[January 24, 2006] RFID TAGS FOR ENABLING BATCH READING OF STACKS OF CARTONS Tweet (PCT Biblio Info Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)Pub. Number WO2006002280 Appl. Data US05022151 20050621 Applicant AVERY DENNISON CORPORATION Inventor(s) FORSTER, Ian, James Title RFID TAGS FOR ENABLING BATCH READING OF STACKS OF CARTONS Abstract A radio-frequency identification (RFID) system including an RFID tag and an RFID -enabled object. The RFID tag may include a pair of antennas (122A & 122B)and an R FID circuit (124). The antennas receive activation energy from a reader (106), and the RFID circuit modulates tag energy when activation energy (E) is received by one of the antennas. The tag may also include a transmission line(126) for opera tively coupling the RFID circuit to the antennas. A first one of the antennas ma y receive activation energy which, in turn, may be radiated by a second one of t he antennas. The second antenna may also receive tag energy radiated by an anten na of another RFID tag. The received tag energy may then be radiated by the first antenna. Accordingly, when a plurality of the RFID tags are positioned in sequ ence in operative proximity with each other, activation energy may be propagated through the sequence from one RFID taA radio-frequency identification (RFID) sy stem including an RFID tag and an RFID-enabled object. The RFID tag may include a pair of antennas and an RFID circuit. The antennas receive activation energy from a reader, and the RFID circuit modulates tag energy when activation energy s received by one of the antennas. The tag may also include a transmission line for operatively coupling the RFID circuit to the antennas. A first one of the an tennas may receive activation energy which, in turn, may be radiated by a second one of the antennas. The second antenna may also receive tag energy radiated by an antenna of another RFID tag. The received tag energy may then be radiated by the first antenna. Accordingly, when a plurality of the RFID tags are positioned in sequence in operative proximity with each other, activation energy may be propagated through the sequence from one RFID tag to another in one direction, an tag energy may be propagated through the sequence from one RFID tag to another r in another direction. When a plurality of tags are mounted to a plurality of o bjects, the now RFID-enabled objects can be read in batch, including the innermo st objects in a stack and objects that may be blocked by an RF obstacle. The RFI tags are oriented on the objects so that when the objects are stacked together the RFID tags are sequentially positioned in operative proximity with each other. Therefore, energy from a reader that is received by, e.g., an uppermost to is propagated through the sequence tag by tag in one direction. In addition, tag energy modulated by the RFID circuit of each of the tags is propagated through the sequence tag by tag in the other direction. This two-dimensional propagation enables the RFID circuit of each tag of the RFID-enabled objects in the stack t be excited and to be read by the reader. If you would like to purchase a copy of this patent, please call MicroPatent at 800-648-6787. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]