RFID tag data affecting automation controller with internal database

• US 20070024463A1
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Chand, Sujeet, Hall, Kenwood, Somogyi, Andreas, Owen, Joseph, Bapat, Vivek, Tinnell, Kenneth, Pietrzyk, Arthur, Morse, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,764,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.690
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4183 characterised by data acquisition, e.g. workpiece identification
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31095 Read write intelligent chip on workpiece, pallet, tool for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31322 Work still to be done on workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49302 Part, workpiece, code, tool identification
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates utilizing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with an object. An RFID component can receive extended data from the RFID tag that identifies an operation. An automation device can then manipulate the object based at least in part upon the extended data and the identified operation. Moreover, a controller can be utilized to control the automation device, wherein the controller utilizes an internal database and/or data store to provide efficient access to specific information.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates utilizing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with an object, comprising:

an RFID component that receives extended data from the RFID tag that identifies an operation; and

an automation device that manipulates the object based at least in part upon the extended data and the identified operation.

2. The system of claim 1, the RFID component is at least one of an RFID reader, an RFID writer, and an RFID reader/writer.

3. The system of claim 1, the automation device is at least one of a roller, a station, a welder, a scanner, a belt conveyor, a pump, a press, and a fan.

4. The system of claim 1, the RFID tag is a passive ultra high frequency (UHF) RFID tag.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller that controls the automation device such that the controller includes an internal database that stores at least one of an object history, a desired operation, a desired mechanism, location information, an intended customer, and an authorized operator.

6. The system of claim 1, the manipulation of the object is at least one of indirect effect and direct effect.

7. The system of claim 6, the direct effect is utilizing a bit within the extended data as a decision that drives control of an output.

8. The system of claim 6, the indirect effect is utilizing a bit within the extended data as a selector of a decision that drives the control of an output.

9. The system of claim 1, the extended data is utilized in a plurality of operations.

10. The system of claim 9, the extended data is utilized in a portion of the plurality of operations.

11. The system of claim 1, the extended data is re-written at the completion of an operation.

12. The system of claim 11, the re-written extended data is utilized at a disparate automation device.

13. The system of claim 1, the extended data is routing information for the object moving through a material transfer gate.

14. The system of claim 1, the extended data is a process parameter that drives process automation control at a plurality of stations in a manufacturing application.

15. The system of claim 1, the controller receives external communications from a business system.

16. The system of claim 15, the business system utilizes at least one of a request and a transaction in extensible markup language (XML).

17. A computer readable medium having stored thereon the components of the system of claim 1.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising an intelligent component that employs a probabilistic and/or statistical-based analysis to prognose or infer an action to be automatically performed.

19. The system of claim 1, the RFID tag includes at least one of a tag identification, product data, extended data, user defined data, reader identification, and environment data.

20. A computer-implemented method that facilitates utilizing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with an object, comprising:

receiving a signal at an RFID component from an RFID tag;

decoding and translating data from the RFID tag; and

utilizing data from the RFID tag to control an operation related to an automation device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving external communications relating to RFID tags; and

utilizing an internal database within the controller to provide information based on RFID tag data.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

filtering a plurality of RFID signals received from a plurality of RFID tags;

determining if the RFID data is to directly effect or indirectly effect an output;

controlling the automation device with the controller that has an internal database;

determining if another automation device is to utilize the RFID tag data; and

re-writing the RFID tag data upon completion of the operation.

23. The method of claim 20, the RFID component is at least one of an RFID reader, an RFID writer, and an RFID reader/writer.

24. The method of claim 20, the automation device is at least one of a roller, a station, a welder, a scanner, a belt conveyor, a pump, a press, and a fan.

25. The method of claim 20, the RFID tag is a passive ultra high frequency (UHF) RFID tag.

26. The method of claim 21, the internal database stores at least one of an object history, a desired operation, a desired mechanism, location information, an intended customer, and an authorized operator.

27. A data packet that communicates between at least two of an RFID tag, an RFID component and an automation device, the data packet facilitates the method of claim 20.

28. A computer-implemented system that facilitates utilizing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with an object, comprising:

means for receiving extended data from the RFID tag that identifies an operation;

means for manipulating the object based at least in part upon the extended data and the identified operation;

means for controlling an automation device; and

means for utilizing an internal database within a controller.