United States Patent 7,948,375
Goldberg , et al. May 24, 2011
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Method and apparatus for detecting portable electronic device functionality
Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus for the detection of portable electronic device functionality. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes a chemically coated antenna to serve as a trigger for device functionality detection. The chemically coated antenna may be passively or actively detected. In active detection, a detection apparatus releases a chemical which reacts or otherwise respods with the chemical trigger in a detectable manner. The detection apparatus detects the reaction, which is specific to the functionality of the portable electronic device. In passive detection, a detection device simply detects the chemical trigger, which is specific to the portable electronic device functionality. Other trigger embodiments utilizing optics, radio frequency (RF) signals, sound waves, and magnetic identification are also disclosed.
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Inventors: Goldberg; Steven Jeffrey (Downingtown, PA), Thommana; John (Cedar Rapids, IA), Chandra; Arty (Manhasset Hills, NY), Briancon; Alain Charles Louis (Poolesville, MD)
Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation (Wilmington, DE)
Appl. No.: 11/294,957
Filed: December 6, 2005
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application Number Filing Date Patent Number Issue Date
60633527 Dec., 2004
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Current U.S. Class: 340/540 ; 340/506; 340/691.1; 340/691.6; 340/693.5
Current International Class: G08B 21/00 (20060101)
Field of Search: 340/506,540,691.1,691.6,693.5,321
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