RFID switching

• US 7,669,765 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stanley Industrial & Automotive, LLC (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Winware Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: DeNise, Derry Thomas, Harper, Lawrence Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Seung H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marshall; Christle I
• Application Number:
  US11/622,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20070115127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492, 235/375, 235/385
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

Various method and apparatus embodiments involving RFID switching are disclosed. One method embodiment, among others, includes receiving an excitation signal at a switch associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a disabling material, and changing a state of the RFID tag with the switch based on proximity of the disabling material to the RFID tag.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a first excitation signal at a switch that includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag indicating presence of an object at the switch by sending a response signal;

permitting removal of the object from the switch; and

preventing the RFID tag from receiving a second excitation signal by situating a disabling material into close proximity of the RFID tag.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein situating the disabling material into close proximity of the RFID tag further comprises bringing the disabling material in physical contact with the RFID tag.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the close proximity comprises a separation distance between the RFID tag and the disabling material of approximately 0.125 inches.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the close proximity comprises a separation distance between the RFID tag and the disabling material of less than approximately 0.125 inches.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is configured to receive the second excitation signal if the RFID tag is not in close proximity to the disabling material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the disabling material is selected from the group including at least one of the following:

a metallic material and a fluid encased by a non-metallic material.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the disabling material comprises a material that renders an ability to read information from the RFID tag ineffective.

8. A method, comprising:

sending an excitation signal to a switch, the switch including a disabling material and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag indicating presence of an object at the switch;

determining whether a reply to the excitation signal is received; and

in response to determining that the reply to the excitation signal is not received, determining that the object was removed from the switch,

wherein the disabling material is situated in close proximity of the RFID tag.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of receiving information identifying to the RFID tag if the reply to the excitation signal is received.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

comparing the information identifying the RFID tag with stored information;

determining whether information identifying the RFID tag matches the stored information; and

determining an RFID tag that did not reply.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, in response to determining the RFID tag that did not reply, indicating the object that was removed from the switch.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising, in response to determining the RFID tag that did not reply, notifying a user that the object was removed from the switch.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein no reply is received if the disabling material is in contact with the RFID tag.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the close proximity comprises a separation distance between the RFID tag and the disabling material of approximately 0.125 inches.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the close proximity comprises a separation distance between the RFID tag and the disabling material of less than approximately 0.125 inches.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the disabling material is selected from the group including at least one of the following:

a metallic material and a fluid encased by a non-metallic material.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the disabling material comprises a material that renders an ability to read information from the RFID tag ineffective.

18. A radio frequency identification (RFID) switch, comprising:

a first member comprising a disabling material;

a second member in moveable relationship with respect to the first member; and

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to the second member, the first member being removably coupled to an object such that when the object is uncoupled from the first member, the disabling material of the first member is introduced into proximity of the RFID tag coupled to the second member thereby preventing the RFID tag from communicating a signal to a desired reader.

19. The switch of claim 18, wherein the first member is hingably coupled to the second member.

20. The switch of claim 18, wherein the first member and the second member are each comprised substantially of a non-metallic material.

21. The switch of claim 18, wherein the disabling material comprises a metallic material.

22. The switch of claim 18, wherein the disabling material comprises a fluid encased by a non-metallic material.

23. The switch of claim 18, wherein when the first member is loaded with an object, the RFID tag communicates the signal to the desired reader, and wherein when the first member is unloaded, the RFID tag is prevented from communicating the signal to the desired reader.

24. The switch of claim 23, wherein when the RFID tag communicates the signal to the desired reader, information corresponding to the RFID tag can be read, and wherein when the RFID tag is prevented from communicating the signal to the desired reader, the information corresponding to the RFID tag cannot be read.

25. The switch of claim 18, wherein the RFID tag is selected from the group including at least one of the following:

active tag, passive tag, and semi-passive tag.

26. A method, comprising:

receiving an excitation signal at a switch associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a disabling material; and

changing a state of the RFID tag with the switch based on proximity of the disabling material to the RFID tag, wherein changing comprises changing the RFID tag to a first state if the disabling material is in close proximity to the RFID tag, wherein the close proximity comprises a separation distance between the RFID tag and the disabling material of approximately 0.125 inches.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the disabling material is selected from the group including at least one of the following:

a metallic material and a fluid encased by a non-metallic material.

28. A system, comprising:

means for receiving an excitation signal at a switch associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a disabling material; and

means for changing a state of the RFID tag with the switch based on proximity of the disabling material to the RFID tag, wherein changing comprises changing the RFID tag to a first state if the disabling material is in close proximity to the RFID tag, wherein the close proximity comprises a separation distance between the RFID tag and the disabling material of approximately 0.125 inches.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the disabling material is selected from the group including at least one of the following:

a metallic material and a fluid encased by a non-metallic material.

30. A method, comprising:

sending an excitation signal to a switch associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a disabling material; and

receiving a response to the excitation signal based on a separation distance between the disabling material and the RFID tag, the separation distance based on a change in the switch, wherein no response is received if the disabling material is in close proximity to the RFID tag, wherein the close proximity comprises a separation distance between the RFID tag and the disabling material of approximately 0.125 inches.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the disabling material is selected from the group including at least one of the following:

a metallic material and a fluid encased by a non-metallic material.

32. A system, comprising:

means for sending an excitation signal to a switch associated with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a disabling material; and

means for receiving a response to the excitation signal based on a separation distance between the disabling material and the RFID tag, the separation distance based on a change in the switch, wherein no response is received if the disabling material is in close proximity to the RFID tag, wherein the close proximity comprises a separation distance between the RFID tag and the disabling material of approximately 0.125 inches.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the disabling material is selected from the group including at least one of the following:

a metallic material and a fluid encased by a non-metallic material.