Allflex Usa, Inc.

Elucent Medical, Inc.

Ascend Geo, LLC

Robert C Stewart

Daniel Warren Van Der Weide

Fred T Lee, Jr

Lee G Wilke

Paul D Favret

Todd J Fockler

Scott K Burkholder

Gregg A Wagner

James Muir Drummond

Aaron Stafford Oakley

Christopher Bruce Crosby

Joseph Kapushion

David Farrell

Jacques Martin

Russell Brinkman

Russell Brinkmann

Brian Bolton

Johan De Meulemeester

Nicholas Hill

Douglas Ewald

James E Macdonald

Juan Carrion

Provided herein are systems, devices, assemblies, and methods for localization of a tag in a tissue of a patient. For example, provided herein are systems, devices, and methods employing a detection component that is attached to or integrated with a surgical device, where the detection component detects a signal from a tag in a patient, where the tag is activated by remote introduction of a magnetic field.

Signal tag detection components, devices, and systems

Systems and methods for companion animal health monitoring are described. In one embodiment, an animal health monitoring system including an electronic assembly located on a companion animal including a microprocessor, a power source connected to the microprocessor, and a transceiver and a microchip implanted in the companion animal and including memory storing identification data and a temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the companion animal, wherein the electronic assembly interrogates the microchip to obtain identification data and temperature data and transmits the identification data and the temperature data.

Companion animal health monitoring system

Transponders are disclosed that are configurable to operate in an HDX mode and/or an FDX-B mode and that use a switchable load impedance across the transponders' resonant antenna circuit to induce amplitude and/or frequency modulation. One embodiment of the invention includes an inductive antenna including two terminals connected to tag circuitry, where the inductive antenna forms a resonant antenna circuit tuned to resonate at the frequency of the activation signal. The tag circuitry and the resonant antenna circuitry are configurable as an oscillator, the tag circuitry is configured to be powered by electric current induced in the resonant antenna circuit, includes at least one switchable load impedance connected across the antenna resonant circuit, configured to amplitude modulate the activation signal appearing at the resonant antenna circuit terminals using a switchable load impedance, and to frequency shift key modulate the oscillator signal appearing at the resonant antenna circuit terminals.

Combination full-duplex and half-duplex electronic identification tag

Systems and methods for animal health monitoring are described. In one embodiment, an animal health monitoring system includes a ruminant bolus transponder, a high frequency radio frequency transceiver device, and at least one base station including a high frequency radio frequency transceiver, wherein the high frequency radio frequency transceiver device is proximally located to the bolus transponder, wherein the ruminant bolus periodically emerges from a low power dormant state and measures data including at least one sensor measurement including time and date data, wherein the ruminant bolus is configured to store the measured data using the memory connected to the microcontroller in the ruminant bolus, wherein the ruminant bolus periodically emerges from a low power dormant state and transmits the stored data in the memory to the proximally located device via high frequency RF transmission, and wherein the ruminant bolus can be spontaneously activated by a low frequency scanner.

Animal health monitoring system

In an inductively coupled radio frequency identification (RFID) system deployed in animal and livestock applications, reading system efficacy can be compromised by animal movement on, around, or near metal structures prone to producing sonic frequencies. Such is the case, for example, when a walk-by antenna is mounted at the entry door of a livestock transport trader, and animals transit on a metallic ramp and metallic trader floor. Associated with the observable acoustic noise are subtle disturbances in the magnetic field surrounding the antenna due to vibrating metal altering the reluctance of the antenna's magnetic field. This acoustic noise manifests itself as an electrical noise phenomenon that interferes with the signals of certain types of identification tags which rely on amplitude modulation. The detrimental effects of acoustic noise from metal structures can be mitigated by using a multi-loop antenna that limits the spatial distribution of the transmitted magnetic field and cancels close by magnetic field disturbances.

Signal cancelling transmit/receive multi-loop antenna for a radio frequency identification reader

Transponders are disclosed that are configurable to operate in an HDX mode and/or an FDX-B mode and that use a switchable load impedance across the transponders' resonant antenna circuit to induce amplitude and/or frequency modulation. An RF level detection circuit determines when the instantaneous activation signal strength is sufficient to support monoplex, multiplex, and diplex operation. A non-volatile memory stores identification data coded in HDX and FDX-B formats. One embodiment of the invention includes an inductive antenna including two terminals connected to tag circuitry, where the inductive antenna forms a resonant antenna circuit tuned to resonate at the frequency of the activation signal. In addition, the tag circuitry includes a non-volatile memory, the tag circuitry and the resonant antenna circuitry are configurable as an oscillator, the tag circuitry is configured to be powered by electric current induced in the resonant antenna circuit by the activation signal, the tag circuitry includes at least one switchable load impedance connected across the antenna resonant circuit, the tag circuitry is configurable to amplitude modulate the activation signal appearing at the resonant antenna circuit terminals using a switchable load impedance, and the tag circuitry is configurable to frequency shift key modulate the oscillator signal appearing at the resonant antenna circuit terminals using a switchable load impedance.

