Data Interface Process With RFID Data Reader Glove

• US 20100097195A1
• Filed: 10/16/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Davies, Paul Robert, Fredgren, Brian C., Majoros, Anthony E., Kalinowski, Robert Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,482,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.6
• 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

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method and apparatus for reducing time expended on non-value added tasks during assembly of an aircraft is provided. A RFID tag reading function of a RFID tag reader integrated into user apparel is enabled. The RFID tag reader comprises a set of touch activation components integrated into the user apparel. A touch activation component in the set of touch activation components is pressed against a surface in proximity of a RFID tag associated with an aircraft component. The RFID tag reader transmits an interrogate signal to an RFID tag associated with the aircraft component. The user observes a display device coupled to the RFID tag reader integrated into the user apparel, wherein the display device displays RFID tag information received from the RFID tag in response to the interrogate signal. The RFID tag information comprises data describing the aircraft component. The user receives the RFID tag information without interrupting an assembly task.

Claims

1. A method for reducing time expended on non-value added tasks during assembly of an aircraft, the method comprising:

enabling a radio frequency identification tag reading function of a radio frequency identification tag reader integrated into a user apparel, wherein the radio frequency identification tag reader comprises a set of touch activation components integrated into the user apparel;

responsive to pressing a touch activation component in the set of touch activation components against a surface, transmitting an interrogate signal to the radio frequency identification tag associated with an aircraft component, by the radio frequency identification tag reader;

observing a display device coupled to the radio frequency identification tag reader integrated into the user apparel, wherein the display device displays radio frequency identification tag information received from the radio frequency identification tag in response to the interrogate signal, and wherein the radio frequency identification tag information comprises data describing the aircraft component, and wherein a user receives the radio frequency identification tag information without interrupting an assembly task.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the assembly of the aircraft is a task comprising:

assembling a plurality of parts or subparts to form a component or assembly for utilization in the aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user apparel is a glove, wherein the glove comprises a plurality of regions, wherein the touch activation component is integrated into a first region in the plurality of regions, and wherein the touch activation component is activated when the user touches the first region of the glove against the surface.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first region is a region of the glove covering the back of a hand of the user, and wherein the touch activation component is activated when the user touches the region of the glove covering the back of the hand to the surface.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

a second region, wherein the second region is a region of the glove covering a fingertip of the user, and wherein the touch activation component is activated when the user touches the region of the glove covering the fingertip to the surface.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the glove is worn by a user and wherein the display device is integrated into an optic shield worn by the user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the display device is a display screen, and wherein the radio frequency identification tag reader transmits the radio frequency identification tag information to the display screen using a wireless communication protocol.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the user wears the glove and wherein the display device is attached to the glove.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the display device attached to a gauntlet of the glove.

10. A method of performing maintenance on a device, the method comprising:

enabling a radio frequency identification tag reading function of a radio frequency identification tag reader integrated into a glove, wherein the radio frequency identification tag reader comprises a touch activation component integrated into the glove;

pressing the touch activation component against a surface to activate a ready-to-read contact event;

responsive to pressing the touch activation component against the surface, transmitting an interrogate signal to a radio frequency identification tag associated with a component of the device, by the radio frequency identification tag reader; and

observing a display device associated with the radio frequency identification tag reader integrated into the glove, by a user wearing the glove, wherein the display device displays radio frequency identification tag information received from the radio frequency identification tag in response to the interrogate signal, and wherein the radio frequency identification tag information comprises maintenance data associated with the component, and wherein the user receives the radio frequency identification tag information without interrupting a maintenance task and performance of value-added tasks.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the touch activation component is located in a fingertip of the glove.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the display device is integrated into an optic shield worn by the user.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the display device is a display screen, and wherein the radio frequency identification tag reader transmits the radio frequency identification tag information to the display screen using a wireless communication protocol.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the display device is attached to a gauntlet of the glove.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the device is selected from a group consisting of an aircraft, an aerospace vehicle, an automobile, a truck, a construction vehicle, a boat, a ship, and a robot.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the maintenance task is a task selected from a group consisting of a manufacturing task, an assembly task, a component testing task, a repair task, a component replacement task, a component inspection task, and a component maintenance task.

17. A method for tracking aircraft components, the method comprising:

enabling a radio frequency identification tag reading function of a radio frequency identification tag reader integrated into a user apparel, wherein the radio frequency identification tag reader comprises a set of touch activation components integrated into the user apparel;

responsive to pressing a touch activation component in the set of touch activation components against a surface, transmitting an interrogate signal to the radio frequency identification tag associated with an aircraft component, by the radio frequency identification tag reader;

observing a display device coupled to the radio frequency identification tag reader integrated into the user apparel, wherein the display device displays radio frequency identification tag information received from the radio frequency identification tag in response to the interrogate signal, and wherein the radio frequency identification tag information indicates whether the aircraft component is in an acceptable location or an unacceptable location without interrupting performance of a value-added task.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the user apparel is a glove and wherein the radio frequency identification tag reader is integrated into the glove.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the touch activation component is located in a fingertip of the glove.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the glove is worn by a user and wherein the display device is integrated into an optic shield worn by the user.

21. A radio frequency identification data reading glove system comprising:

a set of radio frequency identification tag readers integrated into a glove;

a power source;

a set of touch activation components integrated into a set of fingertips of the glove, wherein a touch activation component in the set of touch activation components is activated when a user presses the touch activation component against a surface during performance of a value-added maintenance task associated with the device component;

an antenna, wherein the antenna transmits an interrogate signal to the set of radio frequency identification tags associated with a component of a device in response to the user touching the surface with the touch activation component;

a network interface, wherein the network interface transmits a response signal received from the set of radio frequency identification tag readers to a computing device for processing, and wherein a result of processing the response signal comprises radio frequency identification tag information; and

a display device coupled to the set of radio frequency identification tag readers, wherein the display device presents the radio frequency identification tag information to a user performing the value-added maintenance task, and wherein the user receives the radio frequency identification tag information without interrupting performance of the value-added maintenance task.

22. The radio frequency identification tag reader glove system of claim 21 further comprising:

an eye shield, wherein the display device is incorporated into the eye shield.

23. The radio frequency identification tag reader glove system of claim 21 wherein the display device is a wrist mounted display screen, wherein the wrist mounted display screen presents the radio frequency identification tag information to the user.