Abstract: There is described an electronic interrogation and identification (I/I) system in which an interrogator/reader (I/R) unit operates remotely using a microwave beam in conjunction with one or more coded articles. The articles are identified by a unique method and search sequence. As the I/R unit interrogates the articles, one or more of them respond to the I/R unit whenever a code word (data value) sent from the I/R unit matches a code word stored in one or more of the memory positions within the articles. After searching through all of the possible code words and word positions the I/R unit will have identified at least one code word stored in each of the word positions of at least one article. Then combinations of the just-identified code words are matched with the respective stored words of the various articles. After being uniquely identified each article is "powered-down" on command from the I/R unit and remains inactive so that one-by-one all remaining articles are also identified.

Abstract: There is described an electronic interrogation and identification (I/I) system in which an interrogator/reader (I/R) unit operates remotely using a microwave beam in conjunction with one or more coded articles. The articles are identified by a unique method and search sequence. As the I/R unit interrogates the articles, one or more of them respond to the I/R unit whenever a code word (data value) sent from the I/R unit matches a code word stored in one or more of the memory positions within the articles. After searching through all of the possible code words and word positions the I/R unit will have identified at least one code word stored in each of the word positions of at least one article. Then combinations of the just-identified code words are matched with the respective stored words of the various articles. After being uniquely identified each article is "powered-down" on command from the I/R unit and remains inactive so that one-by-one all remaining articles are also identified.