Method and apparatus for identifying bulk goods, preferably roll-like bulk goods

• US 6,819,243 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2001
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mikko Keskilammi, Sydänheimo, Lauri
• Original Assignee: Mikko Keskilammi, Sydänheimo, Lauri
• Inventors: Keskilammi, Mikko, Sydänheimo, Lauri
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PREVIL, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US09/824,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20010038333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.2, 340/572.3, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/825.69, 340/825.71, 340/539, 340/556, 340/671, 340/672, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.4
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles

Abstract

In a method for identifying bulk goods from a radio frequency identification device on the bulk goods with a radio frequency reader antenna a radiation midpoint of the radio frequency reader antenna is moved along the radio frequency reader antenna and radiation from the radio frequency identification device is directed toward the radio frequency reader antenna.

Claims

1. In a method for identification of bulk goods, in which method a radio frequency transmitter/reader (1) is used to identify a radio frequency identification device (12, 22) arranged in the bulk goods, the improvements comprising:

moving a radiation midpoint (3) of a directed radiation beam (5) of the radio frequency transmitter/reader (1);

using said midpoint (3) for perpendicular identification of an object to be identified; and

directing radiation of radiating antenna elements (13, 23) with the radio frequency identification device (12, 22) towards the radio frequency transmitter/reader (1).

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the intelligent algorithm of the radio frequency identification device (12, 22) is used to identify the direction from which the transmission of the radio frequency transmitter/reader (1) is coming, and the intelligent algorithm is used to transmit a new transmission back in said direction.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the feed of the radio frequency transmitter/reader (1) is changed to shift the radiation midpoint (3) on the axis of an antenna of the radio frequency transmitter/reader (1).

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the direction of the radiation beam (5) is changed with respect to the axis of an antenna of the radio frequency transmitter/reader (1).

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the feed of the radio frequency transmitter/reader (1) is changed to shift the radiation midpoint (3) on the axis of an antenna of the radio frequency transmitter/reader (1), and amplifying antenna arrays or the like system is used for creating the radiation beam (5).

6. An apparatus for identification of bulk goods, the apparatus comprising a radio frequency transmitter/reader (1) and a radio frequency identification device (12, 22) arranged in the bulk goods, characterized in that a radiation midpoint (3) of a directed radiating beam (5) of the radio frequency transmitter/reader is arranged to move, that said radiation midpoint (3) is arranged to perpendicularly identify an object to be identified, and that the radio frequency identification device (12, 22) arranged in the bulk goods directs radiation of radiating antenna elements (13, 23) towards the radio frequency transmitter/reader (1).

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the distance between the radio frequency transmitter/reader (1) and the radio frequency identification device (12, 22) in the object to be identified remains as short as possible.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that at least one radiating antenna element (13, 23) is arranged in the radio frequency identification device (12, 22) in the object to be identified.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the radiating antenna elements (13, 23) of the radio frequency identification device (12, 22) in the object to be identified are arranged around the cylinder axis of the roll-like bulk goods.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the angle of the radiation beam (5) of the radio frequency transmitter/reader (1) with respect to an antenna thereof is arranged fixed or variable.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that an antenna or the antenna array of the radio frequency transmitter/reader is arranged omnidirectional, directional or amplifying.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the direction of the radiation beam (5) is changed with respect to the axis of an antenna of the radio frequency transmitter/reader (1) and the radio frequency identification device (12, 22) is arranged passive or active.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the radiating antenna element (13, 23) of the radio frequency identification device (12, 22) is arranged omnidirectional, directional or amplifying.

14. In a method for identifying bulk goods from a radio frequency identification device (12, 22) on the bulk goods with a radio frequency transmitter/reader (1), the improvements comprising:

moving a radiation midpoint (3) of the radio frequency reader antenna along the radio frequency transmitter/reader and

directing radiation with the radio frequency identification device toward the radio frequency transmitter/reader.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the bulk goods are roll-like, whereby to show an axis, the radio frequency transmitter/reader has an axis arranged generally parallel to the axis shown by the roll-like bulk goods, and the moving of the radiation midpoint is along the axis of the radio frequency transmitter/reader.