Radio frequency identification devices, remote communication devices, identification systems, communication methods, and identification methods

• US 7,532,121 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Keystone Technology Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Trosper, Scott T.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/847,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 340/571, 340/539.13, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/5.92, 340/10.3, 340/10.32, 340/10.4, 340/10.41, 340/10.42, 340/825.71
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• 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 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0222 Message structure or message content, e.g. message protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units

Abstract

The present invention provides radio frequency identification devices, remote communication devices, identification systems, communication methods, and identification methods. A radio frequency identification device according to one aspect includes a substrate; communication circuitry coupled with the substrate and configured to receive a wireless signal including an identifier, to process the identifier of the wireless signal and to output a control signal responsive to the processing of the identifier; and indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to receive the control signal and to indicate presence of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal. A communication method according to another aspect includes providing a radio frequency identification device; receiving a wireless signal including an identifier within the radio frequency identification device; processing the identifier; generating a control signal after the processing; and indicating presence of the radio frequency identification device using indication circuitry of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal.

Claims

1. A method of tracking inventory, the method comprising:

placing one or more items at a first location, the one or more items having a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag attached thereto;

providing one or more interrogators to communicate with the RFID tag;

transmitting by the one or more interrogators a request for a response from the RFID tag, the request including an identifier associated with the RFID tag;

receiving by the RFID tag the request;

communicating by the RFID tag the response via a radio frequency (RF) signal, the response including identification information of the RFID tag; and

providing by the RFID tag an indication of the first location via a human perceptible signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication includes a visual indication of the first location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the visual indication includes a light.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication includes one or more fields of the response.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating includes backscattering the response.

6. A system for locating an item in inventory, the system comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, each of the plurality of RFID tags configured to be attached to one or more items and to communicate a response via wireless radio frequency (RF) communications;

one or more interrogators being remotely located from each other, each interrogator having one or more antennas and being configured to communicate identifying information associated with a first product having a first RFID tag physically associated therewith to one or more of the plurality of RFID tags, each of the one or more interrogators being further configured to receive first RF communications from the first RFID tag, the first RF communications including information that uniquely identifies the first RFID tag among the plurality of RFID tags; and

an indicating device configured on the first RFID tag to provide an indication of a location of the first RFID tag via a human perceptible signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first RFID tag includes a microprocessor and the indicating device is communicatively coupled to the microprocessor.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the first RFID tag includes a battery.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the identifying information comprises a tag identifier of the first RFID tag.

10. A radio frequency identification(RFID) tag, comprising:

a memory to store an identification code to uniquely identify the RDIF tag among a plurality of RFID tag configured to be attached to one or more items;

a processor coupled to the memory;

a receiving and transmitting circuit couple to the processor to receive first (RF) communications from one or more interrogators and to transmit second RF communications to the one or more interrogators, the first RF communication including a tag identifier selecting at least the RFID tag, the second RF communications including the identification code; and

an indicating device couple to the processor to transmit human perceptible signals to provide an indication of a location of the RFID tag in response to the first RF communications.

11. The tag of claim 10, wherein the indicating device and the receiving and transmitting circuit are in a single housing.

12. The tag of claim 10, wherein the indicator device is configured to provide an audible signal.

13. The tag of claim 10, wherein the indicator device includes a light emitting diode (LED).

14. The tag of claim 10, wherein the indication includes flashes of light.

15. The tag of claim 10, further comprising a battery.

16. The tag of claim 10, wherein the second RF communications are in response to the first RF communications.

17. The tag of claim 16, wherein the indication of the location of the RFID tag is provided in response to the first RF communications.

18. The tag of claim 10, wherein the identification code is transmitted from the RFID tag after the processor processes the first RF communications.

19. The tag of claim 10, wherein the memory, the processor and the receiving and transmitting circuit are integrated circuit.

20. The tag of claim 10, wherein the intergrated circuit comprises a small outline integrated circuit (SOIC).