Methods and systems for in-line RFID transponder testing

• US 20070018831A1
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises Incorporated (Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation)
• Inventors: Shanton, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 7,375,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.700
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2822 of microwave or radiofrequency circuits of attenuation, gain, e.g. using network analyzers G01R27/28
• 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

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for testing the health of each of a plurality of RFID transponders is provided. The apparatus includes an antenna support assembly including an antenna support body and an antenna coupled to a surface of the antenna support body, the antenna including at least a receiver portion and a connection portion. The apparatus also includes a holder coupled to the antenna support body configured to retain the antenna support proximate a path of a plurality of transponders.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing the health of each of a plurality of RFID transponders, said apparatus comprising:

an antenna support assembly comprising an antenna support body and an antenna coupled to a surface of the antenna support body, said antenna comprising at least a receiver portion and a connection portion; and

a holder coupled to said antenna support body configured to retain said antenna support body in a selectable position proximate a path of a plurality of RFID transponders coupled to a web.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said antenna comprises at least one of a conductive ink and a metallic foil.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said surface of said antenna support body is substantially planar.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said surface of said antenna support body is substantially convex.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said antenna support assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical body, said surface of said antenna support body comprising at least one antenna oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the antenna support body.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said antenna support assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical body, said surface of said antenna support body comprising a plurality of antennae oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the antenna support body and spaced circumferentially a distance about said surface of said antenna support body.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said antenna support assembly comprises a web comprising a plurality of antennae oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the antenna support and spaced circumferentially a distance about the web surface.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a pressure applicator spaced a gap distance apart from said antenna support body and oriented orthogonally with respect to said connection portion.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said pressure applicator comprises a substantially cylindrical roller configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the roller and apply a pressure force in a direction towards said antenna support.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said pressure applicator comprises a substantially planar pad configured to apply a pressure force in a direction towards said antenna support.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said connection portion is configured to couple to a connection member of a transponder being tested.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said connection portion is configured to couple capacitively to a connection member of a transponder being tested.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an RFID reader comprising:

a reader antenna configured to transmit and receive RF energy;

a transmit/receive unit communicatively coupled to said reader antenna, said transmit/receive unit configured to transmit a test signal to a transponder being tested, said transmit/receive unit configured to receive a response to the test signal from the transponder being tested.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said transmit/receive unit is configured to receive an index signal indicative of said antenna being coupled to the transponder being tested, said transmit/receive unit is configured to transmit a signal indicative of the health of the transponder being tested.

15. A packaging handling system for at least one of manufacturing and assembling radio frequency identification enabled packaging material comprising:

a supply of packaging material;

a supply of RFID straps adhesively coupled to a web, said RFID straps configured to be removed from said web and adhesively coupled to said supply of packaging material;

a testing apparatus comprising;

an antenna support assembly comprising an antenna support body and an antenna coupled to a surface of the antenna support body, said antenna comprising at least a receiver portion and a connection portion; and

a holder coupled to said antenna support body configured to retain said antenna support body in a selectable position proximate a path of a plurality of RFID transponders coupled to a web.

16. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said antenna comprises at least one of a conductive ink and a metallic foil.

17. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said surface of said antenna support body is substantially planar.

18. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said surface of said antenna support body is substantially convex.

19. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said antenna support assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical body, said surface of said antenna support body comprising at least one antenna oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the antenna support.

20. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said antenna support assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical body, said surface of said antenna support body comprising a plurality of antennae oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the antenna support body and spaced circumferentially a distance about said surface of said antenna support body.

21. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said antenna support assembly comprises a web comprising a plurality of antennae oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the antenna support assembly and spaced circumferentially a distance about the web surface.

22. A system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising a pressure applicator spaced a gap distance apart from said antenna support body and oriented orthogonally with respect to said connection portion.

23. A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein said pressure applicator comprises a substantially cylindrical roller configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the roller and apply a pressure force in a direction towards said antenna support body.

24. A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein said pressure applicator comprises a substantially planar pad configured to apply a pressure force in a direction towards said antenna support body.

25. A system in accordance with claim 15 wherein said connection portion is configured to couple to a connection member of a transponder being tested.

26. A system in accordance with claim 25 wherein said connection portion is configured to couple capacitively to a connection member of a transponder being tested.

27. A system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising an RFID reader comprising:

a reader antenna configured to transmit and receive RF energy;

a transmit/receive unit communicatively coupled to said reader antenna, said transmit/receive unit configured to transmit a test signal to a transponder being tested, said transmit/receive unit configured to receive a response to the test signal from the transponder being tested.

28. A system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said transmit/receive unit is configured to receive an index signal indicative of said antenna being coupled to the transponder being tested, said transmit/receive unit is configured to transmit a signal indicative of the health of the transponder being tested.

29. A method of testing an RFID enabled component comprising:

providing a plurality of RFID enabled components;

temporarily coupling an antenna to at least one of the plurality of RFID enabled components; and

determining the health of the at least one of the plurality of RFID enabled components using the temporary antenna.

30. A method in accordance with claim 29 further comprising indicating which of the plurality of RFID enabled components are non-functional using the determined health wherein non-functional represents that the RFID-enabled component at least one of does not respond to a test signal and responds incorrectly to the test signal relative to a predetermined expected response.

31. A method in accordance with claim 29 wherein determining the health of the RFID enabled component comprises transmitting an RF signal to the component through the temporary antenna.

32. A method in accordance with claim 29 wherein determining the health of the RFID enabled component comprises receiving an RF signal from the component through the temporary antenna that indicates a health of the component.

33. A method in accordance with claim 29 wherein providing a plurality of RFID enabled components comprises providing a plurality of straps adhesively coupled to a web.