RFID device preparation system and method

• US 7,307,527 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2004
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John
• Application Number:
  US10/882,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20060000907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 235/449, 235/450
• 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 7/0095 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

An RFID device preparation system includes a printer combined with a short-range tester/reader. The tester/reader operatively couples to the RFID device using capacitive and/or magnetic coupling. By use of capacitive and/or magnetic coupling, good read characteristics may be obtained, while obtaining excellent discrimination between various RFID devices that may be in or near the tester/reader. Thus, RFID devices may be inexpensively and reliably tested one at a time, without appreciable interference or effect due to the presence of other RFID devices. The tester/reader may include electric-field and/or magnetic-field coupling elements that are configured to receive different signals, in order to test a variety of configurations of RFID devices. This may enable the device preparation system to accommodate various types and configurations of RFID devices, increasing versatility of the system.

Claims

1. An RFID device preparation system comprising:

a tester/reader for interacting with a plurality of RFID devices on a sheet or roll; and

a printer for printing on a layer of the RFID devices;

wherein the tester/reader includes one or more reactive coupling elements that interact with the RFID devices through reactive coupling;

wherein the one or more reactive coupling elements include one or more electric-field coupling elements for interacting with the RFID devices through capacitive coupling by sending transmitted signals to the RFID devices and receiving return signals from the RFID devices, to be read, with each of the coupling elements both sending the transmitted signals and receiving the return signals.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more electric-field coupling elements include one or more electrodes coupled to a signal generator for reactively interacting with the RFID devices in any of a variety of orientations relative to the tester/reader.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the one or more electrodes include multiple electrodes.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the electrodes include a pair of L-shaped electrodes.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the signal generator is configured to provide out-of-phase AC signals to the L-shape electrodes.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the electrodes include pairs of electrodes angled relative to one another.

7. The device of claim 6,

wherein the signal generator is configured to selectively provide out-of-phase signals to two of the electrodes;

and

wherein the two electrodes are selected based upon an orientation of the RFID devices relative to the electrodes.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the electrodes include at least eight electrodes.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the electrodes are substantially axisymmetrically spaced about a point.

10. The device of claim 2,

wherein the one or more electrodes include a partially-resistive electrode coupled to the signal generator at multiple drive points;

and

wherein the signal generator is configured to vary phase and amplitude of signals sent to the drive points.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the partially-resistive electrode is substantially rectangular.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the drive points are at corners of the partially-resistive electrode.

13. The device of claim 2, wherein the tester/reader also includes a magnetic-field coupling element for magnetic coupling to the RFID devices.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the magnetic-field coupling element includes a coil.

15. The device of claim 2, wherein the tester/reader further includes a high dielectric constant material in contact with the one or more electrodes.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the high dielectric constant material is configured to be at least partially between the one or more electrodes, and the RFID devices, when the RFID devices are read.

36. The device of claim 15, wherein the high dielectric constant material includes one or more of aluminum oxide and titanium dioxide.

38. The device of claim 1, wherein the tester/reader is operatively coupled to the printer such that information from the tester/reader is used to control printing on printable layers of the RFID devices.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein, for an RFID device that fails testing, the printer prints an indication that the RFID device that fails testing is not to be used.

17. An RFID device preparation system comprising:

a tester/reader for interacting with a plurality of RFID devices on a sheet or roll; and

a printer for printing on a layer of the RFID devices;

wherein the tester/reader includes one or more reactive coupling elements that interact with the RFID devices through reactive coupling;

wherein the one or more reactive coupling elements include one or more magnetic-field coupling elements for interacting with the RFID devices through magnetic coupling; and

wherein the tester/reader further includes a high permeability material in contact with the one or more electrodes.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the one or more magnetic-field coupling elements include a coil.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the high permeability material is configured to be at least partially between the one or more electrodes, and the RFID devices, when the RFID devices are read.

37. The device of claim 17, wherein the high permeability material is a ferrite.

20. A tester/reader for selectively interacting with one of a plurality of RFID devices on a sheet or roll, wherein the tester/reader comprises:

one or more electric-field coupling elements for interacting with the one of the RFID devices through capacitive coupling by sending transmitted signals to the RFID devices and receiving return signals from the RFID devices, to be read, with each of the coupling elements both sending the transmitted signals and receiving the return signals; and

a signal generator coupled to the one or more electric-field coupling elements;

wherein the one or more electric-field coupling elements are configured for capacitively interacting with the one of the RFID devices in any of a variety of orientations relative to the tester/reader while avoiding interaction with other of the RFID devices on the sheet or roll, thereby selectively limiting interaction between the tester/reader and the RFID devices on the sheet or roll.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the one or more electric-field coupling elements include one or more electrodes.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the one or more electrodes include multiple electrodes.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the electrodes include a pair of L-shaped electrodes.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the signal generator is configured to provide out-of-phase AC signals to the L-shape electrodes.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein the electrodes include pairs of electrodes angled relative to one another.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the signal generator is configured to selectively provide out-of-phase signals to two of the electrodes;

and wherein the two electrodes are selected based upon an orientation of the RFID devices relative to the electrodes.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein the electrodes include at least eight electrodes.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the electrodes are substantially axisymmetrically spaced about a point.

29. The device of claim 21,

wherein the one or more electrodes include a partially-resistive electrode coupled to the signal generator at multiple drive points;

and

wherein the signal generator is configured to vary phase and amplitude of signals sent to the drive points.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the partially-resistive electrode is substantially rectangular.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the drive points are at corners of the partially-resistive electrode.

32. The device of claim 21, wherein the tester/reader also includes a magnetic-field coupling element for magnetic coupling to the RFID devices.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the magnetic-field coupling element includes a coil.

34. The device of claim 21, wherein the tester/reader further includes a high dielectric constant material in contact with the one or more electrodes.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the high dielectric constant material is configured to be at least partially between the one or more electrodes, and the RFID devices, when the RFID devices are read.