RFID SYSTEM CAPABLE OF DETECTING RFID TAG ORIENTATION, AN RFID TAG THEREOF, AND A PUZZLE SYSTEM USING THE RFID SYSTEM

• US 20090102120A1
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: G-Time Electronic Company Limited
• Original Assignee: G-Time Electronic Company Limited
• Inventors: WU, CHE-MING, HOU, TIEN-FA
• Application Number:
  US12/253,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102120A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/153.R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/1061 with electric features, e.g. light, wires
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2489 by radio transmitters, e.g. using RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/10 Two-dimensional jig-saw puzzles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/1204 Puzzles consisting of non-interlocking identical blocks, e.g. children's block puzzles
• 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 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies

Abstract

In a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system capable of detecting RFID tag orientation, a RFID tag thereof comprises a plurality of antennas. When a particular one of the antennas receives an RF signal from a reader of the RFID system, the RFID tag is able to send out an identification data corresponding to that antenna receiving the RF signal, enabling a processor of the RFID system to determine the position and orientation of the RFID tag based on the identification data read by the reader. A puzzle system can be designed by employing the RFID system capable of detecting RFID tag orientation.

Claims

1. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a plurality of antennas for independently receiving a radio-frequency (RF) signal each;

a plurality of power receiving modules being connected to the plurality of antennas in a one-to-one correspondence and adapted to output an electric power according to the RF signal; and

a wireless communication module being electrically connected to the plurality of power receiving modules for receiving the electric power, so as to determine an identification data that is corresponding to one of the antennas that receives the RF signal and send out the identification data via at least one of the antennas.

2. The RFID tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power receiving modules each comprise a radio frequency-to-direct current (RF-to-DC) circuit.

3. The RFID tag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a power management module being electrically connected to the plurality of power receiving modules, and capable of generating other electric power with different voltage values.

4. The RFID tag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a logic circuit and a memory, wherein the memory stores a first identification data, and the logic circuit is electrically connected to the plurality of power receiving modules and adapted to generate a position data that is corresponding to the antenna receiving the RF signal, and the wireless communication module, after receiving the electric power, combines the first identification data with the position data to generate the identification data.

5. The RFID tag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing a plurality of the identification data which are in a one-to-one correspondence to the plurality of antennas, and the wireless communication module, after receiving the electric power, reading from the memory one of the identification data that is corresponding to the antenna receiving the RF signal.

6. The RFID tag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module comprises a modulation circuit which generates a modulation signal based on the identification data, and sends out the modulation signal via at least one of the plurality of antennas.

10. An RFID system capable of detecting RFID tag orientation, comprising:

at least one RFID tag, as claimed in claim 1, and the RFID tag being able to receive an RF signal and wirelessly output an identification data;

a reader capable of generating the RF signal and receiving the identification data; and

a processor capable of determining an orientation of the RFID tag based on the identification data.

11. The RFID system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the RFID tag is arranged on a planar object and the antennas of the RFID tag are arranged at different positions on the planar object.

12. The RFID system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the processor further verifies whether the planar object is correctly positioned based on the orientation of the RFID tag.

13. The RFID system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the planar object is provided with at least one puzzle pattern.

14. The RFID system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a platform, wherein the reader and the processor are arranged within the platform, and the planar object is movably laid on the platform.

15. The RFID system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the RFID tag is arranged on a three-dimensional (3D) object with a plurality of antennas of the RFID tag being arranged on different faces of the 3D object.

16. The RFID system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the processor verifies whether the 3D object is correctly positioned based on the orientation of the RFID tag.

17. The RFID system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the 3D object is provided with at least one puzzle pattern.

18. The RFID system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a platform, wherein the reader and the processor are arranged within the platform, and the 3D object is movably laid on the platform.

19. A puzzle system, comprising:

a platform;

a plurality of puzzle pieces, each of which being provided with at least one RFID tag, which can be any one of that as that being claimed in claims 1 to 9, and the RFID tag being able to receive an RF signal and wirelessly output an identification data;

a reader for generating the RF signal and receiving the identification data; and

a processor for determining an orientation of the RFID tag based on the identification data, and further determining whether the plurality of puzzle pieces are correctly positioned based on the orientation of the RFID tag.

20. The puzzle system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the puzzle pieces each are a planar object, and the antennas of the RFID tag are arranged at different positions on the planar object.

21. The puzzle system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the puzzle pieces each are a 3D object, and the antennas of the RFID tag are arranged on different faces of the 3D object.

7. An RFID tag, comprising:

a memory capable of storing a first identification data thereon;

a plurality of antennas capable of independently receiving an RF signal each;

a plurality of power receiving modules being connected to the plurality of antennas in a one-to-one correspondence and adapted to output electric power based on the RF signal for the RFID tag to operate;

a logic circuit being electrically connected to the plurality of power receiving modules and adapted to generate a position data that is corresponding to the antenna receiving the RF signal;

a control circuit capable of combining the first identification data with the position data to generate a second identification data; and

a modulation circuit capable of modulating the second identification data to generate a modulated signal which is then sent out via at least one of the plurality of antennas.

8. The RFID tag as claimed in claim 7, wherein the power receiving modules each comprise an RF-to DC circuit.

9. The RFID tag as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a power management module being electrically connected to the plurality of power receiving modules and capable of generating other electric power with different voltage values.