Abstract: The electronic identification system provides two-way communications between reader and tags using alternating magnetic fields established by the reader and tag. Communication is accomplished by utilizing either a one-step or a two-step modulation process in which the information to be communicated either modulates an alternating magnetic field directly or modulates a periodic signal which modulates an alternating magnetic field. The coil in the reader that is used to establish an alternating magnetic field is transformer-coupled through capacitors to a push-pull driving circuit consisting of four field-effect transistors connected in a bridge arrangement. The coil, capacitors, and coupling circuitry are maintained in a tuned condition by continually adjusting either the driving frequency, the coil inductance, or the capacitor capacitance during communications.

Abstract: The invention is a radio-frequency identification system consisting of a reader and a tag. The reader comprises a transmit/receive resonant circuit comprising one or more coils, a means for repeatedly driving the transmit/receive resonant circuit with pulses of a periodic signal, a means for obtaining a tag response signal from the transmit/receive resonant circuit, a means for extracting tag information from the tag response signal obtained from the transmit/receive resonant circuit, a receive resonant circuit comprising one or more coils, a means for obtaining a tag response signal from the receive resonant circuit, and a means for extracting tag information from the tag response signal obtained from the receive resonant circuit. The tag comprises a plurality of resonant circuits, a means for recognizing he presence of an interrogating magnetic field, and a means for embedding information to be communicated to the interrogating reader in at least one coil current.

Abstract: The invention is a modular assembly of modular objects for autonomously executing a variety of tasks. The modular assembly consists of a modular object called a platform, one or more modular objects called modules which are mounted to the platform in accordance with a modular assembly system, and a modular bus system for distributing electrical power and electrical signals among the modular objects in the modular assembly. The modular assembly system utilizes modular object fasteners (MOFs) and MOF-accommodating features of modular objects for facilitating the attachment of a plurality of modular objects to one another thereby creating a modular assembly in any one of a variety of configurations, an MOF being activatable when object attachment surfaces associated with two modular objects are superimposed and two object attachment points on the object attachment surfaces coincide.

Abstract: The electronic identification system provides two-way communications between reader and tags using alternating magnetic fields established by the reader and tag. Communication is accomplished by utilizing either a one-step or a two-step modulation process in which the information to be communicated either modulates an alternating magnetic field directly or modulates a periodic signal which modulates an alternating magnetic field. The coil in the reader that is used to establish an alternating magnetic field is transformer-coupled through capacitors to a push-pull driving circuit consisting of four field-effect transistors connected in a bridge arrangement. The coil, capacitors, and coupling circuitry are maintained in a tuned condition by continually adjusting either the driving frequency, the coil inductance, or the capacitor capacitance during communications.

Abstract: The electronic identification system provides two-way communications between reader and tags using alternating magnetic fields established by the reader and tag. Communication is accomplished by utilizing either a one-step or a two-step modulation process in which the information to be communicated either modulates an alternating magnetic field directly or modulates a periodic signal which modulates an alternating magnetic field. The coil in the reader that is used to establish an alternating magnetic field is transformer-coupled through capacitors to a push-pull driving circuit consisting of four field-effect transistors connected in a bridge arrangement. The coil, capacitors, and coupling circuitry are maintained in a tuned condition by continually adjusting either the driving frequency, the coil inductance, or the capacitor capacitance during communications.

Abstract: The invention is a modular assembly of modular objects for autonomously executing a variety of tasks. The modular assembly consists of a modular object called a platform, one or more modular objects called modules which are mounted to the platform in accordance with a modular assembly system, and a modular bus system for distributing electrical power and electrical signals among the modular objects in the modular assembly. The modular assembly system utilizes modular object fasteners (MOFs) and MOF-accommodating features of modular objects for facilitating the attachment of a plurality of modular objects to one another thereby creating a modular assembly in any one of a variety of configurations, an MOF being activatable when object attachment surfaces associated with two modular objects are superimposed and two object attachment points on the object attachment surfaces coincide.

