Image recognition in passive RFID devices

• US 9,165,231 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Hull, Jonathan J., Berkner, Kathrin, Chemishkian, Sergey, Liu, Xu, Shroff, Sapna A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURGDORF, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US13/216,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20130049926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 340/3.1, 340/5.52, 340/5.53, 340/5.61, 340/5.7, 340/5.8, 340/5.81, 340/5.82, 340/5.83, 340/10.1, 340/10.42, 340/436, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/573.1, 348/77, 348/135, 348/143, 348/161, 348/E07.085, 382/115, 382/118, 382/124, 382/181, 701/469
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0718 the sensor being of the biometric kind, e.g. fingerprint sensors fingerprint sensors in general G06V40/13; biometric access-control systems in general, see G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07701 the record carrier comprising an interface suitable for human interaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80

Abstract

Passive RFID devices are disclosed that perform image recognition. The device includes an antenna, circuitry, and a camera. The antenna receives a radio frequency (RF) signal from a RFID reader. The circuitry stores image data for objects that is used for image recognition. To operate, the circuitry derives power from the RF signal. With the power derived from the RF signal, the camera captures an image. The circuitry then identifies an object in the captured image based on the image data for the objects, and outputs information for the identified object, such as to the RFID reader.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device that includes;

an antenna configured to receive Radio Frequency (RF) signals from RFID readers;

circuitry configured to store image data associated with the RFID readers that are at known locations; and

a camera connected to the circuitry;

the circuitry configured to derive power from the RF signals;

with the power derived from the RF signals;

the camera is configured to take a digital picture each time the RFID device passes proximate to one of the RFID readers;

the circuitry is configured to compare the image data associated with the RFID readers to the digital pictures, to recognize identifiers for the RFID readers in the digital pictures, and to store the identifiers for the RFID readers recognized in the digital pictures; and

the circuitry is configured to output the identifiers for the RFID readers recognized in the digital pictures through a network communication to another system other than the RFID readers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the network communication comprises IEEE 802.15.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the network communication comprises IEEE 802.11.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the circuitry is configured to sound a buzzer responsive to recognizing the identifiers for the RFID readers in the digital pictures.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the circuitry is configured to illuminate a Light Emitting Diode (LED) responsive to recognizing the identifiers for the RFID readers in the digital pictures.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the circuitry is configured to store times that the identifiers for the RFID readers were recognized in the digital pictures.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the image data is for machine readable codes imprinted on surfaces of the RFID readers that face the RFID device;

wherein a machine readable code indicates a known location of a corresponding RFID reader.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the machine readable codes include a Quick Response (QR) code.

9. A method of operating a passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, the method comprising:

storing, in the RFID device, image data associated with RFID readers that are at known locations;

receiving Radio Frequency (RF) signals in the RFID device from the RFID readers; and

deriving power from the RF signals;

with the power derived from the RF signals, the method further includes;

taking a digital picture with a camera installed on the RFID device each time the RFID device passes proximate to one of the RFID readers;

comparing the image data associated with the RFID readers to the digital pictures;

recognizing identifiers for the RFID readers in the digital pictures;

storing the identifiers for the RFID readers recognized in the digital pictures within the RFID device; and

outputting the identifiers for the RFID readers recognized in the digital pictures through a network communication to another system other than the RFID readers.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the network communication comprises IEEE 802.15.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the network communication comprises IEEE 802.11.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

sounding a buzzer responsive to recognizing the identifiers for the RFID readers in the digital pictures object in the digital picture.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

illuminating a Light Emitting Diode (LED) responsive to recognizing the identifiers for the RFID readers in the digital pictures.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

storing times that the identifiers for the RFID readers were recognized in the digital pictures.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the image data is for machine readable codes imprinted on surfaces of the RFID readers that face the RFID device;

wherein a machine readable code indicates a known location of a corresponding RFID reader.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the machine readable codes include a Quick Response (QR) code.

17. A system comprising:

a plurality of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers at known locations each having a machine readable code imprinted on a surface;

a RFID device that includes;

an antenna configured to receive Radio Frequency (RF) signals from the RFID readers;

circuitry configured to store image data for the machine readable codes associated with the RFID readers; and

a camera connected to the circuitry;

the circuitry configured to derive power from the RF signals;

with the power derived from the RF signals;

the camera is configured to take a digital picture each time the RFID device passes proximate to one of the RFID readers; and

the circuitry is configured to compare the image data for the machine readable codes associated with the RFID readers to the digital pictures, to recognize the machine readable codes in the digital pictures which correspond with the RFID readers, and to store the machine readable codes for the RFID readers recognized in the digital pictures.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein:

the circuitry is configured to sound a buzzer responsive to recognizing the machine readable codes in the digital pictures.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein:

the circuitry is configured to output information for the machine readable codes recognized in the digital pictures by modulating a received RF signal to include the information; and

the antenna is configured to transmit the modulated RF signal for reception by one of the RFID readers.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein:

the circuitry is configured to output information for the machine readable codes recognized in the digital pictures through a network communication to another system other than the RFID readers.