RF- enablement of products and receptacles therefor

• US 20070001846A1
• Filed: 07/20/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Waterhouse, Paul, Stevens, John, August, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/571
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• 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 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: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles

Abstract

An RFID tag in a receptacle is active and includes a microprocessor, a data storage device operable to store a selected code (e.g. an ID code to identify said object or said product), the object including a display for displaying the aforesaid selected code upon a signal from the microprocessor and an energy storage device (e.g. a lithium ion battery), operable to energize the microprocessor, the display, and the transmitter. The tag has an antenna having a dimension thereof that is substantially as large as to a maximum dimension of receptacle.

Claims

1. An object operable for communicating wireless radio frequency (RF) signals, said object comprising an antenna integrated (for example, embedded) therewith.

2. An object as set forth in claim 1, said integrated antenna being embedded into said object (e.g. a CD/compact disk;

a ULD (Unit Load Device), meat tray or other receptacle).

3. An object as set forth in claim 1, said integrated antenna having a dimension thereof that is substantially as large as a dimension of said object.

4. An object as set forth in claim 1, said RF signals having a frequency not exceeding 15 megahertz.

5. An object as set forth in claim 1, said object comprising a product (e.g. stent) and an RFID tag attached thereto (e.g. integrated therewith), said RFID tag comprising a transmitter and a (preferably much smaller than the integrated antenna) tag antenna operable to transmit wireless RF signals to said integrated antenna.

6. An object as set forth in claim 1, said object comprising a receptacle and an RFID tag attached thereto (e.g. integrated therewith), said RFID tag comprising a transmitter and a (smaller) tag antenna operable to transmit wireless RF signals to said integrated antenna.

7. An object as set forth in claim 5, said RFID tag being passive and further comprising a receiver, a microprocessor, a data storage device operable to store a selected code (e.g. an ID code to identify said object or said product), said tag antenna being operable to receive incoming wireless RF signals from said integrated antenna and to communicate them to said receiver, said receiver being operable to communicate them to said microprocessor, said microprocessor being operable to read said selected code (e.g. said ID code) from said data storage device in response to a selected set of said incoming wireless RF signals and to transmit said selected code wirelessly from said tag antenna to said integrated antenna, said integrated antenna being operable thereupon to transmit said ID code wirelessly to a field antenna.

8. An object as set forth in claim 5, said RFID tag being active and further comprising a microprocessor, a data storage device operable to store a selected code (e.g. an ID code to identify said object or said product), said object comprising a display for displaying said selected code upon a signal from said microprocessor and an energy storage device (e.g. a lithium ion battery, operable to energize said microprocessor, said display, and said transmitter.

9. An object as set forth in claim 6, said receptacle being operable to hold a product. said receptacle comprising a sensor operable to generate a signal characteristic of a condition (e.g. temperature, jog, etc.) experienced by said product.

10. An object as set forth in claim 1, said object comprising an RFID tag embedded therein.

11. An object as set forth in claim 4, wherein said embedded antenna comprises a ferrite loop.

12. An object as set forth in claim 1, wherein said object comprises a product (e.g. a cd/compact disk, stent, pill bottle).

13. An object as set forth in claim 1, wherein said object comprises a receptacle (e.g. a tray for holding meat), said receptacle being operable to receive and hold a product (e.g. a steak, a stent), said product having an RFID tag attached thereto and being operable for communicating said wireless radio signals between said product and said integrated antenna in said receptacle.

14. An object as set forth in claim 4, said wireless RF signals having a frequency not exceeding 1 MHZ.

15. An object as set forth in claim 1, said integrated antenna comprising a loop integrated into said object in each of two substantially orthogonal dimensions thereof.

16. A receptacle comprising:

a body portion operable to hold a product,

an RFID tag attached to said body portion, said RFID tag comprising a receiver, a transmitter, and an antenna, said antenna being integrated into a unitary relationship with said body portion.

17. A receptacle as set forth in claim 16, said RFID tag being operable to receive and transmit wirelessly at a frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz.

18. A receptacle as set forth in claim 17, said frequency not exceeding 300 kilohertz.

19. A receptacle as set forth in claim 18, said antenna being a loop antenna designed for superior strength of signal reception by having dimensions thereof scaled to dimensions of said body portion.

20. A receptacle as set forth in claim 19, said loop antenna having a dimension thereof that is substantially as large as to a maximum dimension of said receptacle.

21. A receptacle as set forth in claim 20, said loop antenna comprising a loop integrated into said receptacle in each of two substantially orthogonal dimensions thereof.

22. A receptacle as set forth in claim 18, said receptacle comprising a container operable to enclose said product, said container further comprising a sensor disposed on a surface of said container and operable to generate a sealing signal indicating sealing of said container upon shrink-wrapping thereof.

23. A receptacle as set forth in claim 18, said receptacle comprising a container operable to enclose said product, said RFID tag further comprising a sensor disposed within said container and operable to generate a signal characteristic of a condition experienced by said product.

24. A receptacle as set forth in claim 20, said environmental condition being selected from temperature, light exposure, weight, humidity, and shock impulse (jog).

25. A receptacle as set forth in claim 20, said RFID tag further comprising an indicator element for indicating impending expiry of viability of said product.

26. A receptacle as set forth in claim 25, said indicator element being operable to provide a signal selected from visible light and audible sound.

27. A receptacle as set forth in claim 26, said indicator element being an LCD display.

28. A receptacle as set forth in claim 26, said indicator element being a blinking lamp.

29. A receptacle as set forth in claim 18, said RFID tag further comprising an indicator element for indicating impending expiry of viability of said product.