Abstract: The invention is a radio-frequency identification system consisting of a reader and a tag. The reader comprises a transmit/receive resonant circuit comprising one or more coils, a means for repeatedly driving the transmit/receive resonant circuit with pulses of a periodic signal, a means for obtaining a tag response signal from the transmit/receive resonant circuit, a means for extracting tag information from the tag response signal obtained from the transmit/receive resonant circuit, a receive resonant circuit comprising one or more coils, a means for obtaining a tag response signal from the receive resonant circuit, and a means for extracting tag information from the tag response signal obtained from the receive resonant circuit. The tag comprises a plurality of resonant circuits, a means for recognizing he presence of an interrogating magnetic field, and a means for embedding information to be communicated to the interrogating reader in at least one coil current.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for exercising surveillance over a surface from an observation point above the surface utilizing three-dimensional map data pertaining to the surface. The method comprises the steps (1) intercepting the light rays from a surface in a field of view, (2) separating the intercepted light rays into a plurality of light-ray clusters, a light-ray cluster comprising a plurality of light-ray bundles, a light-ray bundle being the light rays from a point on the surface in the field of view, a light-ray cluster being the light-ray bundles from a region of contiguous points on the surface, (3) determining the map coordinates of each region from which a light-ray cluster comes, (4) obtaining a measure of the radiant power and/or color of each light-ray cluster at predetermined time intervals, and (5) identifying the map coordinates of a surface activity from measurements of the radiant power of the light-ray clusters.

Abstract: The universal electronic identification tag is for use with a variety of readers of different designs including a control reader which can be used to control the operations of the universal tag. A reader interrogates a tag by transmitting a carrier. The universal tag comprises a transducer, a modulator connected across the transducer, and a control means. The control means causes the modulator to drive the transducer with a plurality of different message waveforms after interrogation by a reader, the tag identity being embedded in each of the message waveforms. The message waveforms can be transmitted either simultaneously, sequentially, or both ways. A message waveform is comprised of a sequence of contiguous waveform segments, each waveform segment representing the value of an N-bit group, N being an integer. A waveform segment is a periodic signal characterized by the parameters frequency, phase, and amplitude.

Abstract: The electronic identification system provides two-way communications between reader and tags using alternating magnetic fields established by the reader and tag. Communication is accomplished by utilizing either a one-step or a two-step modulation process in which the information to be communicated either modulates an alternating magnetic field directly or modulates a periodic signal which modulates an alternating magnetic field. The coil in the reader that is used to establish an alternating magnetic field is transformer-coupled through capacitors to a push-pull driving circuit consisting of four field-effect transistors connected in a bridge arrangement. The coil, capacitors, and coupling circuitry are maintained in a tuned condition by continually adjusting either the driving frequency, the coil inductance, or the capacitor capacitance during communications.

Abstract: The coil in the reader that is used to establish an alternating magnetic field is transformer-coupled through capacitors to a push-pull driving circuit consisting of four field-effect transistors connected in a bridge arrangement. The coil, capacitors, and coupling circuitry are maintained in a tuned condition by continually adjusting either the driving frequency, the coil inductance, or the capacitor capacitance during communications. A tag utilizes a coil to couple with the reader's alternating magnetic field and a capacitor to resonate the coil, thereby extracting power from the field more efficiently. Transformer coupling of the coil and capacitor is utilized for improved impedance matching. The coil, capacitor, and coupling circuitry can be maintained in a tuned condition by continually adjusting either the coil inductance, or the capacitor capacitance during communications. Certain configurations of the system may require that tuning maintenance be discontinued during the transmission of data.

Abstract: The universal electronic identification tag is for use with a variety of readers of different designs including a control reader which can be used to control the operations of the universal tag. A reader interrogates a tag by transmitting a carrier. The universal tag comprises a transducer, a modulator connected across the transducer, and a control means. The control means causes the modulator to drive the transducer with a plurality of different message waveforms after interrogation by a reader, the tag identity being embedded in each of the message waveforms. The message waveforms can be transmitted either simultaneously, sequentially, or both ways. A message waveform is comprised of a sequence of contiguous waveform segments, each waveform segment representing the value of an N-bit group, N being an integer. A waveform segment is a periodic signal characterized by the parameters frequency, phase, and amplitude.

Abstract: The universal electronic identification tag is for use with a variety of readers of different designs including a control reader which can be used to control the operations of the universal tag. A reader interrogates a tag by transmitting a carrier. The universal tag comprises a transducer, a modulator connected across the transducer, and a control means. The control means causes the modulator to drive the transducer with a plurality of different message waveforms after interrogation by a reader, the tag identity being embedded in each of the message waveforms. The message waveforms can be transmitted either simultaneously, sequentially, or both ways. A message waveform is comprised of a sequence of contiguous waveform segments, each waveform segment representing the value of an N-bit group, N being an integer. A waveform segment is a periodic signal characterized by the parameters frequency, phase, and amplitude.

