Abstract: A CMOS reference voltage circuit, preferably formed on a semiconductor integrated circuit, and outputting a reference voltage having a temperature-independent characteristic, comprises first and second diode-connected transistors (or diodes), respectively grounded and driven with two constant currents bearing a constant current ratio to each other, and a unit for amplifying a differential voltage of output voltages from the first and second transistors by a preset factor and for summing the amplified differential voltage to an output voltage of the first or second transistor.

Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) voltage regulator for low headroom applications includes a differential input common mode range amplifier. The differential input common mode range amplifier is formed by a plurality of CMOS transistors. A source follower CMOS transistor is coupled to an output of the differential input common mode range amplifier for providing an output of the CMOS voltage regulator. A current source is coupled to the differential input common mode range amplifier for maintaining a bias current through the differential input common mode range amplifier.

Abstract: A switching amplifier includes a level shifting circuit for adjusting a voltage level of an original input signal to generate a first input signal and a second input signal. The first input signal is identical to the original input signal except for referring to a first reference level. The second input signal is identical to the original input signal except for referring to a second reference level. In response to the first input signal and an oscillating signal, a first control circuit generates a first width-limited PWM signal for controlling a first half-bridge switching circuit. In response to the second input signal and the oscillating signal, a second control circuit generates a second width-limited PWM signal for controlling a second half-bridge switching circuit.

Abstract: A dual loop feedforward power amplifier. A dual loop feedforward power amplifier, comprising an input that provides a multicarrier signal; a first feedforward power amplifier; and a second feedforward power amplifier, wherein the first feedforward power amplifier serves as a main amplifier gain block in the second feedforward power amplifier, wherein the first feedforward power amplifier comprises a carrier cancellation loop and a first error amplifier loop, and wherein the second feedforward power amplifier comprises a third loop and a fourth loop that cancel small signal distortions that are not reduced by the first feedforward amplifier.

Abstract: A filter circuit includes a plurality of integrator stages, each stage including a voltage-to-current converter to convert an input voltage into a current supplied to an output thereof and a capacitor coupled to the output of the voltage-to-current converter, a voltage charged in the capacitor being supplied to a next stage as an output of each stage, and a capacitor serving as a feed-forward coupling that couples the output of at least one stage of the plurality of integrator stages to a last output node.

Abstract: A nested transimpedance amplifier (TIA) circuit comprises a zero-order TIA having an input and an output. A first transconductance amplifier has an input that communicates with said output of said zero-order TIA and an output. A first feedback resistance has one end that communicates with said input of said zero-order TIA and an opposite end that communicates with said output of said first transconductance amplifier. A first feedback capacitance has a first end that communicates with said input of said zero-order TIA and a second end that communicates with said output of said zero-order TIA. A capacitance has one end that communicates with said input of said zero-order TIA.

Abstract: A power amplification circuit, and a communication device using the same, which are capable of suppressing gain decreases of a power amplifier due to increases in input signal power in a state near the saturation operation, capable of reducing its size, and low in distortion and high in efficiency. The power amplification circuit includes a power amplifier and a negative feedback circuit connected between a signal input terminal and a signal output terminal of the power amplifier. Impedance of the negative feedback circuit depends on a signal voltage occurring across the negative feedback circuit. By adjusting the characteristic that the negative feedback quantity of the negative feedback circuit to the power amplifier is variable depending on input signal power, gain fluctuations of the power amplifier due to increases or decreases of input signal power or output signal power around a specified output signal power are suppressed.

Abstract: A vacuum tube power amplifier with a user-operable switch and a single output transformer which selectively provides push-pull or single ended configurations for driving a loudspeaker.

