Methods and systems for tracking inventory using an RFID tag tape

• US 8,292,173 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Yturralde, Mark, Ross, Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, SEUNG H
• Application Number:
  US12/638,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20110139871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 235/383, 235/385, 235/492, 235/435, 235/439, 235/487
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil

Abstract

A method of tracking an inventory comprises associating a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) values corresponding to a plurality of RFID tags with an inventory item, affixing the plurality of RFID tags to a plurality of surfaces of the inventory item such that antenna axes of the plurality of RFID tags are oriented in a plurality of directions, wirelessly sensing RFID tags affixed to items in the inventory using an antenna array comprising one or more antennae, and deciding, if one or more of the plurality of RFID values associated with the inventory item is sensed, that the inventory item is present in the inventory, otherwise deciding that the inventory item is not present in the inventory.

Claims

1. A method of tracking an inventory, comprising the steps of:

dispensing a portion of an RFID tape, wherein the dispensed portion comprises a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags;

affixing the dispensed portion of the RFID tape to an inventory item such that antenna axes of the plurality of RFID tags are oriented in a plurality of directions;

associating the plurality of RFID tags of the dispensed portion of the RFID tape with the inventory item;

wirelessly sensing at least one of the RFID tags of the RFID tape affixed to the inventory item; and

deciding, if the at least one of the RFID tags associated with the inventory item is sensed, that the inventory item is present in the inventory.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of affixing comprises affixing the dispensed portion of the RFID tag tape onto at least two adjacent external surfaces of the inventory item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of RFID tags are randomly oriented on the RFID tag tape.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of RFID tags comprise a respective plurality of RFID values that are in a sequential order.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of RFID tags comprise a respective plurality of RFID values that are in a random order.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating comprises wirelessly sensing the plurality of RFID tags using a scanning antenna.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of associating comprises wirelessly sensing the plurality of RFID tags using an antenna array comprising one or more antennae.

8. An inventory tracking system, comprising:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tape comprising;

a substrate having a bottom surface;

a plurality of RFID tags mounted on the substrate; and

an adhesive layer coupled to the bottom surface of the substrate;

wherein the RFID tape is configured such that a dispensed portion of the RFID tape comprises a plurality of RFID tags;

an antenna array comprising one or more antennae configured to sense RFID tags; and

a computer coupled to the antenna array and configured to track a plurality of inventory items.

9. The inventory tracking system of claim 8, further comprising a medical supply cabinet for storing the plurality of inventory items.

10. The inventory tracking system of claim 9, wherein the antenna array comprises a first antenna mounted on a top surface of the medical supply cabinet and a second antenna mounted on a bottom surface of the medical supply cabinet.

11. The inventory tracking system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of RFID tags are randomly oriented on the RFID tape.

12. The inventory tracking system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of RFID tags are arranged in a plurality of rows on the RFID tape.

13. The inventory tracking system of claim 8, further comprising a scanning antenna different from the one or more antennae of the antenna array communicatively coupled to the computer.

14. An RFID tag tape for use in an inventory tracking system, the tape comprising:

a substrate having a bottom surface;

a plurality of RFID tags coupled to the substrate, each RFID tag comprising an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals; and

an adhesive layer covering at least a portion of the bottom surface of the substrate,

wherein each of the plurality of RFID tags has an associated unique identifier;

wherein the RFID tag tape is capable of being rolled into a roll, and

wherein the RFID tape is configured such that a dispensed portion of the RFID tape comprises a plurality of RFID tags.

15. The RFID tag tape of claim 14, further comprising:

a peelable layer covering the adhesive layer, the peelable layer provided to protect the adhesive layer from adhesion to the RFID tag tape when rolled into a roll.

16. The RFID tag tape of claim 14, further comprising:

a protective layer covering the top surface and the plurality of RFID tags, the protective layer for protecting the plurality of RFID tags from wear and tear.

17. The RFID tag tape of claim 14, wherein the plurality of RFID tags are arranged in a single row on the substrate.

18. The RFID tag tape of claim 17, further comprising perforations wherein at least two RFID tags are disposed between adjacent perforations.

19. The RFID tag tape of claim 14, wherein the plurality of RFID tags are arranged in a plurality of rows on the substrate.

20. The RFID tag tape of claim 14, wherein the plurality of RFID tags are randomly oriented.

21. The RFID tag tape of claim 14, wherein the plurality of RFID tags comprise more than one of RFID tag types from a magnetically coupled RFID tag, an electrically coupled RFID tag, and a multiple frequency RFID tag.