Article adapted to be tracked by an electronic identifier

• US 20030090388A1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allibert Equipement
• Original Assignee: Allibert Equipement
• Inventors: Pomes, Francoise
• Granted Patent: US 6,816,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles

Abstract

The invention proposes a trackable device locally incorporating an electronic identifier comprising an integrated circuit which includes a memory and an antenna, and which is able to exchange data with a read and/or write device which is spaced at a maximum by a first predetermined communication distance. A second antenna which is able to communicate without electric contact, in particular with the identifier, is arranged at a distance from the identifier smaller than or equal to the first predetermined distance, so as to form a relay and increase the maximum distance for exchange of data between the identifier and the read and/or write device.

Claims

1. An electronically trackable carrier made of a material, having an external surface and an interior, the carrier comprising:

an electronic tracer means comprising an integrated electronic circuit and a first antenna connected thereto, the first antenna being adapted to operate as at least one of a signal receiver and a signal transmitter, for respectively receiving and emitting a signal, said signal having a predetermined range,

a non-embedded, wireless second antenna adapted to operate a wireless communication with the electronic tracer means and located apart from the interior of the material, for defining a signal relay adapted for enlarging the range of the signal.

3. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the second antenna is printed on the external surface of the material.

4. The carrier according to claim 1 wherein the second antenna is sticked to the external surface of the plastic material.

5. The carrier according to claim 1 wherein:

the carrier has a wall, and

the electronic tracer means is embedded in said wall, within the interior of the material.

6. The carrier of claim 5, wherein

the material is a plastic material, and

the carrier is one of the following handling means:

a plastic crate, a plastic pallet, a bottle rack, a plastic bin, a plastic basket, a container.

7. The carrier according to claim 1 wherein:

the carrier has a wall,

the electronic tracer means is embedded in said wall,

the wall externally defines at least a zone of said external surface,

the carrier is provided with a label comprising the second antenna, the label being disposed adjacent to said external surface defined by the wall, and

the carrier comprises a label holder attached to the wall of the carrier and having an opening adapted for receiving the label in the label holder.

8. The carrier according to claim 1 wherein:

the carrier has a wall,

the electronic tracer means is embedded in said wall,

the wall externally defines at least a zone of said external surface,

the carrier further comprises an additional element, provided with the second antenna, the additional element being disposed on said external surface.

9. The carrier of claim 7, wherein the label holder is removably attached to the wall.

10. The carrier of claim 7, wherein the label holder is permanently attached to the wall.

11. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the additional element is a sticked label.

2. An electronically trackable plastic carrier made of a plastic material, having an external surface and an interior, the plastic carrier comprising:

an electronic tracer means embedded within the plastic material and comprising an integrated electronic circuit and a first antenna connected thereto, the first antenna being adapted to communicate through a signal with a read/write device located at a first distance from said first antenna, the signal having a range corresponding to the first distance,

a non-embedded, wireless second antenna adapted to operate a wireless communication with the electronic tracer means, the second antenna being located apart from the interior of the plastic material, at a distance from the electronic tracer means less than or equal to the first distance, for defining a signal relay adapted for enlarging the signal range from the first distance to a second distance higher than the first distance, so that the electronic tracer means is adapted to communicate through the signal with the read/write device located at said second distance from the first antenna.

12. An element for a carrier member, for defining an assembly adapted to be electronically trackable by an electronic identifier located apart from the assembly, the element being made of a material having an external surface and an interior, the element comprising, in said interior, an electronic tracer means comprising an integrated electronic circuit and a first antenna connected thereto, the first antenna being adapted to operate as at least one of a signal receiver and a signal transmitter, for respectively receiving and emitting a signal, said signal having a predetermined range, the assembly comprising a wireless second antenna adapted to operate a wireless communication with the electronic tracer means and located apart from the interior material of the element, for defining a signal relay adapted for enlarging the range of the signal, so that the electronic tracer means communicate through the signal, within said enlarged range, with the electronic identifier.

13. The element of claim 12 wherein:

the carrier member is one of the following handling member;

a plastic crate, a plastic pallet, a bottle rack, a plastic bin, a plastic basket, a container,

the element is attached to the carrier member, and

the second antenna is located adjacent the first antenna.

14. The element of claim 12, wherein:

the carrier member is a plastic crate, having a bottom wall and lateral walls,

the material is a plastic material,

the electronic tracer means is embedded in said plastic material, and

the element is a label holder attached to one of the lateral walls of the plastic crate.