Self-contained RFID-enabled drawer module

• US 9,013,307 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meps Real-Time, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Meps Real-Time, Inc.
• Inventors: Hussain, Shariq, Elizondo, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHERWIN, RYAN W
• Application Number:
  US13/024,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20120044054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340 101- 106, 340/568.1, 340/570, 340/545.6, 700/231, 700/242, 312/209, 312/330.1, 312/334.35, 235/375, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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 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 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/00 ICT specially adapted for medical diagnosis, medical simulation or medical data mining; ICT specially adapted for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/00 ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of medical references
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A self-contained RFID-enabling drawer module includes a probe antenna to introduce a robust EM field into a container within a Faraday cage to activate RFID tags within the container, regardless of the container'"'"'s resonant frequency. A receiving antenna and reader read the data of the activated RFID tags, and a processor and communications module transmit the RFID tag data to a remote processor. The RFID-enabling module is self-contained in that it needs only power and a data connection with which to operate. Where an Ethernet is used, power is obtained by PoE. The RFID-enabling module may be used to retrofit existing medication drawers of a medication cabinet or may be used during the construction of a new cabinet. The RFID-enabling system includes auto tuning of the antenna to dynamically compensate for loading changes on the EM field. Assembly and testing costs are reduced and serviceability of the system is increased.

Claims

1. An RF (“

radio frequency”

)-enabling module system for establishing an RF field within a container having a predetermined size in which items are placed, the RF-enabling module system comprising;

a Faraday cage formed around the container, the Faraday cage having electrically-conductive walls;

a base mounted in a selected location in relation to the container in which items are placed, the container having a container size and the base having a base size selected to be compatible with the container size so that the base and components thereof may interact with items placed within the container;

a tunable probe antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to establish a robust activating RF field within the container at a predetermined frequency range that is different from a resonant frequency of the container, wherein the robust activating RF field covers all items placed in the container;

wherein the position of the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage is selected so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position to thereby optimize power transfer at the predetermined frequency range into the Faraday cage;

a receiving antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to receive data signals produced within the container in response to the robust activating RF field;

a reader unit located on the base configured to receive the data signals from the receiving antenna, and process the data signals; and

a communications unit located on the base configured to receive the processed data signals from the reader unit and communicate the processed data signals to a remote location;

wherein the probe antenna is configured to automatically retune itself to establish the robust activating RF field within the container to accommodate more or fewer items in the container.

2. An RF (“

radio frequency”

)-enabling module system for establishing an RF field within a container having a predetermined size in which items are placed, the RF-enabling module system comprising;

a Faraday cage formed around the container, the Faraday cage having electrically-conductive walls;

a base mounted in a selected location in relation to the container in which items are placed, the container having a container size and the base having a base size selected to be compatible with the container size so that the base and components thereof may interact with items placed within the container;

a tunable probe antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to establish a robust activating RF field within the container at a predetermined frequency range that is different from a resonant frequency of the container, wherein the robust activating RF field covers all items placed in the container;

wherein the position of the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage is selected so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position to thereby optimize power transfer at the predetermined frequency range into the Faraday cage;

a receiving antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to receive data signals produced within the container in response to the robust activating RF field;

a reader unit located on the base configured to receive the data signals from the receiving antenna, and process the data signals;

a communications unit located on the base configured to receive the processed data signals from the reader unit and communicate the processed data signals to a remote location; and

a switch between the reader is entered prior to the phrase and the probe antenna and the receiving antenna with the reader unit configured to switch each antenna on or off for purposes of activating the container and receiving data from within the container.

3. An RF (“

radio frequency”

)-enabling module system for establishing an RF field within a container having a predetermined size in which items are placed, the RF-enabling module system comprising;

a Faraday cage formed around the container, the Faraday cage having electrically-conductive walls;

a base mounted in a selected location in relation to the container in which items are placed, the container having a container size and the base having a base size selected to be compatible with the container size so that the base and components thereof may interact with items placed within the container;

a tunable probe antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to establish a robust activating RF field within the container at a predetermined frequency range that is different from a resonant frequency of the container, wherein the robust activating RF field covers all items placed in the container;

wherein the position of the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage is selected so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position to thereby optimize power transfer at the predetermined frequency range into the Faraday cage;

a receiving antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to receive data signals produced within the container in response to the robust activating RF field;

a reader unit located on the base configured to receive the data signals from the receiving antenna, and process the data signals; and

a communications unit located on the base configured to receive the processed data signals from the reader unit and communicate the processed data signals to a remote location;

wherein the container is a preexisting container and the size of the base is selected so that the base will be compatible to fit with the size of the container, whereby the module system is used to retrofit the container.

