RFID material tracking method and apparatus

• US 20020190845A1
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Moore, Scott E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,125,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tracking items automatically is described. A passive RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag is used with a material tracking system capable of real-time pinpoint location and identification of thousands of items in production and storage areas. Passive RFID tags are attached to the item to be tracked, remote sensing antennas are placed at each remote location to be monitored, interrogators with several antenna inputs are connected to the sensing antennas to multiplex the antenna signals, and a host computer communicates with the interrogators to determine item locations to an exacting measure.

Claims

1. A nesting station for use in an RFID tracking system, the nesting station comprising:

a vacuum formed top;

a circuit board laying in a notch of the vacuum formed top;

a jack for antenna connection attached to the circuit board;

an antenna coil electrically connected to the circuit board and jack, positioned in a notch of the vacuum formed top;

a vacuum formed bottom;

a metallic plate attached to the vacuum formed bottom; and

foam filler placed between the vacuum formed top and bottom.

2. The nesting station of claim 1, wherein the nesting station forms an integral part of a shelf.

3. The nesting station of claim 1, wherein the nesting station forms an integral part of a second structure, the second structure selected from a group consisting of a pallet, a bench, and a table.

4. The nesting station of claim 1, wherein the nesting station further includes an annunciator attached to a side of a combined structure including the vacuum formed top and the vacuum formed bottom.

5. The nesting station of claim 1, wherein the nesting station further includes an indicator attached to a side of a combined structure including the vacuum formed top and the vacuum formed bottom, the indicator selected from a group consisting of a bell, a whistle, and a light.

6. The nesting station of claim 1, wherein the antenna coil is configured to a size for operation with a tag having an operating range of about 0 to 20 inches.

7. The nesting station of claim 1, wherein the antenna coil is configured to a size for operation with a tag having an operating range of about 2 inches.

8. The nesting station of claim 1, wherein the antenna coil is coupled to a capacitor on the circuit board to form a tuned LC circuit.

9. The nesting station of claim 1, wherein the nesting station is configured to abut another nesting station to form a dual nesting station, the dual nesting station sized at about one foot by two feet.

10. A nesting station for use in an RFID tracking system, the nesting station comprising:

a vacuum formed top;

a circuit board laying in a first notch of the vacuum formed top, the circuit board containing a capacitor;

a single layer flat coil electrically connected to the capacitor, the single layer flat coil positioned in a second notch of the vacuum formed top;

a vacuum formed bottom;

a metallic plate attached to the vacuum formed bottom; and

foam filler placed between the vacuum formed top and bottom.

11. The nesting station of claim 10, wherein the nesting station forms an integral part of a shelf.

12. The nesting station of claim 10, wherein the nesting station forms an integral part of a second structure, the second structure selected from a group consisting of a pallet, a bench, and a table.

13. The nesting station of claim 10, wherein the nesting station further includes an annunciator attached to a side of a combined structure including the vacuum formed top and the vacuum formed bottom.

14. The nesting station of claim 10, wherein the single layer flat coil is configured to a size for operation with a tag having an operating range of about 0 to 20 inches.

15. The nesting station of claim 10, wherein the single layer flat coil is configured to a size for operation with a tag having an operating range of about 2 inches.

16. The nesting station of claim 10, wherein the nesting station is configured to abut another nesting station to form a dual nesting station, the dual nesting station sized at about one foot by two feet.

18. The nesting station of claim 17, wherein the nesting station further includes foam filler placed between the top and the bottom of the substantially flat structure.

19. The nesting station of claim 17, wherein the substantially flat structure is a substantially flat wooden structure.

20. The nesting station of claim 17, wherein the substantially flat structure forms an integral part of a shelf.

21. The nesting station of claim 17, wherein the substantially flat structure forms an integral part of a second structure, the second structure selected from a group consisting of a pallet, a bench, and a table.

22. The nesting station of claim 17, wherein the nesting station further includes an annunciator attached to the substantially flat structure.

23. The nesting station of claim 17, wherein the nesting station further includes an indicator attached to the substantially flat structure, the indicator selected from a group consisting of a bell, a whistle, and a light.

24. The nesting station of claim 17, wherein the antenna is configured to a size for operation with a tag having an operating range of about 0 to 20 inches.

25. The nesting station of claim 17, wherein the antenna is configured to a size for operation with a tag having an operating range of about 15 to 20 inches.

26. The nesting station of claim 17, wherein the antenna is configured to a size for operation with a tag having an operating range of about 2 inches.

27. The nesting station of claim 17, wherein the antenna includes a coil that is coupled to a capacitor on the circuit board to form a tuned LC circuit.

28. The nesting station of claim 17, wherein the nesting station is configured to abut another nesting station to form a dual nesting station, the dual nesting station sized at about one foot by two feet.

