Methods and systems for in-line RFID transponder testing

• US 7,375,633 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rock-Tenn Shared Services, LLC (WestRock Company)
• Original Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises Incorporated (Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation)
• Inventors: Shanton, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI T
• Application Number:
  US11/184,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20070018831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 235/437, 235/492, 324/667, 324/775, 324/765
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 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

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for testing the health of each of a plurality of RFID transponders is provided. The apparatus includes an antenna support assembly including an antenna support body and an antenna coupled to a surface of the antenna support body, the antenna including at least a receiver portion and a connection portion. The apparatus also includes a holder coupled to the antenna support body configured to retain the antenna support proximate a path of a plurality of transponders.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing the health of each of a plurality of RFID transponders, said apparatus comprising:

an antenna support assembly comprising an antenna support body and an antenna coupled to a surface of the antenna support body, said antenna comprising at least a receiver portion and a connection portion;

a holder coupled to said antenna support body configured to retain said antenna support body in a selectable position proximate a path of a plurality of RFID transponders coupled to a web; and

an RFID reader comprising;

a reader antenna configured to transmit and receive RF energy;

a transmit/receive unit communicatively coupled to said reader antenna, said transmit/receive unit configured to transmit a test signal to a transponder being tested, said transmit/receive unit configured to receive a response to the test signal from the transponder being tested.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said antenna comprises at least one of a conductive ink and a metallic foil.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said surface of said antenna support body is substantially planar.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said surface of said antenna support body is substantially convex.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said antenna support assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical body, said surface of said antenna support body comprising at least one antenna oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the antenna support body.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said antenna support assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical body, said surface of said antenna support body comprising a plurality of antennae oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the antenna support body and spaced circumferentially a distance about said surface of said antenna support body.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said antenna support assembly comprises a web comprising a plurality of antennae oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the antenna support and spaced circumferentially a distance about the web surface.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a pressure applicator spaced a gap distance apart from said antenna support body and oriented orthogonally with respect to said connection portion.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said pressure applicator comprises a substantially cylindrical roller configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the roller and apply a pressure force in a direction towards said antenna support.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein said pressure applicator comprises a substantially planar pad configured to apply a pressure force in a direction towards said antenna support.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said connection portion is configured to couple to a connection member of a transponder being tested.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said connection portion is configured to couple capacitively to a connection member of a transponder being tested.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transmit/receive unit is configured to receive an index signal indicative of said antenna being coupled to the transponder being tested, said transmit/receive unit is configured to transmit a signal indicative of the health of the transponder being tested.

14. A packaging handling system for at least one of manufacturing and assembling radio frequency identification enabled packaging material comprising:

a supply of packaging material;

a supply of RFID straps adhesively coupled to a web, said RFID straps configured to be removed from said web and adhesively coupled to said supply of packaging material; and

a testing apparatus comprising;

an antenna support assembly comprising an antenna support body and an antenna coupled to a surface of the antenna support body, said antenna comprising at least a receiver portion and a connection portion;

a holder coupled to said antenna support body configured to retain said antenna support body in a selectable position proximate a path of a plurality of RFID transponders coupled to a web; and

an RFID reader comprising;

a reader antenna configured to transmit and receive RF energy; and

a transmit/receive unit communicatively coupled to said reader antenna, said transmit/receive unit configured to transmit a test signal to a transponder being tested, said transmit/receive unit configured to receive a response to the test signal from the transponder being tested.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said antenna comprises at least one of a conductive ink and a metallic foil.

16. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said surface of said antenna support body is substantially planar.

17. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said surface of said antenna support body is substantially convex.

18. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said antenna support assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical body, said surface of said antenna support body comprising at least one antenna oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the antenna support.

19. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said antenna support assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical body, said surface of said antenna support body comprising a plurality of antennae oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the antenna support body and spaced circumferentially a distance about said surface of said antenna support body.

20. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said antenna support assembly comprises a web comprising a plurality of antennae oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the antenna support assembly and spaced circumferentially a distance about the web surface.

21. A system in accordance with claim 14 further comprising a pressure applicator spaced a gap distance apart from said antenna support body and oriented orthogonally with respect to said connection portion.

22. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said pressure applicator comprises a substantially cylindrical roller configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the roller and apply a pressure force in a direction towards said antenna support body.

23. A system in accordance with claim 21 wherein said pressure applicator comprises a substantially planar pad configured to apply a pressure force in a direction towards said antenna support body.

24. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said connection portion is configured to couple to a connection member of a transponder being tested.

25. A system in accordance with claim 24 wherein said connection portion is configured to couple capacitively to a connection member of a transponder being tested.

26. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said transmit/receive unit is configured to receive an index signal indicative of said antenna being coupled to the transponder being tested, said transmit/receive unit is configured to transmit a signal indicative of the health of the transponder being tested.

27. A method of testing an RFID enabled component, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of RFID enabled components;

temporarily coupling an antenna in electrical contact to at least one of the plurality of RFID enabled components while the plurality of RFID enabled components are moving continuously past the antenna during the testing; and

determining a health of the at least one of the plurality of RFID enabled components using the temporarily coupled antenna.

28. A method in accordance with claim 27 further comprising indicating which of the plurality of RFID enabled components are non-functional using the determined health wherein non-functional represents that the RFID-enabled component at least one of does not respond to a test signal and responds incorrectly to the test signal relative to a predetermined expected response.

29. A method in accordance with claim 27 wherein determining the health of the RFID enabled component comprises transmitting an RF signal to the component through the temporary antenna.

30. A method in accordance with claim 27 wherein determining the health of the RFID enabled component comprises receiving an RF signal from the component through the temporary antenna that indicates a health of the component.

31. A method in accordance with claim 27 wherein providing a plurality of RFID enabled components comprises providing a plurality of straps adhesively coupled to a web.