Trw Limited

Tagent Corporation

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Schlumberger Resource Management Services, Inc.

Anthony G Jennetti

Paul A Lovoi

Bernard Baron

Donald L Rucker

Ralph A Belingheri

Greg A Manassero

Neil Gilbert Siegel

Oscar Ayzenberg

Stephen Deane Stearns

Forrest Kim Wunderlich

Jarie G Bolander

Ivan Pereira daSilva

Brent Walden

Brent R Humphrey

Christopher J Lee

Teri E Judelson

Neil Jarvis

Warren Fay

Francisco J Serrano

Steven H Larson

Richard J Davis

James D Budack

An electronic identification tag, usually in very small size, responds to a reader with an identification code unique to the object to which the tag is attached. The stand-alone device responds to a reader signal by storing energy received from the signal, then using the stored energy to generate another signal that is encoded with identification information. In operation, a reader generates RF energy which can reach a multiplicity of such tags over a distance of several meters. The system minimizes power requirements for the tag by minimizing intelligence in the IC. Use of a transmit frequency which is different from the reader's power frequency reduces interference between the power pulse and information pulse, eliminates the need for filters and enables the multiplied clock reference frequency as the transmit carrier frequency.

Product identification tag device and reader

A medical pill intended for human or animal consumption includes an RF ID tag in or on the pill. The tag will respond to a nearby reader, the tag itself being without a battery or other constant power supply, capturing power from the reader's transmitted signal and storing a portion of that power in a power supply. An antenna for the RF ID tag may be integral with the tag or it may be transferred to the pill using conductive materials in the pill's coating, filler or binding agents, embedded within the pill, or printed onto the pill. If separate from the tag the antenna is electromagnetically coupled to the tag which has a small onboard antenna. The RF ID tag of each pill has data that are transmitted when the tag is interrogated by a signal from a reader. Incorporation of an ingestable ID tag is possible because of the tag's very small size compatible with ingestion and because the tag can contain an antenna within the pill that allows the tag to be read at a substantial distance. Several different methods for deactivating the RF ID tag after ingestion or use of the pill are disclosed. Medicaments other than oral pills can also have the ID tags.

Trackable pills with electronic ID tags

Systems and methods are provided for locating a transmission signal from a radio transmission emitter device, such as a cell phone, in a rescue area. A pilot signal is employed to lock onto a transmission signal of one or more radio transmission devices located in a rescue area. A signal separation routine extracts desired transmission signals from emitter devices located in the rescue area from other signals coexisting on similar frequency bands and interfering with the desired transmission signals. An estimated location of transmission signals from emitter devices located in the rescue area is determined based on one or more transmission signal location techniques. The area is searched based on the estimated location of the transmission signal. If the emitter transmitting the transmission signal is not found, devices in the system are moved and the location estimation is repeated.

Finding cell phones in rubble and related situations

A three-array pole antenna highly suited for use in a communication system, and mounted in a cylindrical cover that may be supported atop a conventional pole of similar diameter. The antenna includes a ground plane structure ( ) with three outwardly facing facets ( ) that are joined together to form a rigid structure. Three antenna feed printed circuit boards ( ) each provide two antenna feeds to an array of antenna patches ( ) that are electromagnetically coupled to the circuit boards. Metal-to-metal connections are limited to radio-frequency (RF) feed connectors to the circuit boards ( ), to minimize intermodulation effects. The entire antenna structure is of low cost and is easy to assemble and install.

Pole antenna with multiple array segments

An indoor cellular band antenna has an outer metal housing having a 90&deg; inner configuration and a radome positioned over the front of the housing. An antenna dipole is mounted in the housing and includes two dipole members. Each dipole member includes a rectangular dipole element extended transmission balun members and a back mounting plate. An antenna cable extends through the top panel of the housing. An outer conductor of the cable is electrically connected to one of the transmission balun member of one dipole member and an inner conductor is electrically connected to the dipole element of the same dipole member. The inner and outer conductors of the cable are mounted to the dipole member by connectors formed from the dipole member.

High performance, directional cellular band antenna

An arrangement for radio utility meter reading processing of data acquisition for use with an automatic billing system involves a water meter transmitter antenna system installed at or near ground level in an outdoor environment. A radio frequency utility meter communication apparatus transmits utility meter data to a remote utility meter data collection unit from an underground pit box. The pit box receives a utility meter and has a generally ground level pit lid with an opening therethrough. An antenna element has an upper member extending at least partly through the pit lid opening and received thereabove. A depending base of the antenna element extends from the upper element and passes through the pit lid opening into the underground pit box. The antenna element is at least partly exposed to its surrounding environment. An RF transmitter inside the underground pit box is associated with the antenna element depending base so that RF signals output by the RF transmitter are propagated by the antenna element. A utility meter also located within the underground pit box is arranged for outputting its data to the RF transmitter, so that the upper portion of the antenna element at least partly situated above an exterior, above ground portion of the pit box lid, propagates utility meter data from the utility meter within the pit box to a remote utility meter data collection unit.

Utility meter transponder exposed ground level antenna assembly

Growing community of inventors

Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Anthony G Jennetti