System, apparatus, and method for testing identification tags

• US 7,151,442 B1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Thanh H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walk, Samuel J.
• Application Number:
  US10/860,513
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 340/428, 340/572.1, 340/505, 340/515, 702/182, 295/93, 324/501, 324/514, 324/763, 324/765
• US Class Current: 340/428
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2822 of microwave or radiofrequency circuits of attenuation, gain, e.g. using network analyzers G01R27/28
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

An apparatus includes at least one tag holder capable of receiving and holding a plurality of tags. The apparatus also includes at least one antenna capable of receiving wireless signals from the plurality of tags during a test of the tags. The apparatus may further include at least one of a temperature controller capable of controlling a temperature experienced by the tags during the test and a humidity controller capable of controlling a humidity experienced by the tags during the test. The at least one tag holder may include a plurality of guides capable of receiving and holding the tags, a plurality of rods capable of supporting the guides, and a plurality of spacers capable of maintaining a distance between adjacent guides.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one tag holder capable of receiving and holding a plurality of tags, wherein each of the at least one tag holder comprises;

a plurality of guides capable of receiving and holding the tags;

a plurality of rods capable of supporting the guides; and

a plurality of spacers, wherein each spacer separates two adjacent guides supported by the rod running through that spacer and those two adjacent guides; and

at least one antenna capable of receiving wireless signals from the plurality of tags during a test of the tags.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

a temperature controller capable of controlling a temperature experienced by the tags during the test; and

a humidity controller capable of controlling a humidity experienced by the tags during the test.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the temperature controller comprises a heater; and

the humidity controller comprises a humidifier.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one antenna comprises one or more metallic materials; and

the guides, rods, and spacers comprise one or more non-metallic materials.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the guides, rods, and spacers comprise fiberglass.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the tags is encased in one or more encapsulations.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one tag holder comprises one of:

a single tag holder capable of holding seventy seven tags; and

three tag holders each capable of holding one hundred five tags.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one antenna is further capable of communicating interrogation signals to the tags, wherein the tags are capable of responding to the interrogation signals with the wireless signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tags comprise radio frequency identification tags.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one tag holder comprises a plurality of tag holders capable of being stacked on top of each other in the apparatus.

11. A system, comprising:

a test chamber comprising;

at least one tag holder capable of receiving and holding a plurality of tags, wherein each of the at least one tag holder comprises;

a plurality of guides capable of receiving and holding the tags;

a plurality of rods capable of supporting the guides; and

a plurality of spacers, wherein each spacer separates two adjacent guides supported by the rod running through that spacer and those two adjacent guides; and

at least one antenna capable of receiving wireless signals from the plurality of tags during a test of the tags; and

a tag reader capable of providing at least a portion of contents of the wireless signals received by the antenna.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a test computer capable of receiving the at least a portion of the contents of the wireless signals from the tag reader.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the test computer is further capable of identifying a length of time into the test that a particular tag fails to communicate a wireless signal.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the test chamber further comprises at least one of:

a temperature controller capable of controlling a temperature experienced by the tags during the test; and

a humidity controller capable of controlling a humidity experienced by the tags during the test.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one antenna comprises one or more metallic materials; and

the guides, rods, and spacers comprise one or more non-metallic materials.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the tag reader is further capable of generating interrogation signals for the tags; and

the at least one antenna is further capable of communicating the interrogation signals to the tags, wherein the tags are capable of responding to the interrogation signals with the wireless signals.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one tag holder comprises a plurality of tag holders capable of being stacked on top of each other in the test chamber.

18. A method, comprising:

placing a plurality of tags in a test chamber using at least one tag holder, wherein each of the at least one tag holder comprises;

a plurality of guides capable of receiving and holding the tags;

a plurality of rods capable of supporting the guides; and

a plurality of spacers, wherein each spacer separates two adjacent guides supported by the rod running through that spacer and those two adjacent guides;

subjecting the plurality of tags to at least one of an elevated temperature and an elevated humidity; and

receiving wireless signals from the plurality of tags when the tags are subjected to at least one of the elevated temperature and the elevated humidity.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising communicating interrogation signals to the tags;

and

wherein the tags are capable of responding to the interrogation signals with the wireless signals.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising identifying a length of time into a test that a particular tag fails to communicate a wireless signal.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein placing the plurality of tags in the test chamber comprises stacking a plurality of tag holders on top of each other in the test chamber, each tag holder capable of receiving and holding multiple ones of the tags.