Radio frequency identification reader with variable range

• US 20100117798A1
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Jenkins, Ian, Bellows, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,610,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/75 by polling or interrogating the sub-stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for, and method of, reading an RFID tag to obtain data in both handheld and hands-free modes of operation, include all RFID module supported by the reader and including an antenna for propagating an electromagnetic field over a range, and a controller for varying the range of the antenna to be different in each mode. The antenna has a full range, preferably by default, in the handheld mode, and the controller is operative, preferably automatically, for decreasing the full range to a restricted range in the hands-free mode.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for reading an RFID tag to obtain data in both handheld and hands-free modes of operation, comprising:

an RFID module supported by the reader and including an antenna for propagating an electromagnetic field over a range; and

a controller for varying the range of the antenna to be different in each mode.

2. The reader of claim 1, wherein the antenna has a full range in the handheld mode, and wherein the controller is operative for decreasing the full range to a restricted range in the hands-free mode.

3. The reader of claim 2, and a housing in which the RFID module is supported, and a support for supporting the housing in the hands-free mode, and wherein the controller includes a control in at least one of the support and the housing for detecting the presence of the housing on the support to indicate the hands-free mode to the controller, and the absence of the housing on the support to indicate the handheld mode to the controller.

4. The reader of claim 3, wherein the control includes a magnetic sensor in the at least one of the support and the housing.

5. The reader of claim 3, wherein the control includes a mechanical switch in the at least one of the support and the housing.

6. The reader of claim 4, wherein the control includes a field attenuation portion of the stand, for reducing a strength of the electromagnetic field propagated by the antenna when the housing is on the support.

7. The reader of claim 3, wherein the support is a stand that rests on a support surface.

8. The reader of claim 3, wherein the support is a holster that is worn by an operator.

9. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for reading all RFID tag to obtain data in both handheld and hands-free modes of operation, comprising:

means for propagating an electromagnetic field over a range; and

means for varying the range of the electromagnetic field to be different in each mode.

10. The reader of claim 9, wherein the electromagnetic field has a full range in the handheld mode, and wherein the varying means is operative for decreasing the full range to a restricted range in the hands-free mode.

11. A radio frequency identification (RFID) method of reading an RFID tag to obtain data in both handheld and hands-free modes of operation, comprising the steps of:

propagating an electromagnetic field of an antenna over a range; and

varying the range of the antenna to be different in each mode.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the propagating step is performed by propagating the electromagnetic field with a full range in the handheld mode, and wherein the varying step is performed by decreasing the full range to a restricted range in the hands-free mode.

13. The method of claim 12, and supporting the antenna in a housing, and supporting the housing in a stand in the hands-free mode, and wherein the varying step is performed by detecting the presence of the housing on the support to indicate the hands-free mode, and the absence of the housing on the support to indicate the handheld mode.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the detecting step is performed by a magnetic sensor in at least one of the support and the housing.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the detecting step is performed by a mechanical switch in at least one of the support and the housing.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the varying step is performed by attenuating the electromagnetic field propagated by the antenna when the housing is on the support.

17. The method of claim 13, and configuring the support as a stand that rests on a support surface.

18. The method of claim 13, and configuring the support as a holster that is worn by an operator.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the varying step is performed by decreasing the restricted range to zero in the hands-free mode.