Abstract: The distance-measuring apparatus utilizes an interferometric technique to measure the distance to a light-reflecting surface. A laser-generated plane wave is split by a beam splitter into first and second plane waves. The first plane wave is directed to the reflecting surface which reflects it back to the beam splitter. The second plane wave is directed to a reference mirror which reflects it back to the beam splitter where it combines with the reflected first plane wave to form a combination plane wave. The combination plane wave is caused to vary periodically in amplitude by modulating the position of the reference mirror. Changes in the distance to the reflecting surface are obtained by electronically processing the changes in the power of the combination plane wave.

Abstract: The high-resolution scanning apparatus utilizes conventional transport mechanisms in combination with a precision interferometric distance-measuring apparatus to achieve extremely-precise measurements of pixel locations thereby permitting scanning resolutions exceeding 10,000 dpi to be achieved. The high-resolution scanning apparatus is comprised of the conventional elements of a scanner together with one or more precision interferometric distance-measuring devices for the purpose of establishing the precise location of the pixel being measured. With this approach the mechanical limitations of the transport mechanisms that cause the optical system to scan the image-containing medium do not limit the resolution achievable with the scanning apparatus. The invention also provides compensating unit for variations in the object distance to the lens introduced by imperfections in the transport mechanisms.

Abstract: The charge collection control circuit generates a time-varying voltage that is used to control the charge collection process in an MOS photodetector for the purpose of obtaining greater dynamic range. Control is exercised either by means of an integration control electrode that controls the flow of charge from a charge-collecting region to a sink or by means of a transfer electrode that controls the flow of charge from the charge-collecting region to a charge-transport region through which the collected charge flows to an output circuit.

Abstract: The multi-mode identification system is a short-range cooperative electronic identification system for use in the identification of fish, birds, animals, and inanimate objects. The system consists of readers and tags wherein a reader in the proximity of and inductively coupled to a tag may interrogate and obtain a response from the tag in accordance with a specified process if the tag belongs to a certain class of tags. The response consists of an identification code unique to the tag together with data supplied by sensors incorporated within the tag. Tags are minuscule in size and intended to be implanted within living tissue or concealed beneath the surface of inanimate objects. Communication between tag and reader is accomplished by a reader establishing a reversing magnetic field in the vicinity of a tag and the tag varying its absorption of power from the field in accordance with the information to be transmitted.

Abstract: The expanded-range image digitizing apparatus utilizes a light-attenuating layer in concert with solid-state light detectors of limited dynamic range to provide a means for digitizing wide-dynamic-range images. The light-attenuating layer is placed in close contact with an image-containing medium. The light-attenuating layer is comprised of groups of regions replicated throughout the light-attenuating layer where each region in a group attenuates light passing through to a different degree and each group is the same in size and shape as a picture element of the image being digitized. When the image-containing medium is illuminated, the emerging light power from one of the regions of a group is of the proper magnitude to cause an associated detector to respond within its dynamic range. The emerging light power from the corresponding picture element of the image is then determined by multiplying the detected light power by the attenuation factor of the region producing the proper detector response.

Abstract: An infrared radiation detection device utilizing an array of metal electrodes deposited on the insulated surface of a suitable semiconductor material such as an indium antimonide substrate. The detector electrodes are read out by discharging each electrode to a preselected voltage through an integrating capacitor. The charge accumulated on each integrating capacitor is related to the charge collected at the insulator substrate interface under each detector electrode due to interaction of the infrared radiation with the indium antimonide substrate. The integrating capacitors and related charging and switching circuitry are located on a silicon substrate. The integrating capacitors and related circuitry on the silicon substrate are connected to the detector electrodes on the indium antimonide substrate by means of an array of metal tabs fabricated on the silicon substrate and deflected to contact the detector electrodes by electrostatic attraction.

Abstract: A compensator for maintaining the amplification of one or more electronic signal amplifiers independent of fluctuations in the voltage and/or currents supplied to the amplifiers from voltage and/or current sources. A dummy amplifier is used which is substantially similar to the amplifier whose amplification is to be compensated and which is connected to the same sources. The changes in the output of the dummy amplifier are amplified and used to control a variable load which loads down, or alters, one or more of the voltage or current sources to the extent necessary to maintain the output of the dummy amplifier independent of variations in the voltage and/or current sources. Since the output of the dummy amplifier is maintained constant independent of supply variations, the outputs of the similar, electronic signal amplifiers also are maintained independent of supply variations.