30. The nesting station of claim 29, wherein the plastic molding forms an integral part of a shelf.

31. The nesting station of claim 29, wherein the plastic molding forms an integral part of a second structure, the second structure selected from a group consisting of a pallet, a bench, and a table.

32. The nesting station of claim 29, wherein the nesting station further includes an annunciator attached to the plastic molding.

33. The nesting station of claim 29, wherein the nesting station further includes an indicator attached to the plastic molding, the indicator selected from a group consisting of a bell, a whistle, and a light.

34. The nesting station of claim 29, wherein the antenna coil is configured to a size for operation with a tag having an operating range of about 0 to 20 inches.

35. The nesting station of claim 29, wherein the antenna coil is configured to a size for operation with a tag having an operating range of about 2 inches.

36. The nesting station of claim 29, wherein the antenna coil is coupled to a capacitor on the circuit board to form a tuned LC circuit.

37. The nesting station of claim 29, wherein the nesting station is configured to abut another nesting station to form a dual nesting station.

39. The nesting station of claim 38, wherein the nesting station further includes foam filler placed within the plastic molding.

40. The nesting station of claim 38, wherein the plastic molding forms an integral part of a shelf.

41. The nesting station of claim 38, wherein the plastic molding forms an integral part of a second structure, the second structure selected from a group consisting of a pallet, a bench, and a table.

42. The nesting station of claim 38, wherein the nesting station further includes an annunciator attached to the plastic molding.

43. The nesting station of claim 38, wherein the antenna is configured to a size to operate with a tag having an operating range of about 0 to 20 inches.

44. The nesting station of claim 38, wherein the antenna coil that is coupled to a capacitor on the circuit board to form a tuned LC circuit.

45. The nesting station of claim 38, wherein the nesting station is configured to abut another nesting station to form a dual nesting station.

47. The array of nesting stations of claim 46, wherein the array of nesting stations further includes foam filler placed between the top and the bottom of the substantially first flat structure.

48. The array of nesting stations of claim 46, wherein the substantially flat second structure is a substantially flat wooden structure.

49. The array of nesting stations of claim 46, wherein the substantially flat first structure forms an integral part of a shelf.

50. The array of nesting stations of claim 46, wherein the substantially second flat structure forms an integral part of a second structure, the second structure selected from a group consisting of a pallet, a bench, and a table.

51. The array of nesting stations of claim 46, wherein the array of nesting stations further includes an annunciator attached to the substantially flat first structure.

52. The array of nesting stations of claim 46, wherein the array of nesting stations further includes an indicator attached to the substantially flat second structure selected from a group consisting of a bell, a whistle, and a light.

53. The array of nesting stations of claim 46, wherein the first antenna is configured to a size for operation with a tag having an operating range of about 0 to 20 inches.

54. The array of nesting stations of claim 46, wherein the first antenna is configured to a size to operate with a first tag having an operating range of about 2 inches and the second antenna is configured to a size to operate with a second tag having an operating range of about 2 inches.

55. The array of nesting stations of claim 46, wherein the first antenna includes a coil that is coupled to a capacitor on the first circuit board to form a tuned LC circuit.

56. The array of nesting stations of claim 46, wherein the array of nesting stations forms a shelf in a stack of shelves.

57. The array of nesting stations of claim 56, wherein each shelf in the stack of shelves includes an array of nesting stations.

58. The array of nesting stations of claim 46, wherein the array of nesting stations includes an interrogator to drive the first antenna and the second antenna.

60. The array of nesting stations of claim 59, wherein the first plastic molding forms an integral part of a shelf.

61. The array of nesting stations of claim 59, wherein the second plastic molding forms an integral part of a second structure, the second structure selected from a group consisting of a pallet, a bench, and a table.

62. The array of nesting stations of claim 59, wherein the array of nesting stations further includes an annunciator attached to the first plastic molding.

63. The array of nesting stations of claim 59, wherein the first single layer flat coil is configured to a size to operate with a first tag having an operating range of about 0 to 20 inches, and the second single layer flat coil is configured to a size to operate with a second tag having an operating range of about 0 to 20 inches.

64. The array of nesting stations of claim 59, wherein the array of nesting stations forms a shelf in a stack of shelves.

65. The array of nesting stations of claim 64, wherein each shelf in the stack of shelves includes an array of nesting stations.

66. The array of nesting stations of claim 59, wherein the array of nesting stations includes an interrogator to drive the first antenna and the second antenna.

68. The array of nesting stations of claim 67, wherein the first plastic molding forms an integral part of a shelf.

69. The array of nesting stations of claim 67, wherein the second plastic molding forms an integral part of a second structure, the second structure selected from a group consisting of a pallet, a bench, and a table.

