An electronically addressable a-polar document receptacle identification circuit has first and second terminals adapted to be connected to a two conductor data bus for supplying data signals to the terminals and for receiving responses from the circuit. The circuit has a two phase diode bridge circuit with first and second nodes connected to the first and second terminals. The diode bridge circuit is connect to the data signal input of a circuit microcontroller having an output connected to the first and second nodes for furnishing response signals to the nodes. The associated receptacle can be a file folder removably received in a file cabinet or a notebook binder removably received on a cabinet shelf. The circuit will function correctly regardless of the orientation of the terminals with respect to the data bus conductors so a file folder or a notebook binder can be installed in either one of two possible orientations without affecting the functionality of the circuit.
G06Q 10/08 - Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distributionInventory or stock management
H05B 45/10 - Controlling the intensity of the light
B42F 13/22 - Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings pivotable about an axis or axes parallel to binding edges in two sections engaging each other when closed
G08B 5/36 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmissionVisible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources
G05B 19/042 - Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers using digital processors
2.
High security document storage and retrieval system
A document storage and retrieval system for securely storing documents. A mass storage device contains document identification data and document location information but not the document data. A host computer extracts the document identification data and document location information from the mass storage device and sends this information to a storage cabinet containing the document. Each document is removably stored in a file folder contained in a cabinet drawer. Each file folder has a memory unit which stores an electronic version of each physical document contained in the file folder. The host computer directs the initial storage of a document in folder memory. Thereafter, the host computer is denied access to the electronic versions stored in file folder memory. Access to the electronic versions is only possible using a special reader device.
G08B 5/36 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmissionVisible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources
G06F 21/62 - Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
3.
Security lock for removably suspended electronically addressable object and system
An electronically addressable object carrier for enabling the management of removably suspended objects, such as keys, distributed in an object location space, The object carrier includes a housing having an object retention element for securing an object to the object carrier and a lock element for releasable engagement with an associated locking device, the microcontroller having a unique object address serving to identify an object secured to the object carrier; a plurality of electrically conductive contact pads in the housing for electrically coupling the microcontroller to a source of object address signals and electrical power signals and a visible indicator coupled to the microcontroller for activation whenever the microcontroller receives an address signal representative of the unique object address. The lock element is a recess formed in a surface of the housing with an abutment edge. The associated locking device is a solenoid having a retractable plunger terminating in a control element which engages the recess. The locking device is mounted adjacent a mounting aperture in a support element, such as a cabinet interior wall. In use, the carrier is inserted into the wall aperture until the control element engages the housing recess, which locks the carrier in place. To unlock, the solenoid is operated to retract the plunger to release the carrier for manual removal.
E05B 73/00 - Devices for locking portable objects against unauthorised removalLocking devices not provided for in other groups of this subclass
G08B 5/36 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmissionVisible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources
G06K 17/00 - Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups , e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
E05B 17/10 - Illuminating devices on, or for, locks or keys
A searchable binder which is operationally compatible with a binder management system having a cabinet with shelves or a file cabinet with file drawers for removable storage of searchable binders. Each binder has a body with front and rear covers and a spine. Inside the body is a binder mechanism for removably retaining sheet media. Each binder has a pair of binder contact mechanisms mounted to the spine at opposite ends, a binder identification circuit electrically coupled to the binder contact mechanisms, and a visible indicator. Each binder contact mechanism has a base element and a sliding element. The sliding element can be manually set to a retracted position in which the sliding element is extended a first distance and an extended position in which the sliding element is extended a second greater distance. In the retracted position, the sliding elements can make contact with conductive elements of a binder cabinet when a binder is placed on a shelf. In the extended position the sliding elements can make contact with conductive support rails of a file cabinet when a binder is placed in a file drawer. When a binder identification signal from a host computer is supplied to the conductive elements or the conductive rails. It is transferred by the binder contact mechanisms to the binder identification circuit. If the signal matches an address code stored in the binder identification circuit, the LED is activated to aid the user in finding the binder.
G08B 5/00 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
G08B 5/36 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmissionVisible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources
B42F 13/40 - Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots combined or formed with other articles, e.g. punches, stands
A collective objects management system with enhanced security for objects contained in object receptacles distributed throughout the system. Each object receptacle has a microcontroller with a unique system address which enables generation of a response signal whenever an incoming address from a source is a match. An object container microcontroller periodically polls the object receptacle microcontrollers in the cabinet and stores an updated version of the cabinet object data base. When an object is detected as missing, the object container microcontroller checks whether the absence of the object was authorized by a host computer. If not, a local alarm is activated and the host computer is informed. The host computer can take additional security measures.
