Handheld and cartridge-fed applicator for commissioning wireless sensors

• US 7,551,087 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2006
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ADASA Inc.
• Original Assignee: ADASA Inc.
• Inventors: McAllister, Clarke
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SIGMUND N
• Application Number:
  US11/550,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20070125836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1051- 1052, 3405721-5724, 23546201-46249, 235/385, 400/76
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/0003 Use of RFID labels
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/18 by transferring data from one type of record carrier on to another type of record carrier, e.g. from magnetic tape to punched card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07716 the record carrier comprising means for customization, e.g. being arranged for personalization in batch

Abstract

An integrated, hand-held device combining optical bar-code reading means with RFID-transponder commissioning means includes an on-board processing means, such as a portable-data-terminal that releasably couples to the device and wireless communicates with a host or network computer and seamlessly integrates data communication to and from the optical reader means and the commissioning means. A rechargeable battery pack provides power to each component and a single trigger mechanism enables multi-modal operation based on sensed conditions. Blank or pre-encoded RFID-transponders are supplied by a replaceable cartridge.

Claims

1. A device for commissioning radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders, the device comprising:

an optical reader means for reading bar-code labels;

a processing means adapted to communicate with the optical reader means;

an RFID-transponder commissioning means adapted to communicate with the processing means;

a cartridge assembly adapted to selectively dispense a plurality of RFID transponders in response to at least one input, and the cartridge releasably coupled to the RFID-transponder commissioning means;

a power-supply means in communication with the processing means, the power-supply means further adapted to provide power to the processor means, the optical reader means, the RFID-transponder commissioning means and the cartridge assembly;

a trigger mechanism adapted to provide input to the processing means the trigger mechanism being in communication with a sensor means adapted to determine the distance the device resides from an object to be tagged, the sensor means further including operable states of Close Proximity, Near, and Far and further including means for preventing sequentially encoding and dispensing of an encoded tag if the operable state is Near or Far; and

an output-display means for outputting data and adapted to communicate with the processing means.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising wireless data-exchange means adapted to enable wireless data transfers to and from each the optical reader means, the processing means and the RFID-transponder commissioning means.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the power-supply means further comprises a replaceable and rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a keypad input means arranged on the chassis and in communication with the processing means.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the output-display means further comprises a liquid-crystal-display panel.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the processing-means further comprises a portable-data-terminal, the portable-data-terminal comprising

a means for inputting data and

a means for outputting data and

the portable-data-terminal being adapted to releasably couple and obtain power from the power-supply means;

the optical reader means further adapted to provide data representing the information from the bar-code label to the portable-data-terminal;

the portable-data-terminal further comprising micro-controller means to transform the data representing the information from the bar-code label from a first state to a second state.

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising means for communicating the second state to the RFID-transponder commissioning means, the RFID-transponder commissioning means further adapted to encode the second-state onto the RFID transponder provided by the cartridge.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein the means for outputting data comprises a wireless data-sending transmitter.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the RFID-transponder commissioning means further comprises an encoder means for modulating transmitted radio power and adapted to recognize recently commissioned RFID transponders and filter out responses.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the trigger mechanism couples with an electrical switch having one or move stable positions, the one or more stable position being detected by the processing means.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the RFID-transponder commissioning means further comprises an electro-mechanical mechanism including a paddle that wipes across the RFID transponder to enable transfer of a commissioned RFID transponder from the device.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the RFID-transponder commissioning means further comprises an electro-mechanical mechanism including a thumper mechanism that exerts linear force on the RFID transponder to enable transfer of a commissioned RFID transponder from the device.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor means in communication with the processing means, the sensor means being adapted to sense at least one condition.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising a tensile-extraction means adapted to enable commissioned RFID-transponders to be discharged from the device using tensile extraction.

15. A device comprising:

means for protecting RFID transponders within a replaceable enclosure;

means for sequentially encoding and reading each RFID transponder;

a sensor means adapted to determine the distance the device resides from an object to be tagged, the sensor means further including operable states of Close Proximity, Near, and Far and further including means for preventing sequentially encoding and dispensing of an encoded tag if the operable state is Near or Far;

means for dispensing an RFID transponder along a vector that is normal to the face of an object;

means for communicating to a wireless network; and

a color or pattern sensing means.

16. The device of claim 15 further comprising a trigger means for enabling functioning dependent upon a detected range from an object.

17. The device of claim 15 further comprising a trigger means for selectively enabling execution of any one of a plurality of functions.

18. A method of dispensing RFID transponders mounted to release liner webbing, the method comprising:

providing a first data set;

providing an RFID transponder;

providing a reusable cartridge to contain at least one of the RFID transponders;

providing a means to sequentially encode the first data set and interrogate RFID transponders within the cartridge; and

providing a device for transfer of sequentially encoded transponders from the cartridge onto a selected surface of an object along a vector that is normal to the selected surface, the device further comprising

a color or pattern sensing means,

a trigger mechanism being in communication with a sensor means, the sensor means being adapted to determine the distance the device resides from an object to be tagged, the sensor means further including operable states of Close Proximity, Near, and Far and further including means for preventing sequentially encoding and dispensing of an encoded tag if the operable state is Near or Far.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a processing means to store the first data set and wirelessly transmit the data set to a downstream processor.