Radio frequency device for tracking goods

• US 20050270160A1
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I3 ELECTRONICS, INC.
• Original Assignee: Endicott Interconnect Technologies Incorporated, Maines Paper & Food Service Incorporated
• Inventors: Chan, Benson, Markovich, Voya, Maines, William, Lin, How, Kimler, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,142,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.800
• 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: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A radio frequency (RF) device (or “tag”) for containing specific information relating to a particular good being shipped from one location (e.g., warehouse) to another (e.g., customer). The device includes a circuitized substrate (e.g., a printed circuit board), a semiconductor chip, an antenna and a power regulator, and is designed in one embodiment to be partly inserted within a good (e.g., a cardboard box) containing one or more of the goods being shipped and tracked. Alternatively, the device may be attached by other means (e.g., adhesive). A shipper can simply track the goods containing such devices using wireless communication devices (e.g., satellites) to quickly and readily ascertain the specific location of the goods at any time as well as the appropriate desired information relating to such goods (e.g., quantity, weight, type, etc.).

Claims

1. An RF device for tracking goods, said device comprising:

a circuitized substrate;

at least one semiconductor chip electrically coupled to said circuitized substrate;

an antenna electrically coupled to said circuitized substrate;

a cover for substantially covering said semiconductor chip, said RF device adapted for being securedly positioned on a good for being shipped.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said circuitized substrate is a printed circuit board.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said printed circuit board is of substantially annular configuration.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said semiconductor chip is positioned on said printed circuit board.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said antenna comprises a continuous wire positioned on said printed circuit board and electrically coupled to said semiconductor chip.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein said cover also substantially covers said antenna.

7. The device of claim 1 further including a power regulator for regulating power of said device, said power regulator electrically coupled to said circuitized substrate.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said power regulator is positioned on said circuitized substrate.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said cover also substantially covers said power regulator.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said device is further adapted for being re-programmed following individual usage thereof and is thus reusable.

11. The device of claim 1 further including a body portion, said circuitized substrate being positioned substantially within or upon said body portion.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said circuitized substrate is a printed circuit board.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said body portion is comprised of metal.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein said body portion includes a protruding end segment adapted for being inserted within selected ones of said goods for being shipped.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein said metal is stainless steel.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein said antenna comprises a continuous wire positioned on said printed circuit board and electrically coupled to said semiconductor chip and to said protruding end segment.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein said cover comprises a housing, said circuitized substrate, semiconductor chip and said antenna being substantially positioned within said housing.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said housing includes a layer of adhesive thereon and adapted for securedly positioning said housing to said good for being shipped.