RFID Scanner

Technological advances generally promise great things while also threatening to create problems. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is no exception to this general rule. An RFID system is similar in some ways to a bar code system in that it consists of a RFID Scanner that reads an information source. The main difference is that an RFID scanner scans information from tags containing circuits instead of from printed bars.

An RFID Scanner in the room reads the tag and displays information about the suit and accessories on a touch-screen liquid crystal display. An RFID Scanner can pick up signals from all the chips in the sealed box, something bar code systems can't do. In addition the cost of an RFID Scanner is generally very low, as it uses simple well established simple technology in simple packaging. An RFID Scanner can pick up signals from all the chips in the sealed box, something bar code systems can't do.

A personal RFID Scanner could also let you reprogram tags so that other people can't read them. Instead of rummaging through piles of paper, you could use an RFID Scanner to retrieve the correct manuals for equipment. If you want to compile a database of CDs, DVDs and books (handy for an insurance inventory), you can just scan them rather than typing in the details. If you can't find where you've left a book or disc, you could put the RFID Scanner into search mode and carry it from room to room until you track it down.

The RFID Scanner reads tags on all bags at the airport selected for enhanced screening. Even though the scanner has a high tag-detection rate, a second RFID Scanner was installed further down on the conveyer belt to ensure that no bag is overlooked. This second RFID Scanner is also intended to catch any bags that were read at the first station but were not properly diverted.

How It Works: As the user first enters a building the RFID Scanner card on their PDA begins to pick up signals from the nearest RFID tag. The signal from this tag contains its location on an X, Y, and Z coordinate system, which corresponds to an X, Y, and Z coordinate system of a map on the PDA. The RFID Scanner card then finds its position relative to the tag’s, and from there can find its position on the map.

When the user enters the building they tell the PDA the room number of their desired location. This is done through a head set and voice recognition software. The PDA then calculates the optimum route to the destination. This is done through the usage of navigation software which when given a starting location, and destination, and a set of barriers, can deduce the optimum path of travel. This information is them conveyed to the user in the form of directions, from a small speaker in the head set.

As the user moves along the path the RFID scanner is constantly tracking the user’s progress on its map, by determining its location, from the RFID tags. As the user’s moves out of the range of one tag, it will move in to the range of another tag, and will continue to track the user’s progress. This continues until the user reaches their desired destination. Once that happens the system will enter a sleep mod until another command is given by the user.

For example, features of the Intelli-eye RFID Scanner: The Intelli-eye RFID Scanner r can detect when a tag has NOT been scanned. It does this with an in-built infra-red beam that can detect the presence of an animal. If a tag is not read during the time the animal is detected, an alarm will sound. Controls are provided to activate a paint sprayer or open gates so that the animal is positively identified or isolated. The RFID Scanner provides a bright flash indication for each RFID scan and the alarm and paint/gate controls for non scan.

The Intelli-eye RFID Scanner has a powerful microprocessor controlling the two-way radio link between the scanner and the recording computer. The Intelli-eye scanner can confirm at the scanner that each RFID tag has been recorded. No cables are required between the scanner and the computer. The radio link is very robust and scanners may be up to 300 metres from the computer. The computer connects to a single centrally located antenna that can record from up to 16 scanners in simultaneous use.

The Intelli-eye RFID Scanner is supplied with Intelli ScanMan the NLIS recording software from Equinox Software. This software will run on computer systems supplied by Equinox, Myco or Blush. The system is readily installed by a local electrician who needs only to mount the central antenna and provide power to each scanner.