THREE-DIMENSIONAL RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG AND ENVIRONMENT CONDITION RECOGNITION SYSTEM AND METHOD USING TAG

• US 20060273905A1
• Filed: 04/19/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sungkyunkwan University Foundation For Corporate Collaboration (SungKyunKwan University)
• Inventors: PARK, Jin-Ho, ROH, Se-Gon, CHOI, Hyouk-Ryeol
• Granted Patent: US 7,474,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0247 Determining attitude
• 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 19/07792 the antenna adapted for extending in three dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions

Abstract

A three-dimensional (3D) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and an environment condition recognition system and method using the 3D RFID tag are provided. The tag, system and method are capable of recognizing the orientation of a mounted object as well as its intrinsic characteristics and position, thus presenting a new paradigm in the field of autonomous object sensing, identification, and recognition technology. The environment condition recognition system capable of recognizing position and orientation of the object includes a plurality of RF tags each having a self identifier ID, being independently disposed, and having an orientation with respect to a main axial direction, an RFID antenna activating the tags and initiating connection with the RF tags, a reader connected to the antenna and reading information of the RF tags, and an analysis unit connected to the reader and collecting and analyzing the information of the tags. The tags correspond to the position and orientation of the object they are attached to so as to match the respective axial directions in an orthogonal coordinate system of the object. According to the 3D RFID tag and the environment condition recognition system and method using the 3D RFID tag, information about an object, a human, or the environment can be more easily obtained, and changes in physical characteristics (e.g., position, orientation) of a targeted object as well as information required for identification can be obtained.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional (3D) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a plurality of RF tags independently disposed along main axial directions representing an object, the RF tags having self identifiers (IDs); and

a supporter supporting the plurality of RF tags and having an electromagnetic field shielding characteristic to prevent mutual overlap of electromagnetic fields radiated from the plurality of RF tags.

2. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 1, wherein the RF tags are an active type or a passive type.

3. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 2, wherein the supporter having the electromagnetic field shielding characteristic has a surface formed of metal for absorbing electromagnetic fields.

4. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 3, wherein the tags attached to the supporter have the same form and the same characteristics.

5. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 4, wherein the same form means the same shape, and the same characteristics means the same electromagnetic characteristics and the same frequency band characteristics.

6. A three-dimensional (3D) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a polyhedral supporter having an electromagnetic field shielding characteristic; and

a plurality of RF tags having self identifiers (IDs) and attached to respective sides of the supporter,

wherein the electromagnetic field shielding characteristic of the supporter prevents mutual overlap of electromagnetic fields radiated from the plurality of RF tags.

7. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 6, wherein the RF tags are an active type or a passive type.

8. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 7, wherein the supporter having the electromagnetic field shielding characteristic has a surface formed of metal for absorbing electromagnetic fields.

9. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 8, wherein the tags attached to the supporter have the same form and the same characteristics.

10. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 9, wherein the same form means the same shape, and the same characteristics means the same electromagnetic characteristics and the same frequency band characteristics.

11. A three-dimensional (3D) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a plurality of RF tags independently disposed along main axial directions representing an object, each of the RF tags having a self identifier (ID) and radiating a uni-directional electromagnetic field in a single direction; and

a supporter supporting the plurality of RF tags.

12. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 11, wherein the RF tags are an active type or a passive type.

13. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 12, wherein the single direction is orthogonal to a respective side of the supporter.

14. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 13, wherein the tags attached to the supporter have the same form and the same characteristics.

15. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 14, wherein the same form means the same shape, and the same characteristics means the same electromagnetic characteristics and the same frequency band characteristics.

16. A three-dimensional (3D) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a polyhedral supporter; and

a plurality of RF tags independently attached to respective sides of the supporter, each of the RF tags having a self identifier (ID) and radiating a uni-directional electromagnetic field in a single direction.

17. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 16, wherein the RF tags are an active type or a passive type.

18. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 17, wherein the single direction is orthogonal to a respective side of the supporter.

19. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 18, wherein the tags attached to the supporter have the same form and the same characteristics.

20. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 19, wherein the same form means the same shape, and the same characteristics means the same electromagnetic characteristics and the same frequency band characteristics.

21. A three-dimensional (3D) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag capable of recognizing a position and an orientation of an object, the 3D RFID tag comprising:

a plurality of RF tags, each having an orientation; and

a supporter supporting the tags,

wherein the 3D RFID tag is attached to the object and the object has an electromagnetic field shielding function.

23. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 21, wherein each of the RF tags is an active type RF tag or a passive type RF tag.

24. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 23, wherein the supporter is a polyhedron, and each of the RF tags is disposed in a direction orthogonal to a respective side of the supporter.

25. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 24, wherein the tags attached to the supporter have the same form and the same characteristics.

26. The 3D RFID tag according to claim 25, wherein the same form means the same shape, and the same characteristics means the same electromagnetic characteristics and the same frequency band characteristics.

22. A three-dimensional (3D) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag capable of recognizing a position and an orientation of an object, the 3D RFID tag comprising:

a plurality of RF tags, each having an orientation; and

a supporter supporting the tags and having an electromagnetic field shielding function,

wherein the 3D RFID tag is attached to the object and the object does not have an electromagnetic field shielding function.

27. An environment condition recognition system capable of recognizing a position and an orientation of an object, the 3D RFID tag comprising:

a three-dimensional (3D) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including a plurality of RF tags independently disposed along main axial directions representing an object, each of the RF tags having a self identifier (ID), and a supporter supporting the tags, the 3D RFID tag being attached to an object having an electromagnetic field shielding function;

an RFID antenna activating the 3D RFID tag and initiating connection with the RF tags;

a reader connected to the antenna and reading information of the RF tags; and

an analysis unit connected to the reader and collecting and analyzing the information of the RF tags.

28. An environment condition recognition system capable of recognizing a position and an orientation of an object, the 3D RFID tag comprising:

a three-dimensional (3D) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag including a plurality of RF tags independently disposed along main axial directions representing an object, each of the RF tags having a self identifier (ID), and a supporter supporting the tags and having an electromagnetic field shielding function, the 3D RFID tag being attached to an object not having an electromagnetic field shielding function;

an RFID antenna activating the 3D RFID tag and initiating connection with the tag;

a reader connected to the antenna and reading information of the RF tags; and

an analysis unit connected to the reader and collecting and analyzing the information of the RF tags.

29. The environment condition recognition system according to claim 28, further comprising:

a movement unit moving in order to recognize the position and the orientation of the object,

wherein the RFID antenna, the reader, and the analysis unit are built into the movement unit.

30. The environment condition recognition system according to claim 29, wherein each of the RF tags is an active type RF tag or a passive type RF tag.

31. The environment condition recognition system according to claim 30, wherein each of the RF tags has the same form and the same characteristics.

32. The environment condition recognition system according to claim 31, wherein the same form means the same shape, and the same characteristics means the same electromagnetic characteristics and the same frequency band characteristics.

33. An environment condition recognition system capable of recognizing a position and an orientation of an object, the 3D RFID tag comprising:

a plurality of RF tags having self identifiers (IDs), being independently disposed, and having-orientation with respect to main axial directions;

an RFID antenna activating the 3D RFID tag and initiating connection with the tag;

a reader connected to the antenna and reading information of the tag; and

an analysis unit connected to the reader and collecting and analyzing the information of the RF tags,

wherein the plurality of RF tags correspond to the position and the orientation of the object, and are attached to the object so as to match the respective axial directions in an orthogonal coordinate system of the object.

34. The environment condition recognition system according to claim 33, further comprising:

a movement unit moving in order to recognize the position and the orientation of the object,

wherein the RFID antenna, the reader, and the analysis unit are built into the movement unit.

35. The environment condition recognition system according to claim 34, wherein each of the RF tags is an active type RF tag or a passive type RF tag.

36. The environment condition recognition system according to claim 35, wherein each of the RF tags has the same form and the same characteristics.

37. The environment condition recognition system according to claim 36, wherein the same form means the same shape, and the same characteristics means the same electromagnetic characteristics and the same frequency band characteristics.

38. A method of recognizing an environment condition capable of recognizing a position and an orientation of an object, the method comprising:

attaching a plurality of RF tags to the object, each of the tags having a self identifier (ID), being independently disposed, and having orientation with respect to a main axial direction;

detecting the tags attached to the object by means of a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna activating the tags and initiating connection with the RF tags, and a reader connected to the antenna and reading information of the RF tags; and

collecting and analyzing the information of the tags by means of an analysis unit connected to the reader,

wherein the plurality of RF tags correspond to the position and the orientation of the object, and are attached to the object so as to match the respective axial directions in an orthogonal coordinate system of the object.

39. The method according to claim 38, further comprising:

moving a movement unit for recognizing the position and the orientation of the object,

wherein the RFID antenna, the reader, and the analysis unit are built into the movement unit.