Wireless communication device attachment and detachment device and method

Abstract

The invention relates to a wireless communication device that attaches using magnetic force in whole or part to an article of manufacture, or other material having a magnetic surface portion. The wireless communication device contains a form of a magnet to provide magnetic force and attraction. A magnet can be a natural magnet, electromagnet or other type of material having magnetic properties. The wireless communication device may be detached from the article by altering the magnetic force created by its associated magnet. Altering is accomplished by using an external device or a device internal to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device is also operable to receive and communicate information regarding the article to which it is attached remotely for identification, informative, and tracking purposes.

1. A device that magnetically attaches to a magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:
 a wireless communication device; and  
 a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;  
 said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article;  
 said chamber comprises of two pole pieces forming a gap at two opposite ends.  
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said wireless communication device is located in one of said pole pieces. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein said wireless communication device is located near said gap. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a second wireless communication device located in one of said pole pieces away from said gap. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 2 , wherein said wireless communication device is located away from said gap. 
     
     
       6. A device that magnetically attaches to a magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:
 a wireless communication device;  
 a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;  
 said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article; and  
 a latch that rotates said magnet in said chamber in response to a particular signal field.  
 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a spring coupled to said latch to release said latch when said spring resonates. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 6 , wherein said particular signal field is 60 Hertz. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a signal detector coupled to said latch to detect the particular signal field and release said latch in response thereto. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 6 , wherein said wireless communication device provides power to a piezoelectric device to release said latch. 
     
     
       11. A device that magnetically attaches to a magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:
 a wireless communication device; and  
 a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;  
 said magnet has a magnetic force that attached said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article;  
 said wireless communication device alters said magnetic force when said wireless communication device receives a message.  
 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11  wherein said wireless communication device passes a current to an electromagnet to alter said magnetic force. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 , wherein said electromagnet is mounted in close proximity to said magnet. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 11 , wherein said wireless communication device activates a latch that rotates said magnet to alter said magnetic force. 
     
     
       15. A device that magnetically attaches to a magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:
 a wireless communication device; and  
 a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;  
 said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article;  
 said magnet is comprised of at least one tab connected to said wireless communication device wherein said at least one tab also comprises an antenna for said wireless communication device.  
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one tab is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one tab is an electromagnet. 
     
     
       18. A device that magnetically attaches to magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:
 a wireless communication device; and  
 a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;  
 said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article;  
 said magnet moves in said chamber in a plane substantially perpendicular to said magnetic surface portion in response to said magnetic force or an external magnetic force.  
 
     
     
       19. A system for identification of an article, comprising:
 an article having a magnetic surface portion;  
 a wireless communication device; and  
 a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;  
 said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article;  
 said chamber is comprised of two pole pieces forming a gap at two opposite ends.  
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein said wireless communication device is located in one of said pole pieces. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 20 , wherein said wireless communication device is located near said gap. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a second wireless communication device located in one of said pole pieces away from said gap. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 20 , wherein said wireless communication device is located away from said gap. 
     
     
       24. A device that magnetically attaches to a magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:
 a wireless communication device; and  
 a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located inside a chamber;  
 said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article;  
 said chamber has an open portion for an external device to be inserted inside said chamber proximate to said magnet wherein said external device is adapted to cause a short with said magnet to cause said magnet to reverse polarity.  
 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 24 , wherein said external device is a magnetic short. 
     
     
       26. A system for identification of an article, comprising:
 an article containing having a magnetic surface portion;  
 a wireless communication device;  
 a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet uses magnetic force to attach said wireless communication device to said magnetic surface portion of said article when in close proximity to said magnetic surface portion, wherein said magnet is housed and rotates in a magnetic assembly; and  
 a latch that rotates said magnet in response to particular signal field.  
 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 26 , further comprising a spring coupled to said latch to release said latch when said spring resonates. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 26 , wherein said particular signal field is 60 Hertz. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 26 , wherein said wireless communication device provides power to an piezoelectric device to release said latch. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 26 , further comprising a signal detector coupled to said latch to detect the particular signal field and release said latch in resonant thereto. 
     
     
       31. A system for identification of an article, comprising:
 an article containing having a magnetic surface portion;  
 a wireless communication device;  
 a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet uses magnetic force to attach said wireless communication device to said magnetic surface portion of said article when in close proximity to said magnetic surface portion; and  
 said wireless communication device alters said magnetic force when said wireless communication device receives a message through said wireless communication device.  
 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 31 , wherein said wireless communication device passes a current to an electromagnet to alter said magnetic force. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 32 , wherein said electromagnet is mounted in close proximity to said magnet. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 31 , wherein said wireless communication device activates a latch that rotates said magnet to alter said magnetic force. 
     
