RFID passive repeater system and apparatus

• US 6,563,425 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2001
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Datalogic IP Tech S.r.l. (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Escort Memory Systems (Datalogic S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Jesser, Edward A., Jones, Norman E., Nicholson, Mark R
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/925,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20020021208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.4, 340/545.2, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 343/818, 343/833, 343/834
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07756 the connection being non-galvanic, e.g. capacitive
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• 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

Abstract

A RFID passive repeater system and apparatus comprising a RFID reader having a magnetic flux field, at least one RFID tag and at least one passive repeater member having at least one substantially continuous passive loop, the passive repeater member being adapted and positionable with respect to the RFID reader and the RFID tag to extend the redirect and/or extend the range of the magnetic flux field.

Claims

1. A passive repeater system, comprising:

a RFID reader having a magnetic flux field;

at least one RFID tag, said RFID tag having a first operating frequency; and

at least one passive repeater member having at least one substantially continuous passive loop, said passive loop being adapted and positionable with respect to said RFID reader and said RFID tag to couple said RFID reader and said RFID tag,

said passive repeater member being adapted and positionable with respect to said RFID reader and said RFID tag to redirect said magnetic flux field.

2. The passive repeater system of claim 1, wherein said passive repeater member extends the range of said magnetic flux field.

3. The passive repeater system of claim 1, wherein said passive loop is adapted to magnetically couple said RFID reader and said RFID tag.

4. The passive repeater system of claim 1, wherein said passive loop has an inductance and a capacitance that is substantially equal to said first operating frequency.

5. A passive repeater system for a product container, said product container having at least one article disposed therein, comprising:

a RFID reader having a magnetic flux field;

at least one RFID tag, said RFID tag being attached to said article; and

at least one passive repeater member, said passive repeater member being disposed on said product container, said passive repeater member including at least one substantially continuous passive loop, said passive loop being adapted and positionable with respect to said RFID reader and said RFID tag to couple said RFID reader and said RFID tag,

said passive repeater member being adapted and positionable with respect to said RFID reader and said RFID tag to redirect said magnetic flux field.

6. The passive repeater system of claim 5, wherein said passive repeater member is substantially embedded in said product container.

7. The passive repeater system of claim 5, wherein said passive repeater member extends the range of said magnetic flux field.

8. The passive repeater system of claim 5, wherein said passive loop defines a loop region area.

9. The passive repeater system of claim 8, wherein said loop region area is in the range of 1.0 sq. in. to 400 sq. ft.

10. A passive repeater system for a plurality of product containers, said product containers being disposed on transport means, comprising:

a RFID reader having a magnetic flux field;

at least one RFID tag, said RFID tag being disposed on at least a respective one of said product containers; and

at least one passive repeater member, said passive repeater member being disposed proximate said plurality of product containers, said passive repeater member including at least one substantially continuous passive loop, said passive loop being adapted and, positionable with respect to said RFID reader and said RFID tag to couple said RFID reader and said RFID tag, said passive repeater member being adapted and positionable with respect to said RFID reader and said RFID tag to redirect said magnetic flux field.

11. The passive repeater system of claim 10, wherein said passive repeater member is disposed within said plurality of product containers.

12. The passive repeater system of claim 10, wherein said passive repeater member is disposed between said plurality of product containers and said transport means.

13. The passive repeater system of claim 10, wherein said passive repeater member is embedded in said transport means.

14. The passive repeater system of claim 10, wherein said passive repeater member extends the range of said magnetic flux field.

15. The passive repeater system of claim 10, wherein said passive repeater member is disposed immediately adjacent to said plurality of product containers.

16. The passive repeater system of claim 10, wherein said passive loop defines a loop region area.

17. The passive repeater system of claim 16, wherein said loop region area is in the range of 1.0 sq. in. to 400 sq ft.

18. A passive repeater system for a product carrier having a floor portion and at least two side walls, said product carrier having an interior section, said product carrier including at least one item disposed in said product carrier interior section, comprising:

a RFID reader having a magnetic flux field;

at least one RFID tag, said RFID tag being disposed on said item; and

at least a first passive repeater member, said first passive repeater member being disposed in said product carrier interior section, said first passive repeater member including at least a first substantially continuous passive loop, said first passive loop being adapted and positionable with respect to said RFID reader and said RFID tag to couple said RFID reader and said RFID tag, said first, passive repeater member being adapted and positionable with respect to said RFID reader and said RFID tag to redirect said magnetic flux field.

19. The passive repeater system of claim 18, wherein said passive repeater system includes second and third passive repeater members, said second passive repeater member including a second passive loop, said third passive repeater member including a third passive loop, said second and third passive loops being adapted and positionable with respect to said first passive loop, said RFID reader and said RFID tag to couple said RFID reader and said a RFID tag.

20. The passive repeater system of claim 19, wherein said second passive repeater member is disposed in said product carrier interior section proximate one of said product carrier walls and said third passive repeater member is disposed in said product carrier interior section proximate a different one of said product carrier walls.

21. The passive repeater system of claim 19, wherein said second passive repeater member is disposed in said product carrier interior section proximate one of said product carrier walls and said third passive repeater member is disposed in said product carrier interior section proximate said floor portion.

22. The passive repeater system of claim 19, wherein said passive repeater system includes a fourth passive loop being adapted and positioned with respect to said first, second and third passive loops and said RFID reader and RFID tag to couple said RFID reader and said RFID tag.

23. The passive repeater system of claim 22, wherein said fourth passive loop is disposed on a selected one of said product carrier walls.

24. The passive repeater system of claim 22, wherein said fourth passive loop is substantially embedded in a selected one of said product cater walls.

25. The passive repeater system of claim 19, wherein said second and third passive repeater members redirect said magnetic flux field.

26. The passive repeater system of claim 19, wherein said second and third passive repeater members extend the range of said magnetic flux field.

27. The passive repeater system of claim 18, wherein said first passive repeater member extends the range of said magnetic flux field.

28. The passive repeater system of claim 18, wherein said item comprises a product container.

29. The passive repeater system of claim 18, wherein said item comprises a product.

30. The passive repeater system of claim 18, wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth passive loops define a loop region area.

31. The passive repeater system of claim 30, wherein said loop region area is in the range of 1.0 sq. in. to 400 sq ft.

32. A passive repeater system, comprising:

a RFID reader having a magnetic flux field;

at least one RFID tag; and

at least one passive repeater member having at least one substantially continuous passive loop, said passive loop being adapted and positionable with respect to said RFID reader and said RFID tag to couple said RFID reader and said RFID tag,

said passive repeater member being adapted and positionable with respect to said RFID reader and said RFID tag to extend the range of said magnetic flux field.

33. A passive repeater system, comprising:

at least one product container, said product container having at least a first article disposed therein;

a RFID reader having a magnetic flux field;

at least one RFID tag, said RFID tag being removably attached to said first article, said RFID tag being adapted to be removed from said first article and re-attached to at least a second article; and

at least one passive repeater member, said passive repeater member being attached to said product container, said passive repeater member including a substantially continuous passive loop adapted and positionable with respect to said RFID reader and said RFID tag to couple said RFID reader and said RFID tag, said passive repeater member being adapted and positionable with respect to said RFID reader and said RFID tag to redirect said magnetic flux field.

34. The passive repeater system of claim 33, wherein said passive repeater member extends the range of said magnetic flux field.

35. The passive repeater system of claim 33, wherein said RFID tag is removably attached to said product container.

36. The passive repeater system of claim 33, wherein said passive repeater member is embedded in said product container.

37. The passive repeater system of claim 33, wherein said passive repeater member is disposed proximate said product container.