Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-23
2001-12-11
Mullen, Thomas (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S572700
Reexamination Certificate
active
06329917
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to identification or control arrangements, including arrangements enabling the movements of individuals or articles to be tracked, or the access of individuals to restricted areas or premises to be controlled.
STATE OF THE ART
There are many situations in which it is desirable or necessary to be able to track the movements of individuals. There are many situations also where it is desirable or necessary to control the access of individuals to restricted areas or premises. It is known to provide individuals with electronic transponders (or tags), or with magnetically-encoded cards, which are “read” by interrogation units in order to identify each individual. Generally these require the individual to remember to carry his or her transponder or card, and the systems are therefore compromised if the individual loses or misplaces his transponder or card, or has it stolen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
I have now devised arrangements which can be used to overcome the above-described problems and in particular can be used to provide individuals, and a wide variety of articles, with an identifier which is difficult if not impossible to perceive, at least visually. The arrangements can also be used in many situations where previous arrangements have been unsuitable.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fibre or thread which incorporates an electronic transponder.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fabric or other article having at least one fibre or thread which incorporates an electronic transponder.
The electronic transponder may be embedded or encapsulated within a unitary fibre. Alternatively, the fibre may comprise a plurality of filaments stranded together and enclosing the transponder. The fibre may include a plurality of transponders spaced apart along its length.
Preferably the electronic transponder is elongate in shape and of such a diameter (or other cross-sectional size) that it does not substantially increase the diameter of the fibre in which it is incorporated. In this manner, the presence of the transponder within the fibre, or its position within the fibre, is difficult or impossible to discern either visually or by touch.
The electronic transponder may comprise an integrated circuit having an aerial extending therefrom or incorporated therein. The transponder may include a battery power source: the transponder may be arranged so that an interrogation unit, with which it is to be used, will inductively couple power into the circuit via the aerial of the transponder in order to recharge the battery; instead, this inductive coupling may be used to power the transponder, in which case the battery power source is not required. In either of the latter cases, relative movement between the transponder and the interrogation unit may cause the necessary current to be generated and supplied to the transponder.
Preferably the transponder (except possibly its aerial) is wholly contained or encapsulated within a protective enclosure, for example of glass or ceramic material.
It will be appreciated that the transponder may be arranged, when interrogated by the interrogation unit, to transmit a reply signal which identifies the transponder, and therefore the fabric or other article having the fibre, or the individual wearing a garment or article, which incorporates the fibre. The movement of individuals wearing such a garment may be monitored, for example for the purpose of tracking individuals or for the purpose of limiting access to restricted areas or premises: alternatively, the transponder may be used to identify the fabric, garment or other article so that its movements can be monitored for security or stock control purposes, whether in the factory, or in a warehouse or the like, or in a retail outlet. The transponder may be arranged for interrogation by means of an electromagnetic signal of one frequency, and to transmit an electromagnetic reply signal of a different frequency, for example an optical signal.
The transponder may include one or more sensors, e.g. microphones, thermometers, accelerometers, hygrometers, light sensors, pressure sensors, direction-finding sensors, to sense and measure respective parameters: the measured values may be stored and the transponder arranged to transmit a signal representing the measured parameter.
It is also envisaged, in the manufacture of a fibre for a fabric of the invention, or in the manufacture of the fabric or of an article from the fabric, that data may be recorded in the transponder, this data representing information relating to the process or process conditions. For example, this information may include the date and time at which the processing took place, and the temperature or other processing parameters: in the latter case, where the fibre or fabric incorporates a transponder having a sensor (as mentioned above), the sensor may be arranged to sense and store the temperature or other processing parameter.
Whilst the fibres of the present invention may be combined with other fibres to form a fabric, they may be otherwise incorporated into an article. For example, the fibres or threads of the invention may be incorporated into stitching or the seams of fabrics or garments or of other articles, e.g. footwear, curtains, furniture etc. As further examples, the fibres or threads may be incorporated into articles used for wrapping, tying or reinforcing other articles.
In all of the above-described embodiments, it will be appreciated that an individual will automatically become identifiable, by appropriate interrogation units, upon donning an encoded garment or other article: the transponders which are incorporated in the fibres of the garment are difficult or impossible to perceive, at least visually. In some cases it will be necessary to position the transponder-containing part of the garment or other article in contact or close proximity to a reading head of the interrogation unit: however, in many cases this should not be necessary and in those cases the interrogation unit may be mounted to one side of a doorway or passageway through which the wearer of the garment passes.
For the purposes of this specification, the term “fabric” includes fabrics which are formed by weaving or any other process. Also, the fibres or threads may be of natural or synthetic materials, or a combination of natural and synthetic materials.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Gallagher Thomas A
Gordon David P.
Jacobson David S.
Mullen Thomas
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