SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF RAPIDLY DETERMINING TRUE BEARINGS OF RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) TAGS ASSOCIATED WITH ITEMS IN A CONTROLLED AREA
First Claim
1. A radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) tag reading system for rapidly determining true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area, comprising:
- an RFID reader having an array of antenna elements and a plurality of RF transceivers; and
a controller operatively connected to the transceivers, and operative for controlling the transceivers by executing a tag processing module operative for steering a primary transmit beam over the controlled area by transmitting a primary transmit signal via the antenna elements to each tag, and for steering a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle by receiving a primary receive signal via the antenna elements from each tag,the controller being further operative for controlling the transceivers by executing a bearing processing module operative for steering a plurality of secondary receive beams at different secondary steering angles that are offset from the primary steering angle by receiving a plurality of secondary receive signals via the antenna elements from each tag, and by processing the secondary receive signals to determine a true bearing for each tag, andthe controller being further operative for controlling bidirectional communication between the reader and at least one of the tags over a single inventory round in which the at least one tag is read a plurality of times by the primary and the secondary receive beams.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An RFID tag reading system and method accurately and rapidly determine true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area. An RFID reader has an array of antenna elements and a plurality of RF transceivers. A controller controls the transceivers by steering a primary transmit beam over the controlled area to each tag, by steering a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle from each tag, by steering a plurality of secondary receive beams at different secondary steering angles that are offset from the primary steering angle by receiving secondary receive signals from each tag, and by processing the secondary receive signals to determine a true bearing for each tag. Bidirectional communication between the reader and a tag is conducted over a single inventory round in which the tag is read a plurality of times by the primary and the secondary receive beams.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) tag reading system for rapidly determining true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area, comprising:
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an RFID reader having an array of antenna elements and a plurality of RF transceivers; and a controller operatively connected to the transceivers, and operative for controlling the transceivers by executing a tag processing module operative for steering a primary transmit beam over the controlled area by transmitting a primary transmit signal via the antenna elements to each tag, and for steering a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle by receiving a primary receive signal via the antenna elements from each tag, the controller being further operative for controlling the transceivers by executing a bearing processing module operative for steering a plurality of secondary receive beams at different secondary steering angles that are offset from the primary steering angle by receiving a plurality of secondary receive signals via the antenna elements from each tag, and by processing the secondary receive signals to determine a true bearing for each tag, and the controller being further operative for controlling bidirectional communication between the reader and at least one of the tags over a single inventory round in which the at least one tag is read a plurality of times by the primary and the secondary receive beams. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) tag reading system for rapidly determining true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area, comprising:
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an RFID reader mounted in an overhead location in the controlled area, and having an array of antenna elements and a plurality of RF transceivers; a server operatively connected to the RFID reader; and a controller located in at least one of the RFID reader and the server and operatively connected to the transceivers, the controller being operative for controlling the transceivers by executing a tag processing module operative for steering a primary transmit beam over the controlled area by transmitting a primary transmit signal via the antenna elements to each tag, and for steering a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle by receiving a primary receive signal via the antenna elements from each tag, the controller being further operative for controlling the transceivers by executing a bearing processing module operative for steering a plurality of secondary receive beams at different secondary steering angles that are offset from the primary steering angle by receiving a plurality of secondary receive signals via the antenna elements from each tag, and by processing the secondary receive signals to determine a true bearing for each tag, and the controller being further operative for controlling bidirectional communication between the reader and at least one of the tags over a single inventory round in which the at least one tag is read a plurality of times by the primary and the secondary receive beams. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) tag reading method of rapidly determining true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area, comprising:
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mounting an RFID reader having an array of antenna elements and a plurality of RF transceivers, in the controlled area; controlling the transceivers by having a controller execute a tag processing module operative for steering a primary transmit beam over the controlled area by transmitting a primary transmit signal via the antenna elements to each tag, and for steering a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle by receiving a primary receive signal via the antenna elements from each tag; controlling the transceivers by having the controller execute a bearing processing module operative for steering a plurality of secondary receive beams at different secondary steering angles that are offset from the primary steering angle by receiving a plurality of secondary receive signals via the antenna elements from each tag, and by processing the secondary receive signals to determine a true bearing for each tag; and controlling bidirectional communication between the reader and at least one of the tags over a single inventory round in which the at least one tag is read a plurality of times by the primary and the secondary receive beams. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification