Detectable components and detection apparatus for detecting such components
A detectable component has a first inductive coupler (L;M) adapted to couple inductively to a second inductive coupler (L 1 ) of a detection apparatus when the detectable component is in range of or coupled to the detection apparatus. The first inductive coupler has a resistive component (M) with a resistance that varies with magnetic field to cause modulation of a carrier signal supplied to the second inductive coupler of the detection apparatus, the detectable component having a characteristic signature that enables the detectable component to be distinguished by the detection apparatus from other such detectable components having different characteristic signatures.
1. A detectable component, comprising;
a first inductive component adapted to couple inductively to a second inductive component of a detection apparatus when the detectable component is in range of or coupled to the detection apparatus; and
a resistive component comprising a closed loop inductively coupled to the first inductive component, wherein the resistive component has a resistance that varies with magnetic field to cause modulation of a carrier signal supplied to the second inductive component of the detection apparatus,
wherein the detectable component has a characteristic signature that enables the detectable component to be distinguished by the detection apparatus from other detectable components having different characteristic signatures.
2. A detectable component according to claim 1 , wherein the characteristic signature is provided at least partly by the manner in which the resistance of the resistive component varies with magnetic field.
3. A detectable component according to claim 2 , wherein the composition of the material is different from that of other detectable components having differing characteristic signatures.
4. A detectable component according to claim 1 , wherein the resistive component comprises a material exhibiting Giant Magneto-Impedance (GMI).
5. A detectable component according to claim 1 , wherein the detectable component also includes a passive data storage device that at least partly provides the characteristic signature to enable the detectable component to be distinguished by the detection apparatus from other detectable components having different characteristic signatures.
6. A detectable component according to claim 5 , wherein the passive storage device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
7. A detectable component according to claim 6 , wherein the RFID tag comprises a readable RFID tag.
8. A detectable component according to claim 6 , wherein the RFID tag comprises a writeable RFID tag.
9. A detectable component according to claim 1 , further comprising an optically detectable element that at least partly provides the characteristic signature to enable the detectable component to be distinguished by the detection apparatus from other detectable components having different characteristic signatures.
10. A detectable component according to claim 9 , wherein the optically detectable element comprises a color of at least a region of the detectable component.
11. A detectable component according to claim 9 , wherein the optically detectable element comprises a fluorescent region of the detectable component.
12. A detectable component according to claim 1 , wherein the characteristic signature is provided at least partly by a magnetic biasing element.
13. A detectable component according to claim 1 , wherein the characteristic signature is provided at least partly by at least one of the size and shape of the resistive component.
14. A detectable component according to claim 1 , wherein the resistive component defines a code.
15. A detectable component according to claim 14 , wherein the resistive component defines a bar code.
16. A detectable component according claim 1 , wherein the resistive component is associated with a metallic member.
17. A detectable component according to claim 1 , wherein the resistive component is associated with a foil hologram carried by the detectable component.
18. A detectable component according to claim 1 , wherein the detectable component is included in a subsidiary body for use with an electronic device or electrical appliance.
19. A detectable component according to claim 1 , wherein the detectable component is included in a tool attachable to an electronic device or electrical appliance.
20. A detectable component in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the detectable component is included on a substrate.
21. A detectable component in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the detectable component is included in a sheet of paper.
22. A detectable component in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the detectable component is included in at least one of an accessory, attachment and disposable component.
23. A detectable component in accordance with claim 22 , wherein the detectable component is included in a tool.
24. A detectable component in accordance with claim 22 , wherein the detectable component is included in a disposable accessory attachable to a medical device.
25. A detectable component, comprising:
a first inductive component adapted to couple inductively to a second inductive component of a detection apparatus when the detectable component is in range of or coupled to the detection apparatus, wherein the first inductive component comprises a plurality of electrically conductive paths coupled in parallel; and
a resistive component with a resistance that varies with magnetic field to cause modulation of a carrier signal supplied to the second inductive component of the detection apparatus, wherein the resistive component comprises a closed loop inductively coupled to the inductive component.
26. A detectable component according to claim 25 , wherein the first inductive component is a coil of Litz wire.
27. A detectable component according to claim 25 , wherein the first inductive component comprises an open-circuit coil.
28. A detectable component according to claim 25 , wherein the first inductive component comprises a coil and the resistive component provides a resistive path along a magnetic flux line.
