RFID SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20070285256A1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dominic Kotab
• Original Assignee: Intelleflex Corporation
• Inventors: Batra, Naresh
• Granted Patent: US 8,917,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.800
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/00 Investigating the elasticity of structures, e.g. deflection of bridges or air-craft wings G01M9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0704 the battery being rechargeable, e.g. solar batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07707 the visual interface being a display, e.g. LCD or electronic ink
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag for use with a vehicle according to one embodiment includes a housing adapted for permanent or detachable coupling to the vehicle, control circuitry coupled to the housing, and a battery for providing power to the control circuitry. A secondary power source is also present for recharging the battery. A memory stores information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle. The capability of recharging the battery greatly extends the active (self-powered) life of the tag. Systems for tracking ownership of objects, servicing of vehicles, and other applications, as well as methods are also presented.

Claims

1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag for use with a vehicle, comprising:

a housing adapted for permanent coupling to a vehicle;

control circuitry coupled to the housing;

a battery for providing power to the control circuitry;

a secondary power source for recharging the battery; and

a memory for storing information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle.

2. A tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted for permanent coupling to a window of the vehicle.

3. A tag as recited in claim 2, wherein the housing is integrated into a portion of the vehicle.

4. A tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary power source generates electricity from light.

5. A tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary power source generates electricity from thermal energy.

6. A tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary power source generates electricity from kinetic energy.

7. A tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the control circuitry draws power from the secondary power source when the secondary power source is generating electricity.

8. A tag as recited in claim 7, wherein the control circuitry remains in an active state when drawing power from the secondary power source.

9. A tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory stores information selected from a group consisting of a vehicle identification number, a license plate number associated with the vehicle, a name of the owner of the vehicle, and a government-issued registration number associated with the vehicle.

10. A tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory stores a vehicle identification number, a license plate number associated with the vehicle, a name of the owner of the vehicle, and a government-issued registration number associated with the vehicle.

11. A tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory stores information relating to an insurance policy associated with the vehicle.

12. A tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory stores information relating to a service history of the vehicle.

13. A tag as recited in claim 1, wherein access to portions of the information stored in the memory is selectively allowed or denied based on information received from an inquiring entity.

14. A tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory stores information relating to a toll payment account associated with the at least one of the vehicle and the owner.

15. A tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the tag is permanently coupled to the vehicle by a manufacturer of the vehicle.

16. A tag as recited in claim 1, wherein the tag is permanently coupled to the vehicle by a dealer of the vehicle.

17. A tag as recited in claim 1, further comprising a display device, the display device displaying at least a portion of the information relating to the at least one of the vehicle and the owner.

18. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, comprising:

a plurality of RFID tags as recited in claim 1; and

an RFID interrogator in communication with the RFID tags.

19. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag for use with a vehicle, comprising:

a housing adapted for detachable coupling to a vehicle;

control circuitry coupled to the housing;

a battery for providing power to the control circuitry;

a secondary power source for recharging the battery; and

a memory for storing information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle.

20. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag for use with a vehicle, comprising:

a housing adapted for use with a vehicle;

control circuitry coupled to the housing;

a non-battery power source for providing power to the control circuitry;

a secondary power source for recharging the non-battery power source; and

a memory for storing information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle.

21. A method for tracking ownership of a moveable object, the method comprising:

coupling a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag to the object, the RFID tag comprising;

control circuitry;

a battery for providing power to the control circuitry;

a secondary power source for recharging the battery; and

a memory for storing information relating to previous and current owners of the object;

adding information about a new owner to the memory upon transferring ownership of the object to the new owner.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the object is a vehicle.

23. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the object is a transportation container.

24. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the object is an animal.

25. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the tag is coupled to the object at about a point of manufacture of the object.

26. A method for retrieving information about a vehicle, the method comprising:

transmitting a query to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag coupled to the vehicle, the query containing a security code, the RFID tag comprising;

control circuitry;

a battery for providing power to the control circuitry;

a secondary power source for recharging the battery; and

a memory for storing information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle;

receiving information relating to the vehicle or the owner, the information received depending on the security code.

27. A method as recited in claim 26, further comprising transmitting an activate command to the RFID tag for waking the RFID tag.

28. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, comprising:

a plurality of RFID tags; and

an RFID interrogator in communication with the RFID tags, the RFID interrogator performing the method of claim 26.

29. A method for transmitting information about a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a query at a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag coupled to the vehicle, the query containing a security code, the RFID tag comprising;

control circuitry;

a battery for providing power to the control circuitry;

a secondary power source for recharging the battery; and

a memory for storing information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle;

transmitting information relating to the vehicle or the owner, the information transmitted depending on the security code received.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, further comprising receiving an activate command, and waking from a hibernate state.

31. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, comprising:

a plurality of RFID tags each capable of performing the method of claim 29; and

an RFID interrogator in communication with the RFID tags.

32. A method for storing information relating to a service record of a vehicle using a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag coupled to a vehicle, the RFID tag comprising a memory for storing information relating to a service record of the vehicle, the method comprising:

querying the RFID tag for retrieving information relating to a service record of the vehicle; and

adding information to the memory of the RFID tag upon a service being performed on the vehicle.