4. An RF (“

radio frequency”

)-enabling module system for establishing an RF field within a container having a predetermined size in which items are placed, the RF-enabling module system comprising;

a Faraday cage formed around the container, the Faraday cage having electrically-conductive walls;

a base mounted in a selected location in relation to the container in which items are placed, the container having a container size and the base having a base size selected to be compatible with the container size so that the base and components thereof may interact with items placed within the container;

a tunable probe antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to establish a robust activating RF field within the container at a predetermined frequency range that is different from a resonant frequency of the container, wherein the robust activating RF field covers all items placed in the container;

wherein the position of the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage is selected so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position to thereby optimize power transfer at the predetermined frequency range into the Faraday cage;

a receiving antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to receive data signals produced within the container in response to the robust activating RF field;

a reader unit located on the base configured to receive the data signals from the receiving antenna, and process the data signals; and

a communications unit located on the base configured to receive the processed data signals from the reader unit and communicate the processed data signals to a remote location;

wherein the container is a container being constructed and the size of the base is selected so that the base will be compatible to fit with the size of the container being constructed, whereby the module system is used to form an integrated part of the container being constructed.

5. An RF (“

radio frequency”

)-enabling module system for establishing an RF field within a container having a predetermined size in which items are placed, the RF-enabling module system comprising;

a Faraday cage formed around the container, the Faraday cage having electrically-conductive walls;

a base mounted in a selected location in relation to the container in which items are placed, the container having a container size and the base having a base size selected to be compatible with the container size so that the base and components thereof may interact with items placed within the container;

a tunable probe antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to establish a robust activating RF field within the container at a predetermined frequency range that is different from a resonant frequency of the container, wherein the robust activating RF field covers all items placed in the container;

wherein the position of the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage is selected so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position to thereby optimize power transfer at the predetermined frequency range into the Faraday cage;

a receiving antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to receive data signals produced within the container in response to the robust activating RF field;

a reader unit located on the base configured to receive the data signals from the receiving antenna, and process the data signals; and

a communications unit located on the base configured to receive the processed data signals from the reader unit and communicate the processed data signals to a remote location;

wherein the receiving antenna is located on top of a mesa structure that is formed on the base.

6. An RF (“

radio frequency”

)-enabling module system for establishing an RF field within a container having a predetermined size in which items are placed, the RF-enabling module system comprising;

a Faraday cage formed around the container, the Faraday cage having electrically-conductive walls;

a base mounted in a selected location in relation to the container in which items are placed, the container having a container size and the base having a base size selected to be compatible with the container size so that the base and components thereof may interact with items placed within the container;

a tunable probe antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to establish a robust activating RF field within the container at a predetermined frequency range that is different from a resonant frequency of the container, wherein the robust activating RF field covers all items placed in the container;

wherein the position of the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage is selected so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position to thereby optimize power transfer at the predetermined frequency range into the Faraday cage;

a receiving antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to receive data signals produced within the container in response to the robust activating RF field;

a reader unit located on the base configured to receive the data signals from the receiving antenna, and process the data signals;

a communications unit located on the base configured to receive the processed data signals from the reader unit and communicate the processed data signals to a remote location; and

further comprising multiple probe antennae located on the base and multiple receiving antennae located on respective mesas on the base, and wherein the reader unit is centrally located on the base between the multiple receiving antennae.

7. The RF-enabling module system of claim 6 comprising four receiving antennae, two probe antennae, two switches, and the reader unit comprises an RFID reader circuit board mounted to the base, the probe antennae, the switches, and the reader unit being mounted to an RFID reader circuit board with the reader circuit board centrally located between the antennae.

8. A radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

)-enabling module system for establishing an RF (“

radio frequency”

) field within a container having a predetermined size in which items are placed, the RFID-enabling module system comprising;

a base mounted in a selected location in relation to the container in which items are placed, each item having an RFID tag with a unique data identification, the container having a container size and the base having a base size selected to be compatible with the container size so that the base and components thereof may interact with tagged items placed within the container;

a tunable probe antenna located on the base and configured to establish a robust activating RF field within the container within a predetermined frequency range that does not include a resonant frequency of the container, the robust activating RF field selected to activate the RFID tags of the items placed in the container;

a receiving antenna located on the base and configured to receive RFID data signals produced within the container in response to the robust activating RF field;

an RFID reader unit located on the base configured to receive the RFID data signals from the receiving antenna, and process the data signals; and