30. A receptacle as set forth in claim 18, said receptacle further comprising an indicator element operable for indicating a condition selected from a) impending expiry of viability of said product and b) sealing of said receptacle.

31. A receptacle as set forth in claim 30, said receptacle comprising a sensor disposed on a surface of said receptacle and operable to generate a sealing signal indicating sealing of said receptacle upon shrink-wrapping thereof.

32. A receptacle as set forth in claim 22, said receptacle comprising a stackable container which is adapted for stacking upon other stackable containers to expose a surface of said stackable container for visual inspection, said stackable container further comprising an indicator element disposed on said surface and operable for indicating a condition selected from a) temperature of said product, b) sealing of said receptacle, c) light exposure within said stackable container, d) weight of said product, e) humidity within said stackable container, f) jog/shock imposed on said container, and g) impending expiry of viability of said product.

33. A receptacle as set forth in claim 32, said indicator element being operable to provide a signal selected from visible light and audible sound.

34. A receptacle as set forth in claim 33, said indicator element being an LCD display.

35. A receptacle as set forth in claim 33, said indicator element being a blinking lamp.

36. A receptacle as set forth in claim 19, said receptacle comprising a pallet operable to hold a plurality of containers as set forth in claim 23, 25, or 29, said antenna having a dimension thereof that is substantially as large as a maximum dimension of said pallet.

37. A method of tracking the conditions of products, each said condition being selected from temperature, product enclosure (shrink-wrapping), light level, product weight, humidity, jog, product age/expiry, and product location (GPS coordinates), said method comprising the steps of:

a) placing each product onto a first receptacle, said first receptacle being provided with a sensor for a said condition and a passive RFID tag operable to emit first wireless signals that indicate a said condition of said product,

b) placing said first receptacle into a second receptacle, said second receptacle being provided with a sensor for a said condition and an active RFID tag operable to receive said first signals and to emit second signals, at a wireless frequency not exceeding 15 megahertz, that indicate a said condition of a first or second receptacle,

c) detecting signals selected from said first signals and said second signals.

38. A method as set forth in claim 37, and further comprising the step of:

e) providing a visual or audible indication of a said condition.

39. A method as set forth in claim 37, said first receptacle comprising a first antenna integrated therewith.

40. A method as set forth in claim 39, said second receptacle comprising a second antenna integrated therewith.

45. A method as set forth in claim 37 or claim 41, said RF signals having a frequency not exceeding 1 megahertz.

41. A method of tracking the conditions of products, each said condition being selected from temperature, product enclosure (shrink-wrapping), light level, product weight, humidity, jog, product age/expiry, and product location (GPS coordinates), said method comprising the steps of:

a) integrating a passive RFID tag with a product, said passive RFID tag comprising a product antenna integrated into said product, said RFID tag being operable to emit wireless RF identification (ID) signals operable to identify said product in response to a wireless RF interrogation signal;

b) placing said product onto a first receptacle, said first receptacle being provided with a sensor for a said condition and an active RFID tag operable to emit said RF interrogation signal, to receive said ID signals, and to emit first RF signals operable to identify said product and to indicate a said condition at said first receptacle,

c) placing said first receptacle into a second receptacle, said second receptacle being provided with a sensor for a said condition and an active RFID tag operable to receive said first signals and to emit second RF signals that indicate a said condition at one of said first and second receptacles,

d) detecting auditable signals selected from said first RF signals and said second RF signals

e) transmitting auditable signals (e.g. by cable or by high frequency RF) detected at step (d) to a central station for auditable recording thereat (e.g. on a write-once-only CD).

42. A method as set forth in claim 41, and further comprising the step of:

e) providing a visual (e.g. on an LCD display) or audible (e.g. an alarm bell) indication of a said condition.

43. A method as set forth in claim 41, said first receptacle comprising a first antenna integrated therewith.

44. A method as set forth in claim 43, said second receptacle comprising a second antenna integrated therewith.

46. A system of tracking the conditions of products, each said condition being selected from temperature, product enclosure (shrink-wrapping), light level, product weight, humidity, jog, product age/expiry, and product location (GPS coordinates), said system comprising:

a) a passive RFID tag integrated with a said product, said passive RFID tag comprising a product antenna integrated into said product, said RFID tag being operable to emit wireless RF identification (ID) signals operable to identify said product in response to a wireless RF interrogation signal;

b) a first receptacle operable to hold said product, said first receptacle being provided with a sensor for a said condition and an active RFID tag operable to emit said RF interrogation signal, to receive said ID signals, and to emit first RF signals operable to identify said product and to indicate a said condition at said first receptacle,

c) a second receptacle operable to hold said first receptacle, said second receptacle being provided with a sensor for a said condition and an active RFID tag operable to receive said first signals and to emit second RF signals that indicate a said condition at one of said first and second receptacles,

d) a field antenna operable to detect auditable signals selected from said first RF signals and said second RF signals

e) a transmitter operable to transmit auditable signals (e.g. by cable or by high frequency RF) detected at step (d) to a central station (e.g. via a satellite) for auditable recording thereat (e.g. on a write-once-only CD).

47. A method as set forth in claim 46, said system further comprising:

e) an indicator operable to providing a visual (e.g. on an LCD display) or audible (e.g. an alarm bell) indication of a said condition.

48. A method as set forth in claim 46, said first receptacle comprising a first antenna integrated therewith.

49. A system as set forth in claim 48, said second receptacle comprising a second antenna integrated therewith.

50. A system as set forth in claim 49, said RF signals having a frequency not exceeding 15 megahertz.

51. A system as set forth in claim 49, said first receptacle comprising a stackable box, said second receptacle being selected from a pallet, a ULD Unit Load Device), and a warehouse shelving unit.