Patents by Inventor Mario Alphonso Marais

Mario Alphonso Marais has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9607193
    Abstract: A method and an identification system used for communicating between a reader and a plurality of transponders are disclosed. The reader has a transmitter for transmitting a signal and each transponder includes a receiver for receiving the reader signal and a transmitter for generating a transponder signal. When the reader recognises a transponder signal from one of the transponders it immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders and passing control to the said transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder. The reader may issue a single disable/wakeup instruction which disables the controlling transponder returning control to the reader and reactivated all muted (but not disabled) transponders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Raymond Catherall Atkins, Mario Alphonso Marais, Hendrik Van Zyl Smit
  • Patent number: 8872631
    Abstract: A method and an identification system used for communicating between a reader and a plurality of transponders are disclosed. The reader has a transmitter for transmitting a signal and each transponder includes a receiver for receiving the reader signal and a transmitter for generating a transponder signal. When the reader recognizes a transponder signal from one of the transponders it immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders and passing control to the said transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder. The reader may issue a single disable/wakeup instruction which disables the controlling transponder returning control to the reader and reactivated all muted (but not disabled) transponders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Raymond Catherall Atkins, Mario Alphonso Marais, Hendrik Van Zyl Smit
  • Publication number: 20120306625
    Abstract: A method and an identification system used for communicating between a reader and a plurality of transponders are disclosed. The reader has a transmitter for transmitting a signal and each transponder includes a receiver for receiving the reader signal and a transmitter for generating a transponder signal. When the reader recognises a transponder signal from one of the transponders it immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders and passing control to the said transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder. The reader may issue a single disable/wakeup instruction which disables the controlling transponder returning control to the reader and reactivated all muted (but not disabled) transponders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: ZIH CORP.
    Inventors: Raymond Catherall Atkins, Mario Alphonso Marais, Hendrik Van Zyl Smit
  • Patent number: 7053755
    Abstract: A method and an identification system used for communicating between a reader and a plurality of transponders. The reader has a transmitter for transmitting a signal and each transponder includes a receiver for receiving the reader signal and a transmitter for generating a transponder signal. When the reader recognizes a transponder signal from one of the transponders it immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders and passing control to the said transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder. The reader may issue a single disable/wakeup instruction which disables the controlling transponder returning control to the reader and reactivated all muted (but not disabled) transponders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Zih Corp.
    Inventors: Raymond Catherall Atkins, Mario Alphonso Marais, Hendrik Van Zyl Smit
  • Patent number: 6784787
    Abstract: A method and system for identifying a plurality of transponders in an interrogation involves transmitting an interrogation signal to the transponders and receiving, at a reader, response signals from the transponders. Each transponder period, and alters the maximum length of the waiting period during the interrogation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: BTG International Limited
    Inventors: Raymond Catherall Atkins, Mario Alphonso Marais, Hendrik Van Zyl Smit
  • Publication number: 20040046645
    Abstract: A method and an identification system for communicating between a reader (10) and a plurality of transponders (1,2,3) are disclosed. The reader (10) has a transmitter (11) for transmitting a signal and each transponder (1,2,3) includes a receiver for receiving the reader signal and a transmitter for generating a transponder signal. When the reader (10) recognises a transponder signal from one of the transponders (1) it immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders (2,3) and passing control to the said transponder (1), without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder (1). The reader (10) may issue a single disable/wakeup instruction which disables the controlling transponder (1) returning control to the reader (10) and reactivated all muted (but not disabled) transponders.(2,3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: BTG International Limited
    Inventors: Raymond Catherall Atkins, Mario Alphonso Marais, Hendrik Van Zyl Smit
  • Patent number: 6661336
    Abstract: A method and an identification system us for communicating between a reader and a plurality of transponders. The reader has a transmitter for transmitting a signal and each transponder includes a receiver for receiving the reader signal and a transmitter for generating a transponder signal. When the reader recognises a transponder signal from one of the transponders it immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders and passing control to the said transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder. The reader may issue a single disable/wakeup instruction which disables the controlling transponder returning control to the reader and reactivated all muted (but not disabled) transponders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: BTG International Limited
    Inventors: Raymond Catherall Atkins, Mario Alphonso Marais, Hendrik Van Zyl Smit