carrier providers and converts the signals to RoF signals for distribution over optical fibers to end points, which may be remote antenna units (RAUs). In one embodiment, calibration of communication downlinks and communication uplinks is performed to compensate for signal strength losses in the system. | 10-17-2013 |
20140153919 | OPTICAL FIBER-BASED DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, AND RELATED METHODS FOR MONITORING AND CONFIGURING THEREOF - Optical fiber-based wireless systems and related components and methods support radio frequency (RF) communications with clients over optical fiber, including Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) communications. The systems may be provided as part of an indoor distributed antenna system (IDAS) to provide wireless communication services to clients inside a building or other facility. The communications can be distributed between a head end unit (HEU) that receives carrier signals from one or more service or carrier providers and converts the signals to RoF signals for distribution over optical fibers to end points, which may be remote antenna units (RAUs). A microprocessor-based control system or systems may also be employed. The control systems may include one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers in one or more of the components of the system that execute software instructions to control the various components and provide various features for the optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems. | 06-05-2014 |