System and method for validating radio frequency identification tags

• US 7,561,022 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: George Schmitt & Co.Inc.
• Original Assignee: George Schmitt & Co.Inc.
• Inventors: Bosco, Edward Michael, Gunther, William G., Golicz, Stefan G., Golicz, Roman
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Toan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunnings; Travis R
• Application Number:
  US10/947,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20050150102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/10.1, 340/10.5, 340/10.51
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• 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 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• 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: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

A system for validating each of a plurality of radio frequency identification tags disposed on a web in close proximity to one another to ensure proper functioning thereof includes a narrow angle radio frequency identification tag reading station which reads a designation of each radio frequency identification tag individually in order to generate a first list of tag designations read thereby and a wide angle radio frequency identification tag reading station which reads designations of a plurality of radio frequency identification tags simultaneously from a long range in order to generate a second list of tag designations read thereby. The system also includes a processor which compares the first list of tag designations with the second list of tag designations and evaluates the functionality of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags based at least in part upon the comparison.

Claims

1. A system for validating each of a plurality of radio frequency identification tags disposed on a web in close proximity to one another to ensure proper functioning thereof, said system comprising:

a narrow angle radio frequency identification tag reading station which reads a designation of each radio frequency identification tag individually in order to generate a first list of tag designations read thereby;

a wide angle radio frequency identification tag reading station which reads designations of a plurality of radio frequency identification tags simultaneously from a long range in order to generate a second list of tag designations read thereby; and

a processor which compares the first list of tag designations with the second list of tag designations and evaluates the functionality of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags based at least in part upon the comparison.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said narrow angle radio frequency identification tag reading station comprises a shielding structure of conductive material which is built as a waveguide to structure and contain illumination of radio frequency energy so only a single tag is energized and actuated at a time.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said narrow angle radio frequency identification tag reading station further comprises a transmitting antenna for introducing radio frequency energy into the waveguide.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the transmitting antenna comprises a quarter wavelength long, unity gain, stub antenna.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein a length of the transmitting antenna is calculated to be resonant to an average frequency of a range used.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the transmitting antenna comprises a thick stub antenna so as to spread out the selectivity of the antenna to accommodate the range of frequencies and wavelengths used.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the transmitting antenna has a thickness of about ⅛

inch.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein a length of the transmitting antenna is calculated to be resonant to an average frequency of a range used less about 5%.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein the transmitting antenna is disposed parallel to a dipole antenna of the radio frequency identification tags.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein said narrow angle radio frequency identification tag reading station further comprises a receiving antenna which receives signals transmitted by the transmitting antenna.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the receiving antenna further absorbs unused radio frequency illumination, thereby suppressing reflections back up the waveguide.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the receiving antenna comprises a quarter wavelength long, unity gain, stub antenna.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein a length of the receiving antenna is calculated to be resonant to an average frequency of a range used.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the receiving antenna comprises a thick stub antenna so as to spread out the selectivity of the antenna to accommodate the range of frequencies and wavelengths used.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the receiving antenna has a thickness of about ⅛

inch.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein a length of the receiving antenna is calculated to be resonant to an average frequency of a range used less about 5%.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the receiving antenna is disposed parallel to a dipole antenna of the radio frequency identification tags.

18. The system of claim 2 wherein said narrow angle radio frequency identification tag reading station further comprises electrically conductive tunnels provided at an entrance and an exit for the web of radio frequency identification tags, which tunnels act to suppress and absorb any radio frequency energy that leaks into or is reflected into the tunnels.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the tunnels are slideable toward and away from each other into the waveguide in order to vary dimensions of an opening therebetween masking off adjacent radio frequency identification tags on the web so as to accommodate tags having various spacings on the web.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising an electrically conducting slide having a slot introduced into the waveguide, the slot being transparent to the radio waves and transversally overlaying the web of radio frequency identification tags.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein said narrow angle radio frequency identification tag reading station comprises an optical machine vision reading station and wherein each tag has associated therewith a machine vision readable indication of that tag'"'"'s designation.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the machine vision readable indication is printed on a backing or carrier layer on which each tag is carried.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the wide angle radio frequency identification tag reading station reads tags from a distance at least as far as the tags are to be used in practice.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the wide angle radio frequency identification tag reading station reads tags from a distance of at least 24 inches.

