Abstract: The invention includes a system to determine body surface area (BSA) or volume of an animal that can be used to determine a health status of the animal. The system has a plurality of integrated measuring devices such as radar or infrared sensors. The measuring devices are mounted within a confined space. A plurality of measurements is taken along vertically oriented sections or slices of the animal as the animal passes by the confined space. The measurements are combined and numerically converted to BSA or volume estimations. The health status can be derived as a direct relation to BSA or volume, or changes in BSA or volume over a selected time period.

Abstract: A secure dual frequency RFID device is provided. The secure RFID device includes a standard high frequency RFID transponder and a low-frequency authenticator. When the high-frequency transponder is activated, it generates a command signal to turn on the low-frequency authenticator, which in turn generates its own low frequency coded transponder signal. High and low frequency readers accept the respective transponder signals and system software confirms the identity of a tagged object using both signals. The authenticator may include a MEMs device or an ASIC. An authentication code generator generates a programmed sequence of authentication signals taking advantage of one or more authenticator parameters including capacitance, resistance, and/or RF frequency. Another embodiment includes a gaming piece housing the RFID device. Another embodiment includes a method of determining locations of gaming pieces on a gaming board, while yet another embodiment includes a gaming device with RFID tagged gaming pieces.

Abstract: A secure dual frequency RFID device is provided. The secure RFID device includes a standard high frequency RFID transponder and a low-frequency authenticator. When the high-frequency transponder is activated, it generates a command signal to turn on the low-frequency authenticator, which in turn generates its own low frequency coded transponder signal. High and low frequency readers accept the respective transponder signals and system software confirms the identity of a tagged object using both signals. The authenticator may include a MEMs device or an ASIC. An authentication code generator generates a programmed sequence of authentication signals taking advantage of one or more authenticator parameters including capacitance, resistance, and/or RF frequency. Another embodiment includes a gaming piece housing the RFID device. Another embodiment includes a method of determining locations of gaming pieces on a gaming board, while yet another embodiment includes a gaming device with RFID tagged gaming pieces.

Abstract: The invention includes a system to determine body surface area (BSA) or volume of an animal that can be used to determine a health status of the animal. The system has a plurality of integrated measuring devices such as radar or infrared sensors. The measuring devices are mounted within a confined space. A plurality of measurements is taken along vertically oriented sections or slices of the animal as the animal passes by the confined space. The measurements are combined and numerically converted to BSA or volume estimations. The health status can be derived as a direct relation to BSA or volume, or changes in BSA or volume over a selected time period.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved RFID system. The system provides a tag having a power management unit that selectively powers a transmission unit to transmit at least a first signal having a first frequency. The tag can be configured to transmit a second signal having a second frequency as well. The power management unit selectively powers the transmission unit based on the level of power stored in the tag, a duty cycle associated with the tag, or a combination of the two.