a communications unit located on the base configured to receive the processed data signals from the reader unit and communicate the processed data signals to a remote location;

a Faraday cage having electrically-conductive walls formed around the container, the tagged items in the container, and around the tunable probe antenna and the receiving antenna;

wherein the position of the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage is selected so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position to thereby optimize power transfer at the predetermined frequency range into the Faraday cage;

a data base located at the remote location, the data base containing information pertaining to the tagged items that is correlated with the data identifications of the tags respectively attached to the items; and

a remote processor located at the remote location configured to receive the processed data signals, compare them to the data base, and provide information relating to the tagged items based on the comparison;

wherein the information relating to the tagged items based on the comparison includes at least one of;

inventory level compared against minimum/maximum levels for reordering;

counterfeit prevention;

ePedigree/serialization capability;

lot control;

medication error prevention;

NDC (“

National Drug Code”

) control; and

expiration control.

9. A radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

)-enabling module system for establishing an RF (“

radio frequency”

) field within a container having a predetermined size in which items are placed, the RFID-enabling module system comprising;

a base mounted in a selected location in relation to the container in which items are placed, each item having an RFID tag with a unique data identification, the container having a container size and the base having a base size selected to be compatible with the container size so that the base and components thereof may interact with tagged items placed within the container;

a tunable probe antenna located on the base and configured to establish a robust activating RF field within the container within a predetermined frequency range that does not include a resonant frequency of the container, the robust activating RF field selected to activate the RFID tags of the items placed in the container;

a receiving antenna located on the base and configured to receive RFID data signals produced within the container in response to the robust activating RF field;

an RFID reader unit located on the base configured to receive the RFID data signals from the receiving antenna, and process the data signals; and

a communications unit located on the base configured to receive the processed data signals from the reader unit and communicate the processed data signals to a remote location;

a Faraday cage having electrically-conductive walls formed around the container, the tagged items in the container, and around the tunable probe antenna and the receiving antenna;

wherein the position of the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage is selected so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position to thereby optimize power transfer at the predetermined frequency range into the Faraday cage;

a data base located at the remote location, the data base containing information pertaining to the tagged items that is correlated with the data identifications of the tags respectively attached to the items; and

a remote processor located at the remote location configured to receive the processed data signals, compare them to the data base, and provide information relating to the tagged items based on the comparison;

wherein the reader unit is configured to automatically establish the RF field automatically in the container according to a schedule.

10. A radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

)-enabling module system for establishing an RF (“

radio frequency”

) field within a container having a predetermined size in which items are placed, the RFID-enabling module system comprising;

a base mounted in a selected location in relation to the container in which items are placed, each item having an RFID tag with a unique data identification, the container having a container size and the base having a base size selected to be compatible with the container size so that the base and components thereof may interact with tagged items placed within the container;

a tunable probe antenna located on the base and configured to establish a robust activating RF field within the container within a predetermined frequency range that does not include a resonant frequency of the container, the robust activating RF field selected to activate the RFID tags of the items placed in the container;

a receiving antenna located on the base and configured to receive RFID data signals produced within the container in response to the robust activating RF field;

an RFID reader unit located on the base configured to receive the RFID data signals from the receiving antenna, and process the data signals; and

a communications unit located on the base configured to receive the processed data signals from the reader unit and communicate the processed data signals to a remote location;

a Faraday cage having electrically-conductive walls formed around the container, the tagged items in the container, and around the tunable probe antenna and the receiving antenna;

wherein the position of the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage is selected so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position to thereby optimize power transfer at the predetermined frequency range into the Faraday cage;

a data base located at the remote location, the data base containing information pertaining to the tagged items that is correlated with the data identifications of the tags respectively attached to the items; and

a remote processor located at the remote location configured to receive the processed data signals, compare them to the data base, and provide information relating to the tagged items based on the comparison;

wherein the probe antenna is configured to automatically retune itself to establish the robust activating RF field within the container to accommodate more or fewer items in the container.

11. An RF (“

radio frequency”

)-enabling module system for establishing an RF field within a container having a predetermined size in which items are placed, the RF-enabling module system comprising;

a Faraday cage formed around the container, the Faraday cage having electrically-conductive walls;

a base mounted in a selected location in relation to the container in which items are placed, the container having a container size and the base having a base size selected to be compatible with the container size so that the base and components thereof may interact with items placed within the container;

a tunable probe antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to establish a robust activating RF field within the container at a predetermined frequency range that is different from a resonant frequency of the container, wherein the robust activating RF field covers all items placed in the container;

wherein the position of the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage is selected so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position to thereby optimize power transfer at the predetermined frequency range into the Faraday cage;

a receiving antenna located on the base at a position that is within the Faraday cage and configured to receive data signals produced within the container in response to the robust activating RF field;

a reader unit located on the base configured to receive the data signals from the receiving antenna, and process the data signals; and

a communications unit located on the base configured to receive the processed data signals from the reader unit and communicate the processed data signals to a remote location;

wherein a length of the probe antenna within and in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage is selected to allow for energy to be injected into the container such that constructive interference results and a standing wave is established.

