RFID device tester and method

• US 7,306,162 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2005
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, STEVEN SANGYUL
• Application Number:
  US11/136,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20050223286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/487, 235/380, 235/451, 340/572.01, 340/572.07
• US Class Current: 235/492
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

Multiple RFID devices may be tested by moving a sheet, roll, or web of the devices in conjunction with a test apparatus having multiple RFID device testers, so that the RFID devices to be tested are each spatially static with regard to one of the RFID device testers for a period of time, during which testing may be performed. The device testers may be arrayed along the circumference of a circular test wheel or roller, or may be arrayed along the perimeter of a flexible belt. The coupling between the RFID devices and the RFID device testers may be capacitive. By utilizing short-range capacitive coupling, difficulties caused by simultaneous activation of multiple RFID devices may be reduced or avoided.

Claims

1. A method of testing a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) devices, comprising:

substantially continuously moving a web of that includes the RFID devices;

at the same time, substantially continuously moving at least a portion of a test apparatus that includes plural RFID device testers such that at least some of the RFID device testers maintain static relative spatial relationships with respective of the RFID devices for respective periods of time; and

for each of the RFID devices, testing the RFID device with one of the RFID device testers while the RFID device is in a static spatial relationship with the one of the RFID device testers.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the device testers are placed along a perimeter of the test apparatus;

and

wherein the moving the at least a portion of the test apparatus includes moving the device testers relative to other portions of the test apparatus.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the test apparatus is circular, and the device testers are placed substantially evenly spaced about the circumference of the test apparatus.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the web is in contact with, and rotates with, part of the circumferential extent of the test apparatus.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the web is in contact with at least half of the circumferential extent of the test apparatus.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the web is in contact with at least two-thirds of the circumferential extent of the test apparatus.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the RFID device testers are arrayed substantially evenly about an endless belt.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the belt is in contact and moves with the web.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing includes:

capacitively coupling the RFID device tester to an antenna of the RFID device;

generating an outgoing signal from the RFID device tester;

using the outgoing signal to power the RFID device;

generating a return signal in the RFID device; and

detecting a return signal, via a reader that is part of the tester.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the web is part of roll-to-roll process that involves moving the web from a supply roll to a take-up roll.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the web occurs at a rate of at least 3 m/s.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the testing occurs during the substantially continuously moving of the web and the substantially continuously moving of the at least a portion of the test apparatus.

3. The method of claim wherein 2, wherein the moving the at least a portion of the test apparatus includes rotating at least part of the test apparatus.

14. A method of testing a radio frequency identification (RFID) device, comprising:

capacitively coupling an RFID device tester to an antenna of the RFID device;

generating an outgoing signal from the RFID device tester;

using the outgoing signal to power the RFID device;

generating a return signal in the RFID device; and

detecting a return signal, via a reader that is part of the tester;

wherein the RFID device tester includes coupling elements electrically connected to the reader;

wherein the antenna of the RFID device includes antenna elements;

wherein the capacitively coupling includes aligning the coupling elements with respective of the antenna elements;

wherein the coupling elements are part of a turning part;

wherein the RFID device is part of a roll material; and

wherein the aligning includes bringing the portion of the roll material having the RFID device into alignment with the coupling elements as the turning part turns.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the aligning is part of a roll-to-roll process.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the turning part is a roller.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the turning part is a belt.

18. A radio frequency identification (RFID) device tester comprising:

a reader;

a pair of electrically-conductive coupling elements;

a pair of transmission lines electrically connecting respective of the coupling elements to the reader; and

a resistor connected to both of the transmission lines, between the reader and the coupling elements;

wherein the coupling elements are on an outer surface of a turning part.

19. The device tester of claim 18, wherein the turning part is a roller.

20. The device tester of claim 19,

further comprising additional pairs of coupling elements on the outer surface of the roller,

wherein the additional pairs of coupling elements are also coupled to the reader.

21. The device tester of claim 20, wherein the pairs of coupling elements are substantially evenly circumferentially spaced about the outer surface of the roller.

22. The device tester of claim 18, wherein the turning part is a belt.