     
       35. A system for identification of an article, comprising:
 an article containing a magnetic surface portion;  
 a wireless communication device; and  
 a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet uses magnetic force to attach said wireless communication device to said magnetic surface portion of said article when in close proximity to said magnetic surface portion;  
 said magnet is comprised of at least one tab connected to said wireless communication device wherein said at least one tab also comprises an antenna for said wireless communication device.  
 
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 35 , wherein said at least one tab is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
       37. The system of  claim 35 , wherein said at least one tab is an electromagnet. 
     
     
       38. A method of detaching a wireless communication device from a magnetic surface portion wherein, the wireless communication device contains a magnet that attaches the wireless communication device to the magnetic surface portion by a magnetic force, comprising the step of activating a latch coupled to said magnet thereby rotating said magnet and altering said magnetic force, wherein activating a latch is comprised of bringing said wireless communication device in proximity to a signal field generator. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 38 , wherein bringing said wireless communication device in proximity to a signal field generator step resonates a spring coupled to said latch. 
     
     
       40. A method of detaching a wireless communication device from a magnetic surface portion, wherein the wireless commutation device contains a magnet that attaches the wireless communication device to magnetic surface portion by a magnetic force, comprised of altering said magnetic force, which comprises of magnetically shorting said magnet. 
     
     
       41. A method of detaching a wireless communication device from a magnetic surface portion, wherein the wireless communication device contains a magnet that attaches the wireless communication device to the magnetic surface portion by a magnetic force, comprised of altering said magnetic force and communicating via the wireless communication device the attachment status of said wireless communication device. 
     
     
       42. A method of detaching a wireless communication device from a magnetic surface portion, wherein the wireless communication device contains a magnet that attaches the wireless communication device to the magnetic surface portion by a magnetic force, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a message by said wireless communication device; and  
 altering said magnetic force in response to said receiving said message.  
 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 42 , wherein said magnet is an electromagnet. 
     
     
       44. The method of  claim 43 , wherein said electromagnet is comprised of a coil around a magnetic surface portion and said wireless communication device provides a voltage across said coil. 
     
     
       45. The method of  claim 44 , wherein said voltage is generated by an energy source comprised from the group consisting of a reservoir capacitor and a battery. 
     
     
       46. The method of  claim 42 , further comprising powering an electromagnet in proximity to said magnet. 
     
     
       47. The method of  claim 42 , further comprising activating a latch coupled to said magnet to rotate said magnet. 
     
     
       48. A device that magnetically attaches to a magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:
   a wireless communication device;        a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device wherein said magnet is located in a magnetic assembly, wherein said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article; and        a latch that rotates said magnet in said magnetic assembly in response to a particular signal field.     
     
     
       49. The device of  claim 48 , further comprising a spring coupled to said latch to release said latch when said spring resonates. 
     
     
       50. The device of  claim 48 , wherein said particular signal field is  60  Hertz. 
     
     
       51. The device of  claim 48 , further comprising a signal detector coupled to said latch to detect the particular signal field and release said latch in response thereto. 
     
     
       52. The device of  claim 48 , wherein said wireless communication device provides power to a piezoelectric device to release said latch. 
     
     
       53. A device that magnetically attaches to a magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:
   a wireless communication device; and        a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device;        wherein said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article, and        wherein said wireless communication device alters said magnetic force when said wireless communication device receives a message.     
     
     
       54. The device of  claim 53  wherein said wireless communication device passes a current to an electromagnet to alter said magnetic force. 
     
     
       55. The device of  claim 54 , wherein said electromagnet is mounted in close proximity to said magnet. 
     
     
       56. The device of  claim 53 , wherein said wireless communication device activates a latch that rotates said magnet to alter said magnetic force. 
     
     
       57. A device that magnetically attaches to a magnetic surface portion of an article, comprising:
   a wireless communication device; and        a magnet coupled to said wireless communication device,        wherein said magnet has a magnetic force that attaches said magnet to the magnetic surface portion of the article when in close proximity to the magnetic surface portion of the article, and        wherein said magnet is comprised of at least one tab connected to said wireless communication device, wherein said at least one tab also comprises an antenna for said wireless communication device.     
     
     
       58. The device of  claim 57 , wherein said at least one tab is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
       59. The device of  claim 57 , wherein said at least one tab is an electromagnet.