초록 ▼

A lifecycle management system for detection and tracking of drillpipes which carry low radio frequency tags that comprise an inductive antenna and transceiver operable at a first radio frequency below 1 megahertz, a transceiver operatively connected to that antenna, an ID data storage device, a micr

A lifecycle management system for detection and tracking of drillpipes which carry low radio frequency tags that comprise an inductive antenna and transceiver operable at a first radio frequency below 1 megahertz, a transceiver operatively connected to that antenna, an ID data storage device, a microprocessor for handling data from the transceiver and data store, and a tag energization inductive antenna which can receive radio frequency energy from an ambient radio frequency field of a second low radio frequency. The system includes a field communication inductive antenna disposed, preferably at a distance of several feet from each object, that permits effective communication therewith at the aforesaid first radio frequency, a data receiver, transmitter and reader data processor in operative communication with the field communication inductive antenna, and a field energization inductive antenna which can produce the ambient radio frequency field at the tag energization inductive antenna.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for detection and tracking of inanimate and animate objects, said system comprising: a) a low radio frequency tag carried by each of the objects, said tag comprising a tag communication inductive antenna operable at a first radio frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz, a transceiver operati

1. A system for detection and tracking of inanimate and animate objects, said system comprising: a) a low radio frequency tag carried by each of the objects, said tag comprising a tag communication inductive antenna operable at a first radio frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz, a transceiver operatively connected to said tag communication inductive antenna, said transceiver being operable to transmit and receive data signals at said first radio frequency, a data storage device operable to store data comprising identification data for identifying said tag, a micro processor operable to process data received from said transceiver and said data storage device and to send data to cause said transceiver to emit an identification signal based upon said identification data stored in said data storage device, and an energy source for activating said transceiver and said microprocessor, said energy source comprising a tag energization inductive antenna operable to receive radio frequency energy from an ambient radio frequency field of a second radio frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz, said second radio frequency being substantially different than said first radio frequency;b) a field communication inductive antenna disposed at an orientation and distance from each object that permits effective communication therewith at said first radio frequency;c) a receiver in operative communication with said field communication inductive antenna, said receiver being operable to receive data signals at said first radio frequency from said low radio frequency tag;d) a transmitter in operative communication with said field communication inductive antenna, said transmitter being operable to send data signals at said first radio frequency to said low frequency tag;e) a reader data processor in operative communication with said receiver and said transmitter;f) a field energization inductive antenna operable to produce said ambient radio frequency field at the tag energization inductive antenna of said object;g) a drilling apparatus operable to drill a wellhole into the earth's formations for extracting a natural resource selected from oil, natural gas, and water and to insert a drillstring of interconnected pipes into said wellhole; andh) a plurality of serially interconnectable pipes, each pipe comprising a wall portion which comprises an outer surface, said low radio frequency tag being attached to said pipe at said outer surface, both said field communication inductive antenna and said field energization inductive antenna being positioned and configured to encircle a lateral cross-section of each said pipe at said distance therefrom, said distance being at least 1.0 feet. 2. A system as set forth in claim 1, said drilling apparatus comprising: i) a base platform operable for guiding an end of a first pipe into said wellhole and into interconnection with a corresponding end of a second pipe that is already disposed in said wellhole,ii) a positioning fixture that is attached to said base platform and operable to position and configure both said field communication inductive antenna and said field energization inductive antenna to encircle a lateral cross-section of said first pipe at said distance of at least 1.0 feet therefrom. 3. A system as set forth in claim 1, said tag communication inductive antenna and said tag energization inductive antenna being mutually oriented and positioned to substantially minimize inductive coupling therebetween. 4. A system as set forth in claim 1, said first radio frequency being an integral multiple of said second radio frequency. 5. A system as set forth in claim 1, said first radio frequency being 128 kHz and said second radio frequency being selected from 64 kHz, 32 kHz, 16 kHz, and 8 kHz. 6. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tag communication inductive antenna is a wound air loop coil, and said tag energization inductive antenna is a wound air loop coil. 7. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said field communication inductive antenna has an axis which is substantially orthogonal to a corresponding axis of said field energization inductive antenna. 8. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tag communication inductive antenna is a wound air loop coil having a first axis, and said tag energization inductive antenna is a wound air loop coil having a second axis that is substantially orthogonal to said first axis. 9. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tag communication inductive antenna comprises a wound ferrite coil, and said tag energization inductive antenna comprises a wound ferrite coil. 10. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tag communication inductive antenna comprises a wound ferrite coil having a first axis and said tag energization inductive antenna comprises a wound ferrite coil having a second axis that is substantially orthogonal to said tag communication inductive antenna. 11. A system as set forth in claim 1, said tag communication inductive antenna comprising a first plurality of turns of wire, said tag energization inductive antenna comprising a second plurality of turns of wire.