Abstract: A programmable gain voltage buffer circuit with a programmable gain may include transistors in parallel with resistors. The transistors may be used as variable resistors, with the resistors predominating the equivalent resistances at output points in different branches of the buffer circuit. The transistors may have resistances corresponding to programmable gain steps in the circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for increasing a slew rate of an operational amplifier are provided. It only requires an operational amplifier, a monitoring control device, a push-pull output device, and a second input current source pair. It uses a monitoring control device controlled by the output stage to control the supplementary device and the second input current source pair in order to increase a slew rate of an operational amplifier. This operational amplifier also provides the rail-to-rail output function. In addition, because it does not require additional circuit to increase the slew rate, the chip size is smaller. With respect to the circuit structure, it is very simple and can be applied to the pre-existing operational amplifier without re-designing the operational amplifier and thus can keep the original characteristics of the operational amplifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for dynamically changing the biasing conditions of a voltage regulator to overcome the problems caused by various conditions. The invention includes a detector and a bias control circuit for applying bias current to the voltage regulator to compensate for a detected condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high frequency amplifier suitable for use in a wireless communication system which performs detection of an output level necessary for feedback control by a current detection system, wherein control sensitivity in an area low in transmit request level is lowered so that an output level can be controlled over the whole control range with satisfactory accuracy. There is provided a high frequency power amplification electric part constituting a wireless communication system, which performs detection of an output level necessary for feedback control of output power by a current detection system, compares the output level detected signal and an output level designation signal and generates a bias voltage for a high frequency power amplifier according to the difference therebetween to thereby control gain, wherein an nth root converter or a logarithm converter is provided between a current detector and a current-voltage converter.

Abstract: A range controller circuit has a master counter with a recovered clock input. A sampled counter has a reference clock input. A link fault indicator logic is coupled to an output of the master counter and an output the sampled counter.

Abstract: An offset related to a feedback system for a VCO is quantified and then a parameter of the feedback system is adjusted in response to the quantified offset to correct for the offset. Correcting for offset in a feedback system can improve the performance of a PLL by reducing phase drift between the input signal and the VCO signal. The reduced phase drift can have benefits such as, for example, reduced bit errors and/or improved phase tracking accuracy.

Abstract: A redundant-source clock generator has only two oscillators, rather than three oscillators. A secondary oscillator is phase-locked to a primary clock from a primary oscillator using a phase detector, charge pump, and filter that generate a control voltage to the secondary oscillator that determine the frequency of a secondary clock. The primary clock is compared to the secondary clock to detect primary clock failure. When clock failure is detected, a mux is switched to select a delayed secondary clock rather than a delayed primary clock to output as a system clock. Since the mux receives delayed clock signals, clock-failure detection has additional time to detect the clock failure before the clock failure is propagated through the mux. When the primary oscillator fails and the clock failure is detected, the phase detector stops comparing a feedback secondary clock to the primary clock and instead holds the control voltage steady.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a variable frequency-oscillating signal on a semiconductor device. The frequency of a ring oscillator is varied by inserting or removing additional delay into the ring. The frequency of the oscillating signal is periodically compared to an encoded input signal indicating the desired frequency. The comparison result modifies the desired frequency by modifying the amount of delay in the ring oscillator. In an alternate embodiment, an input reference clock is converted to an encoded representation of the input reference clock's current frequency. This resultant encoded representation is compared to the encoded representation of the variable frequency-oscillating signal to determine whether the delay in the ring oscillator should be modified so the frequency of the variable oscillating signal matches the frequency of the input reference clock.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for efficiently providing an output frequency signal based upon an input voltage. The sampling voltage controlled oscillator of the present invention may include a voltage controlled oscillator coupled with sample and hold circuitry. The voltage controlled oscillator frequency of the sampling voltage controlled oscillator may be a lower frequency whereby the voltage controlled oscillator frequency is sampled by the sample and hold circuitry to derive a higher frequency signal. Advantageously, the overall power consumption of sampling voltage controlled oscillator may be less than conventional voltage controlled oscillators.

Abstract: Disclosed are integrated circuits having multiple electromagnetically emissive devices, such as LC oscillators. The devices are formed on an integrated circuit substrate and are given different planar orientations from each other. Particular integrated circuit packages disclosed are “flip-chip” packages, in which solder bumps are provided on the integrated circuit substrate for flipping and mounting of the finished integrated circuit upon a printed circuit board or other substrate. The solder bumps provide conductive connections between the integrated circuit and the substrate. The orientations and positioning of the emissive devices are such that one or more of the solder bumps are interposed between neighboring emissive devices to act as an electromagnetic shield between them.

Abstract: Design means is provided to prevent electronic parts used in a high-stability piezoelectric oscillator from deterioration due to aging by heat when the high-temperature side of the working temperature range is as high as 85° C. A high-stability piezoelectric oscillator, which is provided with a first constant temperature oven having housed therein a piezoelectric resonator and electronic parts for oscillation, a second constant temperature oven having housed herein said first constant temperature oven, and temperature control means for controlling the temperature of each constant temperature oven, and in which the temperature of said first constant temperature oven is set lower than the temperature of said second constant temperature oven, is characterized in that a heat source is disposed near said piezoelectric resonator.

