Abstract: A system and method for acquisition management of subject position information that utilizes radio frequency identification (RF ID) to store position information in position tags. Tag programmers receive position information from external positioning systems, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), from manual inputs, such as keypads, or other tag programmers. The tag programmers program each position tag with the received position information. Both the tag programmers and the position tags can be portable or fixed. Implementations include portable tag programmers and fixed position tags for subject position guidance, and portable tag programmers for collection sample labeling. Other implementations include fixed tag programmers and portable position tags for subject route recordation. Position tags can contain other associated information such as destination address of an affixed subject for subject routing.

Abstract: A passive communication system having devices with wide-band antenna circuits configured to receive ambient radiation and to use the energy therefrom to reflect a modulated signal, preferably using backscatter techniques, for writing and reading data to and from the devices in the system.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a patch antenna includes a patch coupled to a ground plane. The ground plane includes a first and second strip line. When the first strip line is activated, the antenna generates a signal having a first polarization, and when the second strip line is activated, the antenna generates a second polarization. The first polarization may be a horizontal polarization, and the second polarization may be a vertical polarization. The antenna may be incorporated into a radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator, which may be used to read RFID tags attached to individual items.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an environmental condition and determining the average environmental condition using an RFID tag and reader, the tag configured to have at least one module with known characteristics that are dependent on the environmental condition and to be responsive to interrogation by the reader to asses the state of the known characteristics for determining the average environmental condition.

Abstract: A system and method for acquisition management of subject position information that utilizes radio frequency identification (RF ID) to store position information in position tags. Tag programmers receive position information from external positioning systems, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), from manual inputs, such as keypads, or other tag programmers. The tag programmers program each position tag with the received position information. Both the tag programmers and the position tags can be portable or fixed. Implementations include portable tag programmers and fixed position tags for subject position guidance, and portable tag programmers for collection sample labeling. Other implementations include fixed tag programmers and portable position tags for subject route recordation. Position tags can contain other associated information such as destination address of an affixed subject for subject routing.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an environmental condition and determining the average environmental condition using an RFID tag and reader, the tag configured to have at least one module with known characteristics that are dependent on the environmental condition and to be responsive to interrogation by the reader to asses the state of the known characteristics for determining the average environmental condition.

Abstract: A system for monitoring medical devices, such as pharmaceuticals and prescriptions, is provided that utilizes Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) techniques is provided. The system includes an RFID tag associated with the medical device, the tag programmed with information about the device, such as data about the manufacture, distribution, and sale thereof. The system further includes a reader that interrogates the tag and updates a database regarding the condition of the tag. The information in the tag can be revised by the reader or by an associated detector as the condition of the medical device changes, such as its location, sale, use, shelf life, and disposal. The system can also be configured to enable financial transactions, such as between an insurer and a provider or between a financial institution and a medical facility.

Abstract: A passive communication system having devices with wide-band antenna circuits configured to receive ambient radiation and to use the energy therefrom to reflect a modulated signal, preferably using backscatter techniques, for writing and reading data to and from the devices in the system.