METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF TAGGING OBJECTS AND READING TAGS COUPLED TO OBJECTS

• US 20080231421A1
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Tuttle, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,755,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0062 in RFID [Radio Frequency Identification] Systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

Methods and systems of tagging objects and reading tags coupled to objects. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising a reading antenna, a tag reader coupled to the reading antenna, and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising a tag antenna electromagnetically coupled to the reading antenna. The RFID tag couples to an object such as the body of a living organism or a metallic article. Moreover, the tag antenna has a far-field radiation pattern in a direction away from the object that is substantially unaffected by proximity of the RFID tag to the object, and substantially unaffected by which surface of the RFID tag faces the object.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first reading antenna;

a tag reader coupled to the first reading antenna; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising a tag antenna electromagnetically coupled to the first reading antenna, the RFID tag coupled to an object being one or more selected from the group consisting of;

a body of a living organism; and

a metallic article; and

wherein the tag antenna has a far-field radiation pattern in a direction away from the object that is;

substantially unaffected by proximity of the RFID tag to the object; and

substantially unaffected by which surface of the RFID tag faces the object.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

wherein the first reading antenna is offset in a first direction from a centerline of an expected path of travel of the RFID tag; and

a second reading antenna offset in a second direction, different from the first direction, from the centerline of the expected path of travel.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.

4. The system as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of the first or second reading antennas are mounted at an elevation above an expected elevation of the RFID tag.

5. The system as defined in claim 2 further comprising a main lobe of a far-field radiation pattern of the first reading antenna encompasses the centerline of the expected path of travel at a location upstream of the location of the first reading antenna.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 further comprising a main lobe of a far-field radiation pattern of the second reading antenna encompasses the centerline of the expected path of travel at a location upstream of the location of the second reading antenna.

7. The system as defined in claim 2 further comprising a main lobe of a far-field radiation pattern of the first reading antenna encompasses the centerline of the expected path of travel at a location downstream of the location of the first reading antenna.

8. The system as defined in claim 7 further comprising a main lobe of a far-field radiation pattern of the second reading antenna encompasses the centerline of the expected path of travel at a location downstream of the location of the second reading antenna.

9. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the tag antenna further comprises:

a ground plane;

a first antenna element substantially parallel to the ground plane; and

a second antenna element substantially parallel to the ground plane on an opposite side of the ground plane from the first antenna element.

10. A method comprising attaching a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to an object, the RFID tag having a far-field radiation pattern away from the object that is:

substantially unaffected by which surface of the RFID tag faces away from the object; and

substantially unaffected by proximity of the RFID tag to the object.

11. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein attaching further comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of:

attaching a badge comprising an RFID tag to the object being a human;

attaching the RFID tag to the object being a non-human animal;

attaching the RFID tag to the object to a non-human animal, the attaching by way of an ear; and

attaching the RFID tag to the objecting being a bovine, the attaching by way of an ear;

attaching the RFID tag to a metallic object.

12. The method as defined in claim 10 further comprising reading the RFID tag using at least one of a pair of reading antennas.

13. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein reading further comprises reading using at least one of the pair of reading antennas positioned above the elevation of the RFID tag.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein reading further comprises reading where each of the pair of reading antennas is oriented such that a directivity of the reading antenna is directed upstream of the reading antennas along an expected path of travel of the RFID tag.

15. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein reading further comprises reading where each of the pair of reading antennas is oriented such that a directivity of the reading antenna is directed downstream of the reading antennas along an expected path of travel of the RFID tag.

16. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein reading further comprises reading using at least one of the pair of reading antennas, the reading antennas positioned on opposite sides of a portal through which the RFID tag passes.

17. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein attaching further comprises attaching the RFID tag having a tag antenna comprising a ground plane, a first antenna element substantially parallel to the ground plane, and a second antenna element substantially parallel to the ground plane on an opposite side of the ground plane from the first antenna element.

18. A system comprising:

an antenna system comprising;

a first antenna coupled on a first side of a portal;

a second antenna coupled on a second side of a portal, different from the first side;

a tag reader coupled to the antenna system; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to an object and electromagnetically coupled to the antenna system by way of a dual-sided patch antenna.

19. The system as defined in claim 18 wherein the first antenna is mounted at an elevation above an expected elevation of the RFID tag.

20. The system as defined in claim 18 wherein the second side of the portal is opposite the first side of the portal.

21. The system as defined in claim 18 further comprising a main lobe of a far-field radiation pattern of the first antenna encompasses the centerline of an expected path of travel of the RFID tag at a location upstream of the location of the first antenna.

22. The system as defined in claim 18 further comprising a main lobe of a far-field radiation pattern of the first antenna encompasses the centerline of an expected path of travel of the RFID tag at a location downstream of the location of the first antenna.

23. A method comprising:

placing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag on an object, the RFID tag comprising a dual-sided patch antenna;

positioning a first reading antenna on a first side of a portal; and

positioning a second reading antenna on a second side of the portal.

24. The method as defined in claim 23 further comprising:

wherein placing further comprises placing the RFID tag at a nominal elevation;

wherein positioning the first and second reading antennas further comprises positioning the first reading antenna at a first elevation, and positioning the second reading antenna at a second elevation, at least one of the first or second elevations higher than the nominal elevation.

25. The method as defined in claim 24 further comprising positioning the first and second reading antennas such that both the first and second elevations are above the nominal elevation.

26. The method as defined in claim 23 wherein positioning the second reading antenna further comprises positioning the second reading antenna on the second side being opposite the first side.

27. The method as defined in claim 23 further comprising directing a main lobe of a far-field radiation pattern of the first reading antenna, the directing being one of the group consisting of:

directing upstream of an expected path of travel of the RFID tag; and

directing downstream of an expected path of travel of the RFID tag.

28. The method as defined in claim 27 further comprising directing a main lobe of a far-field radiation pattern of the second reading antenna, the directing being one of the group consisting of:

directing upstream of an expected path of travel of the RFID tag; and

directing downstream of an expected path of travel of the RFID tag.

29. The method as defined in claim 27 further comprising:

wherein placing further comprises placing the RFID tag at a nominal elevation;

wherein positioning the first and second reading antennas further comprises positioning the first reading antenna at a first elevation, and positioning the second reading antenna at a second elevation, at least one of the first or second elevations higher than the nominal elevation.

30. A method comprising:

placing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag on an object at a tag elevation;

positioning a first reading antenna on a first side of a portal at a first elevation; and

positioning a second reading antenna on a second side of the portal opposite the first side, and the positioning the second reading antenna at a second elevation;

wherein at least one of the first or second elevations is higher than the tag elevation.

31. The method as defined in claim 30 wherein positioning the first and second reading antennas further comprises positioning both the first and second reading antennas above the tag elevation.

32. The method as defined in claim 30 further comprising directing a main lobe of a far-field radiation pattern of the first reading antenna upstream of an expected path of travel of the RFID tag.

33. The method as defined in claim 32 further comprising directing a main lobe of a far-field radiation pattern of the second reading antenna upstream of an expected path of travel of the RFID tag.