RFID system and method

• US 8,325,045 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Dattolo, James, Blumberg, David Jr., VanWyk, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US12/205,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20090069925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 340/572.1, 340/572.3, 340/572.7
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/40 Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea
• 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 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10089 the interrogation device using at least one directional antenna or directional interrogation field to resolve the collision direction or location finding, such as triangulation techniques, G01S13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

An RFID system includes an RFID antenna assembly configured to be positioned on a product module assembly of a processing system. The product module assembly is configured to releasably engage at least one product container. A first RFID tag assembly configured to be positioned on the at least one product container. The at least one product container is configured to position the first RFID tag assembly within a detection zone of the RFID antenna assembly whenever the product module assembly releasably engages the at least one product container.

Claims

1. An RFID system comprising:

an RFID antenna assembly configured to be positioned on a product module assembly of a processing system, wherein the product module assembly is configured to releasably engage at least one product container; and

a first RFID tag assembly configured to be positioned on the at least one product container, wherein the at least one product container is configured to position the first RFID tag assembly within a detection zone of the RFID antenna assembly whenever the product module assembly releasably engages the at least one product container.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the product module assembly includes a pump assembly configured to releasably engage at least one product container.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the pump assembly is a solenoid piston pump.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the processing system includes a manifold assembly for releasably engaging the pump assembly included within the product module assembly.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the manifold assembly is rigidly affixed to a bracket assembly of the processing system.

6. The RFID system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second RFID tag assembly configured to be positioned on a bracket assembly, the bracket assembly configured to releasably engage the product module assembly and position the second RFID tag assembly within a detection zone of the RFID antenna assembly whenever the bracket assembly releasably engages the product module assembly.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein at least one of the RFID tag assemblies is a passive RFID tag assembly.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein at least one of the RFID tag assemblies is a writeable RFID tag assembly.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein at least one of the RFID tag assemblies defines one or more of the following:

a quantity identifier for the product container, a production date identifier for the product container, a discard date identifier for the product container, an ingredient identifier for the product container, a product module identifier, and a bracket identifier.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising an RFID subsystem coupled to the RFID antenna assembly for processing data provided by the RFID antenna assembly.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a user interface subsystem coupled to the RFID subsystem for providing information to the user of the processing system.