12. A radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

)-enabling module system for establishing an RF (“

radio frequency”

) field within a container having a predetermined size in which items are placed, the RFID-enabling module system comprising;

a base mounted in a selected location in relation to the container in which items are placed, each item having an RFID tag with a unique data identification, the container having a container size and the base having a base size selected to be compatible with the container size so that the base and components thereof may interact with tagged items placed within the container;

a tunable probe antenna located on the base and configured to establish a robust activating RF field within the container within a predetermined frequency range that does not include a resonant frequency of the container, the robust activating RF field selected to activate the RFID tags of the items placed in the container;

a receiving antenna located on the base and configured to receive RFID data signals produced within the container in response to the robust activating RF field;

an RFID reader unit located on the base configured to receive the RFID data signals from the receiving antenna, and process the data signals; and

a communications unit located on the base configured to receive the processed data signals from the reader unit and communicate the processed data signals to a remote location;

a Faraday cage having electrically-conductive walls formed around the container, the tagged items in the container, and around the tunable probe antenna and the receiving antenna;

wherein the position of the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage is selected so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position to thereby optimize power transfer at the predetermined frequency range into the Faraday cage;

a data base located at the remote location, the data base containing information pertaining to the tagged items that is correlated with the data identifications of the tags respectively attached to the items; and

a remote processor located at the remote location configured to receive the processed data signals, compare them to the data base, and provide information relating to the tagged items based on the comparison;

wherein the length of the probe antenna within and in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage is selected to allow for energy to be injected into the container such that constructive interference results and a standing wave is established.

13. A method for radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

)-enabling a container to establish a radio frequency (“

RF”

) field within the container, the container having a predetermined size in which RFID tagged items are placed and a resonant frequency, the method comprising;

forming a Faraday cage having electrically-conductive walls around the container and the tagged items in the container;

mounting a base within the Faraday cage in a selected location in relation to the container in which RFID tagged items are placed, the container having a container size and the base having a base size selected to be compatible with the container size so that the base and components thereof may interact with RFID tags on the items placed within the container;

exciting a tunable probe antenna mounted to the base within the Faraday cage to establish a robust activating RF field within the container within a predetermined frequency range that is different from the resonant frequency of the container, the robust activating RF field covering all RFID tagged items placed in the container;

positioning the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position to thereby optimize power transfer at the predetermined frequency range into the Faraday cage;

receiving within the Faraday cage unique RFID identification data signals from the RFID tags on the items in the container after they have been activated by the robust activating RF field;

reading and processing the RFID data signals from the activated items in the container;

communicating the processed RFID data signals to a remote location; and

automatically retuning the probe antenna to establish the robust activating RF field within the container to accommodate more or fewer RFID tagged items in the container.

14. A method for radio frequency identification (“

RFID”

)-enabling a container to establish a radio frequency (“

RF”

) field within the container, the container having a predetermined size in which RFID tagged items are placed and a resonant frequency, the method comprising;

forming a Faraday cage having electrically-conductive walls around the container and the tagged items in the container;

mounting a base within the Faraday cage in a selected location in relation to the container in which RFID tagged items are placed, the container having a container size and the base having a base size selected to be compatible with the container size so that the base and components thereof may interact with RFID tags on the items placed within the container;

exciting a tunable probe antenna mounted to the base within the Faraday cage to establish a robust activating RF field within the container within a predetermined frequency range that is different from the resonant frequency of the container, the robust activating RF field covering all RFID tagged items placed in the container;

positioning the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position to thereby optimize power transfer at the predetermined frequency range into the Faraday cage;

receiving within the Faraday cage unique RFID identification data signals from the RFID tags on the items in the container after they have been activated by the robust activating RF field;

reading and processing the RFID data signals from the activated items in the container; and

communicating the processed RFID data signals to a remote location;

wherein the step of positioning the probe antenna in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage so that reflected energy of the predetermined frequency range within the Faraday cage is in phase at the probe position further comprises selecting a length of the probe antenna within and in relation to the electrically-conductive walls of the Faraday cage to allow for energy to be injected into the container such that constructive interference results and a standing wave is established.