An electronically addressable object carrier for enabling the management of removably suspended objects, such as keys, distributed in an object location space, The object carrier includes a housing having an object retention element for securing an object to the object carrier and at least one through aperture for removably receiving an electrically conductive suspension member capable of manifesting object address signals and power signals supplied by a source; a microcontroller carried by the housing, the microcontroller having a unique object address serving to identify an object secured to the object carrier; an electrically conductive element located in the at least one aperture for electrically coupling the microcontroller to the electrically conductive suspension member when the aperture is removably received on the electrically conductive suspension member; and a visible indicator coupled to the microcontroller for activation whenever the microcontroller receives an address signal representative of the unique object address. Two electrically conductive elements can be used: one having first and second electrically conductive members slidably and oppositely disposed in a single aperture and bias means for urging the first and second electrically conductive members toward each other to make contact with an electrically conductive suspension member when the carrier is mounted. Another being a pair of washers mounted in spaced first and second apertures in the housing. In use, the devices are removably suspended by one or two electrically conductive suspension members secured to a support element, such as the back board of a cabinet.
G09F 3/00 - Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication meansSealsPostage or like stamps
G06K 17/00 - Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups , e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
G06K 19/077 - Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
G08B 5/22 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmissionVisible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission
G06K 19/067 - Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards
G07C 9/00 - Individual registration on entry or exit
G06K 19/06 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
G06K 19/00 - Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
G06K 19/07 - Record carriers with conductive marks, printed circuits or semiconductor circuit elements, e.g. credit or identity cards with integrated circuit chips
7.
Searchable binder with inductive address code transfer
A binder management system having a cabinet with shelves for removable storage of searchable binders. Each binder has a body with front and rear covers and a spine. Inside the body is a binder mechanism for removably retaining sheet media. Each binder has a planar receiving antenna mounted on the spine in a plane parallel to the lower margin of the spine or mounted on one of the covers in a plane parallel to the cover plane Each binder has a binder identification circuit coupled to the receiving antenna and to an LED mounted on the binder spine in a location visible when the binder rests on a shelf. When a binder identification signal from a host computer is detected by the receiving antenna it is transferred to the binder identification circuit. If the signal matches an address code stored in the binder identification circuit, the LED is activated to aid the user in finding the binder. Transmitting antennae are mounted on the shelves to broadcast the binder identification signals to the receiving antenna mounted in the binder. An LED and an optional audible indicator are mounted on the shelves to further aid the user in finding the sought binder.
B42F 13/40 - Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots combined or formed with other articles, e.g. punches, stands
G08B 5/36 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmissionVisible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources
G06K 7/10 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensingMethods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation
A searchable binder which is operationally compatible with a binder management system having a cabinet with shelves for removable storage of the binder. Each binder has a body with front and rear covers and a spine. Inside the body is a binder mechanism for removably retaining sheet media. Each binder has a binder contact mechanism mounted to the spine at the upper end, a binder lock mechanism mounted to the spine at the lower end, a binder identification circuit electrically coupled to the binder contact mechanism and the binder lock mechanism, and a visible indicator. The binder contact mechanism has a contact element extending outwardly of the upper end of the spine and engaged with one of several first conductive shelf elements of the binder cabinet. The binder lock mechanism has a lock bolt extending outwardly of the lower end of the spine with an end portion engaged with one of several grooved second conductive shelf elements of the binder cabinet to normally lock the binder in the cabinet. When a binder identification signal from a host computer is supplied to the cabinet conductive elements, it is transferred by the binder contact mechanism and the binder lock mechanism to the binder identification circuit. If the signal matches a binder identification code stored in the binder identification circuit, the binder lock mechanism is activated to the release position and the visible indicator is activated to aid the user in finding the binder.
G08B 5/36 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmissionVisible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources
B42F 13/40 - Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots combined or formed with other articles, e.g. punches, stands
A secure document receptacle for use in file cabinets having slidable drawers with laterally spaced support rails for removable supporting file folders. The secure document receptacle has a single support brace along the top edge with downwardly opening channels for removable engagement with the drawer support rails. The receptacle has a closed top edge and openings to the interior of the receptacle on the side edge or the bottom edge of the receptacle. Documents can only be inserted and removed via the open side or bottom edges. The receptacle must be partially or completely removed from the drawer support rails before a document can be removed from the receptacle. This interrupts contact between the brace channels and the support rails, an event which can be detected by cabinet sensing circuitry.
