RFID system and method

• US 10,255,543 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2017
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Dattolo, James J., Blumberg, Jr., David, VanWyk, Eric J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Tho G
• Application Number:
  US15/401,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20170116508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/40 Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10089 the interrogation device using at least one directional antenna or directional interrogation field to resolve the collision direction or location finding, such as triangulation techniques, G01S13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

An RFID system includes an RFID antenna assembly configured to be positioned on a product module assembly of a processing system. The product module assembly is configured to releasably engage at least one product container. A first RFID tag assembly configured to be positioned on the at least one product container. The at least one product container is configured to position the first RFID tag assembly within a detection zone of the RFID antenna assembly whenever the product module assembly releasably engages the at least one product container.

Claims

1. An RFID antenna assembly configured to be energized with a carrier signal, the RFID antenna assembly comprising:

an inductive component including a multi-segment loop antenna assembly, wherein the multi-segment loop antenna assembly includes;

at least a first antenna segment including at least a first phase shift element configured to reduce the phase shift of the carrier signal within the at least a first antenna segment; and

at least a second antenna segment including at least a second phase shift element configured to reduce the phase shift of the carrier signal within the at least a second antenna segment,

wherein the length of each antenna segment is no more than 25% of the wavelength of the carrier signal;

at least one matching component configured to adjust the impedance of the multi-segment loop antenna assembly; and

a de-Qing element configured to allow the RFID antenna assembly to be utilized over a range of carrier signal frequencies,

wherein the inductive component is configured to be positioned proximate an access assembly of a processing system and to allow RFID-based actuation of the access assembly.

2. The RFID antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the RFID antenna assembly is configured to be coupled with an RFID subsystem that is capable of generating the carrier signal.

3. The RFID antenna assembly of claim 2 wherein the carrier signal is a 915 MHz carrier signal.

4. The RFID antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the wavelength of the carrier signal is approximately thirteen inches.

5. The RFID antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the inductive component includes:

at least one far field antenna assembly.

6. The RFID antenna assembly of claim 5 wherein the far field antenna assembly is a dipole antenna assembly.

7. The RFID antenna assembly of claim 5 wherein the far field antenna assembly includes a first antenna portion and a second antenna portion.

8. The RFID antenna assembly of claim 7 wherein the sum length of the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion is greater than 25% of the wavelength of the carrier signal.

9. An RFID antenna assembly configured to be energized with a carrier signal, the RFID antenna assembly comprising:

an inductive component including a multi-segment loop antenna assembly, wherein the multi-segment loop antenna assembly includes;

at least a first antenna segment including at least a first phase shift element configured to reduce the phase shift of the carrier signal within the at least a first antenna segment; and

at least a second antenna segment including at least a second phase shift element configured to reduce the phase shift of the carrier signal within the at least a second antenna segment;

at least one far field antenna assembly,

wherein the length of each antenna segment is no more than 25% of the wavelength of the carrier signal;

at least one matching component configured to adjust the impedance of the multi-segment loop antenna assembly; and

a de-Qing element configured to allow the RFID antenna assembly to be utilized over a range of carrier signal frequencies.

10. The RFID antenna assembly of claim 9 wherein the inductive component is configured to be positioned proximate an access assembly of a processing system and to allow RFID-based actuation of the access assembly.

11. The RFID antenna assembly of claim 9 wherein the far field antenna assembly is a dipole antenna assembly.

12. The RFID antenna assembly of claim 9 wherein the far field antenna assembly includes a first antenna portion and a second antenna portion.

13. The RFID antenna assembly of claim 12 wherein the sum length of the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion is greater than 25% of the wavelength of the carrier signal.