Method and systems for localizing objects using capacitively coupled RFIDs

• US 7,772,980 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2007
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Marmigere, Gerard, Clement, Jean-Yves, Bauchot, Frederic, Picon, Joaquin
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, JACK K
• Application Number:
  US11/733,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20070241907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.7
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07796 arrangements on the record carrier to allow stacking of a plurality of similar record carriers, e.g. to avoid interference between the non-contact communication of the plurality of record carriers

Abstract

A method and system for localizing an object among a set of objects, each equipped with an improved RFID tag. The tag includes an RFID chip, an antenna, a visual indicator, an AC/DC converter, and at least a pair of conductive surfaces adapted for receiving power from an external source and for powering the electronic chip according to capacitive coupling. Each conductive surface of the pair is designed to form the half of a capacitor, the capacitor being formed when the electronic tag and a similar electronic tag are attached to a neighboring adjacent object. To localize an object, an RFID reader is used, fed with the identifier of the object to be localized. All the capacitively coupled RFID, in the RFID reader range, receive a reading trigger that carries the identifier. The RFID tag compares the received identifier with its own identifier and if they match, then the capacitively coupled RFID reacts by providing a visual indicator; otherwise, if they do not match, the capacitively coupled RFID does not react.

Claims

1. An electronic tag adapted to be capacitively coupled with at least one similar electronic tag, said electronic tag comprising an RFID chip coupled to an antenna, an AC/DC converter for supplying power to said tag, and one pair of conductive surfaces for connection with said AC/DC converter, a conductive surface of said pair of conductive surfaces being adapted for receiving power from an external source and for powering said RFID chip, each conductive surface of said pair of conductive surfaces being designed to form a half of a capacitor, the capacitor being formed when the conductive surface of said electronic tag is aligned with a like conductive surface of said similar electronic tag when said electronic tags are attached to neighboring objects, wherein said formed capacitor functions to couple power to an electronic tag of a neighboring object.

2. The electronic tag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a second pair of conductive surfaces, said second pair of conductive surfaces being electrically connected, each conductive surface of said second pair of conductive surfaces adapted to form a half of a capacitor, the capacitor being formed when a conductive surface of said second pair is positioned adjacent a like conductive surface of said second pair of said similar electronic tag when said electronic tags are attached to neighboring objects.

3. The electronic tag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising visual indication means coupled to said RFID chip, and adapted to indicate when an electronic tag reader has identified an object said electronic tag is attached to.

4. The electronic tag as claimed in claim 3 wherein said visual indication means is adapted to be activated when data received by said antenna of said electronic tag matches data stored in said RFID chip.

5. A system for identifying an object of a plurality of objects comprising:

for each object, an attached electronic tag adapted to be capacitively coupled with at least one similar electronic tag attached to an adjacent object, said electronic tag comprising;

an RFID chip coupled to an antenna,

an AC/DC converter for supplying power to said tag, and

a first pair of conductive surfaces for connection with said AC/DC converter, a conductive surface of said first pair of conductive surfaces being adapted for receiving power from an external source and for powering said RFID chip, each conductive surface of said first pair of conductive surfaces being designed to form a half of a capacitor, the capacitor being formed when the conductive surface of said electronic tag is positioned adjacent a like conductive surface of said similar electronic tag when said electronic tags are attached to neighboring objects, wherein said formed capacitor functions to couple power to an electronic tag of a neighboring object; and

,

a visual indication means coupled to said RFID chip for indicating when an electronic tag reading device has identified an object said electronic tag is attached to, wherein said visual indication means is adapted to be activated when data received by said electronic tag matches data stored in said RFID chip.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said plurality of objects are arranged in a stack, each object having a conductive surface in alignment with a conductive surface of a similar electronic tags attached to an adjacent object in said stack.

7. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said electronic tag is attached in a position adapted for transmitting power to stacked neighboring similar objects on which similar electronic tags are attached to, each said visual indication means being visible when said plurality of said objects are stacked.

8. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said electronic tag is embedded in an object.

9. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said plurality of objects are stackable, and adapted for arrangement side-by-side on a support device, said support device comprising:

first and second conductive surfaces at respective first and second ends thereof, each said first and second conductive surface of said support device arranged for receiving power from an external AC power source, wherein said first conductive surface is in alignment with a respective said conductive surface of a first object of said stack adjacent said first end of said support device, and a second conductive surface is in alignment with a respective said conductive surface of a second object of said stack adjacent said second end of said support device, whereby power is capacitively coupled between each of said plurality of objects stacked on said support device.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein an object comprises one or more of a book, a CD or DVD.

11. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein each said electronic tag further comprises:

a second pair of conductive surfaces, said second pair of conductive surfaces being electrically connected, each conductive surface of said second pair of conductive surfaces adapted to form a half of a capacitor, the capacitor being formed when a conductive surface of said second pair is positioned adjacent a like conductive surface of a second pair of said similar electronic tag when said electronic tags are attached to neighboring objects.

12. A system for identifying an object of a plurality of objects comprising:

for each object, an attached electronic tag adapted to be capacitively coupled with at least one similar electronic tag attached to an adjacent object, said electronic tag comprising;

an RFID chip coupled to an antenna,

an AC/DC converter for supplying power to said tag, and

a first pair of conductive surfaces for connection with said AC/DC converter, a conductive surface of said first pair of conductive surfaces being adapted for receiving power from an external source and for powering said RFID chip, each conductive surface of said first pair of conductive surfaces being designed to form a half of a capacitor, the capacitor being formed when the conductive surface of said electronic tag is positioned adjacent a like conductive surface of said similar electronic tag when said electronic tags are attached to neighboring objects, wherein said formed capacitor functions to couple power to an electronic tag of a neighboring object; and

,

a second pair of conductive surfaces, said second pair of conductive surfaces being electrically connected, each conductive surface of said second pair of conductive surfaces adapted to form a half of a capacitor, the capacitor being formed when a conductive surface of said second pair is positioned adjacent a like conductive surface of a second pair of said similar electronic tag when said electronic tags are attached to neighboring objects; and

,

a visual indication means coupled to said RFID chip for indicating when an electronic tag reading device has identified an object said electronic tag is attached to, wherein said visual indication means is adapted to be activated when data received by said electronic tag matches data stored in said RFID chip,

wherein said plurality of objects are adapted for arrangement side-by-side on a support device, said support device comprising;

first and second conductive surfaces at one end thereof arranged for receiving power from an external AC power source, said first conductive surface at said one end of said support device arranged in alignment with one conductive surface of said first pair of conductive surfaces of an object on said support device and forming a capacitor therewith, and a second conductive surface at one end of said support device arranged in alignment with one conductive surface of said second pair of conductive surfaces of said object and forming a capacitor therewith; and

,

a means for maintaining said plurality of objects in said side-by-side arrangement, said means including a mobile portion comprising two conductive surfaces in electrical connection, a first conductive surface of said two conductive surfaces arranged in alignment with one conductive surface of said first pair of conductive surfaces of an object on said support device and forming a capacitor therewith, and a second conductive surface of said two conductive surfaces arranged in alignment with one conductive surface of said second pair of conductive surfaces of said object and forming a capacitor therewith,

whereby said two conductive surfaces in electrical connection form a current closing loop by being capacitively coupled with said electronic tag of said stacked object.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said mobile portion of said maintaining means is spring loaded for maintaining said objects mobile portion in side-by-side arrangement with a stacked object.

14. A method for localizing an object among a set of objects in a stacked arrangement comprising:

a) providing for each object, an electronic tag adapted to be capacitively coupled with at least one similar electronic tag attached to an adjacent object, said electronic tag comprising;

an RFID chip coupled to an antenna,

an AC/DC converter for supplying power to said tag, and

a first pair of conductive surfaces for connection with said AC/DC converter, a conductive surface of said first pair of conductive surfaces being adapted for receiving power from an external source and for powering said RFID chip, each conductive surface of said first pair of conductive surfaces being designed to form a half of a capacitor, the capacitor being formed when the conductive surface of said electronic tag is positioned adjacent a like conductive surface of said similar electronic tag when said electronic tags are attached to neighboring objects, wherein said formed capacitor functions to couple power to an electronic tag of a neighboring object; and

,

a visual indication means coupled to said RFID chip for indicating the identification the object said electronic tag is attached to;

b) implementing an electronic tag reading device for providing data to said RFID chip;

c) comparing received data from said electronic tag with predetermined identification data stored at said RFID chip; and

,

d) activating said visual indication means when data received by said electronic tag matches data stored in said RFID chip.

15. The method for localizing an object as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

implementing a support device for said set of objects;

said support device maintaining said set of objects in a stacked arrangement such that each object of said set of objects is capacitively coupled to an adjacent object of said stack for receiving power from said external source.