Abstract: In a configuration wherein an output signal from a differential oscillator is input into a differential buffer amplifier, an operating current for the differential oscillator including a resonator, which has a node at the midpoint of an inductor, and a pair of field-effect transistors for oscillation and an operating current for the differential buffer amplifier including a pair of bipolar transistors for amplification are made common. In order to obtain the common operating current, the current from the pair of bipolar transistors for amplification is fed from the midpoint of the inductor into the pair of field-effect transistors for oscillation.

Abstract: An oscillator circuit (100) can provide a dual slop temperature response. For a lower temperature range, a capacitor (106) can be charged and/or discharged according to a first current source (302) that provides an essentially constant current source. For a higher temperature range, the capacitor (106) can be charged and/or discharged according to a second current source (304) that can be enabled and/or provide current according to a voltage proportional to absolute temperature. A slightly positive temperature coefficient of a first current source (302) can be offset by a threshold detect circuit (210 and 212) within a second comparator circuit (204) that utilizes the threshold voltage (Vt) of a transistor (212) as a low limit for a capacitor voltage.

Abstract: An object is to suppress a reflection loss in any desired frequency band outside a required band, without affecting circuit characteristics in the required frequency band. The output impedance of a circuit in a specified frequency band is transformed into a high impedance by a transmission line 15. A resistance grounding circuit 18 having a frequency selectivity is connected in parallel. The resistance grounding circuit 18 is constructed of a resistor 16 which has a resistance close to a load resistance, a capacitance C which is selected so as to satisfy an equation Im[tan h{?(?/2??)}]=??0CZ0 at an angular frequency ?0 included in the frequency band, and a (?/2??)-long end-open stub.

Abstract: An RF phase shifter includes the cascade of active and passive RF phase shift bits, having different phase increments. The active phase shift bit includes a FET with source and drain. First and second RF single-pole, double throw switches have their common elements coupled to the source and drain, respectively, for selectively connecting one of the in-phase source signals and out-of-phase drain signals to a third switch, and for coupling the non-selected signal to a reference. The third switch outputs the available signal. Additional phase increments may be included to achieve phase shifts or differences other than 180°.

Abstract: The film acoustically-coupled transformer (FACT) has decoupled stacked bulk acoustic resonators (DSBARs), a first electrical circuit and a second electrical circuit. Each of the DSBARs has a lower film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR), an upper FBAR and an acoustic decoupler. The upper FBAR is stacked on the lower FBAR and the acoustic decoupler is located between the FBARs. Each FBAR has opposed planar electrodes and a piezoelectric element between the electrodes. The first electrical circuit interconnects the lower FBARs. The second electrical circuit interconnects the upper FBARs. The FBARs of one of the DSBARs differ in electrical impedance from the FBARs of another of the DSBARs. The FACT has an impedance transformation ratio greater than 1:m2, where m is the number of DSBARs. The actual impedance transformation ratio depends on the ratio of the impedances of the FBARs.

Abstract: A Radio Frequency (RF) circuit includes an active portion and a tuned portion. The active portion receives an RF signal and that operates upon the RF signal. The tuned portion couples to the active portion and includes a first inductor, a second inductor, and a switch. When the switch is closed, the second inductor couples to the first inductor and the tuned portion has first tuning characteristics. When the switch is open, the second inductor is decoupled from the first inductor and the tuned portion has second tuning characteristics. The tuned portion may include lumped or parasitic capacitance. The tuned portion alternately includes an inductor having a first terminal, a second terminal, an intermediate tap, and a switch that couples between the second terminal and the intermediate tap. When the switch is closed the tuned portion has first tuning characteristics and when the switch is open, the tuned portion has second tuning characteristics.

Abstract: A dial assembly for a magnetically driven gauge. The dial assembly, including a rotatable dial magnet, a reed switch and a bias magnet. The bias magnet and reed switch being positioned such that when the poles of the bias magnet and the dial magnet are in a first orientation the reed switch be held in a first position (such as a closed contact position) and that when the dial magnet rotates to a second position such that the poles of the dial magnet and bias magnet are in a second orientation, the reed switch will be held at a second orientation (such as an open, non-contact orientation).

