RFID SYSTEM WITH DISTRIBUTED READ STRUCTURE

• US 20090146783A1
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,847,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10792 Special measures in relation to the object to be scanned

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes a portable RFID reader, and a read infrastructure that includes a distributed read structure, which may be part of a display (such as a shelf) for holding objects. The read structure is used to couple the RFID reader to RFID devices (tabs and/or labels) on or near the structure. The RFID reader and the read structure communicate in a near field or proximity region communication, without any use of a direct ohmic electrical connection. The RFID reader may have an antenna that is configured for near field or proximity communication with a coupler of the read infrastructure. The RFID reader may also have a separate antenna for use in far field communication. The RFID reader may be able to obtain information more efficiently in the near field or proximity mode, allowing information to be received faster and with greater reliability.

Claims

1. A read infrastructure for radio frequency identification (RFID) devices comprising:

a distributed read structure for proximity coupling with RFID devices within one wavelength of radiation emitted by the read structure; and

a coupler, electrically connected to the read structure, for proximity coupling to an RFID reader.

2. The read infrastructure of claim 1, as part of a display device.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the display device includes a shelf with at least part of the distributed read structure thereupon.

4. The display device of claim 3, in combination with the RFID devices.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein at least some of the RFID devices are attached to respective objects that are on or in the display device.

6. The read infrastructure of claim 1, as part of an RFID system, in combination with the RFID reader operatively coupled to the coupler.

7. The RFID system of claim 6,

wherein the RFID reader includes:

an antenna; and

electronics coupled to the antenna; and

wherein the electronics include electronics for operating the reader in two separate modes;

a proximity mode in which the reader communicates by proximity coupling; and

a far field mode in which the reader communicates by far field coupling.

8. The RFID system of claim 7,

wherein the RFID reader includes an additional antenna;

wherein one of the antennas is used for the proximity coupling; and

wherein the other of the antennas is used for the far field coupling.

9. The RFID system of claim 7, wherein the antenna includes a patch antenna.

10. The RFID system of claim 6, wherein the RFID reader is a portable RFID reader.

11. The read structure of claim 1, wherein the read structure includes conductive patterns that generate electrical fields between them for proximity communication with the RFID devices.

12. The read structure of claim 1, wherein the coupler includes multiple conductive plates.

13. A method of reading radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, the method comprising:

operatively coupling the RFID devices to a distributed read structure of a read infrastructure;

operatively coupling an RFID reader to a coupler of the read infrastructure; and

reading the RFID devices through the read infrastructure to the RFID reader.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the operative coupling between the RFID devices and the distributed read structure is proximity coupling.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the operative coupling between the RFID reader and the coupler is proximity coupling.

16. The method of claim 13,

wherein the RFID reader is a portable RFID reader;

and

wherein the operatively coupling the RFID reader to the coupler includes moving an antenna of the RFID reader into proximity coupling with the coupler.

17. The method of claim 13,

wherein the reading includes reading in a proximity mode of the RFID reader;

and

wherein the proximity mode differs from a far field mode of the RFID reader in one or more of frequency of communication, power utilized, and communication protocol.

18. The method of claim 13,

wherein the read infrastructure is part of a display device;

wherein the RFID devices are mechanically coupled to respective objects that are on or in the display device.

19. A method of taking inventory, the method comprising:

providing objects with RFID devices in or on a display device having a read infrastructure;

placing an RFID reader in proximity coupling with a coupler of the read infrastructure; and

initiating communication between the RFID reader and the RFID devices, through the coupler and through a distributed read structure of the read infrastructure.

20. A point of sale display, comprising;

a display having a plurality of objects disposed thereon, with each of the objects having an RFID device attached thereto; and

a read structure for operating in two separate modes;

wherein the RFID devices are read through one of the two separate modes.