| US 7,479,884 B1 | ||
| System and method for monitoring objects, people, animals or places | ||
| Larry W. Fullerton, New Hope, Ala. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Cedar Ridge Research, Huntsville, Ala. (US) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 30, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/215,490. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/605720, filed on Aug. 31, 2004. | ||
| Int. Cl. G08B 13/14 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 340—572.7 [340/573.1; 340/572.1; 342/51; 342/43; 342/44] | 17 Claims |
| 11. A system for monitoring a person, animal, object, or place, comprising:
a modulating reflector tag at a first location, said modulating reflector tag being associated with said person, animal, object,
or place, said modulating reflector tag including an antenna structure having at least one characteristic modified in accordance
with a pattern, said pattern intended to convey information pertaining to said person, animal, object, or place, said antenna
structure employing retro reflector effects to improve signal-to-noise of said modulating reflector tag to enable an increased
interrogation range;
a transmitter at a second location that transmits an interrogation signal towards said modulating reflector tag, said interrogation
signal reflecting off said modulating reflector tag as a return signal, said retro reflector effects causing said return signal
to return directly back towards said second location regardless of where said transmitter is located relative to said modulating
reflector tag; and
a receiver at said second location that receives and demodulates said received return signal to determine said information,
wherein said information can be used to monitor said person, animal, object, or place.
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