29. A detectable component according to claim 25 , wherein the first inductive component also includes a capacitor.
30. A detectable component according to claim 25 , wherein the resistive component has a skin resistance that varies with magnetic field.
31. A detectable component according to claim 25 , wherein the resistive component comprises a material exhibiting Giant Magneto-impedance (GMI).
32. A detectable component according to claim 31 , wherein the resistive component comprises a cobalt alloy.
33. A detectable component according to claim 25 , wherein the first inductive component is a tuned circuit.
34. A detectable component according to claim 25 , further comprising a passive device operable, when the detectable component is coupled to or is in range of the detection apparatus, to derive power from a carrier signal supplied by the detection apparatus and to communicate with the detection apparatus.
35. A detectable component according to claim 34 , wherein the passive data storage device includes a memory storing data and is operable, when powered, to modulate the carrier signal in accordance with data read out from the memory.
36. A detectable component according to claim 35 , wherein the passive data storage device is a writeable passive data storage device.
37. A detectable component according to claim 34 , wherein the passive device comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
38. A detectable component according to claim 37 , wherein the RFID tag comprises a readable RFID tag.
39. A detectable component according to claim 37 , wherein the RFID tag comprises a writeable RFID tag.
40. A detectable component according to claim 25 , further comprising a passive device operable, when the first and second inductive components are coupled, to derive power from the carrier signal and to communicate with the detection apparatus.
41. A detectable component according to claim 25 , also incorporating a permanent magnetic element.
42. A set of detectable components each according to claim 25 , each detectable component having a resistance that varies with magnetic field when the detectable component is subjected to an excitation field, each of the detectable components having a different resistance characteristic so providing each detectable component with a different identification signal.
43. A detectable component, comprising:
a first inductive component adapted to couple inductively to a second inductive component of a detection apparatus when the detectable component is mechanically coupled to the detection apparatus, wherein the first inductive component consists solely of a coil formed of a material having a resistance that varies with magnetic field to cause modulation of a carrier signal supplied to the second inductive component component of the detection apparatus.
44. A detectable component according to claim 43 , wherein the coil is formed of a material exhibiting Giant Magneto-Impedance (GMI).
45. A detectable component according to claim 44 , wherein the coil comprises a cobalt alloy.
46. A detectable component according to claim 43 , wherein the coil is a single closed loop.
47. A detectable component, comprising:
first inductive coupling means adapted to couple inductively to second inductive coupling means of a detection apparatus when the detectable component is mechanically coupled to the detection apparatus, the mechanical coupling causing the first inductive coupling means and the second inductive coupling means to effectively form a primary and secondary of a transformer, the first inductive coupling means comprising a resistive component with a resistance that varies with magnetic field to cause modulation of a carrier signal supplied to the second inductive coupling means of the detection apparatus, the detectable component having a characteristic signature that enables the detectable component to be distinguished by the detection apparatus from other detectable components having different characteristic signatures.
48. A detectable component according to claim 47 , wherein the detectable component also carries a passive data storage device that at least partly provides the characteristic signature to enable the detectable component to be distinguished by the detection apparatus from other detectable components having different characteristic signatures.
49. A detectable component according to claim 47 , further comprising an optically detectable element that at least partly provides the characteristic signature to enable the detectable component to be distinguished by the detection apparatus from other detectable components having different characteristic signatures.
50. A detectable component according to claim 49 , wherein the optically detectable element comprises a color of at least a region of the detectable component.
51. A detectable component according to claim 49 , wherein the optically detectable element comprises a fluorescent region of the detectable component.
52. A detectable component according to claim 47 , wherein the characteristic signature is provided at least partly by a magnetic biasing element.
53. A detectable component according to claim 47 , wherein the characteristic signature is provided at least partly by at least one of the size and shape of the resistive component.
54. A detectable component according to claim 47 , wherein the characteristic signature is provided at least partly by the shape of the resistive component which is selected from a loop, ring or disc, cross, and bar.
55. A detectable component according to claim 47 , wherein the first inductive coupling means comprises a coil of Litz wire.
56. A detectable component according to claim 47 , wherein the resistive component comprises a resistive element coupled in series with an inductive component.
57. A detectable component according to claim 47 , wherein the resistive component comprises a coil also forming an inductive component.
58. A detectable component according to claim 47 , wherein the resistive component comprises a closed loop inductively coupled to an inductive component.
59. A detectable component according to claim 47 , wherein the first inductive coupling means comprises an open-circuit coil.