R.F.I.D. enabled storage bin and method for tracking inventory

• US 7,757,947 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Reznik, Dan, Faschinger, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US11/686,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20070215700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/487, 235/384, 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/10.1, 340/5.73
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment

Abstract

A contents-aware storage bin includes a transportable bin unit adapted for placement within a storage bin rack. An RFID reader unit is in contact with the bin unit. An RFID antenna is connected to the RFID reader unit and is in contact with the bin unit.

Claims

1. A contents-aware storage bin, comprising:

a transportable bin unit adapted for placement within a storage bin rack;

an RFID reader unit in contact with the transportable bin unit;

an RFID antenna connected to the RFID reader unit and in contact with the transportable bin unit, wherein the transportable bin unit is completely removable from the storage bin rack, wherein the RFID antenna consists of a loop antenna circumscribed about an entire perimeter of the transportable bin unit;

wherein the RFID reader unit comprises a wireless communication device for transmitting RFID data collected by the RFID reader unit to a wireless base station connected to a computer network, wherein the wireless communication device is located within the storage bin rack such that the transportable bin unit is capable of transmitting RFID data to the storage bin rack when the transportable bin unit is completely removed therefrom, and wherein the RFID antenna is incorporated into pad removably placed in the transportable bin unit.

2. The contents-aware storage bin of claim 1, additionally comprising one or more sensors connected to the wireless communication device and in contact with the bin unit, wherein the wireless communication device transmits sensor data collected by the one or more sensors to the wireless base station.

3. The contents-aware storage bin of claim 2, wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, a weight sensor, or an acceleration sensor.

4. The contents-aware storage bin of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader unit comprises a user interface unit comprising a display for displaying RFID data collected by the RFID reader.

5. The contents-aware storage bin of claim 1, wherein the RFID antenna is incorporated in to a friction pad that is placed within the bin unit.

6. A contents-aware storage bin, comprising:

a transportable bin unit adapted for placement within a storage bin rack;

an RFID antenna in contact with the transportable bin unit, wherein the transportable bin unit is completely removable from the storage bin rack and wherein the RFID antenna connects to an RFID reader unit provided within the storage bin rack when the contents-aware storage bin is placed within the storage bin rack, wherein the RFID antenna consists of a loop antenna circumscribed about an entire perimeter of the transportable bin unit, wherein the RFID reader unit comprises a wireless communication device for transmitting RFID data collected by the RFID reader unit to a wireless base station connected to a computer network, wherein the wireless communication device is located within the storage bin rack such that the transportable bin unit is capable of transmitting RFID data to the storage bin rack when the transportable bin unit is completely removed therefrom, and wherein the RFID antenna is incorporated into a pad removably placed in the transportable bin unit.

7. The contents-aware storage bin of claim 6, additionally comprising one or more sensors in contact with the bin unit, wherein the one or more sensors connect to the RFID reader unit provided within the storage bin rack when the contents-aware storage bin is placed within the storage bin rack.

8. The contents-aware storage bin of claim 6, wherein the RFID antenna is incorporated in to a friction pad that is placed within the bin unit.

9. A method for tracking inventory using a contents-aware storage bin, comprising:

receiving RFID data from an RFID reader, associated with a transportable bin unit adapted for placement within a storage bin rack, over a wireless network;

storing received RFID data on a network-connected storage device;

providing access to the stored RFID data over the network, wherein the transportable bin unit is completely removable from the storage bin rack and wherein the RFID reader acquires the RFID data using an RFID antenna that consists of a loop antenna that is circumscribed bout an entire perimeter of the transportable bin unit, wherein the RFID reader unit comprises a wireless communication device for transmitting RFID data collected by the RFID reader unit to the network connected storage device over the wireless network, wherein the wireless communication device is located within the storage bin rack such that the transportable bin unit is capable of transmitting RFID data to the storage bin rack when the transportable bin unit is completely removed therefrom, and wherein the RFID antenna is incorporated into a pad removably placed in the transportable bin unit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the RFID data is accessed by a database management system (DBMS).

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving sensor data from one or more sensors, associated with the bin unit, over the wireless network;

storing the received sensor data in the storage device; and

providing access to the stored sensor data over the network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, a weight sensor, or an acceleration sensor.

13. A method for producing a contents-aware storage bin adapted for placement within a storage bin rack, comprising:

affixing an RFID reader unit to a transportable bin unit adapted for placement within and complete removal from a storage bin rack;

placing an RFID antenna upon the transportable bin unit by affixing a RFID antenna to the transportable bin unit such that the RFID antenna is circumscribed about an entire perimeter of the transportable bin unit, wherein the RFID antenna comprises a loop antenna;

connecting the RFID antenna to the RFID reader unit, wherein the RFID reader unit comprises a wireless communication device for transmitting RFID data collected by the RFID reader unit to a wireless base station connected to a computer network, locating the wireless communication device within the storage bin rack such that the transportable bin unit is capable of transmitting RFID data to the storage bin rack when the transportable bin unit is completely removed therefrom, and incorporating the RFID antenna into a pad removably placed in the transportable bin unit.

14. The method of claim 13, additionally comprising placing one or more sensors upon the bin unit, the one or more sensors being connected to the wireless communication device for transmitting sensor data collected by the one or more sensors to the wireless base station.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of placing an RFID antenna upon the bin unit comprises placing a friction pad comprising the RFID antenna into the bin unit.

16. The method of claim 13, additionally comprising configuring the wireless communication device to communicate with the wireless base station.