A resonant antenna circuit for a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader generates an electrical signal for activating a passive identification tag. The identification tag in turn generates a coded electrical signal that is detected by the reader. The electrical characteristics of the resonant circuit are actively and dynamically altered so that the antenna performs more optimally during the transmit and receive intervals.

Dynamic antenna tuning circuit for a radio frequency identification reader

Systems and methods are described for adapting a portable RFID reader to create a portable RFID reader assembly that includes an extension antenna. In many embodiments, the extension antenna can be added to increase the reach of the portable RFID reader. The extension antenna is inductively coupled to the portable RFID reader and in many embodiments, the extension antenna is retrofit to an existing portable RFID reader. In other embodiments, a portable RFID reader and one or more extension antennas are produced as part of a set. One embodiment of the invention includes a reader having reader circuitry configured to generate an activation signal, a first antenna, where the first antenna is electrically connected to the reader circuitry, a reader housing containing the reader circuitry, an extension antenna including an elongated housing, a second antenna located at one end of the housing, and a third antenna located at the opposite end of the housing, where the second antenna is electrically connected to the third antenna. In addition, the first antenna and second antenna are inductively coupled.

Inductively coupled extension antenna for a radio frequency identification reader

Systems and methods are described for reading EID tags in difficult to reach locations using a portable RFID reader. In many embodiments, the system includes a portable RFID reader and one or more stationary antenna assemblies. The stationary antenna assemblies typically include a loop antenna in a first location and a ferrite antenna in a second location. EID tags in the reading zone of the loop antenna can be read using the portable RFID reader via an inductive coupling between the resonant antenna in the portable RFID reader and the ferrite antenna in the stationary antenna assembly. One embodiment of the invention includes a portable reader having reader circuitry configured to generate an activation signal, a first resonant antenna, where the first resonant antenna is electrically connected to the reader circuitry, a reader housing containing the reader circuitry and the first resonant antenna, and a stationary antenna assembly having a resonant antenna unit including a housing and a second resonant antenna, a loop antenna unit including a housing and a loop antenna and an electrical connection between the resonant antenna unit and the loop antenna unit. In addition, the first resonant antenna in the portable reader is inductively coupled to the second resonant antenna in the stationary antenna assembly.

Inductively coupled loop antenna for a radio frequency identification reader

Apparatus and methods are provided for simultaneously retrieving data from multiple data acquisition units and for recharging such data acquisition units. The data offload and charging unit comprises a frame that defines stations for holding the data acquisition units and a host computer. A combined power and communications port at each such station is adapted to interface with one of the data acquisition units such that power may flow from the data offload and charger unit to that data acquisition unit and data may flow from that data acquisition unit to the host computer substantially simultaneously. Communications links are provided between the host computer and each combined power and communications port.

Data offload and charging systems and methods

A resonant antenna circuit for a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader generates an electrical signal for activating a passive identification tag. The identification tag in turn generates a coded electrical signal that is detected by the reader. The electrical characteristics of the resonant circuit are dynamically altered so that the antenna performs more optimally as a transmitter and receiver for different types of transponders. The resonant circuit uses only passive components and the instantaneous resonant frequency tuning point is determined by the state of the activation signal transmitter.

Passive dynamic antenna tuning circuit for a radio frequency identification reader

A self-contained data acquisition unit is provided for acquiring seismic data. The unit has a microprocessor and an antenna adapted to receive an electromagnetic signal. A decoder is connected with the microprocessor and adapted to convert received electromagnetic signals to dual-tone multiple-frequency ('DTMF') digits. A geophone interface is provided with a geophone for collecting acoustic data incident on the geophone. A memory is connected with the geophone interface for storing a representation of the collected acoustic data and for storing a representation of a reference electromagnetic signal to be used in synchronizing acoustic data collected by other data acquisition units. A battery power source is connected with the microprocessor.

Growing community of inventors

Mancos, CO, United States of America

Robert C Stewart