Applications for radio frequency ...

The present invention relates to RFID devices, including handheld RFID devices, and applications for such devices. The devices and applications may be used in connection with items that are associated with an RFID tag, and optionally a magnetic security element. The devices and applications are...

Inventors: Sharon R. Garber, Bernard A. Gonzalez, Mitchell B. Grunes, Richard H. Jackson, Gerald L. Karel, John M. Kruse, Richard W. Lindahl, James E. Nash, Chester Piotrowski, John D. Yorkovich
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
Primary Examiner: Thomas Mullen
Attorney: Nestor F. Ho

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U.S. Classification
340/572.1; 235/385; 340/592

International Classification
G08B 1314

View patent at USPTO

Citations

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Referenced by

Patent Number	Title	Issue date
6592043	Fixture to mount a miniature proximity transponder to another article	Jul 15, 2003
6693512	Device location and identification system	Feb 17, 2004
6710712	Deformation components and documentation system for deformable components for use in a motor vehicle	Mar 23, 2004
6830192	Substrate which is made from paper and is provided with an integrated circuit	Dec 14, 2004
6950023	Contact-free electronic label for product with conductive surface	Sep 27, 2005
6961709	System and method of managing inventory	Nov 1, 2005
6974081	Smart book	Dec 13, 2005
6999028	Ultra high frequency radio frequency identification tag	Feb 14, 2006
7046147	Integrated security system and method	May 16, 2006
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7132945	Material support system for supporting items having radio frequency identification (RFID) tags	Nov 7, 2006
7148803	Radio frequency identification (RFID) based sensor networks	Dec 12, 2006
7172123	Combined data reader and electronic article surveillance (EAS) system	Feb 6, 2007
7176802	Radio IC tag reader, radio IC tag read apparatus and radio IC tag read system	Feb 13, 2007
7215295	Ultra high frequency radio frequency identification tag	May 8, 2007
7242304	System and method for authenticated detachment of product tags	Jul 10, 2007
7248892	Electrical devices	Jul 24, 2007
7246746	Integrated real-time automated location positioning asset management system	Jul 24, 2007
7259678	Durable radio frequency identification label and methods of manufacturing the same	Aug 21, 2007
7260882	Methods for making electronic devices with small functional elements supported on a carriers	Aug 28, 2007
7288432	Electronic devices with small functional elements supported on a carrier	Oct 30, 2007
7313422	Electrical devices	Dec 25, 2007
7317382	Remote communications devices, wireless communications systems, and wireless communications methods	Jan 8, 2008
7339476	Systems and methods that integrate radio frequency identification (RFID) technology with industrial controllers	Mar 4, 2008
7339546	Contactless reading system for chip cards placed on objects	Mar 4, 2008
7348875	Semi-passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with active beacon	Mar 25, 2008
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7374092	Combined data reader and electronic article surveillance (EAS) system	May 20, 2008
7376439	Electrical devices	May 20, 2008
7380711	Self-check system and method for protecting digital media	Jun 3, 2008
7388491	Mobile RFID reader with integrated location awareness for material tracking and management	Jun 17, 2008
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7397358	Method and system for location-centric information retrieval from wireless devices using RFID coding	Jul 8, 2008

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hand-held RFID device, comprising as an integrated unit:

(a) a computer;

(b) an antenna to transmit commands between an RFID tag and an RFID reader;

(d) a display.

2. The hand-held RFD device of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) an RFID writer for transmitting information to an RFID tag for storage therein.

3. The hand-held RFID device of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) a data transfer system for transferring data from the RFID device to a separate database.

4. The hand-held RFID device of claim 3, wherein the data transfer system comprises a connection for operatively coupling with a docking station.

5. The hand-held RFID device of claim 3, wherein the data transfer system comprises a cabled data transfer connection.

6. The hand-held RFID device of claim 3, wherein the data transfer system comprises a wireless data transfer system.

7. The hand-held RFID device of claim 1, wherein the device includes an integral power source.

8. The hand-held RFID device of claim 1, wherein the computer is a detachable hand-held computer.

9. The hand-held RFID device of claim 8, wherein the computer includes a power source separate from the source of power for the remainder of the device.

10. The hand-held RFID device of claim 8, wherein the detachable hand-held computer comprises a connection for operatively coupling with a docking station.

11. The hand-held RFID device of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) a trigger for intermittent activation of the device.

12. The hand-held RFID device of any one of claims 1 through 10 or 11, further wherein the display is a touch-screen display.

13. The hand-held RFID device of any one of claims 1 through 10, or 11, wherein the hand-held device obtains information from an RFID tag, and immediately displays that information on the display.

14. The hand-held RFID device of any one of claims 1 through 10, or 11, wherein the hand-held device obtains information from an RFID tag, and immediately displays information stored within the hand-held device that is related to a tagged item.

15. The hand-held RFID device of any one of claims 1 through 10, or 11, wherein the device is adapted to verify the order of materials on a shelf.

16. The hand-held RFID device of any one of claims 1 through 10, or 11, wherein (i) the device is programmed with specific information identifying certain items that an operator wishes to locate, (ii) identifiers of items read by the RFID device are compared with the information identifying the certain items; and (iii) when a match occurs, the device creates one or more signals indicating the presence of the item.

17. A hand-held RFID device, comprising as an integrated unit:

(a) a computer;

(b) an antenna to trasmit commands between an RFDI tag and an RFDI reader;

(d) an RFDI writer for transmitting information to an RFDI tag for storage therein;

(e) a touch-screen display; and

(f) a trigger for intermittent activation of the device.

18. The hand-held RFDI device of claim 17, further comprising a data transfer system for transferring data from the RFID device to a separate database.

19. The hand-held RFID device of claim 18, wherein the data transfer system comprises a connection for operatively coupling with a docking station.

20. The hand-held RFID device of claim 18, wherein the data transfer system comprises a cabled data transfer connection.

21. The hand-held RFID device of claim 18, wherein the data transfer system comprises a wireless data transfer system.

22. The hand-held RFID device of claim 17, wherein the device includes an integral power source.

23. The hand-held RFID device of claim 17, wherein the computer is a detachable hand-held computer.

24. The hand-held RFID device of claim 23, wherein the detachable hand-held computer comprises a connection for operatively coupling with a docking station.

25. The hand-held RFID device of claim 17, wherein the computer includes a power source separate from the source of power for the remainder of the device.

26. The hand-held RFID device of claim 17, wherein the hand-held device obtains information from an RFID tag, and immediately displays that information on the display.

27. The hand-held RFID device of claim 17, wherein the hand-held device obtains information from an RFID tag, and immediately displays information stored within the hand-held device that is related to a tagged item.

28. The hand-held RFID device of claim 17, wherein the device is adapted to verify the order of materials on a shelf.

29. The hand-held RFID device of claim 17, wherein (i) the device is programmed with specific information identifying certain items that an operator wishes to locate, (ii) indentifiers of items read by the RFID device are compared with the information identifying the certain items; and (iii) when a match occurs, the device creates one or more signals indicating the presence of the item.

Drawings

Drawing

Applications for radio frequency identification systems

Citations

Referenced by

Claims

Drawings