Importance

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Abstract

A radio frequency automatic identification system detects targets which include solid resonators resonating at several frequencies, attributing information to the frequencies at which the target resonates. Preferred resonators are quartz crystals, which may be made by a process of heating quartz to soften it and cutting crystals to approximate size and resonant frequency. Resonators produced by such a process are measured to determine their actual resonant frequency, and preferably the crystals are sorted into predetermined frequency windows in accordance with their measured resonant frequency. A set of resonators having frequencies corresponding to predetermined data is selected from the sorted groups of resonators and incorporated into a target. The preferred target is an ink-like material having a plurality of resonators disposed in a matrix which is radio frequency transparent at the frequency of interest. Targets are preferably detected by repetitively sweeping the frequency of the interrogating signal through a range which includes the information-bearing range of the system.

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First Claim