RFID Switching

• US 20070115127A1
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Industrial & Automotive, LLC (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Winware Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: DeNise, Derry, Harper, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 7,669,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

Various method and apparatus embodiments involving RFID switching are disclosed. One method embodiment, among others, includes receiving an excitation signal at a switch associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a disabling material, and changing a state of the RFID tag with the switch based on proximity of the disabling material to the RFID tag.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an excitation signal at a switch associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a disabling material; and

changing a state of the RFID tag with the switch based on proximity of the disabling material to the RFID tag.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein changing comprises changing the RFID tag to a first state if the disabling material is in contact with the RFID tag.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein changing comprises changing the RFID tag to a first state if the disabling material is in close proximity to the RFID tag.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the close proximity comprises a separation distance between the RFID tag and the disabling material of approximately 0.125 inches.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the close proximity comprises a separation distance between the RFID tag and the disabling material of less than approximately 0.125 inches.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein changing comprises changing the RFID tag to a second state if the RFID tag is not in close proximity to the disabling material.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the disabling material comprises a metallic material or a fluid encased by a non-metallic material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the disabling material comprises a material that renders an ability to read information from the RFID tag ineffective or cancels signals surrounding the RFID tag.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the state comprises either a first state or a second state, the first state rendering an ability to read information from the RFID tag ineffective, the second state rendering an ability to read the information from the RFID tag effective.

10. A method, comprising:

sending an excitation signal to a switch associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a disabling material; and

receiving a response to the excitation signal based on a separation distance between the disabling material and the RFID tag, the separation distance based on a change in the switch.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the response comprises receiving information corresponding to the RFID tag that can be read and understood.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein no response is received if the disabling material is in contact with the RFID tag.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein no response is received if the disabling material is in close proximity to the RFID tag.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the close proximity comprises a separation distance between the RFID tag and the disabling material of approximately 0.125 inches.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the close proximity comprises a separation distance between the RFID tag and the disabling material of less than approximately 0.125 inches.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the response is received if the RFID tag is not in close proximity to the disabling material.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the disabling material comprises a metallic material or a fluid encased by a non-metallic material.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the disabling material comprises a material that renders an ability to read information from the RFID tag ineffective or cancels signals surrounding the RFID tag.

19. A radio frequency identification (RFID) switch, comprising:

a first member comprising a disabling material;

a second member in moveable relationship with respect to the first member; and

a multi-state radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to the second member that changes state based on a separation distance between the RFID tag and the disabling material.

20. The switch of claim 19, wherein the first member is hingably coupled to the second member.

21. The switch of claim 19, wherein the first member and the second member are each comprised substantially of a non-metallic material.

22. The switch of claim 19, wherein the disabling material comprises a metallic material.

23. The switch of claim 19, wherein the disabling material comprises a fluid encased by a non-metallic material.

24. The switch of claim 19, wherein when the first member is loaded with an object, the separation distance widens resulting in the RFID tag comprising a first state, and wherein when the first member is unloaded, the separation distance reduces resulting in the RFID tag comprising a second state.

25. The switch of claim 24, wherein when the RFID tag is in the first state, information corresponding to the RFID tag can be read and understood, and wherein when the RFID tag is in the second state, the information corresponding to the RFID tag cannot be read and understood.