Interrogator and interrogation system employing the same
An interrogator, methods of discerning the presence of an object, and interrogation systems employing the same. In one embodiment, the interrogation systems include multiple interrogators that communicate with a base command unit to track a location of an object. In another embodiment wherein the object is an RFID object (e.g., an object with an RFID tag), the interrogators employ signal processing techniques such as precharging the RFID object, and correlating a reference code with a reply code from the RFID object using selected techniques to increase a sensitivity of the interrogator, especially for adverse environments. In other embodiments, the interrogation systems include variations of metal instruments and sponges employed therewith. In yet another embodiment, the interrogation system includes metal interrogators capable of discerning the presence of a metal object, especially in a presence of another metal object.
1. An interrogation system, comprising:
a radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator in communication with a base command unit, configured to:
detect an object with a RFID tag at a first time;
send a first signal to said base command unit to track a location of said object at said first time;
detect said object at a second time being after said base command unit determines said location of said object at said first time; and
send a second signal to said base command unit to track said location of said object at said second time; and
a non-RFID interrogator in communication with said base command unit and in a portable configuration with said RFID interrogator.
2. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said RFID interrogator includes a multiple element antenna.
3. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said RFID interrogator employs antennas selected from the group consisting of:
far field antennas,
near field antennas,
near field antenna arrays,
ring antennas, and
bi-static antennas.
4. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said base command unit is configured to track said location of said object in real time.
5. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 further comprising another RFID interrogator configured to detect a different object and said base command unit being configured to receive signals from said another RFID interrogator to track a location of said different object.
6. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said interrogation system is locatable in an operating room selected from the group consisting of:
a back table,
a soiled consumable and instrument station,
a dirty basin station, and
an operating station.
7. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said non-RFID interrogator is configured to detect a different object, said base command unit configured to receive signals from said non-RFID interrogator to track a location of said different object.
8. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a charger for said RFID interrogator and said non-RFID interrogator.
9. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said base command unit communicates with another computer system.
10. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said base command unit is coupleable to a display to show said location of said object.
11. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said base command unit is a laptop computer.
12. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said base command unit, comprises:
an input/output device,
a device management module,
an operating system,
a processor,
a memory,
an external computer system interface,
a power management module, and
a remote communications module.
13. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said RFID interrogator and said non-RFID interrogator, comprises:
a device management module,
a sensing subsystem,
a power management module,
a remote communications module, and
a user interface module.
14. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said interrogation system is configured to employ multiscan, coherent signal processing.
15. The interrogation system as recited in claim 1 wherein said RFID interrogator generates radio frequency energy in accordance with a radio frequency identification sensing subsystem and a radio frequency power amplifier to detect said object.
16. A method of operating an interrogation system, comprising:
detecting an object having a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with a RFID interrogator at a first time;
sending a first signal to a base command unit to track a location of said object at said first time;
detecting said object with said RFID interrogator at a second time being after said base command unit determines said location of said object at said first time;
sending a second signal to said base command unit to track said location of said object at said second time; and
detecting a different object having a tag with a non-RFID interrogator in a portable configuration with said RFID interrogator.
17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said RFID interrogator includes a multiple element antenna.
18. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said RFID interrogator employs antennas selected from the group consisting of:
far field antennas,
near field antennas,
near field antenna arrays,
ring antennas, and
bi-static antennas.
19. The method as recited in claim 16 further comprising sending a signal to said base command unit to track a location of said different object.
20. The method as recited in claim 16 , further comprising:
displaying said location of said object; and
communicating with another computer system.