RFID Tags for Enabling Batch Reading of Stacks of Cartons
First Claim
1. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag for use with a reader that generates activation energy, the RFID tag comprising:
- a pair of antennas for receiving activation energy;
an RFID circuit for modulating tag energy when activation energy is received by at least one of the antennas and for modulating tag energy when tag energy is received by at least one of the antennas;
a transmission line for operatively coupling the RFID circuit to the antennas;
a first one of the antennas for receiving activation energy;
a second one of the antennas for radiating activation energy received by the first antenna and for receiving tag energy radiated by an antenna of another RFID tag; and
the first antenna for radiating the tag energy received by the second antenna from the other RFID tag;
whereby when a plurality of the RFID tags are positioned in sequence in operative proximity with each other, activation energy is propagated through the sequence from one RFID tag to another in one direction, and tag energy is propagated through the sequence from one RFID tag to another in another direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radio-frequency identification (RFID) system including an RFID tag and an RFID-enabled object. The RFID tag may include a pair of antennas and an RFID circuit. The antennas receive activation energy from a reader, and the RFID circuit modulates tag energy when activation energy is received by one of the antennas. The tag may also include a transmission line for operatively coupling the RFID circuit to the antennas. A first one of the antennas may receive activation energy which, in turn, may be radiated by a second one of the antennas. The second antenna may also receive tag energy radiated by an antenna of another RFID tag. The received tag energy may then be radiated by the first antenna. Accordingly, when a plurality of the RFID tags are positioned in sequence in operative proximity with each other, activation energy may be propagated through the sequence from one RFID tag to another in one direction, and tag energy may be propagated through the sequence from one RFID tag to another in another direction.
29 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag for use with a reader that generates activation energy, the RFID tag comprising:
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a pair of antennas for receiving activation energy;
an RFID circuit for modulating tag energy when activation energy is received by at least one of the antennas and for modulating tag energy when tag energy is received by at least one of the antennas;
a transmission line for operatively coupling the RFID circuit to the antennas;
a first one of the antennas for receiving activation energy;
a second one of the antennas for radiating activation energy received by the first antenna and for receiving tag energy radiated by an antenna of another RFID tag; and
the first antenna for radiating the tag energy received by the second antenna from the other RFID tag;
whereby when a plurality of the RFID tags are positioned in sequence in operative proximity with each other, activation energy is propagated through the sequence from one RFID tag to another in one direction, and tag energy is propagated through the sequence from one RFID tag to another in another direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag for an object, the RFID tag for use with a reader, the object having a first side with a dimension defined between opposing edges and being stackable with other such objects, the RFID tag comprising:
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a substrate;
a first antenna disposed on the substrate;
a second antenna disposed on the substrate;
a transmission line coupled to the antennas; and
an RFID circuit electrically coupled to the transmission line and for being activated by radio-frequency (RF) energy;
the substrate being mounted to the first side of the object and having a dimension defined between the edges that enables the first antenna to be disposed at or near one of the edges of the first side of the object and the second antenna to be disposed at or near the other edge of the first side of the object.
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22. A radio-frequency identification (RFID)-enabled object for use with a reader, the RFID-enabled object comprising:
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an object having a top, a bottom, and four sides each having four edges; and
an RFID tag including;
a first antenna disposed at or near one of the edges of one of the sides of the object;
a second antenna disposed at or near another one of the edges of the one of the sides of the object, the first and second antenna being mounted to the one of the sides of the object;
a transmission line electrically coupled to the antennas; and
an RFID circuit electrically coupled to the transmission line for communicating with the reader when activated by energy from the reader system;
the object being stackable with another RFID-enabled object such that either one of the antennas of the object is positioned within communicative proximity with one of the antennas of the other RFID-enabled object.
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23. A method of reading radio-frequency identification (RFID)-enabled objects, the method comprising:
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providing a load of a plurality of RFID-enabled objects stacked together, each of the objects including;
an object having a top, a bottom, and four sides each having four edges; and
a RFID tag including;
a first antenna disposed at or near one of the edges of one of the sides of the object;
a second antenna disposed at or near another one of the edges of one of the sides of the object;
a transmission line electrically coupled to the antennas;
an RFID circuit electrically coupled to the transmission line for communicating with the reader when activated by energy from the reader system;
the objects being stacked with one another such that the RFID tags are positioned sequentially in operative proximity with one another;
transmitting activation energy to the load;
sequentially propagating activation energy from one RFID tag to another; and
sequentially modulating tag energy from one RFID tag to another by a corresponding RFID circuit. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification