Electronic Maintenance of Equipment Identification and Configuration Data

The best method with which to store and retrieve equipment identification and configuration data is to do so electronically. The current systems that are in place allow misinterpretation and transposition of data due to human-induced errors during conversion from printed form to electronic form. Hands-free technologies such as direct electrical contact, optical coupling, magnetic coupling, and RF transmission will be studied for the transfer of data. The operating environment of the electronic ID tag system, as it will be called in this proposal, will be studied to determine the required resilience to temperature extremes, dirt, and chemicals. An open- architecture design will be developed to transfer information between the ID tag and standard software that is already in existence on personal computers. Current manufacturer's identification plates and configuration labels will be studied to determine the amount of data storage capacity that is required. Size and weight of the electronic data system will be studied and optimized so as not to upset the functionality of the equipment being marked. NVE's experience with giant magnetoresistive (GMR) materials for memory and sensor applications will prove to be useful during the phase II effort.