Cool Dry, Inc.

Zih Corporation

Lg Electronics Inc.

Wherenet Corporation

Zebra Technologies Corporation

Spectrian Corporation

Zebra Enterprise Solutions Corp.

Microwave Modules & Devices, Inc.

Widata Corporation

David S Wisherd

Michael Andrew Wohl

Pablo Eugenio D'Anna

John Alan Eisenberg

Robert W Boyd

Donald K Belcher

James J O'Hagan

Edward Herman Decker

Gary Lynn Cox

Howard D Bartlow

Santiago Romero

Tom Richardson

Brian L Baskin

Timothy C Harrington

William H McCalpin

Jerald W English

Thomas L Richardson

Joseph M O'Reilly

John A Eisenberg

Pablo E D'ANNA

An example system for locating passive RFID tags includes a narrowband RFID reader configured to transmit a narrowband RF signal to energize a passive RFID tag, thereby causing the passive RFID tag to create a backscatter reflection target; a first wideband transceiver configured to transmit a wideband RF signal; a second wideband transceiver configured to: receive the wideband RF signal reflected from the backscatter reflection target; and record time-of-arrival data for the reflected wideband signal; and processing circuitry configured to determine a location measurement of the passive tag based on the time-of-arrival data.

Passive radio frequency identification ranging

The present application encompasses methods and apparatus for heating a load such as clothes immersed in a medium such as water during a heating period. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises heating the load and medium within an enclosure by subjecting said load and medium to heated air originated from a conventional energy source; and applying heat to said load and medium within the enclosure via an AC electrical field, embodied as a capacitor, originated from an RF power source.

Hybrid RF/conventional clothes dryer

Provided are architectures, systems, methods, and computer program products for real-time object locating and position determination using frequency channel diversity for transmitting and receiving position determination signals including bursts of location signals. Channelized frequency diversity of a short burst of small location signals that 'hop' across multiple frequency channels is used to collectively produce a quasi-wideband position determination signal. Object tags operating with frequency channel diversity for transmitting location signals of position determination signals require low power consumption, but can still efficiently provide adequate position determination signals for reliable position determination.

Frequency channel diversity for real-time locating systems, methods, and computer program products

A power converting system that includes: a rectifier configured to convert an input voltage into a output voltage and including an output node that is coupled to floating ground; a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier coupled to the rectifier and configured to generate a load voltage based on an RF clock and the output voltage; a detector coupled to the RF power amplifier and configured to detect the load voltage of the RF power amplifier; an integrator coupled to the detector and configured to generate a direct current (DC) voltage based on the detected load voltage; and a controller coupled to the integrator and configured to, based on the DC voltage, generate a control signal to adjust one or more features of the RF power amplifier is disclosed.

Power converting system

The present invention encompasses methods and apparati for heating a load () such as clothes immersed in a medium (such as water) during a heating period. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises heating the load () and medium within an enclosure () by subjecting said load () and medium to heated air () originated from a conventional energy source (); and applying heat to said load () and medium within the enclosure () via an AC electrical field, embodied as a capacitor, originated from an RF power source ().

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media are disclosed for providing timing-based distance measurement to a passive radio frequency identification ('RFID') tag using one or more wideband RF signals synchronized with the standard narrowband RF signal. In some embodiments, the narrowband RF signal activates a passive RFID tag creating a backscatter reflection target which returns a modulated narrowband signal and a wideband signal from the passive RFID tag. The one or more wideband receivers determine time-of-flight and/or time-of-arrival measurements for the returned wideband signal. A location measurement is then calculated for the passive RFID tag using the tag data, the known location of the wideband transceivers, and the time-of-flight/time-of-arrival data.

A system is provided for tracking an asset within a geographic area. The system includes an antenna mast supportable by, and extending upward from, an object configured to move or facilitate movement of the asset. The antenna mast is capable of supporting a plurality of wireless locating units of a plurality of geo-spatial positioning systems, which are configured to locate a respective one or more locating units, and thereby the asset, within the geographic area. The system also includes a controller positionable on the object and configured to control operation of the wireless locating units. The controller is further configured to direct transmission of data to a host via one of the locating units or another wireless transmitter, and in a manner that accounts for a wireless link between the respective locating unit or other wireless transmitter and the host.

System, apparatus and method for locating and/or tracking assets

A wireless local area network (WLAN) includes a server and receiver, which includes a radio frequency (RF) front-end circuit that receives wireless signals from the mobile nodes within the WLAN and detects baseband signals. A signal waveform detector edge detects a signal waveform and generates a trigger signal indicative of the modulation type, data format and time-of-arrival (TOA) information of a desired signal to be captured. A baseband processor receives the trigger signal from the signal waveform detector and captures the desired signal. A system controller is connected to the baseband processor and configures the baseband processor for processing the desired signal and obtaining message data and signal metrics that are transferred to the system controller to be communicated outbound from the receiver as a client to the server.

Wireless local area network receiver and associated method

A clothes dryer apparatus () comprising an electrically conductive, grounded, generally cylindrical rotatable drum () having a hollow interior adapted to contain a load () of wet clothes to be dried. The drum's () exterior surface () is partially indented to form one or more integral, generally ring-shaped insulated notches (). An electrically conductive, generally flat arcuate anode () is positioned within each notch (), with no physical contact between an anode () and its corresponding notch (). Each anode () is spatially fixed with respect to the rotatable drum (), and is electrically isolated from conductive portions of the drum (). A source () of RF power (), operating at a single fixed frequency, is coupled to each anode ().

Fixed radial anode drum dryer

A wireless local area network (WLAN) includes a server and receiver in communication with the server as a network client. A plurality of radio frequency (RF) front-end circuits are each configured for receiving wireless signals from mobile nodes within the WLAN along an allocated channel specific for a front-end circuit. A plurality of baseband processors each specific to an allocated channel are connected to a respective front-end circuit for the allocated channel and capture a desired signal specific to the allocated channel. A system controller is connected to each baseband processor for configuring each baseband processor and processing the desired signal and obtaining message data and signal metrics for each allocated channel that are communicated to the server.

Wireless local area network system and receiver adapted for use thereof and associated method

Methods and apparatus for heating an objectthat includes an absorbed medium. A method embodiment comprises: placing the objectincluding the medium into an enclosure; initiating a heating process by subjecting the objectand medium to a capacitive AC electrical field generated by an RF power sourceat a single low frequency; controlling the heating process by taking real time measurements; and making real time adjustments to the RF power sourcein response to the real time measurements. The objectsubstantially absorbs the medium in a first 'cool' state, and therefore has a maximum weight in the first 'cool' state. The objectis substantially free from the medium in a second &#x201c;heated&#x201d; state, due to substantial release of the medium from the object. The released medium is evaporated during the heating process. The heating process is completed when the objectis substantially transitioned into the second &#x201c;heated&#x201d; state. The method further comprises causing an air flowinside the enclosureto carry away evaporated medium out of the enclosure

Dielectric dryer drum

A method for RF dielectric heating an object having a variable weight including a medium is provided The method comprises: (A) placing the object having the variable weight including the medium into an enclosure; (B) adding an ionic substance to the medium; (C) initiating a heating process by subjecting the medium including the object to a variable AC electrical field; and (D) controlling the heating process. The method further comprises using an air flow having an ambient temperature, or being heated before getting into the enclosure, to carry away the evaporated medium from the enclosure.

Growing community of inventors

Carmel, CA, United States of America

David S Wisherd