METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING COMPONENTS USING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION

• US 20070063847A1
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Lee, Donald, Laib, Trevor
• Granted Patent: US 7,598,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03

Abstract

Methods and systems for a monitoring system for a vehicle are provided. The system includes at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising at least one transceiver and a plurality of RFID tags, the tags coupled to a plurality of vehicle components, a plurality of vehicle component retaining assemblies coupled to the plurality of components and operatively configured to substantially shield the amount of radio frequency (RF) energy received from the transceiver by each tag in a first position and unshield each tag in a second position, and an alert system for receiving information regarding the plurality of vehicle components and for generating an alert based on the information received.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising at least one transceiver and a plurality of RFID tags, said tags coupled to a plurality of vehicle components;

a plurality of vehicle component retaining assemblies coupled to the plurality of components and operatively configured to substantially shield the amount of radio frequency (RF) energy received from said transceiver by each said tag in a first position and unshield each said tag in a second position; and

an alert system for receiving information regarding said plurality of vehicle components and for generating an alert based on the information received.

2. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said plurality of retaining assemblies is fabricated from at least one of a RF energy shielding material, an electromagnetic shielding material, and a microwave shielding material.

3. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said plurality of retaining assemblies is fabricated from at least one of an electrically conductive material, a metallic material, and liquid.

4. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said plurality of retaining assemblies is fabricated from at least one of a bio-degradable material, a thermo-degradable material, and chemo-degradable material.

5. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said plurality of retaining assemblies comprises a latching mechanism configured to limit an amount of RF energy received such that each of said tags has insufficient power to send a data signal to said transceiver.

6. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said plurality of retaining assemblies is rotatably coupled to each of said tags.

7. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said tags includes component information including a status, a location, a time/date, and a serial number of each component.

8. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said tags is coupled to at least one container of components, said container tags include information corresponding to said components within said container.

9. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said alert system is further configured to receive information regarding whether each of said retaining assemblies is in said first or second position and to generate an alert if in said second position.

10. A method for monitoring vehicle components, said method comprising:

coupling at least one RFID tag to at least one vehicle component;

coupling at least one RFID transceiver configured to emit an RF energy within the vehicle to the at least one tag;

shielding an amount of RF energy received by the at least one tag such that the at least one tag can not transmit to the at least one transceiver; and

coupling an alert system for receiving information from the at least one transceiver.

11. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 10 wherein coupling at least one RFID tag further comprises coupling at least one RFID tag to a container comprising a plurality of components therein.

12. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 10 wherein coupling at least one RFID tag further comprises coupling at least one RFID tag including data including a status, a location, a time/date, and a serial number of each component.

13. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 10 wherein coupling at least one RFID transceiver further comprises coupling a plurality of transceivers each comprising a plurality of antennas such that a first antenna is positioned substantially above the at least one tag and a second antenna is positioned substantially below the at least one tag.

14. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 10 wherein shielding an amount of RF energy further comprises coupling at least one component restraining assembly operatively configured to substantially shield the amount of radio frequency (RF) energy received from the transceiver by the at least one RFID tag when the at least one component restraining assembly is in a first position and unshield each the at least one RFID tag when the at least one component restraining assembly is in a second position.

15. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 14 wherein coupling at least one component restraining assembly further comprises fabricating the at least one component restraining assembly from at least one of a RF energy shielding material, an electromagnetic shielding material, a microwave shielding material, and an electrical shield material.

16. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 14 wherein coupling at least one component restraining assembly further comprises coupling at least one of a latching mechanism for at least one of a lavatory door, a gallery door, and a container door.

17. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 14 wherein coupling an alert system further comprises generating an alert when the at least one component restraining assembly is in the second position.

18. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 10 wherein coupling an alert system further comprises alerting a user when the RFID transceiver receives a data signal from the at least one RFID tag.

19. A monitoring system for airplane components, said system comprising:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising at least one of a RFID tag and a RFID transceiver, each positioned within a fuselage of the airplane, said tag coupled to at least one of an airplane component; and

at least one radio frequency (RF) energy shield extending circumferentially around said at least one RFID tag such that RF energy directed from said RFID transceiver is blocked or detuned when said at least one RF energy shield is in a first position.

20. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said at least one RF energy shield is coupled to said at least one RFID tag such that RF energy directed from said RFID transceiver is received by said at least one RFID tag when said RF energy shield is in a second position.

21. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 20 further comprises an alert system configured to receive information from said RFID transceiver regarding the status of each said at least one RFID tag and generate an alert when said RF energy shield is in said second position.

22. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said RF energy shield is rotatably coupled to said at least one RFID tag.

23. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said RF energy shield is a latching mechanism slidably coupled to said at least one RFID tag such that said at least one RFID tag is shielded in a closed or latched position and unshielded when in an open or unlatched position.

24. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 19 wherein each of said at least one tags includes information including a status, a location, a time/date, and a serial number of each of said at least one airplane components.

25. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said RFID transceiver further comprises at least one antenna positioned in a ceiling portion the fuselage and at least one antenna positioned in a floor portion of the fuselage such that said at least one RFID tag is positioned therebetween.

26. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said at least one tag is coupled to an airplane container comprising a plurality of airplane components, wherein each of said at least one tags includes information corresponding to said airplane container.

27. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said container further comprises at least one RFID transceiver antenna positioned adjacent an opening of said container.

28. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said at least one radio frequency (RF) energy shield is fabricated from at least one of a RF energy shielding material, an electromagnetic shielding material, a microwave shielding material, and an electrical shield material.

29. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said alert system is an airplane avionics system configured to alert airplane personnel when said RF energy shield is in said second position.