Methods and apparatus for calibrating RFID readers and related RFID locationing systems

    公开(公告)号:US11061101B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-07-13

    申请号:US16293339

    申请日:2019-03-05

    IPC分类号: G01S5/14 G01S5/02

    摘要: A radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) reader calibration system for use with a venue includes an RFID reader having a primary identifier and a plurality of secondary identifiers. The primary identifier and each of the plurality of secondary identifiers having a respective unobstructed line of sight to a point on the floor of the venue. The RFID reader calibration system also includes a data capture device configured to be aimed at the primary identifier and the plurality of secondary identifiers and to capture respective coordinates of the primary identifier and each of the plurality of secondary identifiers. The RFID reader calibration system also includes a controller configured to determine: a location of the RFID reader based on the coordinates of the primary identifier; and an orientation of the RFID reader based on the respective coordinates of the primary identifier and each of the plurality of secondary identifiers.

    Systems and methods for enhanced directionality in RFID portal systems

    公开(公告)号:US11915085B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-02-27

    申请号:US17751138

    申请日:2022-05-23

    IPC分类号: G06K7/10 G01S13/46

    摘要: Systems and methods for enhanced directionality for portal detector stations are provided. The systems include a portal detector station, an overhead detector station, a controller operatively coupled thereto. In embodiments, the controller analyzes read events detected by the portal detector station to determine a set of RFID tags included in a pallet of objects. The controller also analyzes read events detected by the overhead detector station to determine a direction of travel for the RFID tags included in the set of RFID tags and/or to detect stray read events that resulted in RFID tags being erroneously included in the set of RFID tags.

    SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCED FAULT TOLERANCE FOR RFID PHASED ARRAY ANTENNAS

    公开(公告)号:US20220320710A1

    公开(公告)日:2022-10-06

    申请号:US17218302

    申请日:2021-03-31

    摘要: Systems and methods for enhanced fault tolerance for a radio frequency identification (RFID) phased array antenna are provided. The systems include a RFID reader that includes (i) a phased array antenna having N antenna elements; and (ii) a controller operatively connected to the phased array antenna. The controller is configured to (1) monitor a characteristic for each antenna element of a set of the N antenna elements; (2) based on the characteristic, detect a fault of a faulty antenna element of the set of the N antenna elements; and (3) responsive to detecting the fault of the faulty antenna element of the set of the N antenna elements, adjust a parameter of at least one other antenna element of the N antenna elements, wherein the parameter is a weight applied to a signal that is transmitted to or received at an antenna element.

    Methods and system for enhanced RFID direction finding

    公开(公告)号:US10976408B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-04-13

    申请号:US16235835

    申请日:2018-12-28

    摘要: At least some embodiments of the present invention are directed to RFID reader systems configured to estimate a directional bearing of an RFID tag. In an embodiment, the present invention is an RFID system configured in a way that upon a detection of a variance in the direction of a maximum RSSI value for a given RFID tag in response to a plurality of interrogation signals transmitted by an RFID reader over a respective plurality of different directions, the RFID reader retransmits the plurality of interrogation signals over the respective plurality of different directions with successively lower power levels until the only response(s) being received no longer exhibit the previously detected variance.

    METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CALIBRATING RFID READERS AND RELATED RFID LOCATIONING SYSTEMS

    公开(公告)号:US20200284869A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-09-10

    申请号:US16293339

    申请日:2019-03-05

    IPC分类号: G01S5/02 G01S5/14

    摘要: A radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) reader calibration system for use with a venue includes an RFID reader having a primary identifier and a plurality of secondary identifiers. The primary identifier and each of the plurality of secondary identifiers having a respective unobstructed line of sight to a point on the floor of the venue. The RFID reader calibration system also includes a data capture device configured to be aimed at the primary identifier and the plurality of secondary identifiers and to capture respective coordinates of the primary identifier and each of the plurality of secondary identifiers. The RFID reader calibration system also includes a controller configured to determine: a location of the RFID reader based on the coordinates of the primary identifier; and an orientation of the RFID reader based on the respective coordinates of the primary identifier and each of the plurality of secondary identifiers.

    Method, system and apparatus for radio-frequency echo cancellation

    公开(公告)号:US10515240B1

    公开(公告)日:2019-12-24

    申请号:US16168586

    申请日:2018-10-23

    IPC分类号: G06K7/10 H01Q1/22

    摘要: An RFID echo cancellation assembly includes: a circulator defining a transmission path from a transmit module to an antenna module, and a reception path from the antenna module to a receive module; a combiner on the reception path between the circulator and the receive module; a variable reflector for applying a cancellation signal to the combiner; a controller for setting an operational parameter at the variable reflector according to an attribute of a transmitted signal from the transmit module; and a coupler defining a segment of the transmission path between the transmit module and the circulator, and a cancellation path between the variable reflector and the combiner. The coupler couples a portion of the transmitted signal to the variable reflector, whereupon the variable reflector generates the cancellation signal based on the operational parameter, for transmission to the combiner via the cancellation signal path.

    System and methods for enhancing portal directionality determination

    公开(公告)号:US12106174B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-10-01

    申请号:US18115577

    申请日:2023-02-28

    IPC分类号: G06K7/10 G06Q10/08

    CPC分类号: G06K7/10475 G06Q10/08

    摘要: The disclosure is a system comprising a transceiver array, containing at least a first pair of transceivers and a second pair of transceivers, the first pair of transceivers containing a transceiver that is included in the second pair of transceivers. Each transceiver in a pair is configured to monitor a plurality of zones for RFID tags, transmit information related to the monitoring of a portion the plurality of zones for RFID tags to the other transceiver in the pair, and determine a location of a monitored RFID tag based on the information acquired through the monitoring of the plurality of zones and the information received from the other transceiver in the first or second pair.

    Systems and Methods for Enhanced Directionality in RFID Portal Systems

    公开(公告)号:US20230409846A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-12-21

    申请号:US17751138

    申请日:2022-05-23

    IPC分类号: G06K7/10 G01S13/46

    摘要: Systems and methods for enhanced directionality for portal detector stations are provided. The systems include a portal detector station, an overhead detector station, a controller operatively coupled thereto. In embodiments, the controller analyzes read events detected by the portal detector station to determine a set of RFID tags included in a pallet of objects. The controller also analyzes read events detected by the overhead detector station to determine a direction of travel for the RFID tags included in the set of RFID tags and/or to detect stray read events that resulted in RFID tags being erroneously included in the set of RFID tags.