RFID system

• US 9,418,256 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Nordin, Ronald A., Bolouri-Saransar, Masud, Vogel, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Savusdiphol, Paultep
• Application Number:
  US14/096,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20140091138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/492
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 19/07771 the record carrier comprising means for minimising adverse effects on the data communication capability of the record carrier, e.g. minimising Eddy currents induced in a proximate metal or otherwise electromagnetically interfering object
• 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 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10168 the powering being adversely affected by environmental influences, e.g. unwanted energy loss in the interrogation signal due to metallic or capacitive objects in the proximity of the interrogation device or in the proximity of the interrogated record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/06 with core of ferromagnetic material H01Q7/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/065 Microstrip dipole antennas patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1498 Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location thermal management H05K7/20836

Abstract

The present invention provides an automated system for asset tracking and management and utilizes near field Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technology. RFID tags are attached to the assets via a flexible mounting system, and RFID antennas (and corresponding readers) are strategically located in close proximity to read the tags. As applied to a rack or cabinet, near-field antennas are mounted along one of the mounting posts at each rack unit location such that when a piece of equipment (rack mounted or rail mounted) is installed at a particular rack unit space, the tag will be read and registered in an RFID management system. A magnetic field shaping arrangement ensures that crosstalk between adjacent rack positions is prevented. Ferrite elements are used to control the magnetic field.

Claims

1. A system for tracking equipment that is installed on a rack, the system comprising:

a near field RFID tag installed in a mounting portion of the equipment that is to be tracked via a flexible mounting system wherein the RFID tag is installed via a flexible polycarbonate sheet and further includes at least one ferrite element used to help shape a magnetic field;

an antenna array installed on the rack in predetermined relation to the near field RFID tag for emitting a magnetic field, the antenna array also having at least one ferrite element used to shape a magnetic field, wherein the flexible polycarbonate sheet is sized and shaped in order to place the RFID tag at an optimum horizontal and vertical sensitivity distance based upon the size of the ferrite elements.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the formable polycarbonate sheet is partially preformed in the shape of a “

T”

with the top of the “

T”

bent perpendicular with the rest of the polycarbonate sheet.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the flexible mounting system also includes double-sided adhesive tape.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the antennae array is mounted to a post in the rack.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one ferrite element of the RFID tag and the at least one ferrite element of the antenna array are sized and shaped in response to a distance between the RFID tag and the antenna array.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the at least one ferrite element of the RFID tag and the at least one ferrite element of the antenna array are shaped and sized in response to a distance between equipment installed on the rack.