RFID tag reader with tag location indicated by visible light beam
First Claim
1. An RFID tag reader, comprising:
- a) a visible light beam scanner;
b) a controller for electronically determining or receiving electronic data indicating a location of an RFID tag, wherein the controller is operable for controlling the visible light beam scanner to direct a light beam toward an electronically determined location of the RFID tag.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided are radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag readers having visible light beams to visually indicate the location of an RFID tag. In one embodiment, the RFID reader can electronically determine the location of an RFID tag. The RFID reader has a visible laser scanner that is controlled to target the RFID tag, based on the electronic location data. Hence, the user will see a laser beam point toward the RFID tag location. In another embodiment, the RFID tag reader has a directional RF interrogating beam, and a visible light beam that overlaps with the RF interrogating beam. The visible light beam indicates the volume of space where the RFID tag reader can detect RFID tags. The size of the visible light beam can be adjusted to be bigger for more sensitive tags (e.g. active tags) or smaller for less sensitive tags. (e.g. passive tags), or adjusted for RF output power.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An RFID tag reader, comprising:
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a) a visible light beam scanner; b) a controller for electronically determining or receiving electronic data indicating a location of an RFID tag, wherein the controller is operable for controlling the visible light beam scanner to direct a light beam toward an electronically determined location of the RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for visually indicating a location of an RFID tag, comprising the steps of:
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a) electronically determining a location of the RFID tag; b) controlling a visible light beam scanner to direct a visible light beam toward the electronically determined location of the RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. An RFID tag reader, comprising:
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a) a transmitting antenna for emitting a directional interrogating RF beam for interrogating an RFID tag; b) a visible light beam source, wherein the visible light beam source produces a visible light beam that substantially overlaps the directional interrogating RF beam. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification