Micro range radio frequency (RF) communications link

• US 7,599,427 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Bik, Tadeusz M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Torres; Juan A
• Application Number:
  US11/343,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20070152053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 375/219, 455/73, 710/1
• US Class Current: 375/219
• 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: H04B 5/48 Transceivers

Abstract

A micro range RF data transmission system comprising at least one transmitter incorporated in a moving device and at least one receiver positioned along a fixed path that can be aligned to create a data transfer point. The moving device moves along a fixed path. Each of the at least one receiver is positioned along the fixed path such that when the moving device moves along the fixed path, one of the transmitters aligns with one of the receivers creating the data transfer point. The transmitter will only transmit a micro range signal when the transmitter is at the data transfer point. Each receiver includes an electromagnetic shield formed around the perimeter of the receiver to form a directional channel for the micro range signal. A control system is used for controlling an industrial sheet-making device. The control system uses multiple data transfer points as the backbone for bi-directional communication.

Claims

1. A micro range RF data transmission system comprising:

at least one transmitter incorporated in a moving device, said moving device moves along a fixed path; and

at least one receiver positioned along said fixed path such that when said moving device moves along the fixed path and is positioned proximate to one of the at least one receiver, one of said at least one transmitter aligns with said one of the at least one receiver creating a data transfer point, when said one of said at least one transmitter is at said data transfer point, said one of said at least one transmitter transmits a micro range signal to said one of said at least one receiver, said micro range signal cannot be detected outside a micro range, wherein at least one receiver is incorporated into said moving device and at least one transmitter is positioned along said fixed path, said at least one transmitter is positioned along said fixed path such that when said at least one receiver in said moving device is proximate to one of said at least one transmitter, said one of said at least one receiver in said moving device aligns with said one of said at least one transmitter creating a reverse data transfer point, said data transfer point and said reverse data transfer point allow for a simultaneous bi-directional data transfer between the fixed path and the moving device.

2. The micro range RF data transmission system of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one transmitter is positioned along said fixed path proximate to a corresponding one of said at least one receiver on said fixed path.

3. The micro range RF data transmission system of claim 2, wherein each of said at least one receiver and transmitter is further positioned along said fixed path such that said each of said at least one transmitter and its corresponding one of said at least one receiver is aligned relative to each other such that both will align simultaneously with the at least one receiver and transmitter located in the moving device, respectively, when the moving device moves proximate to one of the at least one transmitter and receiver in the fixed path.

4. The micro range RF data transmission system of claim 1, wherein said moving device is an industrial scanning device with a sensor and the fixed path is a scanner frame, the sensor includes both the at least one transmitter and receiver, said sensor acquires data and the acquired data is transmitted to the scanner frame when the sensor is positioned at the data transfer point, which is created from the at least one transmitter in the sensor and the at least one receiver in the scanner frame.

5. The micro range RF data transmission system of claim 1, wherein said at least one transmitter transmits the micro range signal over a distance less than a predetermined value.

6. The micro range RF data transmission system of claim 5, wherein said predetermined value is between 1-5 mm.

7. The micro range data transmission system of claim 1, wherein each of said receivers has a relative diameter greater than each of said transmitters.

8. The micro range data transmission system of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one receivers includes an electromagnetic shield formed around a perimeter of each of said at least one receivers, the electromagnetic shield acts as a chamber that channels the micro range signal from the one of said at least one transmitters to each receiver when said one of said at least one transmitters is at the data transfer point to avoid interference.

9. A micro range RF data transmission system comprising:

at least one transmitter incorporated in a moving device, said moving device moves along a fixed path; and

at least one receiver positioned along said fixed path such that when said moving device moves along the fixed path and is positioned proximate to one of the at least one receiver, one of said at least one transmitter aligns with said one of the at least one receiver creating a data transfer point, when said one of said at least one transmitter is at said data transfer point, said one of said at least one transmitter transmits a micro range signal to said one of said at least one receiver, said micro range signal cannot be detected outside a micro range, wherein each transmitter has a corresponding control section that includes an alignment sensor, said alignment sensor senses when one of said each transmitter is proximate to one of said at least one receiver, said alignment sensor outputs a control signal that allows each transmitter to transmit the micro range signal when said alignment sensor detects that each transmitter is proximate to one of said at least one receiver and is at the data transfer point.

10. The micro range RF data transmission system of claim 9, wherein when said alignment sensor detects that one of said at least one transmitter is not located proximate to one of said at least one receiver on said fixed path, the moving device accumulates data as said moving device moves along said fixed path and stores the data in memory.

11. The micro range RF data transmission system of claim 9, wherein said at least one transmitter transmits the micro range signal over a distance less than a predetermined value.

12. The micro range RF data transmission system of claim 11, wherein said predetermined value is between 1-5 mm.

13. The micro range data transmission system of claim 9, wherein each of said at least one receivers includes an electromagnetic shield formed around a perimeter of each of said at least one receivers, the electromagnetic shield acts as a chamber that channels the micro range signal from the one of said at least one transmitters to each receiver when said one of said at least one transmitters is at the data transfer point to avoid interference.

14. A micro range RF data transmission system comprising:

at least one transmitter incorporated in a moving device, said moving device moves along a fixed path; and

at least one receiver positioned along said fixed path such that when said moving device moves along the fixed path and is positioned proximate to one of the at least one receiver, one of said at least one transmitter aligns with said one of the at least one receiver creating a data transfer point, when said one of said at least one transmitter is at said data transfer point, said one of said at least one transmitter transmits a micro range signal to said one of said at least one receiver, said micro range signal cannot be detected outside a micro range, wherein each of said at least one receivers includes an electromagnetic shield formed around a perimeter of each of said at least one receivers, the electromagnetic shield acts as a chamber that channels the micro range signal from the one of said at least one transmitters to each receiver when said one of said at least one transmitters is at the data transfer point to avoid interference.

15. The micro range data transmission system of claim 14, wherein said electromagnetic shield is dimensioned substantially an entire distance between a corresponding receiver and transmitter at a transfer point.

16. The micro range RF data transmission system of claim 14, wherein said at least one transmitter transmits the micro range signal over a distance less than a predetermined value.

17. The micro range RF data transmission system of claim 16, wherein said predetermined value is between 1-5 mm.

18. A control system used for controlling an industrial sheet making device comprising:

a scanned product under manufacture;

a moving scanner head with a plurality of sensing devices, each sensing device includes a receiver and a transmitter; and

a scanner frame which controls and limits motion of the moving scanner head, said scanner frame includes a plurality of receivers and transmitters positioned along the scanner frame such that one receiver and transmitter of the plurality of receivers and transmitters aligns with the transmitter and receiver in said sensor, respectively, when said moving scanner head moves proximate to one of the receivers on the scanner frame,

wherein said sensor acquires data regarding the scanned products as the moving head moves along the frame over the scanned product and transmits the acquired data to said scanner frame when said transmitter in said sensor aligns with said receiver in the scanner frame, the acquired data is then transmitted to a central collection device for processing.

19. The control system according to claim 18, wherein said scanner frame transmits control information to said moving scanner head when one of said at least one transmitters in said scanner frame is aligned with one of said receivers in said moving scanner head, said moving scanner head adjusts its operation based upon the received control information.