A collective objects data base management system for objects such as documents contained in file folders in drawers of file cabinets. Each file folder has an electrical circuit with a visible indicator mounted on the file folder. Each folder circuit has an object receptacle microcontroller with a unique system address which enables generation of a response signal whenever an incoming address from a source is a match and activation of the visible indicator. An object container microcontroller periodically polls the object receptacle microcontrollers in the cabinet and stores an updated version of the cabinet object data base. The cabinet object data base contents are sent to a host computer, which maintains the system data base.
G08B 5/22 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmissionVisible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission
H04L 29/12 - Arrangements, apparatus, circuits or systems, not covered by a single one of groups characterised by the data terminal
G08B 5/36 - Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmissionVisible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources
11.
Addressable drawer organizer with item display panel
A drawer organizer for facilitating the location of an item stored in one of several drawers in one or more drawer organizer cabinets. Each drawer has an LED and a display device mounted on a front panel, as well as a CPU and a display device driver. The CPU memory contains the address of the associated drawer and communicates with an associated controller which receives drawer address and display information from a host computer. A user specifies an item to be retrieved from one of the cabinet drawers, the host computer transmits drawer identification signals to the controller, which converts these signals to a drawer address and supplies the drawer address to all drawer CPUs in the cabinet. If the incoming address matches the address stored in CPU memory of one of the drawers, this result is conveyed via the controller to the host computer, which then sends item display information to the controller. The controller forwards this information to the CPU, which relays this information to the display device driver and the information is displayed to the user. The CPU also activates the drawer LED.
A storage container and matching cover for storing addressable objects. The storage container has an interconnect panel with a pair of laterally spaced address signal conductors extending vertically along the panel and terminating at the top and bottom edges of the panel in conductive terminal pads. The cover has an interconnect mechanism with spring biased translatable conductive probes positioned to mate with the conductive terminal pads of an upper and lower container when two containers are vertically stacked. The combination of the container and cover eliminates the need for individual USB jumper cables when interconnecting two or more vertically stacked containers. An auto alignment feature ensures that the containers are properly stacked with the terminal pads in contact with the conductive probes.
An indicator circuit for a storage container designed to enable remote electronic searching for file folders located within the container. Address signals from a host computer are supplied to the storage container to designate a sought file folder. The indicator circuit is activated whenever a sought file folder is located in a given container. When two or more storage containers are interconnected to receive address signals designating a sought file folder, only the indicator circuit of the storage container containing the sought file folder is activated.
A storage container for use in a documents management system with remote location of file folders positioned on support members mounted between walls of the storage container. The support members are electrically connected to an electrical input connector which supplies file folder search signals to the container and receives response signals from address decoder circuits located in each file folder removably received in the container. Each container has an electrical output connector which can be connected to the electrical input connector of another container so that several containers can be connected to one another. Each container can be removably installed in a file cabinet drawer and electrically connected to the file drawer conductive rails to communicate with a file cabinet based file management system.
A collective objects management system for objects such as documents contained in file folders in drawers of file cabinets. Each file folder has an electrical circuit with a visible indicator mounted on the file folder. Each folder circuit has an address decoder with a unique system address which enables generation of a VALID signal whenever an incoming address from a source is a match, and a circuit for deriving operating power for the address decoder from an incoming address signal. A local microcomputer and optional encoder receive incoming object identification signals from the source and supplies the desired object address to all the file folders in the cabinet. To aid the user, each file drawer has a visible indicator mounted on the front panel, the panel indicator being illuminated when the sought folder is contained in that drawer. The invention can be applied to a wide variety of collective objects management systems, such as supermarkets, automobile parts distributors, and various manufacturing operations.
A collective objects management system for objects such as documents contained in file folders in drawers of file cabinets. Each file folder has an electrical circuit with a visible indicator mounted on the file folder. Each folder circuit has an address decoder with a unique system address which generates a VALID signal whenever an incoming address from a source is a match. A local microcomputer and optional encoder receive incoming object identification signals from the source and supplies the desired object address to all the file folders in the cabinet. To aid the user, each file drawer has a visible indicator mounted on the front panel, the panel indicator being illuminated when the sought folder is contained in that drawer. The invention can be applied to a wide variety of collective objects management systems, such as supermarkets, automobile parts distributors, and various manufacturing operations.
patents