Integrated part tracking system

• US 20070200704A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Brown, Rork
• Granted Patent: US 7,554,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.700
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10504 Data fields affixed to objects or articles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence

Abstract

An identification system includes a fractal antenna fashioned as a 2-dimensional data matrix which defines a Unique Item Identifier which operates as a conventional active antenna element for a RFID identification system while the unique face of the antenna is utilized as a physical reference to distinguish the component. By utilizing the face of an antenna as a Unique Item Identifier, an RFID system component antenna integrates two identification systems.

Claims

1. An identifier for an identification system comprising:

a fractal antenna forming a data matrix.

2. The identifier as recited in claim 1, wherein said data matrix includes a 2-dimensional data matrix which defines a Unique Item Identifier.

3. The identifier as recited in claim 1, wherein said fractal antenna is formed through a surface of a part.

4. The identifier as recited in claim 3, further comprising a waveguide cavity formed within the part adjacent said fractal antenna.

5. The identifier as recited in claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency identification system in communication with said fractal antenna.

6. The identifier as recited in claim 5, further comprising a waveguide cavity formed within a part adjacent said fractal antenna, said radio frequency identification system mounted within an electronics cavity adjacent said waveguide cavity.

7. The identifier as recited in claim 6, further comprising a microwave feed element within said electronics cavity.

8. The identifier as recited in claim 6, further comprising a receiver in electrical communication with said microwave feed element within said electronics cavity.

9. The identifier as recited in claim 6, further comprising a transmitter in electrical communication with said microwave feed element within said electronics cavity.

10. The identifier as recited in claim 9, further comprising a sensor in electrical communication with a controller, said controller in electrical communication with said transmitter.

11. The identifier as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a waveguide cavity formed within a part adjacent said fractal antenna;

an electronics cavity adjacent said waveguide cavity;

a sensor mounted within said electronics cavity; and

a controller in electrical communication with said sensor.

12. The identifier as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

a transmitter in electrical communication with said controller;

a microwave feed element in electrical communication with said transmitter and said fractal antenna to communicate data from said sensor.

13. A part with an identification system comprising:

a waveguide cavity formed within the part;

a fractal antenna adjacent said waveguide cavity, said fractal antenna defining a Unique Item Identifier;

an electronics cavity adjacent said waveguide cavity; and

a microwave element for communication through said fractal antenna.

14. The part as recited in claim 13, wherein said fractal antenna is formed at least partially through a surface of the part.

15. The part as recited in claim 13, further comprising a radio frequency identification system in communication with said fractal antenna.

16. The identifier as recited in claim 15, wherein said radio frequency identification system is mounted within an electronics cavity adjacent said waveguide cavity.

17. A method of part identification comprising the steps of:

(A) mounting a radio frequency identification system within a part

(B) communicating data from the frequency identification system through a fractal antenna formed in a surface of the part, the fractal antenna forming a data matrix; and

communication with said fractal antenna; and

(C) determining a Unique Item Identifier from the data matrix.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of:

(D) communicating sensor data through the fractal antenna.

19. A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising the step of:

(D) forming a network of sensors with a multitude of sensors, each of the multitude of sensor mounted within a respective part, each of the multitude of sensors in wireless communication with at least one other of the multitude of sensors.