Device for verifying a location and functionality of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag on an item
First Claim
1. A device for verifying a location and functionality of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag on an item, comprising:
- an item holder;
a signal line affixed to the item holder; and
an RFID reader electrically connected to the signal line,wherein the signal line creates a near field for transmission of read or write command signals from the RFID reader to an RFID tag applied to an item placed on the item holder, andwherein the RFID reader verifies the location and the functionality of the RFID tag with respect to a near-field coupling mechanism of a particular end-use RFID system.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) system verifies proper placement and functionality of RFID tags with respect to particular end-use RFID systems at the time the RFID tag is applied to an item but before the item is deployed. A device for verifying a location and functionality of an RFID tag on an item includes an item holder, a power coupling mechanism attached to the item holder, and an RFID reader electrically connected to the power coupling mechanism. The power coupling mechanism creates a near field for transmission of read or write commands from the RFID reader to an RFID tag on an item placed on the item holder to verify the location and functionality of the RFID tag as applied to the item with respect to a near-field coupling mechanism of a particular end-use RFID system. The device may include additional power coupling mechanisms for testing the functionality of the tag.
134 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A device for verifying a location and functionality of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag on an item, comprising:
-
an item holder; a signal line affixed to the item holder; and an RFID reader electrically connected to the signal line, wherein the signal line creates a near field for transmission of read or write command signals from the RFID reader to an RFID tag applied to an item placed on the item holder, and wherein the RFID reader verifies the location and the functionality of the RFID tag with respect to a near-field coupling mechanism of a particular end-use RFID system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of verifying a location and functionality of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag on an item, comprising:
-
providing a device for verifying a location and functionality of an RFID tag on an item, the device comprising an item holder, a signal line attached to the item holder, and an RFID reader electrically connected to the signal line, wherein the signal line creates a near field for transmission of read or write command signals from the RFID reader to an RFID tag applied to an item placed on the item holder, and wherein the RFID reader verifies the location and functionality of the RFID tag with respect to a near-field coupling mechanism of a particular end-use RFID system; calibrating the device such that the device produces a near field that simulates a near field expected to produced by the near-field coupling mechanism of the end-use RFID system; attaching an RFID tag to an item; inserting the item into the item holder of the device; transmitting RF signals from the RFID reader to the RFID tag with the signal line at a power level for simulating the end-use RFID system; and verifying the functionality of the RFID tag with respect to the end-use RFID system upon determining that the RF signals were successfully received by the RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A system for verifying a location and functionality of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag on an item, comprising:
-
an item having an RFID tag attached to the item; a device comprising; an item holder to hold the item; a signal line attached to the item holder, and an RFID reader electrically connected to the signal line, wherein the signal line creates a near field for power coupling with the RFID tag on the item when the item is placed on the item holder, and wherein the RFID reader verifies the location and functionality of the RFID tag with respect to a near-field coupling mechanism of a targeted end-use RFID system; and a computer in operative connection to the RFID reader, wherein the device interacts with software running on the computer to characterize the performance of RFID tag with respect to the near-field coupling mechanism of the end-use RFID system and provide a user with feedback on the performance characteristics of the RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
-
22. A device for verifying a location and functionality of a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag on an item, comprising:
-
an item holder; an RFID reader; and at least two power coupling mechanisms connected to the RFID reader for power coupling with an RFID tag affixed to an item placed within the item holder, wherein the at least two power coupling mechanisms include at least;
(i) a first power coupling mechanism that produces an electric field for near-field power coupling with the RFID tag, and (ii) a second power coupling mechanism that produces an electromagnetic field for far-field coupling with the RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
-
Specification