Intelligent RFID tag for magnetic field mapping
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- transporting articles within a coverage area of a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, a subset of the articles each having one of a plurality of RFID components physically attached thereto;
interrogating the plurality of RFID components using an activation signal from an RFID reader;
receiving, in response to the interrogating, return signals from the plurality of RFID components containing at least one ambient environmental parameter measured by the respective RFID components via environmental sensors integrated with the RFID components;
determining whether the at least one ambient environmental parameter indicates an operating condition that adversely affects a received signal strength of the activation signal detected at the respective RFID components; and
adjusting an output signal strength of the activation signal at the RFID reader based on the determining.
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Abstract
System(s) and method(s) to increase the accuracy and efficiency of an RFID system is provided. A system includes an RFID component that receives a signal from an RFID reader, and an identifier component that interfaces with the RFID component and identifies the source of the signal. The system further includes a signal strength component that interfaces with the identifier component and measures the strength of the signal. The system can include an environment component that analyzes an operating environment.
299 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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transporting articles within a coverage area of a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, a subset of the articles each having one of a plurality of RFID components physically attached thereto; interrogating the plurality of RFID components using an activation signal from an RFID reader; receiving, in response to the interrogating, return signals from the plurality of RFID components containing at least one ambient environmental parameter measured by the respective RFID components via environmental sensors integrated with the RFID components; determining whether the at least one ambient environmental parameter indicates an operating condition that adversely affects a received signal strength of the activation signal detected at the respective RFID components; and adjusting an output signal strength of the activation signal at the RFID reader based on the determining. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) components that measure at least one environmental parameter using environmental sensors integrated with the RFID components; and an RFID reader that interrogates the plurality of RFID components using an activation signal, receives return signals from the RFID components containing the at least one environmental parameter measured by the RFID components, and determines whether the at least one environmental parameter indicates an operating condition that adversely affects a received signal strength of the activation signal detected at the RFID components, wherein the RFID reader adjusts an output signal strength of the activation signal based on the at least one environmental parameter; and wherein the RFID reader receives via the return signal'"'"'s activation signal strength values measured by the plurality of RFID components and maps the activation signal strength measurements to yield a reception performance mapping. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for interrogating a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) components within a coverage area of an RFID reader antenna using an activation signal; means for receiving, in response to the interrogating, return signals from the plurality of RFID components containing at least one environmental parameter and a received signal strength of the activation signal measured by the respective RFID components via sensors integrated with the RFID components; means for determining whether the at least one environmental parameter indicates an operating condition detrimental to the received signal strength of the activation signal measured at the respective RFID components; and means for adjusting an output strength of the activation signal based on the at least one environmental parameter.
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25. A method, comprising:
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positioning a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna of an RFID system to define a coverage area; attaching a plurality of RFID components to a plurality of articles; transporting the plurality of articles through the coverage area; interrogating the plurality of RFID components using an interrogation signal; mapping the coverage area of the RFID system based upon responses received from the RFID components; and adjusting the RFID antenna to optimize the coverage area. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method, comprising:
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interrogating a radio frequency (RFID) component attached to an article within a coverage area of an RFID system using an activation signal; receiving a return signal transmitted by the RFID component in response to the interrogating, the return signal containing a temperature value measured by the RFID component using environmental sensors integrated therein; determining whether the temperature value indicates an operating condition that adversely affects a received signal strength of the activation signal detected at the RFID component; adjusting an output strength of the activation signal based on the temperature value; receiving, via the return signal, an activation signal strength value measured by the RFID component using a signal strength processing block integrated therein; and mapping the activation signal strength measurement to yield a reception performance mapping.
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36. A method, comprising:
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attaching a radio frequency identification (RFID) component to an article; conveying the article through a coverage area of an RFID reader; interrogating the RFID component; receiving, in response to the interrogating, a return signal from the RFID component containing a movement parameter measured by a movement sensor integrated within the RFID component; and determining an operating condition of a mechanism performing the conveying based upon the movement parameter. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification