Abstract:
A system and method for identifying stolen component parts contained within an assembly and/or identifying the origin of a component part. To utilize the system, a passive integrated transponder is attached to at least some component parts within an assembly. Each of the passive integrated transponders transmits an identification code when activated. In a database, the identification codes of the passive integrated transponders are recorded along with the identification of the assembly into which they were originally installed. Assemblies in the marketplace are periodically scanned. As assemblies are scanned, the passive integrated transponders contained in those assemblies are activated and transmit their identification codes. The identification codes are read and compared to the data in a database. If a scan reveals a component part listed as stolen, an indication is provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to devices and methods that are intended to identify the individual parts used in a larger assembly, such as a vehicle, thereby allowing those parts to be identified if stolen. More specifically, the present invention relates to identification systems where each component part of an assembly is encoded and can be electronically identified.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Every year thousands of cars, trucks and other vehicles are stolen. Many of those vehicles are taken apart and the individual parts are resold. The individual parts rarely contain vehicle identification numbers. Consequently, it is nearly impossible to determine if a used part came from a stolen vehicle or from a legitimate supplier.  
           [0005]    Thieves also commonly break into vehicles and steal parts from those vehicles. For example, every year thousands of radios, air bags, wheels, seats and the like are stolen from vehicles. To combat such thefts, systems have been developed that provide an encoded identification number to electronic subassembly parts, such as radio and air bags. Such encoded electronic subassemblies transmit their encoded identification number to the main computer module of the vehicle. When the vehicle is being serviced and the main computer module is connected to a diagnostic computer, the encoded identification numbers of its subcomponents can be compared to identification numbers stored in a database of stolen parts. If a subcomponent is identified as being stolen part, authorities can be notified. Such prior art stolen article identification systems are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,026 to Brodine, entitled Vehicle Part Identification System And Method.  
           [0006]    A problem associated with such prior art part identification systems is that they are only good for identifying electronic parts, such as air bags and radios that communicate with the main computer of the vehicle and are connected to the battery power of the vehicle. Such prior art identification systems are of no use in identifying non-electronic components such as wheels, fenders, seats and the like. Furthermore, such prior art identification systems cannot identify any part unless that part is installed in a vehicle. Thus, stolen parts that are on a store shelf or are in the junkyards of used part suppliers cannot be readily identified until after those parts are bought and installed.  
           [0007]    A need therefore exists for a component part identification system that can be applied to all component parts that can be used to passively identify a stolen component part at any location. This need is met by the present invention as described and claimed below.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention is a system and method for identifying stolen component parts contained within an assembly and/or identifying the origin of a component part. To utilize the present invention and system, a passive integrated transponder is attached to at least some component parts within an assembly. Each of the passive integrated transponders transmits an identification code when activated. In a database, the identification codes of the passive integrated transponders are recorded along with the identification of the assembly into which they were originally installed. If, at some point, an assembly is reported stolen, the identification codes for the component parts of that stolen assembly are marked in the database.  
           [0009]    Assemblies in the marketplace are periodically scanned. As assemblies are scanned, the passive integrated transponders contained in those assemblies are activated and transmit their identification codes. The identification codes are read and compared to the data in a database. If a scan reveals a component part listed as stolen, an indication is provided.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a partially fragmented perspective view of a component part containing the present invention identification system;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 shows a vehicle containing the present invention system passing through two types of scanning procedures;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pack of matched passive integrated transponders with application tape; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematic illustrating a method of operation in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    Although the present invention device can be used to protect any component part of an assembly, such as the component parts of computers, farm equipment and the like, the present invention device is particularly well adapted for use in identifying the component parts of a vehicle. As a result, the present invention system will be primarily described in an application for protecting the component parts of a vehicle in order to set forth the best mode contemplated for the system.  
         [0016]    A vehicle has thousands of component parts that are contained in hundreds of subassemblies. Many of these component parts and/or subassemblies are commonly stolen from vehicles or stripped from stolen vehicles and resold on the used part market. Such component parts and subassemblies, include, body trim, body panels, doors, wheels, radios, and a wide array of engine and drive train parts. A majority of such subcomponents do not contain internal circuitry and are not directly coupled to the battery of vehicle when installed on the vehicle.  
         [0017]    Referring to FIG. 1, a side mirror assembly  12  is illustrated. Within the structure of the mirror assembly  12  is placed a passive integrated transponder  10 . Passive integrated transponders  10  are electronic devices that can transmit a ten to fifteen digit alphanumeric identification code when activated. Currently, miniature passive integrated transponders  10  have a length of between twelve and twenty-eight millimeters and a diameter of between two and four millimeters, depending upon the transmission strength and sensitivity of the passive integrated transponder  10 . This provides the smaller passive integrated transponders  10  with a size no greater than that of grains of rice. The passive integrated transponder  10  can be either placed in a bore or adhesively attached to an internal component of the side-mirror assembly  12  at any point that can accommodate the device of such a small size. Most every component of a vehicle has enough unused internal space to receive a passive integrated transponder  10  at some point.  
         [0018]    Passive integrated transponders  10  are housed in a protective casing that isolates the electronics of the passive integrated transponder  10  and therefore allows the passive integrated transponder  10  to function in wet environments, oily environments or any other environment found in or around a vehicle.  
         [0019]    Passive integrated transponders  10  have no batteries. Rather, they are activated passively. In each passive integrated transponder  10  is a coil. When the coil passes a properly calibrated electro-magnetic field, a current is induced in the coil that is sufficient to activate the passive integrated transponder  10  and transmit the identification code.  
