A holding device for an identification element wherein the identification element is inserted in an identification system. The holding device includes a holding unit by which the identification element is held, and a data transceiver by which data is transferred between the holding device and the identification system. The data is transferred between the identification element and the holding device by the data transceiver even when the identification element is arranged outside of the holding unit. Also disclosed is an identification unit including a holding device and an identification element and to an identification system having an identification unit.

Systems and methods for providing automated inventory management of medicine and healthcare items stored within bins in care facilities are disclosed. A method includes providing an interactive storage device for attaching to a bin, and outputting, via an audiovisual element, a visual representation of a local inventory of the bin, receiving a user input, determining a change to the local inventory according to the user input, updating the local inventory in a non-volatile data store according to the change, synchronizing the local inventory with one or more nodes via a communication interface, and receiving, from the one or more nodes via the communication interface, periodic updates for a local cache comprising locations and inventories of one or more remote bins.

A system for locating an asset can include a first visible light communication (VLC) device having a first controller, a first transceiver, and a first light source, where the first transceiver has a first range, where the first controller broadcasts, using the first transceiver, a first communication signal, where the first communication signal comprises an identification of the asset. The system can also include an asset communication device associated with the asset, where the asset communication device includes a second transceiver and a second controller, where the second transceiver has a second range, where the asset communication device is within the first range, where the second controller broadcasts, using the second transceiver, a second communication signal in response to the first communication signal, where the second communication signal comprises the identification of the asset.

Methods and apparatuses for selecting a subset of RFID tags are provided in some embodiments. These methods and apparatuses utilize the susceptibility to light by persistent nodes found in passive tags. Light can be used to intentionally reduce persistence times in a particular subset tags or even an individual tag. Then, persistent nodes can be used as a selection criterion to distinguish previously illuminated tags from non-illuminated tags. In other embodiments, a power circuit receives a RF input source and generates a direct current (DC) output voltage. The circuit includes a bias circuit to supply a gate to source bias, which is independent of the DC output voltage. The circuit further includes a voltage multiplier circuit that is coupled to the bias circuit. The voltage multiplier circuit has MOS transistors with one transistor to receive the gate to source bias.

A data carrier 2 is provided with a comparator 41, a capacitor 42, a comparator operation adjustment resistor 43, a resistance voltage divider circuit 44 and a reactive-current resistor 45. The capacitor 42 is disposed between the cathode of a photo-diode (PD) 21 and the minus input terminal of the comparator 41. The comparator operation adjustment resistor 43 is disposed between the plus terminal of a primary battery 271 and the minus input terminal of the comparator 41. The resistance voltage divider circuit 44 is constituted by a series connection of voltage dividing resistors 441 and 442. One end of the resistance voltage divider circuit 44 is connected to the plus terminal of the primary battery 271. The junction between the voltage division resistor 441 and the other voltage division resistor 442 is connected to the plus input terminal of the comparator 41.

An electronic tag includes a housing; a processor within the housing; a transceiver configured within the housing and coupled to the processor; a display coupled to the housing and the processor, and configured to display information received via the transceiver; a clamping mechanism coupled to the housing and configured to secure the electronic tag to an intravenous (IV) tubing; and a sensor configured within the housing, and configured to measure a property of a fluid in an IV tubing at a location of the clamping mechanism.

Silent radio frequency identifier (RFID) state and restore back is described herein. An RFID tag enters a silent state by receiving a sleep command from an RFID reader. While the RFID tag is in the silent state, only an awake command will restore back normal operation of the RFID tag. Other received commands or interrogations from the RFID reader are ignored and responses are not transmitted to the RFID reader.

A tag selection type optical radio frequency identification (RFID) tag depending on presence or not of visible light includes a photodiode configured to convert a visible light-type signal transmitted from a reader into an electrical signal, a tag integrated circuit (IC) configured to read information on the visible-light type signal using an analog digital converter (ADC) or comparator connected to the photodiode to receive the electrical signal therefrom, configured to be operated using energy obtained by converting a radio frequency (RF) signal received from the reader, to return a value determined to correspond to information to the reader, and configured to transmit stored data according to a command obtained by demodulating the electrical signal of the photodiode to the reader, and an antenna configured to facilitate reception of the RF signal by the tag IC or to facilitate transmission of the value and the data from the tag IC.

A roaster and method for roasting coffee beans is provided, and includes a drum that extends axially along a rotational axis, and a motor that rotates the drum about the rotational axis. A bean inlet port is located adjacent to a first end of the drum, and receives coffee beans to be introduced to the drum for roasting. A heater generates a heated gas by elevating a temperature of a gas to at least a roasting temperature, and a nozzle directs the heated gas generally toward the coffee beans within the drum while the drum is rotated by the motor. A collection bin adjacent to a second end of the drum collects the coffee beans exiting the drum after the coffee beans are roasted by the heated gas while traveling through the drum between the inlet port and the collection bin.

An atomization system and an atomization method are provided. The atomization system having an authentication mechanism includes an atomized drug container, a user device, and an atomizing device. The user device includes a communication module, an optical authentication module and a first acoustic wave communication module. The optical authentication module is configured to perform a first optical authentication operation associated with an authentication code carrier to obtain first optical authentication information, and the communication module is configured to request a cloud server to perform an authentication operation for the first optical authentication information to determine the authenticity of the atomized drug container.