Methods and systems for monitoring components using radio frequency identification

• US 7,598,868 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Laib, Trevor M., Lee, Donald B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees; Edny
• Application Number:
  US11/532,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20070063847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340/545.2, 340/545.7, 340/545.6, 340/545.8, 340/545.9, 200/61.93, 232 35- 37
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2402 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS], i.e. systems using tags for detecting removal of a tagged item from a secure area, e.g. tags for detecting shoplifting mechanical aspects of the tags, e.g. related to locking E05B73/0017; RFID readers G06K7/00; RFID tags G06K19/00; access control systems G07C9/00; anti-theft control in point of sale systems G07G3/003; security seals G09F3/03

Abstract

Methods and systems for a monitoring system for a vehicle are provided. The system includes at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising at least one transceiver and a plurality of RFID tags, the tags coupled to a plurality of vehicle components, a plurality of vehicle component retaining assemblies coupled to the plurality of components and operatively configured to substantially shield the amount of radio frequency (RF) energy received from the transceiver by each tag in a first position and unshield each tag in a second position, and an alert system for receiving information regarding the plurality of vehicle components and for generating an alert based on the information received.

Claims

1. A monitoring system for a vehicle, said vehicle comprising a plurality of vehicle components, the system comprising:

at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising at least one transceiver and a plurality of RFID tags, a first RFID tag of said plurality of RFID tags coupled to a first vehicle component of said plurality of vehicle components, said first vehicle component positioned in one of a first position and a second position;

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) shields, a first RF shield of said plurality of RF shields operatively configured to substantially shield an amount of RF energy received from said transceiver by said first RFID tag when said first vehicle component is in the first position and configured not to shield said first RFID tag when said first vehicle component is in the second position; and

an alert system for generating an alert when said first vehicle component is in the second position based on receipt of a data signal at the at least one transceiver from said first RFID tag.

2. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of RF shields is fabricated from at least one of an RF energy shielding material, an electromagnetic shielding material, and a microwave shielding material.

3. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of RF shields is fabricated from at least one of an electrically conductive material, a metallic material, and a liquid.

4. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of RF shields is fabricated from at least one of a bio-degradable material, a thermo-degradable material, and chemo-degradable material.

5. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first RF shield is configured to limit an amount of RF energy received by said first RFID tag when said first vehicle component is in the first position such that said first RFID tag has insufficient power to send a data signal to said transceiver.

6. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of RFID tags includes vehicle component information including a status, a location, a time/date, and a serial number of at least one component associated with the RFID tag.

7. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of RFID tags is coupled to at least one container of components, said container tags include information corresponding to said components within said container.

27. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first vehicle component is coupled to one of said first RFID tag and said first RF shield, said first RFID tag configured to move relative to said first RF shield when said first vehicle component is moved between the first position and the second position.

8. A method for monitoring vehicle components, said method comprising:

coupling at least one RFID tag to at least one vehicle component, the at least one vehicle component including at least one vehicle component restraining assembly;

coupling a radio frequency (RF) shield to at least one of the vehicle component and the vehicle component restraining assembly;

configuring the RF shield to move between a first position and a second position relative to the RFID tag when the vehicle component restraining assembly moves between a first position and a second position relative to the vehicle component;

positioning at least one RFID transceiver proximate to the RFID tag, the at least one RFID transceiver configured to emit an RF energy within the vehicle for receipt by the RFID tag; and

configuring an alert system to receive information from the RFID transceiver and to determine whether the vehicle component restraining assembly is in the first position or the second position relative to the vehicle component.

9. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 8 wherein coupling at least one RFID tag further comprises coupling at least one RFID tag to a container comprising a plurality of components therein.

10. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 8 wherein coupling at least one RFID tag further comprises coupling at least one RFID tag including data including a status, a location, a time/date, and a serial number of each component.

11. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 8 wherein coupling at least one RFID transceiver further comprises coupling a plurality of transceivers each comprising a plurality of antennas such that a first antenna is positioned substantially above the at least one RFID tag and a second antenna is positioned substantially below the at least one RFID tag.

12. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 8 wherein shielding an amount of RF energy further comprises configuring the RF shield to substantially shield the amount of radio frequency (RF) energy received from the transceiver by the at least one RFID tag when the at least one component restraining assembly is in the first position and unshield the at least one RFID tag when the at least one component restraining assembly is in the second position.

13. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 12 wherein configuring the RF shield to substantially shield the amount of RF energy received from the transceiver further comprises fabricating the RF shield from at least one of an RF energy shielding material, an electromagnetic shielding material, a microwave shielding material, and an electrical shield material.

14. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 8 wherein providing the at least one vehicle component restraining assembly with an RF shield comprises providing at least one of a latching mechanism for at least one of a lavatory door, a gallery door, and a container door with an RF shield.

15. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 8 further comprising generating an alert when the at least one component restraining assembly is in the second position.

16. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 15 wherein generating an alert further comprises alerting a user when the RFID transceiver receives a data signal from the at least one RFID tag.

28. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 8 further comprising configuring the RF shield to shield the RFID tag from RF energy emitted by the at least one transceiver when the RFID tag is in the first position relative to the RF shield and the vehicle component restraining assembly is in the first position relative to the vehicle component.

29. A method for monitoring in accordance with claim 8 further comprising configuring the RF shield to allow RF energy emitted by the at least one transceiver to be received at the RFID tag when the RFID tag is in the second position relative to the RF shield and the vehicle component restraining assembly is in the second position relative to the vehicle component.

17. A monitoring system for airplane components, said system comprising:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising at least one RFID tag and at least one RFID transceiver, said at least one RFID tag and said at least one RFID transceiver positioned within a fuselage of an airplane, said airplane comprising a plurality of airplane components, said at least one RFID tag coupled to at least one of said plurality of airplane components; and

at least one radio frequency (RF) energy shield extending circumferentially around said RFID tag such that said RFID tag is shielded or detuned when said RF energy shield is in a first position relative to said RFID tag, one of said RFID tag and said RFID energy shield coupled to said airplane component such that the position of said RF energy shield relative to said RFID tag is dependent upon a position of said airplane component, wherein the position of said airplane component is determined by said RFID system based on information from said RFID tag received at said RFID transceiver.

18. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said RFID tag is not shielded or detuned when said RF energy shield is in a second position relative to said RFID tag, the second position allowing RF energy directed from said RFID transceiver to be received by said RFID tag.

19. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 18 further comprising an alert system configured to:

receive information from said RFID transceiver regarding a status of said RFID tag; and

generate an alert when said RF energy shield is in the second position relative to said RFID tag.

20. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said RF energy shield is a latching mechanism slidably coupled to said airplane component such that said RFID tag is shielded in a closed or latched position and unshielded when in an open or unlatched position.

21. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said RFID tag includes information including a status, a location, a time/date, and a serial number of at least one airplane component.

22. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said RFID transceiver further comprises at least one antenna positioned in a ceiling portion of the fuselage and at least one antenna positioned in a floor portion of the fuselage such that said at least one RFID tag is positioned therebetween.

23. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said RFID tag is coupled to an airplane container comprising a plurality of airplane components, wherein said RFID tag includes information corresponding to said airplane container.

24. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 23 wherein said container further comprises at least one RFID transceiver antenna positioned adjacent an opening of said container.

25. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 17 wherein said RF energy shield is fabricated from at least one of an RF energy shielding material, an electromagnetic shielding material, a microwave shielding material, and an electrical shield material.

26. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 19 wherein said alert system is included within an airplane avionics system configured to alert airplane personnel when said RF energy shield is in the second position relative to said RFID tag.