3m Innovative Properties Company

James P McGee

Robert A Sainati

Ronald David Jesme

Michael E Hamerly

Robert D Lorentz

Michele A Waldner

David P Erickson

Swagata R Banerjee

Richard L Sheehan, Jr

Robert C Francis

Subhalakshmi M Ananthanarayanan

John W Van Bogart

Sai-Kit K Tong

Barry W Kostyk

The invention provides one or more signal line structures that produce an electromagnetic field having a magnitude of at least an interrogation threshold of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for a substantial portion of an interrogation region. The signal lines may be made from copper and laid across a shelf in a storage area. The electromagnetic field may cause the tag to backscatter radio frequency (RF) signals to an RFID reader via the signal line.

Signal line structure for a radio-frequency identification system

Methods of monitoring items and/or materials from a manufacturing process. One embodiment of the invention provides a method of monitoring items and/or materials from a manufacturing process using a plurality of RFID tagged containers, and a plurality of stations associated with different portions of the manufacturing process, where each station includes an RFID reader.

Methods of monitoring items or material from manufacturing processes

An object tracking and management system and method using radio-frequency identification (&ldquo;RFID&rdquo;) tags is disclosed. Objects to be moved between locations are outfitted with RFID tags having information relating to the identities of the objects. The locations are also marked by RFID tags containing information on the locations. A transport vehicle for moving the objects is equipped with an RFID interrogator capable of detecting signals from the RFID tags. An onboard processor provides the operator of the vehicle with instructions on the movement of objects. The processor also determines the identities of the objects and locations from the detected signals and provides the operator with feedback as to the identity of an object being moved, the location of the vehicle and any error in carrying out the instructions. Numerous variations of the basic system and method using RFID tags are also described.

Object tracking and management system and method using radio-frequency identification tags

Growing community of inventors

Cedar, MN, United States of America

James P McGee