Apparatus and method of determining an open status of a container using RFID tag devices

• US 10,117,080 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2015
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilkinson, Bruce W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Junpeng
• Application Number:
  US15/300,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20170019754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided using RFID devices to assist in determining an open status of a container. For example, a first RFID tag is fixed to a first portion of the container and a second RFID tag is fixed to a second portion of the container. Upon a user action to at least partially open the container, the first and second portions will move relative to each other, such that one or more of the RFID tags will no longer be readable by the RFID-tag reader or will now be readable by the reader. The reading or cessation of reading of one or more RFID tags indicates at least one open status of the container. In some embodiments, the open status is at least one of an unsealing confirmation, an open motion initiation status, an open motion confirmation, a partial open status and a fully open status.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising:

a first portion of a container, the container being in a closed orientation and configured to be moved into an open orientation by a user;

a second portion of the container removably coupled to the first portion;

a first RFID tag fixed to the first portion and configured to communicate only in a near field of RFID communication;

a conductive element implemented at the second portion and located in proximity to the first RFID tag when the container is in the closed orientation and configured to function as a far field antenna for the first RFID tag such that the first RFID tag is readable by an RFID reader in a far field of RFID communication when the container is in the closed orientation; and

a second RFID tag fixed to the first portion such that the second RFID tag is shielded by the second portion and is not readable by the RFID reader when the container is in the closed orientation;

wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured such that upon a user action to open the container at least a first amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other decoupling the conductive element from the first RFID tag such that the first RFID tag is no longer readable in the far field indicating a first open status of the container; and

wherein the first portion and the second portion are further configured such that upon a user action to open the container at least a second amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other such that the second RFID tag is no longer shielded and is readable by the RFID reader indicating a second open status of the container.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first open status comprises at least one of an unsealed status and an opening motion initiation status.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the second open status comprises at least one of an unsealing confirmation, an open motion confirmation, a partial open status and a fully open status.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the second tag comprises a near field RFID tag and a far field antenna fixed to a substrate, wherein the far field antenna is configured to allow the near field RFID tag to be readable in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, wherein upon the user action to open the container at least the second amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other such that the second RFID tag is no longer shielded and is readable by the RFID reader indicating the second open status of the container;

and

wherein the substrate further comprises another near field RFID tag fixed to the substrate, wherein the far field antenna is configured to be shared by the near field RFID tag and the other near field RFID tag to also allow the other near field RFID tag to be readable in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, wherein upon a user action to open the container at least a third amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other such that the other near field RFID tag and the far field antenna are no longer shielded and the other near field tag is readable in the far field by the RFID reader indicating a third open status of the container.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a third RFID tag fixed to the first portion such that the third RFID tag is shielded by the second portion and is not readable by the RFID reader when the container is in the closed orientation;

wherein the first portion and the second portion are further configured such that upon a user action to open the container at least a third amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other such that the third RFID tag is no longer shielded and is readable by the RFID reader indicating a third open status of the container.

6. The device of claim 5,

wherein the first open status comprises one or more of an unsealed status and an open motion initiation status;

wherein the second status comprises at least one of an unsealing confirmation, an open motion confirmation, and a partial open status; and

wherein the third status comprises a fully open status.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the first portion comprises a first component fixed to the container and the second portion comprises a second component fixed to the container.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the first component comprises an insert and the second component comprises a sleeve configured to receive at least a portion of the insert.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the sleeve is configured to function as a Faraday cage to shield the second RFID tag when the insert is received in the sleeve.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the insert comprises a flexible structure configured to be received into the sleeve using an insert tool.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the second portion comprises a conductive material that at least partially covers the second RFID tag when the container is in the closed orientation and that functions as an RFID shielding material to substantially block RFID signals from the RFID reader from reaching the second RFID tag.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader; and

a control circuit operably coupled to the RFID reader, the control circuit being configured to;

receive a first indication from the RFID reader that a first RFID tag was read in a far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, the first RFID tag fixed to a first portion of a container and configured to communicate only in a near field of RFID communication, the container being in a closed orientation, the first RFID tag located in proximity to a conductive element implemented at a second portion of the container when the container is in the closed orientation, wherein the conductive element is configured to function as a far field antenna for the first RFID tag when the container is in the closed orientation, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured such that upon a user action to open the container at least a first amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other decoupling the conductive element from the first RFID tag such that the first RFID tag is no longer readable in the far field;

determine, using information received via the RFID reader, a first open status of the container as indicated by a failed attempt to further read the first RFID tag in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader,

receive a second indication from the RFID reader that a second RFID tag was read in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, wherein the second RFID tag is fixed to the first portion of the container such that the second RFID tag is shielded by the second portion and is not readable by the RFID reader when the container is in the closed orientation, wherein the first portion and the second portion are further configured such that upon a user action to open the container at least a second amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other such that the second RFID tag is no longer shielded and is readable in the far field by the RFID reader; and

determine, from the second indication, a second open status of the container.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first open status comprises at least one of an unsealed status and an opening motion initiation status.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second open status comprises at least one of an unsealing confirmation, an open motion confirmation, a partial open status and a fully open status.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second RFID tag comprises a near field RFID tag and a far field antenna fixed to a substrate, wherein the far field antenna is configured to allow the near field RFID tag to be readable in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, wherein upon the user action to open the container at least the second amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other such that the second RFID tag is no longer shielded and is readable by the RFID reader indicating the second open status of the container;

wherein the control circuit is configured to;

