Combined optical and radio frequency tag reader
US6830181B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 23, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 14, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06K19/08
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method is described which utilizes a dual function reader device, which may be a hand-held inventory control device, which first performs an optical read of an optical bar code on a carrier unit, then based on the identification or other information obtained from the optical read a RF read is made of a RF tag attached to, or within, the carrier unit. An indicator light on the carrier unit illuminates when the optical read is completed, which allows an operator to visually verify that the optical read has transpired for the desired carrier unit. The RF tag provides data regarding the inventory of the goods stored within, or on, the carrier unit, the temperature of the goods, the shelf-life of the goods, the source and/or destination of the carrier unit and/or the goods, or other information. Data can also be written to the RF tag by the reader.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.