Systems and methods for monitoring a throughway using a radio frequency identification (RFID) detection system. The RFID detection system includes (i) an image sensor configured to have a field of view directed towards a lane of the throughway; (ii) an RFID transceiver arrangement configured to interrogate RFID tags disposed on vehicles within the lane of the throughway; and (iv) a controller operatively connected to the image sensor and the RFID transceiver arrangement. The controller is configured to (1) cause the image sensor to capture a frame of image data representative of the lane of the throughway; (2) analyze the frame of image data to detect a presence of a vehicle in the lane of the throughway; (3) based on the analysis, determine a position of the vehicle relative to the RFID transceiver arrangement; and (4) configure an antenna array to generate a beam directed at the position of the vehicle.

An improved radio frequency identification (RFID) reader system includes a plurality of wireless integrated RFID readers located in different locations in an environment, one or more RFID tags, each RFID tag configured to generate a radio frequency (RF) response signal based on data stored on the RFID tag, and a wireless communication gateway. Each of the wireless integrated RFID readers includes an RFID antenna, an electronics module coupled to the RFID antenna configured to operate the RFID antenna and interpret data signals received at the RFID antenna from one or more RFID tags, and a wireless communication system of a first type configured to wirelessly communicate with wireless nodes of the RFID reader system. The wireless communication gateway includes a wireless communication system of the first type configured to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of wireless integrated RFID readers.

An intelligent cabinet for dispensing products contained therein that includes an outer wall, an inner liner defining an enclosed interior space adapted for housing an inventory of items, an intermediate layer provided between the outer wall and inner liner, and having a plurality of slots, and a system of modular cassettes including a plurality of cassettes where each cassette is adapted to be fittingly received in and removable from a corresponding slot from the plurality of slots, and a plurality of RFID antennas, where each RFID antennas is separately housed in one of the cassettes from among the plurality of cassettes

A method for characterizing a state of an end effector of an ultrasonic device is disclosed. The ultrasonic device including an electromechanical ultrasonic system defined by a predetermined resonant frequency. The electromechanical ultrasonic system further including an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade. The method including applying, by an energy source, a power level to the ultrasonic transducer; measuring, by a control circuit coupled to a memory, an impedance value of the ultrasonic transducer; comparing, by the control circuit, the impedance value to a reference impedance value stored in the memory; classifying, by the control circuit, the impedance value based on the comparison; characterizing, by the control circuit, the state of the electromechanical ultrasonic system based on the classification of the impedance value; and adjusting, by the control circuit, the power level applied to the ultrasonic transducer based on the characterization of the state of the end effector.

A modular system of plastic walls having embedded and coextensive electrically conductive components configured to electrically connect with each other when the walls are mated. The walls have joining edges that form joint seams with other walls when joined together to create an enclosure. When enough walls are used to surround a storage space, a Faraday cage is created. The walls additionally have portions of tortuous paths at each joining edge that mate with a complementary portion of a tortuous path of another wall when the walls are joined together. A torturous path seal is thereby created at each joint seam. The plastic walls can be configured in a multiplicity of combinations to create various enclosures necessary for RFID-enabled storage and tracking of medical articles. Containers, enclosures, cabinets, and drawers of differing heights and sizes can be made and they may be stacked or otherwise assembled.

Various surgical systems are disclosed. A surgical system can include a surgical robot and a surgical hub. The surgical robot can include a control unit in signal communication with a control console and a robotic tool. The surgical hub can include a display. The surgical hub can be in signal communication with the control unit. A facility can include a plurality of surgical hubs that communicate data from the surgical robots to a primary server. To alleviate bandwidth competition among the surgical hubs, the surgical hubs can include prioritization protocols for collecting, storing, and/or communicating data to the primary server.

According to one embodiment, a wireless tag reading device includes a product placing portion on which a product is placed, an antenna which is installed in a vicinity of the product placing portion and emits radio waves toward a wireless tag attached to the placed product, and an antenna moving mechanism for moving the antenna along a locus of a concave curve.

A parking meter is described that comprises components for providing parking meter functionality and a display for displaying parking information and a metal housing for protecting the parking meter components from an environment that has a display aperture through which the display is visible. The parking meter also comprises an antenna for a contactless payment reader arranged in or on the parking meter in close proximity to the display.

A wireless tag communication device for communicating with a wireless tag conveyed by a conveyance mechanism, includes radiation regions from which a radio wave is emitted. The radiation regions include a first region extending along a first direction crossing a conveyance direction of the tag and having a first length in the first direction, a second region extending along the first direction and having a second length in the first direction, a third region extending along the conveyance direction and having a third length in the conveyance direction, and a fourth region extending along the conveyance direction and having a fourth length in the conveyance direction. The device further includes a controller configured to cause at least one of the first, second, third and, fourth regions to emit a polarized wave towards the tag. Each of the first and second regions partially overlaps the third and fourth regions.

Techniques for performing secure contactless payments are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an external contactless card reader, including a first short-distance communication antenna, connected to a card reader terminal using a feed line. The first short-distance communication antenna is configured to convert an electromagnetic signal including data received from a contactless payment card into an analog signal and is not configured to digitize the analog signal. The card reader terminal includes a short-distance receiver circuit and a secure controller, both located within a secure area, and a second short-distance communication antenna, wherein the first and second short-distance communication antennas are connected via separate paths to the short-distance receiver circuit. An example method includes receiving an electromagnetic signal including card data via a short-distance communication antenna in an external contactless card reader, converting the electromagnetic signal into an analog signal and transferring the analog signal to a card reader terminal.