Accu-sort Systems, Inc.

Datalogic Automation, Inc.

Datalogic Usa, Inc.

Zhong-Min Liu

Peter J Goidas

Jeffrey Michael Brockmole

Kapilkumar N Kulakkunnath

Raymond R Hillegass

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed has a conveyor that conveys items through a path of travel, and an antenna disposed proximate the path of travel. Circuitry in communication with the antenna may associate RFID tag data with a package on the conveyor based on a difference signal from elements in the antenna.

Radio frequency identification tag identification system

An antenna for use in a conveyor system in which items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed are moved on a conveyor along a path of travel, includes a ground plane, a substrate having a bottom surface received adjacent the ground plane, at least one patch element disposed on a top surface of the substrate, a cover received adjacent the top surface of the substrate, and a front static conductive strip disposed along a front edge of the cover. The antenna is disposed beneath the conveyor and a front edge of the antenna is transverse to the path of travel. The front static conductive strip is electrically connected to the ground plane such that an electrostatic discharge event adjacent the front static conductive strip is discharged to the ground plane.

Electrostatic discharge safe under conveyor antenna

A conveyor system processes items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed and includes a frame and a conveyor that is disposed moveably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon. An antenna is disposed on the frame with respect to the path of travel so that the antenna radiates radio frequency signals into a first area through which the items pass. The antenna comprises a substrate and a plurality of patch elements having respective generally planar surfaces and that are disposed on the substrate in respecting positions that are sequential with respect to a direction transverse to the path of travel. The generally planar surfaces of the patch elements are generally coplanar. The antenna includes a feed network that applies respective signals to each patch element that drive electric current at the patch elements to radiate the radio frequency signals. The respective signals applied by the feed network to at least two patch elements define a predetermined phase shift with respect to each other. A radio frequency transmitter drives the antenna to emit the radio frequency signals.

RFID conveyor system

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed includes a frame and a conveyor that is disposed moveably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each items having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon. A plurality of antennas is disposed proximate the path of travel so that each antenna radiates a gain pattern that carries radio frequency signals into a respective predetermined first area through which the items pass and receives responses to the radio frequency signals from the respective radio frequency identification tags on the items in the path of travel. At least one radio frequency transmitter drives the antennas to emit the gain patterns. At least one radio frequency receiver receives signals from the antennas corresponding to the responses and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses. A processor receives the first signals. The processor associates a first signal with a first item if the processor receives the first signal from the at least one receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within any respective predetermined first area. The antennas are disposed with respect to the path of travel so that the respective predetermined first areas at least partially overlap with each other. A first antenna and a second antenna of the plurality of antennas are disposed so that the gain pattern of the first antenna generally does not interfere with reception of responses by the second antenna, and the gain pattern of the second antenna generally does not interfere with reception of responses by the first antenna. The processor controls the at least transmitter to drive respective antennas, including driving the first antenna and the second antenna simultaneously with each other.

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed includes a frame and a generally planar conveyor that is disposed moveably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon. A first antenna is disposed proximate the path of travel so that the first antenna radiates a first gain pattern carrying radio frequency signals into a first area through which the items pass, wherein the first gain pattern defines an electric field having magnitude and direction and receives responses to the radio frequency signals from radio identification tags on the items. A second antenna is proximate the first antenna and the path of travel so that the second antenna radiates a second gain pattern carrying radio frequency signals into the first area, wherein the second gain pattern defines an electric field having magnitude and direction. At least one radio frequency receiver receives signals from the first antenna corresponding to the responses received by the first antenna from the respective radio frequency identification tags and outputs first signals corresponding to the responses. A processor receives the first signal from the at least one receiver and is programmed to associate a first signal with a first item if the processor receives the first signal from the at least one receiver while at least a portion of the first item is within a predetermined second area that includes at least part of the first area. The gain pattern of the first antenna and the gain pattern of the second antenna are defined, and the second antenna is disposed with respect to the first antenna, so that the direction of the electric field of the first gain pattern opposes the direction of the electric field of the second gain pattern in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the conveyor in the first area and in a direction generally parallel to the path of travel in the first area.

RFID conveyor system and method

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed includes a frame and a conveyor that is disposed moveably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon. An antenna is disposed on the frame with respect to the path of travel so that the antenna radiates radio frequency signals into a first area through which the items pass. The antenna comprises a substrate and a plurality of patch elements disposed on the substrate in respective positions that are sequential with respect to a direction transverse to the path of travel. An electric current at each patch element drives radiation of the radio frequency signals and defines a rotating electric current pattern. Respective rotational directions of the electric current pattern at two patch elements are opposite to each other. A radio frequency transmitter drives the antenna to admit the radio frequency signals into the first area.

A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed includes a frame, a conveyor that is disposed moveably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon, a first antenna, a second antenna, a radio frequency receiver, a processor, and radiation absorbing material disposed between the first and second antennas and the path of travel, so that the absorbing material shields a portion of the radiation that would otherwise radiate into an area through which the items pass.

Growing community of inventors

Doylestown, PA, United States of America

Zhong-Min Liu