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| The present invention contemplates a method for co-registering a semiconductor wafer undergoing ... |
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| Wafer transfer system having rotational capability |
| OF THE INVENTION A transfer system 10 according to the present invention is shown generally in FIG.... |
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| Vacuum apparatus for the surface treatment of workpieces |
| The aim of the present invention is to remedy the disadvantages of the existing technology. In ... |
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| Multiple interface door for wafer storage and handling container |
| OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an improved design for providing multiple access ports ... |
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| Dual cassette load lock |
| In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a workpiece loading interface ... |
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| Substrate housing and docking system |
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Apparatus and method for using RFID to track use of a component within a device
| Details |
Inventors: Ertas, Hasan; Wells, Brannon P.; Srinivasan, Rajeshwari;
Assignee: Stryker Corporation (Kalamazoo, MI)
Primary Examiner: Mullen; Thomas
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Flynn, Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C.
RFID circuitry is used in an endoscopic light source unit to track cumulative light bulb use information. An inductively powered RFID tag is affixed to the light bulb assembly, and communicates wirelessly with an RF transceiver within the light source unit via a low-frequency modulation wave. The RFID tag includes memory which stores a value representing cumulative duration of use of the light bulb. The transceiver reads the value from the RFID tag and communicates the value to control circuitry in the light source unit, which tracks use of the light bulb within the light source unit. Based on such tracking, the transceiver periodically updates the value in the RFID tag via the wireless link. Cumulative bulb usage hours is displayed on the light source unit. The RFID tag also may store a custom password and/or other information. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION A method and apparatus for tracking the cumulative duration of use of a replaceable light source in a light source unit for an endoscopic imaging system are described.
Note that in this description, references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" mean that the feature being referred to is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention.
Further, separate references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment; however, such embodiments are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated, and except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description.
For example, a feature, structure, act, etc.
described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments.
Thus, the present invention can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.
In accordance with the invention, radio frequency identification (RFID) circuitry is used in a light source unit for use in endoscopic surgery, to store and communicate cumulative light source use information.
An inductively powered wireless RFID tag is affixed to an assembly containing the light bulb or other type of light source in the light source unit.
To facilitate description, it is henceforth assumed herein that the light source is a light bulb.
However, in other embodiments, a different type of light source may be used, such as one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs), for example.
The RFID tag on the light bulb assembly communicates with a conductively powered radio frequency (RF) transceiver in the light source unit via a low-frequency modulation wave through the air (i.
e.
, wirelessly).
The RFID tag includes non-volatile memory (e.
g.
, flash or some form of EPROM) which stores a value representing the cumulative duration of use of the light bulb.
The value is initially set by the manufacturer of the light bulb assembly.
When the light bulb assembly is installed in the light source unit and the light source unit is powered on, the transceiver reads the value from the RFID tag and communicates the value to control circuitry in the light source unit
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Control Computers 
