Apparatus and method for reading radio frequency identification transponders used for livestock identification and data collection

• US 6,329,920 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aginfolink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aginfolink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Morrison, Matthew J., Curkendall, Leland D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/488,897
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.3, 340/573.1, 340/825.34, 340/10.1, 340/505, 340/691.1, 340/815.65, 340/5.8, 340/693.5, 340/539, 128/903, 119/51.02, 235/472.01, 235/472.02, 235/472.03
• US Class Current: 340/573.3
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/007 Boluses
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/008 incorporating GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• 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

A portable, durable, easy-to-use, safety-oriented, long-life apparatus for reading radio frequency identification transponders is described. This apparatus is well-suited for use in connection with livestock data collection and management. The preferred embodiment includes a single wound radio frequency identification antenna coil; a radio frequency transmitter; a power control, system timing and driver including a low battery indicator, and an optical switch; a rechargeable battery; a main power switch; an infrared activation switch; a radio frequency link antenna, a receiver analog section, a micro controller, an exciter drive and a read switch; and audio feedback to confirm receipt of data.

Claims

1. A portable, hand-held radio frequency identification reader comprising:

housing means;

handle means integral to said housing means;

exciter drive means for inducing current in a radio frequency identification loop antenna means such that a magnetic field is created which powers a radio frequency identification transponder, said exciter drive means being disposed within said housing means;

radio frequency identification loop antenna means for capturing a radio frequency signal from the radio frequency identification transponder and communicating said signal to an analog receiver means, said radio frequency identification loop antenna means being disposed within said housing means;

analog receiver means for capturing the radio frequency signal from said radio frequency loop antenna means and encoding said signal into a digital signal, said analog receiver means being disposed within said housing means;

micro controller means for decoding said digital signal from the analog receiver means and converting said digital signal into a unique code, said microcontroller means being disposed within said housing means;

read switch means for reading the identification from the transponder,

said read switch means being disposed within said housing means;

radio frequency transmitter means for transmitting the radio frequency signal to a host computer, said radio frequency transmitter means being disposed within said housing means;

radio frequency link antenna means for broadcasting said unique code to a host computer, said radio frequency link antenna means being disposed within said housing means;

power supply means for providing power to the reader, said power supply means being disposed within said housing means; and

power control, system timing and display driver means including an activation switch means for activating said reader, said activation switch means thereby causing said reader to read a radio frequency identification transponder, said activation switch means being integral to said housing means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

said activation switch means includes an infrared transmitter and receiver.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein

said activation switch means is activated by placing an object between the infrared transmitter and receiver to break a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an ON position and the object is removed from between the receiver and transmitter to close a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an OFF position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein

said activation switch means is located such that the index finger of a hand holding the reader may be easily placed between the transmitter and receiver to break a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an ON position, and the index finger can be easily removed from between the transmitter and receiver to close a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an OFF position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein

said radio frequency link antenna means is located within the inside perimeter of the radio frequency identification loop antenna means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

audio feedback means for broadcasting a confirmation that the radio frequency signal from the radio frequency identification transponder was received by the host computer.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein

said power control, system timing and display driver means includes a low power indicator means for indicating low power, and visual feedback means for verifying receipt of data, said low power indicator means and said visual feedback means being integral to said housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein

the visual feedback means is a status light integral to said housing means, such that the light is connected to said analog receiver means, said exciter drive means, said micro controller means, and said read switch means, and said status light will display a first color to indicate that power is available and the light will display a second color to indicate that a radio frequency identification signal has been received and interpreted.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein

the visual feedback means is a status light integral to said housing means, such that the light is connected to said analog receiver means, said exciter drive means, said micro controller means, and said read switch means, and said status light will display a first color to indicate that power is available, a second color to indicate that a radio frequency identification signal has been received, and a third color to indicate that an external device has confirmed receipt of the data.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein

said power supply means is a rechargeable battery having at least five hundred charge/discharge cycles.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein

said housing means is constructed of ZYTEL™

nylon.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein

said housing means is constructed of glass-reinforced polyurethane.

13. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein

said activation switch means is located such that the thumb of a hand holding the reader may be easily placed between the transmitter and receiver to break a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an ON position, and the thumb can be easily removed from between the transmitter and receiver to close a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an OFF position.

14. A portable, hand-held radio frequency identification reader comprising:

housing having a handle integral to said housing;

a radio frequency identification antenna disposed within said housing;

radio frequency identification circuitry disposed within said housing;

radio frequency link circuitry disposed within said housing;

a radio frequency link antenna disposed within said housing;

a rechargeable battery disposed within said housing, said rechargeable battery having at least five hundred charge-discharge cycles;

a main power switch integral to said housing;

power control, system timing and display driver including an activation switch integral to said housing, such that the activation switch activates the radio frequency identification circuitry, said activation switch including an infrared transmitter and receiver;

wherein said rechargeable battery is connected to said radio frequency identification circuitry and to said radio frequency link circuitry, and said radio frequency identification antenna is connected to the radio frequency identification circuitry such that the antenna may capture a radio frequency signal from a radio frequency identification transponder and communicate said signal to the radio frequency identification circuitry, and the radio frequency identification circuitry may interpret the signal and identify the transponder and communicate the identification to the radio frequency link circuitry.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein

