RADIO FREQUENCY ALIGNMENT OBJECT, CARRIAGE AND ASSOCIATED METHOD OF STORING A PRODUCT ASSOCIATED THEREWITH

• US 20090167500A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Braun, Patrick, Thompson, Bruce, Wangu, Manoj
• Granted Patent: US 8,094,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• 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: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber

Abstract

A carrier apparatus is provided that includes a body and a fastener configured to affix the body to a product. The body includes a radio frequency (RF) transponder tag, or marker for directing inclusion of an RF transponder tag, at a designated location on the body. The apparatus of this aspect further includes a positioning feature configured to position the body, RF transponder tag and affixed product relative to an RF antenna separate from the RF transponder tag. This positioning feature may be configured to position the body, RF transponder tag and affixed product in a manner ensuring approximately at least a predetermined spatial relationship between the RF transponder tag and the antenna or one or more other RF transponder tags located proximate the RF transponder tag. A carriage apparatus and method of storing a product are also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a body including a radio frequency (RF) transponder tag, or marker for directing inclusion of an RF transponder tag, at a designated location on the body;

a fastener configured to affix the body to a product; and

a positioning feature configured to position the body, RF transponder tag and affixed product relative to an RF antenna separate from the RF transponder tag, the positioning feature being configured to position the body, RF transponder tag and affixed product in a manner ensuring approximately at least a predetermined spatial relationship between the RF transponder tag and the antenna or one or more other RF transponder tags located proximate the RF transponder tag.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning feature comprises first and second positioning features, the first positioning feature being configured to position the body, RF transponder tag and affixed product in a manner ensuring approximately at least a first predetermined spatial relationship between the RF transponder tag and the antenna, and the second positioning feature being configured to position the body, RF transponder tag and affixed product in a manner ensuring approximately at least a second predetermined spatial relationship between the RF transponder tag and one or more other RF transponder tags located proximate the RF transponder tag.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning feature comprises a hanging feature configured for suspending the body, RF transponder tag and affixed product from a hanging structure located proximate the antenna, the hanging feature being one or more of shaped, sized or positioned such that, when the body, RF transponder tag and affixed product are suspended from the hanging structure, the RF transponder tag has approximately at least the predetermined spatial relationship with the antenna.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning feature comprises at least a portion of a dimension of the body between an end of the body and the designated location, the portion of the dimension being configured such that, when the body, RF transponder tag and affixed product are positioned proximate the antenna, the RF transponder tag has approximately at least the predetermined spatial relationship with the antenna.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positioning feature comprises a projection configured for maintaining approximately at least a predetermined distance between the RF transponder tag and one or more other RF transponder tags located proximate the RF transponder tag.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the body comprising first and second portions one or both of which includes a projection, the first and second portions being foldable upon one another such that the projection at least partially encases the RF transponder tag.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first and second portions of the body respectively include an indention and projection, and wherein the first and second portions being foldable upon one another such that the projection is extendable at least partially into the indention, the indention being configured to hold the projection in place.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body encases the RF transponder tag at the designated location, and

wherein the positioning feature comprises at least a portion of a thickness of the body encasing the RF transponder tag, the thickness being configured for maintaining approximately at least a predetermined distance between the RF transponder tag and one or more other RF transponder tags located proximate the RF transponder tag.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises an adhesive tab, the adhesive tab being separable from the body.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the product includes a carrier defining an opening, and

wherein the fastener comprises a retainer having a pair of tabs respectively including an indentation and projection, the tabs being configured to extend on opposing sides of the carrier such that the projection is extendable through the opening of the carrier and at least partially into the indention.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the product includes a carrier defining an opening, and

wherein the positioning feature comprises an opening defined by the body, the fastener being configured to affix the body to a product such that the opening defined by the body is at least partially aligned with the opening defined by the carrier.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a support structure configured to support a carrier and a product affixed thereto, the carrier having a radio frequency (RF) transponder tag; and

an RF antenna separate from the RF transponder tag,

wherein the support structure is further configured such that, when the carrier, RF transponder tag and affixed product are supported by the support structure, the RF transponder tag has approximately at least a predetermined spatial relationship with the antenna.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the support structure and antenna are integrated.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising:

a mount to which the support structure and antenna are affixed, the mount being mountable at a storage location of the product affixed to the carrier.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the support structure is configured to support a plurality of carriers and respective, affixed products, and

wherein the support structure is configured such that, when the carriers, RF transponder tags and respective, affixed products are supported by the support structure, the RF transponder tags of the carriers each have approximately the same predetermined spatial relationship with the antenna.

16. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the support structure comprises a hanging structure configured for suspending the carrier, RF transponder tag and affixed product, the carrier being configured such that, when the carrier, RF transponder tag and affixed product are suspended from the hanging structure, the RF transponder tag has approximately at least the predetermined spatial relationship with the antenna.

17. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of columns separated from one another to thereby define one or more openings, the columns forming a surface capable of carrying the affixed product, or against which the affixed product is capable of resting, such that the carrier affixed to the product at least partially extends into one of the one or more openings.

18. A method comprising:

affixing a carrier to a product, the carrier including a radio frequency (RF) transponder tag at a designated location on the carrier; and

positioning the carrier and affixed product relative to a carriage configured to support the carrier, RF transponder tag and affixed product, the carriage including an RF antenna separate from the RF transponder tag,

wherein the carrier and carriage are configured to ensure approximately at least a predetermined spatial relationship between the RF transponder tag and the antenna when the carrier, RF transponder tag and affixed product are positioned relative to the carriage.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the carriage further includes a hanging structure, and the carrier includes a hanging feature, and

wherein positioning the carrier, RF transponder tag and affixed product comprises suspending the carrier, RF transponder tag and affixed product from the hanging structure.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the carrier includes a plurality of columns separated from one another to thereby define one or more openings, the columns forming a surface, and

wherein positioning the carrier, RF transponder tag and affixed product comprises resting the affixed product on or against the surface of the carriage such that the carrier affixed to the product at least partially extends into one of the one or more openings.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein affixing a carrier comprises affixing a plurality of carriers to a plurality of respective products, and

wherein positioning the carrier, RF transponder tag and affixed product comprises positioning the carriers, RF transponder tags and respective, affixed products relative to the carriage such that the RF transponder tags of the carriers each have approximately the same predetermined spatial relationship with the antenna.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the carrier and carriage are configured to ensure approximately at least a first predetermined spatial relationship between the RF transponder tag and the antenna, and

wherein positioning the carriers, RF transponder tags and respective, affixed products further comprises positioning the carriers, RF transponder tags and respective, affixed products relative to one another, the carriers being configured to ensure approximately at least a second predetermined spatial relationship between the RF transponder tags.