System and method for RFID tag hole puncher

• US 7,479,881 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2006
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pickover, Clifford A., Moskowitz, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mortell; John F
• Application Number:
  US11/462,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0739 the incapacitated circuit being part of an antenna

Abstract

A system including an RFID tag reader and a hole punch apparatus to punch a hole in an RFID tag. The hole punch punches a hole in the RFID tag to affect the functioning of said RFID tag. The system may also interrogate the RFID tag before and after the hole punching to confirm the affect on the RFID tag.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an RFID tag reader;

a hole punch apparatus to punch a hole in an RFID tag;

wherein said hole punch punches a hole in said RFID tag to affect the functioning of said RFID tag; and

a point of sale terminal associated with a database which records physical characteristics associated with holes punched in RFID tags and sales of particular items.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said system is one of a handheld device, self-checkout machine, cash register, exit door, and kiosk.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an inking mechanism associated with said hole puncher, wherein ink is transferred to said RFID tag upon said punching.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said hole is at least one hole punched.