HIGH DENSITY READ CHAMBERS FOR SCANNING AND ENCODING RFID TAGGED ITEMS

• US 20160117534A1
• Filed: 10/28/2014
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Inventors: Roth, Mark W.
• Granted Patent: US 11,714,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10089 the interrogation device using at least one directional antenna or directional interrogation field to resolve the collision direction or location finding, such as triangulation techniques, G01S13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794
• 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: G06K 7/10415 the interrogation device being fixed in its position, such as an access control device for reading wireless access cards, or a wireless ATM banking machines in general G07F19/00

Abstract

High density read chambers are provided for scanning and/or encoding a plurality of RFID tagged items. Such chambers may include an enclosure with an interior defined by upper and lower surfaces, with a sidewall extending therebetween. An access (such as a door) may be associated with at least one of the surfaces or the sidewall, with the access being at least partially opened to access the interior of the enclosure from an outside location. The chamber further includes an antenna positioned within the interior of the enclosure and an RFID reader associated with the antenna. The RFID reader receives signals from and/or transmits signals to the antenna, while the antenna emits a scanning or encoding signal within the interior of the enclosure, with at least a portion of at least one of the surfaces or the sidewall including a signal-reflective material facing the interior of the enclosure.

Claims

1. A high density read chamber for scanning a plurality of RFID tagged items, comprising:

an enclosure including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a sidewall extending between the upper and lower surfaces to define an interior of the enclosure;

an access associated with at least one of the upper surface, the lower surface, and the sidewall and configured to be at least partially opened to access the interior of the enclosure from an outside location;

an antenna positioned within the interior of the enclosure; and

an RFID reader configured to receive signals from and/or transmit signals to the antenna, wherein the antenna is configured to emit a scanning signal within the interior of the enclosure and at least a portion of at least one of the upper surface, the lower surface, and the sidewall includes a signal-reflective material facing the interior of the enclosure.

2. The high density read chamber of claim 1, wherein the antenna is associated with the upper surface of the enclosure.

3. The high density read chamber of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a dipole-type antenna.

4. The high density read chamber of claim 1, further comprising a second antenna positioned within the interior of the enclosure.

5. The high density read chamber of claim 4, wherein the antennae are associated with the upper surface of the enclosure, are dipole-type antennae, and are oriented in a crossed configuration.

6. The high density read chamber of claim 1, further comprising a user interface associated with the RFID reader.

7. The high density read chamber of claim 6, wherein the user interface comprises a touchscreen.

8. The high density read chamber of claim 6, further comprising a barcode reader associated with the user interface.

9. The high density read chamber of claim 1, wherein the upper surface, the lower surface, and the sidewall are formed of a signal-reflective material.

10. The high density read chamber of claim 1, wherein the upper surface, the lower surface, and the sidewall are formed of stainless steel.

11. A high density read chamber for encoding a plurality of RFID tagged items, comprising:

an enclosure including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a sidewall extending between the upper and lower surfaces to define an interior of the enclosure;

an access associated with at least one of the upper surface, the lower surface, and the sidewall and configured to be at least partially opened to access the interior of the enclosure from an outside location;

an antenna positioned within the interior of the enclosure; and

an RFID reader configured to receive signals from and/or transmit signals to the antenna, wherein the antenna is configured to emit an encoding signal within the interior of the enclosure and at least a portion of at least one of the upper surface, the lower surface, and the sidewall includes a signal-reflective material facing the interior of the enclosure.

12. The high density read chamber of claim 11, wherein the antenna is associated with the upper surface of the enclosure.

13. The high density read chamber of claim 11, wherein the antenna is a dipole-type antenna.

14. The high density read chamber of claim 11, further comprising a second antenna positioned within the interior of the enclosure.

15. The high density read chamber of claim 14, wherein the antennae are associated with the upper surface of the enclosure, are dipole-type antennae, and are oriented in a crossed configuration.

16. The high density read chamber of claim 11, further comprising a user interface associated with the RFID reader.

17. The high density read chamber of claim 16, wherein the user interface comprises a touchscreen.

18. The high density read chamber of claim 16, further comprising a barcode reader associated with the user interface.

19. The high density read chamber of claim 11, wherein the upper surface, the lower surface, and the sidewall are formed of a signal-reflective material.

20. The high density read chamber of claim 11, wherein the upper surface, the lower surface, and the sidewall are formed of stainless steel.