RFID READER ENCLOSURE AND MAN-O-WAR RFID READER SYSTEM

• US 20100187307A1
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Original Assignee: Promega Corporation
• Inventors: Tinnell, Kenneth Andrew, Salvo, Adam, Phillips, Travis A., Doeden, Robert Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,031,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

An apparatus including an enclosure for an RFID reader to be affixed to a storage container; an RFID reader that scans a first storage container using a first antenna and a second storage container using a second antenna; and a networked system of RFID apparatuses including a primary RFID apparatus and secondary RFID apparatuses that are controlled by the primary RFID apparatus.

Claims

1. A storage unit comprising:

a first storage container having a plurality of walls;

a first RFID antennae associated with the first storage container;

a second storage container having a plurality of walls;

a second RFID antennae associated with the second storage container;

a compartment coupled to the first storage container and the second storage container;

an RFID reader disposed within the compartment and operably connected with the first RFID antennae and the second RFID antennae.

2. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein one of the first storage container and second storage container is refrigerated.

3. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein both the first storage container and the second storage container are refrigerated.

4. The storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a human-machine interface configured for control of the RFID reader.

5. The storage unit of claim 4, wherein the human-machine interface includes a display.

6. The storage unit of claim 4, wherein one of the first storage container and second storage container is refrigerated, and further wherein the human-machine interface is configured to control a temperature of the refrigerated container.

7. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the first storage container, the compartment, and the second storage container form a vertical stack.

8. The storage unit of claim 1, configured such that an electrical connection between said RFID reader and the first antenna and an electrical connection between said RFID reader and the second antenna are not exposed to an exterior surface of the storage unit.

9. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the first RFID antennae is disposed in the first storage container.

10. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the first RFID antennae is disposed within a wall of the first storage container.

11. An RFID storage apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a first storage cabinet within the housing having a plurality of walls, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a door defining a first internal volume;

a first RFID antennae disposed within one of a wall or the door of the first storage cabinet;

a second storage cabinet within the housing having a plurality of walls, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a door defining a second internal volume;

a second RFID antennae disposed within one of a wall or the door of the second storage cabinet;

a compartment disposed between the bottom surface of the first compartment and the top surface of the second compartment; and

an RFID reader housed within the compartment, the RFID reader operably connected with the first antennae and the second antennae for reading RFID tags within the first storage cabinet and the second storage cabinet.

12. The storage apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an interface configured for control of the RFID reader.

13. The storage apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a refrigeration unit configured for temperature control of at least one of the first storage cabinet and the second storage cabinet, and wherein the interface is further configured to control the refrigeration unit.

14. The storage apparatus of claim 12, wherein the interface includes a display.

15. The storage apparatus of claim 12, wherein the interface is coupled to an exterior surface of the housing.

16. The storage apparatus of claim 12, wherein the interface is disposed remotely.

17. A storage system comprising:

a plurality of storage towers, each storage tower including

a first cabinet having a plurality of walls and a door surrounding a first interior cavity;

a compartment disposed adjacent a wall of the first cabinet; and

a first antennae disposed within the first cabinet and operable to scan RFID tags stored within the first interior cavity;

a first RFID reader disposed within the compartment of a first storage tower of the plurality of storage towers, the first RFID reader configured to perform RFID reading via the first antennae of at least the first storage tower; and

a second RFID reader disposed within the compartment of a second storage tower of the plurality of storage towers, the second RFID reader operable to perform RFID reading via the first antennae of at least the second storage tower; and

a controller configured to control said first RFID reader and said second RFID reader and to communicate via a network connection with an inventory management system.

18. The storage system of claim 17, wherein said controller is configured to control said first RFID reader to perform plural RFID scans, to obtain a first RFID scanning result in accordance with the plural RFID scans by said first RFID reader, to control said second RFID reader to perform plural RFID scans, to obtain a second RFID scanning result in accordance with the plural scans by said second RFID reader, and to communicate with the inventory management system in accordance with the first RFID scanning result and the second RFID scanning result.

19. The storage system of claim 18, wherein the first RFID scanning result is based on a difference between plural RFID scans.

20. The storage system of claim 18, wherein said controller comprises a user interface for controlling said first RFID reader and said second RFID reader.