RFID system preventing recognition error and communication method thereof

• US 8,134,466 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Techwin Corporation (Hanwha Vision Company Limited), Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University
• Inventors: Cho, Sung-ho, Jeon, Ki-yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Terrell, Emily C
• Application Number:
  US12/315,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20090184838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.4, 340/10.42, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/508
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10198 setting parameters for the interrogator, e.g. programming parameters and operating modes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2485 Simultaneous detection of multiple EAS tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is provided that prevents a recognition error of the RFID tag due to the occurrence of a shadow region. The RFID tag includes a first tag performing communication with an RFID reader and a second tag connected to the first tag and suitable for use with a different communication type from the first tag. Thus, when information stored in the first tag can not be read, the second tag is activated and externally transmits information and when information stored in the first tag can be read, the second tag is deactivated and does not externally transmit information. A communication method of an RFID system including an RFID reader communicating with an RFID tag is also provided.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising packaging having sealed within:

a first tag for performing communication of a first communication type with an RFID reader; and

a second tag connected to the first tag and suitable for performing communication of a different communication type from the first communication type of the first tag with the RFID reader, wherein, when the first tag does not successfully communicate with the RFID reader, the first tag automatically activates the second tag, and, when the first tag successfully communicates with the RFID reader, the first tag automatically leaves the second tag deactivated and the second tag is unable to communicate with the RFID reader.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the first tag does not communicate with the RFID reader and communicates with another RFID reader having the same communication type as that of the first tag.

3. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the first tag comprises:

a first antenna for transmitting and receiving a signal in a wireless manner;

a first demodulator for demodulating the signal transmitted from the first antenna;

a first voltage multiplier for receiving the signal transmitted from the first antenna and outputting a first power supply voltage;

a memory in which the information is to be stored;

a first control logic for operating due to the first power supply voltage, for receiving a signal output by the first demodulator, for reading and outputting the information stored in the memory, and for transmitting a control signal indicating whether the first tag successfully transmitted the information to the RFID reader to the second tag; and

a first modulator for modulating a signal output by the first control logic and for sending the modulated signal to the first antenna.

4. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the second tag comprises:

a second antenna for transmitting and receiving a signal in a wireless manner;

a second demodulator for demodulating the signal transmitted from the second antenna;

a second voltage multiplier connected to the first tag and activated or deactivated according to a signal received from the first tag, for receiving the signal transmitted from the second antenna and for outputting a second power supply voltage during activation, and for not outputting the second power supply voltage during deactivation;

a second control logic for operating due to the second power supply voltage, for receiving a signal output by the second demodulator, and for outputting the second tag identifier; and

a second modulator for modulating the second tag identifier output by the second control logic and for sending the modulated signal to the second antenna.

5. A communication method of a radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising first and second RFID readers communicating with an RFID tag attached to a product and having enclosed within first and second tags, the communication method comprising:

(a) when the product reaches a first position, the first RFID reader attempting to form a first communication connection with the first tag storing information, when the communication connection is successful, the first RFID reader reading the information stored in the first tag and the first tag leaving the second tag deactivated, and, when the first communication connection is not successful, the first tag automatically activating the second tag; and

(b) when the product reaches a second position, the second RFID reader attempting to form a second communication connection with the second tag, and, when the second communication connection is successful, the second RFID reader communicating with the second tag and allowing an alarm device to generate an alarm.

6. The communication method of claim 5, wherein, when the information stored in the first tag is read in (a), the second RFID reader is not able to communicate with the second tag and does not allow the alarm device to generate the alarm in (b), and when the information stored in the first tag is not read in (a), the second RFID reader is able to communicate with the second tag in (b).

7. The communication method of claim 5, wherein the first and second RFID readers simultaneously communicate with a plurality of RFID tags attached to respective ones of a plurality of products.

8. A communication method of a radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising an RFID reader communicating with an RFID tag attached to a product and having sealed within first and second tags, the communication method comprising:

(a) when the product reaches a first position, the RFID reader attempting to form a first communication connection with the first tag storing first information, and, when the first communication connection is successful, the RFID reader reading the first information stored in the first tag and the first tag not changing the second tag from a deactivated state to an activated state; and

(b) when the product reaches a second position, the RFID reader changing a communication type to attempt to form a second communication connection with the second tag storing second information that is at least different from the first information, and, when the second communication connection is successful, the RFID reader reading the second information stored in the second tag and generating an alarm.

9. The communication method of claim 8, wherein, when the first information stored in the first tag is read in (a), the RFID reader is not able to communicate with the second tag and does not generate the alarm (b), and when the first information stored in the first tag is not read in (a), the RFID reader is able to communicate with the second tag in (b).

10. The communication method of claim 8, wherein the RFID reader simultaneously communicates with a plurality of RFID tags attached to respective ones of a plurality of products.