Systems and methods for testing radio frequency identification tags

• US 20060012387A1
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Shanks, Wayne E.
• Application Number:
  US11/169,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20060012387A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/754.210
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3025 Wireless interface with the DUT
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/303 of integrated circuits G01R31/305 - G01R31/315 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0095 Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10019 resolving collision on the communication channels between simultaneously or concurrently interrogated record carriers. collision between the communication channels used by wireless communication devices, where the solution is not particularly adapted for RFIDs or the like, H04W74/08

Abstract

Methods and systems for testing tags in volume are described. According to a first embodiment, an array of radiation sources is present. Each radiation source in the array corresponds to a tag in a plurality of tags. A plurality of radiation sources in the array controllably emit radiation to their corresponding tag to inhibit operation of an integrated circuit of their corresponding tag. A first radiation source in the array does not emit radiation to its corresponding tag. The tag corresponding to the first radiation source is tested. In a second embodiment, an array of blocking elements is present. Each blocking element in the array corresponds to a tag in a plurality of tags. The blocking elements in the array controllably inhibit radiation from being incident upon corresponding tags. A first blocking element in the array inhibits radiation from being incident upon its corresponding tag. The tag corresponding to the first blocking element is tested.

Claims

1. A system to test radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in volume, comprising:

an array of radiation sources, each radiation source in the array corresponding to a tag in a plurality of tags;

wherein a plurality of radiation sources in the array controllably emit radiation to corresponding tags to inhibit operation of integrated circuits of the corresponding tags.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller coupled to the array of radiation sources to control emission of radiation by the radiation sources.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a first radiation source in the array does not emit radiation to a corresponding tag, and wherein the tag corresponding to the first radiation source is under test.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a reader that transmits a read signal to a tag that is under test of the plurality of tags.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tags are tags in a web.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a tag assembly apparatus that produces the tags in the web.

7. A method of testing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in volume, comprising:

controlling an array of radiation sources, wherein each radiation source in the array corresponds to a tag in a plurality of tags;

wherein controlling the array includes

causing a plurality of radiation sources in the array to emit radiation to corresponding tags to inhibit operation of integrated circuits of the corresponding tags.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein controlling the array further comprises:

selecting a first radiation source of the array to stop emitting radiation to a first corresponding tag; and

testing operation of the first corresponding tag.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein controlling the array further comprises:

sequentially selecting radiation sources of the array to stop emitting radiation to their corresponding tags; and

testing operation of a tag when the corresponding radiation source has stopped emitting radiation.

10. A system for testing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in volume, comprising:

an array of blocking elements, each blocking element of the array corresponding to a tag in a plurality of tags;

wherein blocking elements in the array controllably inhibit radiation from being incident upon corresponding tags.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a radiation source that emits the radiation upon the array of blocking elements.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the radiation source includes an array of radiation sources, each radiation source corresponding to a blocking element in the array of blocking elements.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a controller coupled to the array of blocking elements to control opacity of the blocking elements.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein a first blocking element in the array inhibits the radiation from being incident upon a corresponding tag, and wherein the tag corresponding to the first blocking element is under test.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a reader that transmits a read signal to a tag that is under test of the plurality of tags.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of tags are tags in a web.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a tag assembly apparatus that produces the tags in the web.

18. A method of testing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in volume, comprising:

controlling an array of blocking elements, wherein each blocking element in the array corresponds to a tag in a plurality of tags;

wherein controlling the array includes

causing a first blocking element in the array to controllably inhibit radiation from being incident upon a first tag in the plurality of tags, the first tag corresponding to the first blocking element.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling the array further comprises:

selecting a first blocking element of the array to inhibit the radiation from being incident upon a first corresponding tag; and

testing operation of the first corresponding tag.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein controlling the array further comprises:

sequentially selecting blocking elements of the array to inhibit radiation from being incident upon their corresponding tags; and

testing operation of a tag in response to the corresponding blocking element inhibiting radiation.