Abstract: A magnetic body is to be moved in a contactless fashion in a working space with the aid of the magnet coil system composed of fourteen individually drivable individual coils. The coil system is to be used for this purpose to produce three magnetic field components and five magnetic field gradients. The individual coils are preferably arranged on end-face or lateral surfaces situated oppositely in pairs, and on a tubular peripheral surface surrounding the working space.

Abstract: An inductor device including a device body having a plurality of insulating layers; a plurality of conductive coil pattern units formed inside the device body between insulating layers along a single planar direction, coil pattern units adjoining each other in the single plane being centro-symmetric patterns with respect to a center point of a boundary line between unit sections containing coil pattern units; and connection portions connecting upper and lower coil pattern units separated by the insulating layers to form a coil. It is possible to obtain an inductor device able to suppress the stack deviation without complicating the production process even if the device is made small in size.

Abstract: A means for treating the end faces of a core which is used for an electrical apparatuses and etc., to give insulation extremely superior in effect of improvement of the insulation, corrosion resistance, adhesiveness, heat resistance, and magnetic properties at a low temperature in a short time without cleaning for removing punching oil, annealing, or other pre-treatment; a core having an insulation coating comprised of a dry film of a pure silicone polymer, modified silicone polymer, and/or mixed silicone polymer as a silicone compound on the core end faces and having an average film thickness of at least 0.5 ?m, a breakdown voltage of at least 30V, and a heat resistance in the air of at least 400° C.; and a method of production comprised of forming a core, then dipping it in or spraying it by one or more types of a pure silicone polymer, modified silicone polymer, and/or mixed silicone polymer as an insulation coating.

Abstract: A thermal fuse includes a fusible alloy including tin, a couple of lead conductors connected to both ends of the fusible alloy, respectively, and a surface layer on the lead conductors, respectively. The surface layer is made of tin or alloy including tin as main substance, and has a thickness not greater than 14 ?m. The thermal fuse has a stable fusing temperature.

Abstract: A thermistor, which is to be mounted on a PCB, for protecting other circuit elements is disclosed. Electrode patterns separately formed on both surfaces of a film resistance element are respectively shaped into two parts which are engaged to each other with a non-conductive gap interposed therebetween. Thus, a Tombstone phenomenon caused by asymmetric structure may be fundamentally prevented. Grooves are formed in both sides of the thermistor, and connection portions for electrically connecting the electrodes formed on both surfaces of the thermistor are formed through the inside of the grooves or through the sides except the grooves. Thus, though a crack arises in the connection portion, it is possible to prevent the crack from being propagated to the entire connection portion along the side of the thermistor.

Abstract: A thermistor of which resistance is changed depending on temperature and a secondary battery to which the thermistor is attached are disclosed. The thermistor is attached to an object via a lead which is made of different kinds of materials. The lead is configured so that a part of the lead to be united to the thermistor electrode is mainly made of the same material as the electrode and a part of the lead to be united to the object is mainly made of the same material as the surface of the object. Thus, the thermistor may be simply attached to the object only using the ultrasonic welding, thereby remarkably reducing junction inferiorities.

Abstract: An electrical appliance includes at least one sensor for recording at least one operating parameter and at least one actuator for influencing at least one operating parameter of the electrical appliance. The at least one sensor and the at least one actuator are conductively coupled with a central computing and control unit for controlling the electrical appliance. The central computing and control unit is coupled with a communication unit that allows a wireless communication with an external remote station. The communication unit is, preferably, a transponder for wireless radio communication.

Abstract: A modifiable transmitter is used with an operator to control a position of a barrier. The operator includes a controller for comparing radio frequency transmissions received with stored serial numbers so that the controller can move the barrier when a radio frequency transmission matches any one of the stored serial numbers. The transmitter includes a housing that carries an encoder. A function button is carried by the housing, wherein actuation of the button generates in a first non-standard way a new serial number that can be learned by the controller to allow the modifiable transmitter to move the barrier by emitting the radio frequency transmission. A second non-standard way, which can only be implemented after use of the first non-standard way, may also be used to generate a new serial number. A restricted access button may also be activated to generate a new serial number.

Abstract: A RFID tag structure determining the authenticity of an article, and an information processing system for reading RFID tags, enable authenticity determinations of articles using read only RFID tags. A plurality of RFID tags, each holding tag information inside ROM (read-only memory) and responding to tag information via a radio wave received from a reader, are designed to have a service identifier which designates a common utilization goal for which the same value is set, and service data which sets different values for the respective RFID tags, as tag information. By dividing the data structure of a RFID tag having a read-only memory into a service identifier, which is common to a certain product, and sequential data for managing individual products, it is possible to confirm that an article is authentic by simply confirming the service identifier.