receive a third indication from the RFID reader that a third RFID tag was read in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, wherein the third RFID tag is fixed to the first portion of the container and comprises another near field RFID tag fixed to the substrate and the far field antenna, wherein the far field antenna is configured to be shared by the near field RFID tag and the other near field RFID tag to also allow the other near field RFID tag to be readable in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, wherein upon a user action to open the container at least a third amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other such that the other near field RFID tag and the far field antenna are no longer shielded and the third RFID tag is readable in the far field by the RFID reader; and

determine, from the third indication, a third open status of the container.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control circuit is configured to:

receive a third indication from the RFID reader that a third RFID tag was read in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, wherein the third RFID tag is fixed to the first portion such that the third RFID tag is shielded by the second portion and is not readable by the RFID reader when the container is in the closed orientation, wherein the first portion and the second portion are further configured such that upon a user action to open the container at least a third amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other such that the third RFID tag is no longer shielded and is readable by the RFID reader; and

determine, from the third indication, a third open status of the container.

17. The apparatus of claim 16,

wherein the first open status comprises one or more of an unsealed status and an open motion initiation status;

wherein the second status comprises at least one of an unsealing confirmation, an open motion confirmation, and a partial open status; and

wherein the third status comprises a fully open status.

18. A method comprising:

by a control circuit that is operably coupled to a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader;

receiving a first indication from the RFID reader that a first RFID tag was read in a far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, the first RFID tag fixed to a first portion of a container and configured to communicate only in a near field of RFID communication, the container being in a closed orientation, the first RFID tag located in proximity to a conductive element implemented at a second portion of the container when the container is in the closed orientation, wherein the conductive element is configured to function as a far field antenna for the first RFID tag when the container is in the closed orientation, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured such that upon a user action to open the container at least a first amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other decoupling the conductive element from the first RFID tag such that the first RFID tag is no longer readable in the far field;

determining, using information received via the RFID reader, a first open status of the container as indicated by a failed attempt to further read the first RFID tag in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader,

receiving a second indication from the RFID reader that a second RFID tag was read in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, wherein the second RFID tag is fixed to the first portion of the container such that the second RFID tag is shielded by the second portion and is not readable by the RFID reader when the container is in the closed orientation, wherein the first portion and the second portion are further configured such that upon a user action to open the container at least a second amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other such that the second RFID tag is no longer shielded and is readable in the far field by the RFID reader; and

determining, from the second indication, a second open status of the container.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the first open status comprises at least one of an unsealed status and an opening motion initiation status.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the second open status comprises at least one of an unsealing confirmation, an open motion confirmation, a partial open status and a fully open status.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the second RFID tag comprises a near field RFID tag and a far field antenna fixed to a substrate, wherein the far field antenna is configured to allow the near field RFID tag to be readable in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, wherein upon the user action to open the container at least the second amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other such that the second RFID tag is no longer shielded and is readable by the RFID reader resulting the receiving the second indication step;

the method further comprising;

by the control circuit;

receiving a third indication from the RFID reader that a third RFID tag was read in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, wherein the third RFID tag is fixed to the first portion of the container and comprises another near field RFID tag fixed to the substrate and the far field antenna, wherein the far field antenna is configured to be shared by the near field RFID tag and the other near field RFID tag to also allow the other near field RFID tag to be readable in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, wherein upon a user action to open the container at least a third amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other such that the other near field RFID tag and the far field antenna are no longer shielded and the third RFID tag is readable in the far field by the RFID reader; and

determining, from the third indication, a third open status of the container.

22. The method of claim 18, the method further comprising:

by the control circuit;

receiving a third indication from the RFID reader that a third RFID tag was read in the far field of RFID communication by the RFID reader, wherein the third RFID tag is fixed to the first portion such that the third RFID tag is shielded by the second portion and is not readable by the RFID reader when the container is in the closed orientation, wherein the first portion and the second portion are further configured such that upon a user action to open the container at least a third amount, the first portion and the second portion move relative to each other such that the third RFID tag is no longer shielded and is readable by the RFID reader; and

determining, from the third indication, a third open status of the container.

23. The method of claim 22,

wherein the first open status comprises one or more of an unsealed status and an open motion initiation status;

wherein the second status comprises at least one of an unsealing confirmation, an open motion confirmation, and a partial open status; and

wherein the third status comprises a fully open status.

24. A radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising:

a substrate;

a first near field RFID tag device fixed at a first portion of the substrate;

a second near field RFID tag device fixed at a second portion of the substrate; and

a conductive element fixed to the substrate having a first portion proximate and coupled to the first near field RFID tag device and having a second portion proximate and coupled to the second near field RFID tag device, wherein the conductive element is configured to function as a far field antenna and is shared by the first near field RFID tag device and the second near field RFID tag device and configured to allow the first near field RFID tag device and the second near field RFID tag device to be readable in a far field of RFID communication by an RFID reader.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the first near field RFID tag device and the second near field RFID tag device are coupled to the conductive element through one of electrical, inductive and capacitive coupling.

26. The device of claim 24 wherein the substrate, the first near field RFID tag device, the second near field RFID tag device and the conductive element are integrated as at least a portion of a single inlay.

27. The device of claim 24 wherein the first near field RFID tag device and the second near field RFID tag device each comprise a near field only RFID tag comprising an RFID chip and a near field antenna.

28. The device of claim 24 wherein the first near field RFID tag device, the second near field RFID tag device and the conductive element are fixed to the substrate and do not move relative to each other.