         [0020]    The structure of passive integrated transponders is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,400,338 to Mejia, entitled, Passive Integrated Transponder Tag With Unitary Antenna Core, the disclosure of which is incorporated into this specification by reference.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the properly calibrated electromagnetic force needed to activate the passive integrated transponder can be generated in two ways. First, a handheld scanner  20  can be passed over any selected component of the vehicle  14 . The handheld scanner  20  produces the electromagnetic field needed to activate the passive integrated transponder. As the scanner passes over a passive integrated transponder within the vehicle  14 , that transponder is activated and transmits its identification code. The scanner  20  then reads the identification code that is transmitted.  
         [0022]    Alternatively, a calibrated electromagnetic field can be generated at a toll booth, police check point, tunnel entrance or other confined space  30 . As the vehicle  14  passes through the confined space  30 , the vehicle  14  passes through the electromagnetic field and every passive integrated transponder contained within that vehicle  14  is activated. The identification codes from all the activated passive integrated transponders are then read by receivers  32  that pass close to the vehicle.  
         [0023]    Although each passive integrated transponder can be manufactured to transmit its own unique identification code, a group of passive integrated transponders can be manufactured to transmit the same identification code.  
         [0024]    Referring to FIG. 3, a set  40  of passive integrated transponders  10  is shown. The passive integrated transponders  10  are set into a small segment of adhesive tape  42 . Each segment of adhesive tape  42  is attached to a pack sheet  44 , wherein one segment of tape  42  and passive integrated transponder  10  can be peeled away from the pack sheet  44  when desired. The pack sheet  44  is identified with a bar code or some other indicia  46  that is indicative of the identification code that will be transmitted by the passive integrated transponders  10  in the set  40 .  
         [0025]    In a manufacturing environment that uses modern assembly line production, it is difficult to predict which subcomponents will be assembled together. As such, it would provide a logistics problem to insert a particular passive integrated transponder into a subcomponent as that subcomponent is being manufactured. By using the pack sheet  44  of FIG. 3, the pack sheet  44  can be attached to a product at the beginning of the assembly line. As different subassemblies are added to the product along the length of the assembly line, different passive integrated transponders  10  can be removed from the pack sheet  44  and added to the subassemblies. At the end of the assembly line, the final assembly will have its subcomponents all containing passive integrated transponders  10  that transmit the same identification code when activated.  
         [0026]    When applied to an automobile, it will be understood that a set  40  of passive integrated transponders  10  can be manufactured that transmit the vehicle identification code for that automobile when activated. The passive integrated transponders  10  are added to the valuable parts of the automobile as the automobile is being assembled. Thus, parts such as the fenders, body panels hood, seats, mirrors and the like can all contain passive integrated transponders  10  that transmit the vehicle identification code of the vehicle in which they where first assembled.  
         [0027]    With this process in mind, the method of FIG. 4 can now be described. Referring to FIG. 4, in Block  50 , it can be seen that passive integrated transponders are added to the component parts of a larger assembly. The larger assembly can be a vehicle, a computer system or any other assembly of value. The passive integrated transponders can each transmit either a common identification code or unique identification codes.  
         [0028]    Referring to Block  52 , it can be seen that the identification codes of the passive integrated transponders of an assembly are recorded in a database  51 . If the identification codes of the passive integrated transponders all match, only one identification code need be recorded. If passive integrated transponders with different identification codes are used in the assembly, each passive integrated transponder in the assembly is activated and the transmitted identification numbers are recorded in the database  51  as being associated with that assembly.  
         [0029]    As is indicated by Block  54 , once the identification code or codes that are associated with the passive integrated transponders of an assembly are recorded in the database  51 , the assembly is placed into the marketplace.  
         [0030]    In the marketplace, the assembly may be sold, resold, repaired and the like throughout the useful life of that product. Scanners are used to periodically scan products and parts in the marketplace. As is indicated by Block  56 , when the assembly or parts of the assembly are scanned, the passive integrated transponders are activated. If the assembly is a vehicle, scans can be performed at toll booths, tunnels, police check points and the like, as the vehicle drives through such points. For other assemblies, such as car parts, computers and the like, scans can be made by store owners, repair shops and other retailers using portable scanning equipment.  
         [0031]    As is indicated by Block  58 , if an assembly or component part of an assembly is stolen while in the marketplace, the victimized owner can report the theft to authorities. The identification code or codes for the stolen assembly or component are identified as being stolen in the database  51 .  
         [0032]    As assemblies and components are scanned in the marketplace, the identification codes read after each scan are checked against the information contained in the database  51 . See Block  60 . If a read identification code matches that of a stolen assembly or component, an indication is provided that tells the person or authority taking the scan that stolen property is present. See Block  62 .  
         [0033]    In a practical application of the method of FIG. 4, assume that the part of a stolen car containing a passive integrated transponder is sold as a used part. That stolen part is then used to repair a damaged automobile. As the repaired automobile passes through a toll both or is scanned at a state inspection site, the scanner would reads the presence of the stolen part. Authorities can then investigate the matter and would have a direct link to the source of the stolen part.  
         [0034]    Once repair shops realize that stolen parts can be traced back to them, there will be a great incentive to stop using stolen parts. The market for stolen cars and stolen parts will then cease to exist.  
         [0035]    In another application of the present invention system and method, assume there is a hit and run accident. Left behind at the scene of the accident is the passenger side mirror assembly of the hit and run vehicle. Utilizing the present invention system, police can now rapidly identify the exact vehicle from which that side mirror assembly came by scanning the passive integrated transponder that is located in the side mirror assembly.  
         [0036]    It will be understood that the embodiment of the present invention described and illustrated herein is merely exemplary and a person skilled in the art can make many variations to the embodiment shown without departing from the scope of the present invention. All such variations, modifications and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.