Abstract: An operating system which utilizes a multi-functional wall station for a motorized barrier includes an operator for controlling movement of a barrier between various positions. The operator may receive signals from a wireless or wired wall station transmitter, a wireless keyless entry device and/or a portable remote transmitter device. The multi-function wall station provides for selective concealment of certain switches or buttons which are not commonly used in the day-to-day operation of a wall station. For example, the up/down switch may be actuated by a hinged cover which conceals other selected operational buttons and wherein those operational buttons are only accessed upon opening of the hinged cover. The wall station also provides a periodic lighting element so as to easily direct the user to push the hinge cover to initiate up/down movement of the barrier.

Abstract: When transmitting an instruction for activating an immobilizer function to a subject vehicle, a base station also transmits a given ID code for releasing the immobilizer function. An immobilizer ECU that receives the instruction and the given ID code, prohibits an engine from being started by other than a key having the given ID code. Therefore, a regular user alone, who owns a key having the given ID code, can start the engine.

Abstract: A method for interrogating objects to identified over a communication medium utilizes objects that include a counter. The objects provide predetermined responses indicative of object identification numbers. Interrogation signals operate to interrogate a signal digit from the objects. Incomplete identification numbers are recorded and retrieved whenever two or more predetermined responses are received from the objects. A signal is sent to the objects to cause the objects to selectively add a number to their respective counter. The number is determined by each object and is dependent upon one or more previous responses of the object to interrogation signals. A signal is sent to the objects to cause the objects to selectively subtract a number from their respective counter. The number is determined by each object and is dependent upon one or more previous responses of the object top the interrogation signals. Complete identification numbers are recorded as they determined.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for phase modulation in an input circuit of a backscattering transponder includes a varactor and at most one capacitor connected in series between two antenna terminals, as well as a varactor control arrangement applying a control voltage to the varactor to selectively vary the capacitance thereof. One of the antenna terminals is connected directly to one of the varactor terminals without a capacitor therebetween. The other antenna terminal is connected either directly or through a capacitor to the other varactor terminal. One antenna terminal and/or one varactor terminal can be grounded. A DC-decoupling capacitor can be connected between a transponder circuit unit or a circuit ground and the common junction of the antenna terminal with the varactor terminal. The circuit arrangement is simple, economical, and uses minimal chip area by omitting further capacitors between the antenna terminals.

Abstract: To eliminate any mis-learning of a sensor code in a factory environment due to adjacent vehicles, a vehicle ID is sent to a sensor transmitter by an initiation signal. When the sensor transmitter transmits its sensor identification signal to the vehicle control in a “learn” mode, the vehicle ID received in the initiation signal is carried with a combined signal. The vehicle control receives the combined signal, and if the received vehicle identification code in the signal matches an expected vehicle identification code, then the control learns the sensor identification. If the expected vehicle identification code does not match the received vehicle identification code, then the control may ignore the particular sensor identification code. This invention thus eliminates any tendency to have an adjacent vehicle inadvertently “teach” its sensor IDs to the control associated with the adjacent vehicle.

Abstract: To issue a warning against an improper (a lowered) air pressure in accordance with a vehicle state and driver's presence/absence, the warning system includes air pressure measuring means for measuring an air pressure of a tire of a vehicle; air pressure judging means for judging whether or not the air pressure is proper; warning issuing means for issuing, if a result of the judgment is negative, a warning; and driver on-board judging means for judging whether or not a driver is on board the vehicle; and driver detecting means for detecting whether or not the driver is in the proximity to the vehicle. If the results of the judgments by the air pressure judging means and the driver on-board judging means are negative and a result of the detection by the driver detecting means is positive, the warning issuing means issues the warning outside the vehicle.

Abstract: A seatbelt reminder system warns a crew member when the crew member has not fastened a seatbelt. The system makes a way of giving a reminder different between a case (S302, S303, or S304) where the running state of a vehicle is detected when the unfastened state of the seatbelt is detected and a case (S310, S311, or S312) where the unfastened state of the seatbelt is detected when the running state of the vehicle is detected.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicular rear and side warning device which does not issue a warning against a roadside stationary body such as a guard rail or a wall, and certainly issues a warning against a vehicle approaching from behind or a vehicle existing in a blind spot region of an own vehicle. A warning object judgment unit includes a noted sampling timing setting unit for setting a noted sampling timing on the basis of a peak timing obtained by a peak detection unit, and a frequency judgment unit for judging whether a frequency component not lower than a frequency threshold set by a frequency threshold setting unit exists with respect to an FFT operation result at the noted sampling timing.

