1. A system comprising:
a cabinet configured to contain a plurality of pharmaceutical product units, each of the pharmaceutical product units having a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag identifying the respective pharmaceutical product unit, the cabinet comprising a reader configured to detect each of the pharmaceutical product units within the cabinet by detecting the associated RFID tag; and
at least one server configured to:
communicate over a network with the cabinet to receive information regarding the RFID tags detected by the cabinet,
based on the received RFID tag information, determine whether a first of the pharmaceutical product units in the cabinet has been removed from the cabinet and whether the first pharmaceutical product unit has been returned to the cabinet, and
in response to determining that the first pharmaceutical product unit has been removed from the cabinet and then has not been returned to the cabinet prior to an expiration of a predetermined period of time, generate data for billing a customer for the first pharmaceutical product unit.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period of time is 24 hours.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cabinet is configured to periodically read the RFID tags within the cabinet and transmit the RFID tag information to the at least one server, and wherein the RFID tag information comprises first RFID tag information corresponding to RFID tags detected by the cabinet at a first time and second RFID tag information corresponding to RFID tags detected by the cabinet at a second time.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one server is configured to monitor status information associated with the cabinet based upon a door-open sensor, and wherein the status information includes the RFID tag information.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one server is configured to not generate the data for billing the customer if the first pharmaceutical product unit is returned to the cabinet prior to the expiration of the predetermined period of time.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one server is configured to determine when the first pharmaceutical product unit has been removed from the cabinet based on a failure of the cabinet to detect a first of the RFID tags corresponding to the first pharmaceutical product unit.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical product units comprise pharmaceutical product units delivered to the customer on consignment.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein each of at least one of the pharmaceutical product units comprises a pharmaceutical product unit that when opened renders a corresponding RFID tag unreadable by the cabinet.
9. A system comprising:
a cabinet located within a customer facility for a customer, the cabinet configured to contain one or more pharmaceutical product units available for use by the customer, each of the one or more pharmaceutical product units having a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with an RFID tag identifier identifying a respective one of the one or more pharmaceutical product units, the cabinet comprising:
a reader configured to detect each pharmaceutical product unit within the cabinet by wirelessly reading the RFID tag identifier from the associated RFID tag, and
an interface configured to communicate over a network; and
at least one server configured to:
communicate over the network with the cabinet to receive RFID tag identifiers for RFID tags detected by the cabinet,
based on the RFID tag identifiers, determine that a first of the one or more pharmaceutical product units has been placed within the cabinet, subsequently removed from the cabinet, and, following removal from the cabinet, not returned to the cabinet prior to an expiration of a predetermined period of time, and
in response to the first pharmaceutical product unit not having been returned to the cabinet prior to the expiration of the predetermined period of time following removal of the first pharmaceutical product unit from the cabinet, list at least a product identifier for the first pharmaceutical product unit for use in billing the customer for the first pharmaceutical product unit.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:
maintain an inventory of the one or more pharmaceutical product units based upon the RFID tag identifiers received from the cabinet,
based upon the inventory, create an order to have one or more additional pharmaceutical product units shipped for placement in the cabinet, and
determine when any of the one or more additional pharmaceutical product units are placed in the cabinet.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein, in response to the first pharmaceutical product unit having not been returned to the cabinet prior to the expiration of the predetermined period of time following removal of the first pharmaceutical product unit from the cabinet, the at least one server is configured to list the product identifier for the first pharmaceutical product unit on a consumed products list.
12. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one server is further configured to transmit invoice data for invoicing the customer for the first pharmaceutical product unit subsequent to the expiration of the predetermined period of time.
13. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one server is further configured to:
determine that the first pharmaceutical product unit has been returned to the cabinet.
14. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one server is configured to periodically receive, from the cabinet, RFID tag information for the one or more pharmaceutical product units within the cabinet and status information associated with the cabinet.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the status information includes a temperature within the cabinet.