25. A system for validating each of a plurality of radio frequency identification tags disposed on a web in close proximity to one another to ensure proper functioning thereof, said system comprising:

a narrow angle radio frequency identification tag reading station which reads a designation of each radio frequency identification tag individually in order to generate a first list of tag designations read thereby, said radio frequency identification tag reading station comprising;

a shielding structure of conductive material which is built as a waveguide to structure and contain illumination of radio frequency energy so only a single tag is energized and actuated at a time;

a transmitting antenna disposed parallel to a dipole antenna of the radio frequency identification tags for introducing radio frequency energy into the waveguide;

a receiving antenna which receives signals transmitted by the transmitting antenna; and

electrically conductive tunnels provided at an entrance and an exit for the web of radio frequency identification tags, which tunnels act to suppress and absorb any radio frequency energy that leaks into or is reflected into the tunnels;

a wide angle radio frequency identification tag reading station which reads designations of a plurality of radio frequency identification tags simultaneously from a long range in order to generate a second list of tag designations read thereby; and

a processor which compares the first list of tag designations with the second list of tag designations and evaluates the functionality of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags based at least in part upon the comparison.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the receiving antenna further absorbs unused radio frequency illumination, thereby suppressing reflections back up the waveguide.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the transmitting antenna comprises a quarter wavelength long, unity gain, stub antenna.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein a length of the transmitting antenna is calculated to be resonant to an average frequency of a range used.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the transmitting antenna comprises a thick stub antenna so as to spread out the selectivity of the antenna to accommodate the range of frequencies and wavelengths used.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the transmitting antenna has a thickness of about ⅛

inch.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein a length of the transmitting antenna is calculated to be resonant to an average frequency of a range used less about 5%.

32. The system of claim 25 wherein the receiving antenna comprises a quarter wavelength long, unity gain, stub antenna.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein a length of the receiving antenna is calculated to be resonant to an average frequency of a range used.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein the receiving antenna comprises a thick stub antenna so as to spread out the selectivity of the antenna to accommodate the range of frequencies and wavelengths used.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the receiving antenna has a thickness of about ⅛

inch.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein a length of the receiving antenna is calculated to be resonant to an average frequency of a range used less about 5%.

37. The system of claim 32 wherein the receiving antenna is disposed parallel to a dipole antenna of the radio frequency identification tags.

38. The system of claim 25 wherein the tunnels are slideable toward and away from each other into the waveguide in order to vary dimensions of an opening therebetween masking off adjacent radio frequency identification tags on the web so as to accommodate tags having various spacings on the web.

39. The system of claim 25 further comprising an electrically conducting slide having a slot introduced into the waveguide, the slot being transparent to the radio waves and transversally overlaying the web of radio frequency identification tags.

40. The system of claim 25 wherein the wide angle radio frequency identification tag reading station reads tags from a distance at least as far as the tags are to be used in practice.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the wide angle radio frequency identification tag reading station reads tags from a distance of at least 24 inches.

42. A system for validating each of a plurality of radio frequency identification tags disposed on a web in close proximity to one another to ensure proper functioning thereof, said system comprising:

a narrow angle radio frequency identification tag reading station which reads a designation of each radio frequency identification tag individually in order to generate a first list of tag designations read thereby, said radio frequency identification tag reading station comprising an optical machine vision reading station and wherein each tag has associated therewith a machine vision readable indication of that tag'"'"'s designation;

a wide angle radio frequency identification tag reading station which reads designations of a plurality of radio frequency identification tags simultaneously from a long range in order to generate a second list of tag designations read thereby; and

a processor which compares the first list of tag designations with the second list of tag designations and evaluates the functionality of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags based at least in part upon the comparison.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the machine vision readable indication is printed on a backing or carrier layer on which each tag is carried.

44. The system of claim 42 wherein the wide angle radio frequency identification tag reading station reads tags from a distance at least as far as the tags are to be used in practice.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein the wide angle radio frequency identification tag reading station reads tags from a distance of at least 24 inches.

46. A method for validating each of a plurality of radio frequency identification tags disposed on a web in close proximity to one another to ensure proper functioning thereof, said method comprising the steps of:

reading a designation of each radio frequency identification tag individually in order to generate a first list of tag designations at a narrow angle radio frequency identification tag reading station;

reading designations of a plurality of radio frequency identification tags simultaneously from a long range in order to generate a second list of tag designations at a wide angle radio frequency identification tag reading station; and

comparing the first list of tag designations with the second list of tag designations and evaluating the functionality of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags based at least in part upon the comparison.