Integrated part tracking system

• US 7,554,450 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Brown, Rork S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US11/363,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/5.92, 340/505, 340/10.1, 705/28, 235/385, 235/494, 343/700.MS, 343/878, 343/907, 343/772
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10504 Data fields affixed to objects or articles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10861 sensing of data fields affixed to objects or articles, e.g. coded labels postal sorting B07C3/14, conveying articles B65G47/48
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence

Abstract

An identification system includes a fractal antenna fashioned as a 2-dimensional data matrix which defines a Unique Item Identifier which operates as a conventional active antenna element for a RFID identification system while the unique face of the antenna is utilized as a physical reference to distinguish the component. By utilizing the face of an antenna as a Unique Item Identifier, an RFID system component antenna integrates two identification systems.

Claims

1. An identifier for an identification system comprising:

a fractal antenna forming a 2-dimensional data matrix.

2. The identifier as recited in claim 1, wherein said data matrix includes a 2-dimensional data matrix which defines a Unique Item Identifier.

3. The identifier as recited in claim 1, wherein said fractal antenna is formed through a surface of a component.

4. The identifier as recited in claim 3, further comprising a waveguide cavity formed within the component adjacent said fractal antenna.

5. The identifier as recited in claim 1, further comprising a microwave element in communication with said fractal antenna.

6. The identifier as recited in claim 5, further comprising a waveguide cavity formed within a component adjacent said fractal antenna, said microwave element mounted within an electronics cavity adjacent said waveguide cavity.

7. The identifier as recited in claim 6, wherein said microwave element comprises a microwave feed element within said electronics cavity.

8. The identifier as recited in claim 6, further comprising a receiver in electrical communication with said microwave element within said electronics cavity.

9. The identifier as recited in claim 6, further comprising a transmitter in electrical communication with said microwave element within said electronics cavity.

10. The identifier as recited in claim 9, further comprising a sensor in electrical communication with a controller, said controller in electrical communication with said transmitter.

11. The identifier as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a waveguide cavity formed within a component adjacent said fractal antenna;

an electronics cavity adjacent said waveguide cavity;

a sensor mounted within said electronics cavity; and

a controller in electrical communication with said sensor.

12. The identifier as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

a transmitter in electrical communication with said controller;

a microwave feed element in electrical communication with said transmitter and said fractal antenna to communicate data from said sensor.

13. A component with an identification system comprising:

a waveguide cavity formed within the component;

a fractal antenna adjacent said waveguide cavity, said fractal antenna defining a Unique Item Identifier;

an electronics cavity forming a 2-dimensional data matrix adjacent said waveguide cavity; and

a microwave element for communication through said fractal antenna.

14. The part as recited in claim 13, wherein said fractal antenna is formed at least partially through a surface of the component.

15. A method of part identification comprising:

communicating data through a fractal antenna of a radio frequency identification system in a surface of a component, the fractal antenna forming a 2-dimensional data matrix as an identifier for an identification system; and

determining the Identifier from the communicated data.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

communicating sensor data through the fractal antenna.

17. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

forming a network of sensors with a multitude of sensors, each of the multitude of sensors mounted within a respective component of a system, each of the multitude of sensors in wireless communication with at least one other of the multitude of sensors.