16. The system of claim 9, wherein the first pharmaceutical product unit is associated with a first of the RFID tags having a first of the RFID tag identifiers on an inventory for the cabinet, and wherein the at least one server is configured to determine that the first pharmaceutical product unit has been removed from the cabinet based upon an absence of the first RFID tag identifier from first RFID tag information received at the at least one server from the cabinet.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one server is configured to determine that the first pharmaceutical product unit has been returned to the cabinet based upon a presence of the first RFID tag identifier within second RFID tag information received at the at least one server from the cabinet subsequent to receipt of the first RFID tag information at the at least one server.
18. The system of claim 9, wherein the interface is configured to communicate over the network using at least one of an Ethernet connection, a wireless local area network connection, and a mobile telecommunications connection.
19. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one server is configured to maintain expiration information in association with the RFID tag identifier for each of the one or more pharmaceutical product units within the cabinet, and to produce an order for removal of an expired one of the one or more pharmaceutical product units from the cabinet.
20. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one server is further configured to determine if one or more additional pharmaceutical product units shipped from a warehouse to the customer facility are not placed in the cabinet following the shipment from the warehouse.
21. A system comprising:
a cabinet within a customer facility configured to contain a plurality of pharmaceutical product units delivered on consignment to a customer, each of the pharmaceutical product units having a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag identifying the respective pharmaceutical product unit, the cabinet comprising a reader configured to detect each of the pharmaceutical product units within the cabinet by detecting the associated RFID tag; and
at least one server configured to:
communicate over a network with the cabinet to receive information regarding the RFID tags detected by the cabinet,
maintain an inventory of the pharmaceutical product units associated with the cabinet based upon contents of the cabinet as determined from the RFID tag information received from the cabinet,
determine that a first of the pharmaceutical product units on the inventory has been removed from the cabinet,
maintain an association of the first pharmaceutical product unit with the cabinet for at least a predetermined period after the first pharmaceutical product unit was removed from the cabinet, and
transfer identification data for the first pharmaceutical product unit to a list for billing the customer for the first pharmaceutical product unit subsequent to an expiration of the predetermined period after the first pharmaceutical product unit was removed from the cabinet.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein the predetermined period is 24 hours.
23. The system of claim 21, wherein, if the first pharmaceutical product unit on the inventory is returned to the cabinet prior to the expiration of the predetermined period after the first pharmaceutical product unit was removed from the cabinet, the identification data for the first pharmaceutical product unit is not transferred to the list for billing the customer.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one server is configured to:
receive, from the cabinet, first RFID tag information for the one or more pharmaceutical product units within the cabinet and first status information associated with the cabinet for a first time, second RFID tag information for the one or more pharmaceutical product units within the cabinet and second status information associated with the cabinet for a second time subsequent to the first time, and third RFID tag information for the one or more pharmaceutical product units within the cabinet and third status information associated with the cabinet for a third time subsequent to the second time,
determine, from the first and second RFID tag information, that the first pharmaceutical product unit was removed from the cabinet, and
determine, from the second and third RFID tag information, that the first pharmaceutical product unit was not returned to the cabinet.
25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first, second and third status information include temperatures within the cabinet, and wherein the at least one server is configured to produce an order for removal of the first pharmaceutical product unit from the cabinet in response to the first pharmaceutical product unit becoming unusable.
26. A system comprising:
a cabinet within a customer facility configured to contain one or more pharmaceutical product units delivered on consignment to a customer, each of the one or more pharmaceutical product units distinguishable by a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag on a respective one of the one or more pharmaceutical product units, the cabinet configured to read the one or more RFID tags on the one or more pharmaceutical product units within the cabinet and communicate one or more identifiers read from the one or more RFID tags over a network; and
at least one server configured to:
receive from the cabinet the one or more identifiers read from the one or more RFID tags on the one or more pharmaceutical product units within the cabinet,
monitor temperature information for the cabinet from status information received over the network from the cabinet,
maintain a database of the one or more identifiers received from the cabinet for the one or more pharmaceutical product units within the cabinet, expiration information for each of the one or more pharmaceutical product units within the cabinet, and the temperature information for the cabinet,
determine that a first of the one or more pharmaceutical product units was placed in the cabinet,
determine that the first pharmaceutical product unit was removed from the cabinet,
determine that the first pharmaceutical product unit was returned to the cabinet,
determine whether a time between removal of the first pharmaceutical product unit from the cabinet and return of the first pharmaceutical product unit to the cabinet exceeds a predetermined duration of time, and
generate an order for removal of the first pharmaceutical product unit from the cabinet for disposal in response to the first pharmaceutical product unit becoming unusable.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one server is configured to determine that the first pharmaceutical product unit is unusable based upon a product recall or expiration of the first pharmaceutical product unit.
28. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one server is configured to produce an order for additional pharmaceutical product units.
29. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one server is configured, if a time between removal of the first pharmaceutical product unit from the cabinet and return of the first pharmaceutical product unit to the cabinet exceeds the predetermined duration of time, to generate data for billing the customer for the first pharmaceutical product unit.
30. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least one server is further configured to determine if one or more additional pharmaceutical product units shipped from a warehouse to the customer facility are not placed in the cabinet following the shipment from the warehouse.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A nitride semiconductor device comprising:
a substrate;
a buffer layer that is formed on the substrate;
an electron traveling layer that is formed on the buffer layer and is formed of a nitride compound;
an electron supplying layer that is formed on the electron traveling layer, and whose band gap energy is different than the electron traveling layer, and that is formed from at least one layer;
a recess portion that is formed in a region from a surface of the electron supplying layer at least to the electron supplying layer;
a source electrode and a drain electrode that are formed on the electron supplying layer at positions opposing one another across the recess portion;
a gate insulating film that is formed from the recess portion over a surface of the electron supplying layer, so as to cover the recess portion interior;
a gate electrode that is formed on the gate insulating film that is within the recess portion; and
an electrode for carrier transport that is formed between the gate electrode and the drain electrode, and is connected to the source electrode, and is for transporting carrier to the source electrode.
2. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the electrode for carrier transport is Schottky-joined to at least one of the electron supplying layer or the electron traveling layer.
3. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 2, wherein the electrode for carrier transport is formed in a region from a surface of the electron supplying layer to a depth that reaches the electron supplying layer interior or the electron traveling layer interior.
4. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 1, comprising a semiconductor layer that is pn-joined to the electron supplying layer, wherein the electrode for carrier transport is ohmically-joined on the semiconductor layer.
5. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 1, comprising:
a first n+ layer that is formed at a region beneath the gate insulating film from the source electrode until reaching a region beneath the recess portion, and that is connected to the source electrode; and
a second n+ layer that is formed at a region beneath the gate insulating film from a region beneath the recess portion until reaching before the electrode for carrier transport, and that is not connected to the electrode for carrier transport.
6. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 5, wherein the electron supplying layer and the electron traveling layer of a region beneath the drain electrode are n+ layers.
7. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the electron traveling layer is formed of undoped GaN, and a thickness thereof is greater than or equal to 2 nm and less than or equal to 500 nm.
8. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 7, wherein the electron supplying layer is formed of AlGaN, and a thickness thereof is greater than or equal to 1 nm and less than or equal to 50 nm.
9. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein a carrier concentration of two-dimensional electron gas that is generated at the electron traveling layer is greater than or equal to 2\xd71012 cm\u22122 and less than or equal to 2\xd71013 cm\u22122.
10. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the electron supplying layer has a layered structured in which at least two types of layers, whose compositions are different, are layered repeatedly.
11. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 8, wherein the electron supplying layer has, between the electron supplying layer and the electron traveling layer, a layer that is formed of AlN.
12. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 1, comprising:
a field mitigating layer at a region between the electron supplying layer and the gate insulating film, other than a periphery of the recess portion,
wherein the gate insulating film has a multi-step structure that corresponds to a step between the electron supplying layer and the field mitigating layer.
13. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 1, comprising a cap layer that is formed of GaN, at least at a region of the surface of the electron supplying layer where the source electrode, the drain electrode and the electrode for carrier transport are not formed.
14. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 1, comprising a protective film that is formed so as to cover a surface of the electron supplying layer at which the source electrode, the drain electrode and the electrode for carrier transport are formed.
15. The nitride semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the recess portion is formed in a region from the surface of the electron supplying layer until reaching the electron traveling layer.