70. The array of nesting stations of claim 67, wherein the array of nesting stations further includes an annunciator attached to the first plastic molding.

71. The array of nesting stations of claim 67, wherein the first antenna is configured to a size to operate with a first tag having an operating range of about 0 to 20 inches, and the second antenna is configured to a size to operate with a second tag having an operating range of about 0 to 20 inches.

72. The array of nesting stations of claim 67, wherein the array of nesting stations forms a shelf in a stack of shelves.

73. The array of nesting stations of claim 63, wherein each shelf in the stack of shelves includes an array of nesting stations.

74. The array of nesting stations of claim 67, wherein the array of nesting stations includes an interrogator to drive the first antenna and the second antenna.

17. A nesting station for use in an RFID tracking system, the nesting station comprising:

a substantially flat structure having a top and a bottom;

a circuit board imbedded in the substantially flat structure;

an antenna electrically connected to the circuit board, the antenna imbedded in the substantially flat structure; and

a metallic plate imbedded in the substantially flat structure between the antenna and the bottom of the substantially flat structure.

29. A nesting station for use in an RFID tracking system, the nesting station comprising:

a plastic molding with molded ridges;

a circuit board laying in a first notch of a top of the plastic molding;

an antenna coil electrically connected to the circuit board, the antenna coil positioned in a second notch of the top of the plastic molding;

a metallic plate attached to an inner bottom of the plastic molding;

foam filler placed within the plastic molding; and

a covering closing the molding.

38. A nesting station for use in an RFID tracking system, the nesting station comprising:

a plastic molding with molded ridges;

a circuit board laying in a first notch of a top of the plastic molding;

an antenna including a substantially circular core, the core having an annular ring protruding substantially perpendicular to the plane of the core and having a substantially centered core post extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the core with a coil wound around the post between the post and the annular ring, the antenna electrically connected to the circuit board and positioned in a second notch of the top of the plastic molding; and

a metallic plate attached to an inner bottom of the plastic molding.

46. An array of nesting stations for use in an RFID tracking system, the array of nesting stations comprising:

a substantially flat first structure having a top and a bottom;

a first circuit board imbedded in the substantially flat first structure;

a first antenna electrically connected to the first circuit board, the first antenna imbedded in the substantially flat first structure;

a metallic first plate imbedded in the substantially flat first structure between the first antenna and the bottom of the substantially flat first structure;

a substantially flat second structure having a top and a bottom;

a second circuit board imbedded in the substantially flat second structure;

a second antenna electrically connected to the second circuit board, the second antenna imbedded in the substantially flat second structure; and

a metallic second plate imbedded in the substantially flat second structure between the second antenna and the bottom of the substantially flat second structure, wherein the substantially flat first structure abuts the substantially flat second structure.

59. An array of nesting stations for use in an RFID tracking system, the array of nesting stations comprising:

a first plastic molding with molded ridges;

a first circuit board laying in a first notch of a top of the first plastic molding, the first circuit board containing a first capacitor;

a first single layer flat coil electrically connected to the first capacitor, the first flat coil positioned in a second notch of the top of the first plastic molding;

a first metallic plate attached to an inner bottom of the first plastic molding;

a first foam filler placed within the plastic molding;

a second plastic molding with molded ridges;

a second circuit board laying in a first notch of a top of the second plastic molding, the second circuit board containing a second capacitor;

a second single layer flat coil electrically connected to the second capacitor, the second flat coil positioned in a second notch of the top of the second plastic molding;

a second metallic plate attached to an inner bottom of the second plastic molding; and

a second foam filler placed within the plastic molding, wherein the first plastic molding abuts the second plastic molding.

67. An array of nesting stations for use in an RFID tracking system, the array of nesting stations comprising:

a first plastic molding with molded ridges;

a first circuit board laying in a first notch of a top of the first plastic molding, the first circuit board containing a first capacitor;

a first antenna having a single layer flat coil electrically connected to the first capacitor, the first antenna positioned in a second notch of the top of the first plastic molding;

a first metallic plate attached to an inner bottom of the first plastic molding;

a first foam filler placed within the plastic molding; and

a second plastic molding with molded ridges;

a second circuit board laying in a first notch of a top of the second plastic molding;

a second antenna including a substantially circular core, the core having an annular ring protruding substantially perpendicular to the plane of the core and having a substantially centered core post extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the core with a second coil wound around the post between the post and the annular ring, the second antenna electrically connected to the second circuit board and positioned in a second notch of the top of the second plastic molding;

a second metallic plate attached to an inner bottom of the second plastic molding;

a second foam filler placed within the plastic molding, wherein the first plastic molding abuts the second plastic molding.