Abstract: An intelligent turn signal control system for turning on and off left and right turn signals in a vehicle. The system includes a computer, such as an antilock braking system computer, with programmed software operably disposed on a vehicle, and a driver interface switch assembly as input to the computer. Sensors transmit angle, differential wheel movement or related data as input to the computer, while a circuit drives turn signal indicator lamps from conditionally computed output data from the computer to turn on and off turn signals in a situation-appropriate manner. Upon turn signal indication intent data input from the driver, extensive travel and turn data is computed, including yaw rotation and steering system position to turn off or cancel the turn signal at the appropriate point.

Abstract: Method, system and device useful with conventional personal computers respond automatically to an identified alarm sound by sending a notification signal via the Internet only when a special sound monitoring program is active. Additionally, bedside detection of acoustic alarms is combined with enhanced waking devices to insure the waking of a child or hearing impaired person in response to an emergency. Home safety and security are provided using a bedside unit to monitor audible safety and security alarms and send notification signals to the appropriate communication site. A health monitoring method and system utilizes the bedside device to monitor breathing patterns and other health measuring signals and communicate these patterns and signals to a medical monitoring station.

Abstract: A security and surveillance system for aircraft on the ground incorporates a plurality of strategically spaced sensors including video imaging generators, audio sensors, motion detectors, and fire and smoke detectors for monitoring critical components and critical areas of both the interior and the exterior of the a commercial transport such as an aircraft. The system is a comprehensive multi-media safety, tracking and/or surveillance system, which provides both visual and/or audio information as well as critical data such as location, direction, intrusion, fire and/or smoke detection and/or status of environmental conditions and/or asset systems status. The collected information is analyzed and prioritized according to type of event, location and nature of required response for automatically dispatching the proper response.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a security device for residential and/or commercial use. A first magnetic member has a first magnet with a north and south pole, and a second magnetic member has a second magnet with a south and north pole. Contact between the north pole of the first magnet and south pole of the second magnet, or vice versa, completes an electrical circuit by conducting electricity between the first and second magnets, and a magnetic force between the first and second magnets holds the first and second magnets in contact. The electrical circuit is broken when a force sufficient to overcome the magnetic force is applied to separate the first and second magnets. When contact between the first magnet and second magnet is broken off, such as by opening a door or window, the electrical circuit is broken, and an alarm is triggered.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments of the present invention are used to permanently disable or destruct an RFID so that it is no longer possible to read some or all of the data encoded on the RFID tag. In one method for disabling data on a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, an RFID tag is identified and its identity is confirmed. Verification that a prerequisite event has occurred is obtained, occurrence of which is required prior to disablement of the data. A destruct instruction is transmitted to the RFID tag. The RFID tag verifies that the destruct instruction is valid and disables the data upon verifying validity of the destruct instruction. The tag may disable the data by erasing the data, disabling the data, auto-destructing, or performing any operation that makes the data unreadable.

Abstract: A system for tracking and monitoring at least one item in an environment includes at least one transmitter assigned a unique identification number for the item and attached to the item and at least one receiver for receiving a first data packet which includes the unique identification number from the transmitter. At least one node computer controls the receiver, receives a second data packet which includes said unique identification number and direction-of-travel code from the receiver, and determines a location of the item from the direction-of-travel code. A controller computer controls the node computer, receives the unique identification number and the location of the item from the node computer, and stores the unique identification number and the location of the item. A central computer facility coordinates the controller computer and collects and stores the unique identification number and the location of the item for exportation from the system.

Abstract: A nested container establishes a relative hierarchy of associated containers as logistical units. The relative hierarchy comprises lower-layer containers and upper-layer containers relative to the nested container. To do so, the nested container sends interrogation signals to neighboring containers in order to retrieve identification information and layer information. Also, the nested container sends its own information identification information and layer information responsive to received interrogation signals. The nested container outputs the relative hierarchy to, for example, a site server or agent using a hand-held device. The identification module comprises, for example, an RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) device.