Application for a radio frequency identification system

• US 7,619,529 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Tsai, Ching-Long, Goff, Edward D., Gonzalez, Bernard A., Piotrowski, Chester
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US10/431,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20030206107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,385 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/878, 343/879, 343/895, 340/573.4, 340/572.6, 340/572.7, 340/572.4
• US Class Current: 340/572.4
• 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 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07779 the inductive antenna being a coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07783 the coil being planar
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

Antenna shelf tape is disclosed for use with items having radio frequency identification elements or tags associated with items of interest.

Claims

1. An antenna system for use with items that each include an RFID element, wherein the system comprises multiple antennae, at least one of which can be selected by a control system to facilitate the interrogation of RFID elements adjacent a selected antenna(e) to determine information regarding the presence or absence of items, and that information is available in real time to an operator.

2. An antenna system for use with items that each include an RFID element, wherein the antenna system comprises:

(a) multiple antennae, at least one of which can be selected to facilitate the interrogation of RFID elements adjacent a selected antenna(e); and

(b) a control system for addressing antennas selectively, so that the antenna system can locate a specific item among a collection of items.