Singulation of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for testing and/or programming

• US 7,187,293 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Hockey, Theodore, White, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI T
• Application Number:
  US11/205,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20060038687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.8, 340/572.4, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 343/841, 343/842, 235/435, 235/439
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2822 of microwave or radiofrequency circuits of attenuation, gain, e.g. using network analyzers G01R27/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls
• 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 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 7/0095 Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10465 the interrogation device being capable of self-diagnosis, e.g. in addition to or as part of the actual interrogation process testing of electrical circuits in general G01R31/28

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag tester/programmer and marker are described. A surface is in contact with a web of RFID tags. The surface has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the surface is grounded to ground tags of the web that are in contact with the first portion. A radio frequency (RF) source transmits a RF signal to interact with a tag adjacent to the second portion of the surface. The RF signal may be a signal for testing the tag and/or a signal for programming the tag.

Claims

1. A system for interacting with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:

a surface in contact with a plurality of RFID tags, wherein the surface has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the surface is grounded to ground tags of the plurality of tags that are in contact with the first portion; and

a radio frequency (RF) source that transmits a RF signal to interact with a tag adjacent to the second portion of the surface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the surface is a metal shield.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the surface is an opening through the surface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the surface includes an electrically nonconductive material.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a marking device for marking failed tags of the plurality of tags.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tags are in roll format.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tags are in web format.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a reel for receiving the web; and

a stepper motor coupled to the reel.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a computer coupled to the RF source and the stepper motor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the RF signal is a test signal.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the RF signal is a programming signal.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the RF source transmits the RF signal through the second portion to the tag.

13. A method for interacting with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

(a) contacting a plurality of RFID tags to a surface having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the surface is grounded, wherein tags of the plurality of RFID tags are in contact with the first portion except for a tag adjacent to the second portion; and

(b) transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal to the tag adjacent to the second portion.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

testing the tag with the RF signal.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

programming the tag with the RF signal.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the second portion is an opening through the surface, wherein step (a) comprises:

positioning the tag adjacent to the opening.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein step (b) comprises:

transmitting the RF signal through the opening to the tag.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

(c) receiving the plurality of tags in a roll format.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

(c) receiving the plurality of tags in a web format.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

(d) moving the web of RFID tags to position a second tag adjacent to the second portion; and

(e) transmitting a second RF signal to the second tag.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the second portion of the surface comprises a non-electrically conductive material, wherein step (a) comprises:

positioning the tag adjacent to the non-electrically conductive material.

22. A method for testing and/or programming a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

(a) grounding a portion of a web of RFID tags;

(b) ungrounding a portion of the grounded portion; and

(c) exposing the ungrounded portion to a radio frequency (RF) field.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein step (a) comprises the step of:

grounding the web with a metal contact.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein step (b) comprises the step of:

(1) moving a first portion of the grounded portion of the web across an opening in the metal contact to remove contact to ground for the first portion.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

(d) varying an area of the opening.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein step (b) further comprises the step of:

(2) moving a first portion of the grounded portion of the web across an electrically nonconductive portion of the metal contact to remove contact to ground for the first portion.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein step (b) comprises:

ungrounding a RFID tag.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein step (c) comprises:

exposing the RFID tag to the RE field.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the RF field comprises a test signal, further comprising:

(d) marking the RFID tag in the web if the RFID tag fails a test of the test signal.

30. A method for interacting with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

(a) unreeling a spool of RFID tags across a shield having an opening, wherein a portion of the spool of RFID tags is in contact with the shield to provide a grounded portion of the RFID tags;

(b) ungrounding a portion of the grounded portion of the RFID tags by decoupling contact with the shield using the opening; and

(c) exposing the ungrounded portion of the RFID tags to a radio frequency (RF) signal through the opening.

31. A system for interacting with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:

grounding means having a surface in contact with a plurality of RFID tags, wherein the surface has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion of the surface is grounded to ground tags of the plurality of tags that are in contact with the first portion; and

radio frequency (RF) generating means that generates a RF signal to interact with a tag adjacent to the second portion of the surface.

32. A system for interacting with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

spool means for supplying a spool of RFID tags across a shield having an opening, wherein a portion of the spool of RFID tags is in contact with the shield to provide a grounded portion of the RFID tags, wherein a portion of the RFID tags adjacent to the opening are ungrounded; and

means for exposing the ungrounded portion of the RFID tags to a radio frequency (RF) signal through the opening.