said activation switch is activated by placino an object between the infrared transmitter and receiver to break a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an ON position and the object is removed from between the receiver and transmitter to close a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an OFF position.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein

said activation switch is located such that the index finger of a hand holding the reader may be easily placed between the transmitter and receiver to break a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an ON position, and the index finger can be easily removed from between the transmitter and receiver to close a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an OFF position.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein

said radio frequency link antenna is located within the perimeter of the radio frequency identification loop antenna.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

audio feedback means for broadcasting a confirmation that the radio frequency signal from the radio frequency identification transponder was received by the host computer.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein

said power control, system timing and display driver include a visual feedback means integral to said housing.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein

the visual feedback means is a status light integral to said housing, such that the light is connected to said radio frequency identification circuitry and said status light will display a first color to indicate that power is available and the light will display a second color to indicate that a radio frequency identification signal has been received and interpreted.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein

the visual feedback means is a status light integral to said housing, such that the light is connected to said radio frequency identification circuitry, and said status light will display a first color to indicate that power is available, a second color to indicate that a radio frequency identification signal has been received, and a third color to indicate that an external device has confirmed receipt of the data.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein

said housing is constructed of ZYTEL⊥

nylon.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein

the radio frequency link circuitry may be removed as a module and replaced with a direct cable connection from the reader to an external device.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein

said housing is constructed of glass-reinforced polyurethane.

25. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein

said activation switch is located such that the thumb of a hand holding the reader may be easily placed between the transmitter and receiver to break a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an ON position, and the thumb can be easily removed from between the transmitter and receiver to close a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an OFF position.

26. An apparatus for reading radio frequency identification transponders comprising:

housing having a handle integral to said housing;

a single wound radio frequency identification antenna coil disposed within said housing;

radio frequency identification circuitry disposed within said housing;

radio frequency link circuitry disposed within said housing;

a radio frequency link antenna disposed within said housing;

a rechargeable battery disposed within said housing, said rechargeable battery having at least five hundred charge-discharge cycles;

a main power switch integral to said housing;

power control, system timing and display driver including an activation switch integral to said housing, such that the activation switch activates the radio frequency identification circuitry, said activation switch including an infrared transmitter and receiver;

wherein said rechargeable battery is connected to said radio frequency identification circuitry and to said radio frequency link circuitry, and said single wound radio frequency identification antenna coil is connected to the radio frequency identification circuitry such that the single wound radio frequency identification antenna coil may capture a radio frequency signal from a radio frequency identification transponder and communicate said signal to the radio frequency identification circuitry, and the radio frequency identification circuitry may interpret the signal and identify the transponder and communicate the identification to the radio frequency link circuitry.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein

said activation switch is activated by placing an object between the infrared transmitter and receiver to break a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an ON position and the object is removed from between the receiver and transmitter to close a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an OFF position.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein

said activation switch is located such that the index finger of a hand holding the reader may be easily placed between the transmitter and receiver to break a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an ON position, and the index finger can be easily removed from between the transmitter and receiver to close a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an OFF position.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein

said RF link antenna is located within the perimeter of the single wound radio frequency identification antenna coil.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

audio feedback means for broadcasting a confirmation that the radio frequency signal from the radio frequency identification transponder was received by the host computer.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein:

said power control, system timing and display driver include a visual feedback means integral to said housing.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein

the visual feedback means is a status light integral to said housing, such that the light is connected to said radio frequency identification circuitry and said status light will display a first color to indicate that power is available and the light will display a second color to indicate that a radio frequency identification signal has been received and interpreted.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein

the visual feedback means is a status light integral to said housing, such that the light is connected to said radio frequency identification circuitry, and said status light will display a first color to indicate that power is available, a second color to indicate that a radio frequency identification signal has been received, and a third color to indicate that an external device has confirmed receipt of the data.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein

said housing is constructed of ZYTEL™

nylon.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein

said housing is constructed of glass-reinforced polyurethane.

36. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein

the radio frequency link circuitry may be removed as a module and replaced with a direct cable connection from the reader to an external device.

37. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein

said activation switch is located such that the thumb of a hand holding the reader may be easily placed between the transmitter and receiver to break a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an ON position, and the thumb can be easily removed from between the transmitter and receiver to close a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an OFF position.

38. A method for reading radio frequency identification transponders comprising the steps of:

activating radio frequency identification circuitry, using an activation switch;

capturing a radio frequency signal, using a single wound radio frequency identification antenna, from a radio frequency identification transponder;

communicating said signal to radio frequency identification circuitry;

interpreting said signal using radio frequency identification circuitry;

identifying said transponder using radio frequency identification circuitry;

communicating the transponder identification to an external device by means of radio frequency link circuitry; and

providing an audio confirmation of the receipt of the transponder identification by the external device.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of:

displaying a color to indicate that an external device has confirmed the receipt of data.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein

the activation switch includes an infrared transmitter and receiver, said activation switch being activated by placing an object between the infrared transmitter and receiver to break a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an ON position and the object is removed from between the receiver and transmitter to close a circuit of infrared light and cause the switch to be in an OFF position.