Multiple frequency detection system

• US 7,642,915 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS, INC. (CCL Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Eckstein, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lu; Shirley
• Application Number:
  US11/333,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.5, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.5
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2414 using inductive tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/242 Tag deactivation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure

Abstract

A multiple frequency detection system allows the seamless integration of an almost ideal EAS function with an RFID function. While not being limited to a particular theory, the preferred embodiments integrate EAS technology at, for example, 8.2 MHz or 14 MHz, and RFID technology at, for example, 13.56 MHz in a common antenna package. The use of standard RFID frequencies as forcing functions will allow for the easy packaging of EAS with RFID and have a true roadmap of a scalable technology.

Claims

1. A multiple frequency detection system, comprising:

a reader that emits a pulse interrogation signal at a first frequency; and

a resonant tag that receives the pulse interrogation signal at the first frequency and responds to the pulse interrogation signal by transmitting a first response signal resonated at the first frequency, said resonant tag further transmitting a second response signal resonated at a second frequency offset from the first frequency, said reader further reading one of the first and second response signals, and optionally reading the other one of the first and second response signals to detect said resonant tag,

wherein said reader further emits a second interrogation signal at the second frequency simultaneously with emission of the pulse interrogation signal at the first frequency, and said resonant tag transmits the second response signal at the second frequency in response to receipt of the second interrogation signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system detects said resonant tag by reading both the first response signal and the second response signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first response signal has a first amplitude and the second response signal has a second amplitude, and further comprising a computer that determines a relative amplitude differential between the first amplitude and the second amplitude.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a computer that determines a relative phase delay between the first response signal and the second response signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said resonant tag responds to the pulse interrogation signal by simultaneously resonating at both the first frequency and the second frequency.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said resonant tag is energized by the interrogation signal at the first frequency in order to transmit the second response signal at the second frequency.

7. The system of claim 1, said resonant tag including a first resonant circuit including a first inductor coil and a first capacitor, said first resonant circuit tuned to resonate at the first frequency, and a second resonant circuit electromagnetically coupled to said first resonant circuit, said second resonant circuit including a second inductor coil and a second capacitor and is tuned to resonate at the second frequency.

8. The system of claim 7, said first resonant circuit further including an integrated circuit to form an RFID tag circuit.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a deactivation circuit including a conductive member connecting said integrated circuit with said second resonant circuit.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said first inductor coil and said second inductor coil are combined into a single inductor having a combined coil that is tapped along said combined coil to form said first and second inductor coils.

11. A method for detecting a resonant tag having a first resonant circuit that is tuned to resonate a first response signal at a first frequency and having a second resonant circuit that is tuned to resonate a second response signal at a second frequency offset from the first frequency, the method comprising:

(a) providing a pulsed signal at the first frequency to form an interrogation signal;

(b) emitting the interrogation signal to impinge on the resonant tag;

(c) transmitting the first response signal from the first resonant circuit by resonating at the first frequency in response to the interrogation signal;

(d) transmitting the second response signal from the second resonant circuit by resonating at the second frequency;

(e) reading one of the first and second response signals, and optionally reading the other one of the first and second response signals to detect the resonant tag

(f) providing a second interrogation signal at the second frequency; and

(g) simultaneously with step (b), emitting the second interrogation signal to impinge on the resonant tag, wherein step (d) transmits the second response signal in response to the second interrogation signal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising detecting the resonant tag by reading both the first and second response signals.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first response signal has a first amplitude and the second response signal has a second amplitude, and further comprising determining a relative amplitude differential between the first amplitude and the second amplitude.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a relative phase delay between the first response signal and the second response signal.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein step (c) and step (d) are simultaneous.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising energizing the resonant tag with the interrogation signal at the first frequency in order to transmit the second response signal at the second frequency.

17. The method of claim 11, in step (c), further comprising transmitting the first response signal as an RFID signal.

18. The method of claim 11, in step (d), further comprising transmitting the second response signal as an RFID signal.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising deactivating the resonant tag.

20. A multiple frequency detection system for detecting a resonant tag having a first resonant circuit that is tuned to resonate a first response signal at a first frequency and having a second resonant circuit that is tuned to resonate a second response signal at a second frequency offset from the first frequency, the system comprising:

means for providing a pulsed signal at the first frequency to form an interrogation signal;

means for emitting the interrogation signal to impinge on the resonant tag;

means for transmitting the first response signal from the first resonant circuit by resonating at the first frequency in response to the interrogation signal;

means for transmitting the second response signal from the second resonant circuit by resonating at the second frequency;

means for reading one of the first and second response signals, and optionally reading the other one of the first and second response signals to detect the resonant tag;

means for providing a second interrogation signal at the second frequency;

means for simultaneously emitting both the interrogation signal and the second interrogation signal to impinge on the resonant tag; and

means for transmitting the second response signal in response to the second interrogation signal.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for detecting the resonant tag by reading both the first and second response signals.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the first response signal has a first amplitude and the second response signal has a second amplitude, and further comprising means for determining a relative amplitude differential between the first amplitude and the second amplitude.

23. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for determining a relative phase delay between the first response signal and the second response signal.

24. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for energizing the resonant tag with the interrogation signal at the first frequency in order to transmit the second response signal at the second frequency.

25. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for deactivating the resonant tag.