METHOD OF OPERATING AN RFID READER IN AN RFID SYSTEM

• US 20110169608A1
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Solstice Medical, LLC
• Original Assignee: Solstice Medical, LLC
• Inventors: LaFontaine, Matthew R., Sailor, Court H.
• Application Number:
  US12/945,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20110169608A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0095 Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10217 parameter settings controlling the transmission power of the interrogator
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10465 the interrogation device being capable of self-diagnosis, e.g. in addition to or as part of the actual interrogation process testing of electrical circuits in general G01R31/28

Abstract

A method of operating a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader used in an RFID system for use with a device includes the steps of: providing that the RFID system includes the RFID reader and an RFID tag, the RFID tag being attached to the device; controlling dynamically the RFID reader; monitoring constantly a plurality of outputs of the RFID reader; and determining, dependent on the steps of controlling and monitoring, whether the RFID reader senses the RFID tag in an actual location of the RFID tag.

Claims

1. A method of operating a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader used in an RFID system for use with a device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing that the RFID system includes the RFID reader and an RFID tag, said RFID tag being attached to the device;

controlling dynamically the RFID reader;

monitoring constantly a plurality of outputs of the RFID reader; and

determining, dependent on said steps of controlling and monitoring, whether the RFID reader senses said RFID tag in an actual location of said RFID tag.

2. The method of operating according to claim 1, wherein the step of controlling includes oscillating a power setting of the RFID reader between a high power, a medium power, and a low power.

3. The method of operating according to claim 2, wherein the step of controlling includes counting a plurality of reads.

4. The method of operating according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of reads includes a first read, a second read, and a third read, said first read occurring at said high power, said second read occurring at said medium power, and said third read occurring at said low power.

5. The method of operating according to claim 4, wherein each one of said plurality of outputs corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of reads, each said output of each said read including one of (a) said RFID tag is sensed by the RFID reader, and (b) said RFID tag is not sensed by the RFID reader.

6. The method of operating according to claim 5, wherein said step of determining includes evaluating each of said plurality of outputs from said plurality of reads and thereby filtering out when the device along with said RFID tag are not actually located in a desired read zone so as to determine that the device along with said RFID tag are likely in said desired read zone only when the device along with said RFID tag are actually in said desired read zone.

7. A locating system, comprising:

a device;

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system including an RFID reader and an RFID tag, said RFID tag being attached to said device, said RFID reader configured for providing a plurality of outputs, for being controlled dynamically, for monitoring constantly said plurality of outputs of said RFID reader, and for thereby determining whether said RFID reader senses said RFID tag in an actual location of said RFID tag.

8. The locating system according to claim 7, wherein said RFID reader is configured for oscillating a power setting of said RFID reader between a high power, a medium power, and a low power.

9. The locating system according to claim 8, wherein said RFID reader is configured for counting a plurality of reads.

10. The locating system according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of reads includes a first read, a second read, and a third read, said first read occurring at said high power, said second read occurring at said medium power, and said third read occurring at said low power.

11. The locating system according to claim 10, wherein each one of said plurality of outputs corresponds to a respective one of said plurality of reads, each said output of each said read including one of (a) said RFID tag is sensed by said RFID reader and (b) said RFID tag is not sensed by said RFID reader.

12. The locating system according to claim 11, wherein said RFID reader is configured for evaluating each of said plurality of outputs from said plurality of reads and thereby for filtering out when said device along with said RFID tag are not actually located in a desired read zone so as to determine that said device along with said RFID tag are likely in said desired read zone only when said device along with said RFID tag are actually in said desired read zone.