Extended read range RFID system

• US 20070285253A1
• Filed: 06/08/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brooks Automation Ltd. (United Kingdom) (Azenta, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Crossing Automation Incorporated (Azenta, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sharma, Arun, Fritschen, Daniel, Liu, Daniel, Riley, Norma
• Granted Patent: US 7,515,049 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.700
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794

Abstract

The present invention generally comprises an apparatus that allows an RFID antenna to obtain information from an RFID tag mounted on a container. The apparatus reproduces the RF field generated by the antenna to a location proximate to the RFID tag. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a pickup device and a reproduction device electrically coupled with the pickup device. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least one magnetic rod, which creates a magnetic path for the RF field to travel between the antenna and the RFID tag. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a pickup antenna and a reproduction antenna for transmitting the RF signal from the antenna proximate to the RFID tag.

Claims

1. An apparatus that allows a radio frequency identification transmitting device to obtain information from a radio frequency identification tag mounted to a container that is seated in a storage location, comprising:

a reproduction device positioned relative to the storage location such that, when the container is seated in the storage location, the radio frequency identification tag mounted to the container is proximate to said reproduction device;

a pickup device positioned relative to the storage location such that the radio frequency identification antenna can be maneuvered proximate to said pickup device; and

means for transmitting a radio frequency signal emitted by the radio frequency identification transmitting device from said pickup device to said reproduction device.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said pickup device comprises a magnetic coil.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said reproduction device comprises a magnetic coil.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said pickup device comprises an electromagnetic antenna.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said reproduction device comprises an electromagnetic antenna.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said pickup device forms an electromagnetic coupling with the radio frequency identification transmitting device when the radio frequency identification transmitting device is located proximate to said pickup device.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said pickup device forms a magnetic coupling with the radio frequency identification transmitting device when the radio frequency identification transmitting device is located proximate to said pickup device.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said reproduction device forms an electromagnetic coupling with the radio frequency identification tag.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said reproduction device forms a magnetic coupling with the radio frequency identification tag.

10. A system for obtaining information from a radio frequency identification tag mounted on a container, comprising:

a container storage device having a plurality of storage locations, each one of said plurality of storage locations for storing a container;

a transmitting device for emitting a radio frequency signal;

a plurality of radio frequency identification bridges, each one of said plurality of radio frequency identification bridges associated with a single storage location and including;

a reproduction device positioned relative to said storage location such that, when the container is seated in said storage location, the radio frequency identification tag mounted to the container is proximate to said reproduction device;

a pickup device positioned relative to said storage location such that said transmitting device can be maneuvered proximate to said pickup device;

means for transmitting the radio frequency signal emitted by said transmitting device from said pickup device to said reproduction device; and

wherein said transmitting device may be maneuvered proximate to each said pickup device of each said radio frequency identification bridge.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said pickup device comprises a magnetic coil.

12. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said reproduction device comprises a magnetic coil.

13. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said pickup device comprises an electromagnetic antenna.

14. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said reproduction device comprises an electromagnetic antenna.

15. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said pickup device forms an electromagnetic coupling with said transmitting device when said transmitting device is located proximate to said pickup device.

16. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said pickup device forms a magnetic coupling with said transmitting device when said transmitting device is located proximate to said pickup device.

17. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said reproduction device forms an electromagnetic coupling with the radio frequency identification tag.

18. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said reproduction device forms a magnetic coupling with the radio frequency identification tag.