Flexible straps having embedded RFID reader antenna modules

• US 8,860,552 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Azdine Bahou
• Original Assignee: Azdine Bahou
• Inventors: Bahou, Azdine
• Primary Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US13/121,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20110232849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 340 101- 9, 3405721- 8, 340/8.1, 340/568.1, 343/777, 343/758, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/562.1, 455/575.2, 342/368, 342/463
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to a strap device for a curtain or a flexible door, said straps having embedded RFID reader antenna modules and different MEMS and MOEMS sensors that make it possible to detect the direction of the objects passing through the gate and also detect the size of the objects so as to modulate the switching of the radiating elements of antennas on the basis of the position of the objects being read. The device also has embedded biosensors that measure in parallel the presence of toxic substances or materials. The device according to the invention has an LED or OLED and PHOLED display means embedded in the strap, more specifically, in a flexible material of the strap. The invention is particularly intended for the qualitative and quantitative traceability of materials passing through a logistical check gate. The device is intended for all places already having curtains with flexible straps, into which it is easily embedded. The device is suitable for all existing RFID readers.

Claims

1. Curtain or door device comprising a plurality of flexible strips, a strip in the plurality of flexible strips, comprising:

RFID reader antenna modules incorporated into the core of the strip, the aforementioned antenna modules being distributed over the entire surface of the aforementioned strip,

optical detectors arranged in proximity to each of the antenna modules, the aforementioned optical detectors enabling detection of the presence of a package or object,

a heating core,

temperature sensors arranged on both sides of the strip,

power dividers and phase shifter circuits connecting the antenna modules to provide a complete distribution of the radiation field at each of the aforementioned modules,

Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) or Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MOEMS) sensors operating on the power dividers and phase shifter circuits,

a microelectronic management module incorporated into the strips and configured to;

perform automatic management of the field radiated by the antenna modules by providing the distribution of radiating field to all the aforementioned antenna modules by;

monitoring, by the optical detectors, the presence of an object or a package next to each antenna module,

effectuating the switching of the power radiated by the MEMS or MOEMS sensors,

measure and regulate the temperature of the antenna modules, using respectively temperature sensors and the heating core,

a monitor to detect the direction of passage of objects at the level of the curtain or door,

a module to detect toxic or hazardous substances enabling detection of any product or substance to be monitored at the level of the curtain or door,

a light-emitting diodes (LED), organic light-emitting diode (OLED) or Phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLED) display module enabling viewing of the state of the logistical transaction at the level of the curtain or door.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein one or multiple modules for detection of toxic or hazardous substances comprising a microcontroller incorporating a radio communication member wherein is incorporated a bio sensor or bio sensors operating by parallel detection of DNA of the substance to be monitored.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the modules for detection are mechanically fixed in the core of the strip or directly incorporated therein.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the bio-sensors are removable and comprise all the specific substance or substances to be monitored, and equipped to enable their identification and provide their traceability.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microelectronic management module is provided with a radio communication member enabling communication with the strips of the curtain and effectuating all the transactions relating to the state of the logistical transaction at the level of the aforementioned curtain.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the microelectronics management module is configured to receive and send any type of transaction state on the strip to a remote computer system.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the microelectronic management module incorporates a digital processing member having RFID chips processed by the antenna modules, a switching and management of the aforementioned antenna radiators enabling an RFID reader to see the one or more strip as an RFID reader antennas.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an autonomous electrical supply of the photovoltaic type incorporated or attached to the strip, battery pack or electrical connector attached on the curtain and used in the operation of the aforementioned device in active mode.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein control members of the strip are supplied by a flexible solar cell incorporated into the strip, or any type of energy source providing its autonomy.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the management module effectuates the regulation of the temperature so that

when the strips are inactive, the ground plane is used as a heating or cooling element, by the heating core,

when the strips are active, the temperature regulation function of the ground plane is inhibited.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the management module is configured to activate or to deactivate each function of the strip.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the management module is configured to display, by radio pathway, logistical or security messages on the display module or reconstruct safety quality risk data from the bio sensors mounted on the strip.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the strips are made by deposit of thin metallic, dielectric, organic layers by cathodic sputter or material spray or any other method enabling the piling of conductive or dielectric material on flexible substrate.