Patent Application
20090044385
The present invention is directed to the field of object identification. More particularly, the present invention is directed to the mounting of object identifying devices such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and bar code labels to objects of interest, such that said object identifying devices can be read by a detector, reader or similar device. Even more particularly, the present invention is directed to universal spring-clip mounting devices that allow for the temporary attachment of object identifying devices to various points on different objects while maintaining the proper orientation of said devices.
Object identification such as radio frequency identification and bar code labeling has become a popular method for identifying objects, such as components in an assembly process. For example, in a vehicle manufacturing operation, RFID tags (transmitters, etc.), bar code labels and/or other object identifying devices may be attached to vehicle bodies on an assembly line. These object identifying devices can identify the vehicle bodies to a tracking system or some other process control system.
Such tracking can be beneficial for several reasons. In a manufacturing setting, the use of such object identifying devices can make it possible to know where a particular component(s) or assembly is at any time during the manufacturing process. In a manufacturing process where more than one type of product is manufactured on the same assembly line, object identifying devices can also be used to automatically signal a product change. For example, in a vehicle manufacturing process, object identifying devices can be used to signal the change from one body style to another. This allows downstream processes to prepare in advance for the new body style, such as by changing or rearranging part supplies, changing tooling or other equipment, etc.
RFID tags, bar code labels an other object identifying devices usually operate in conjunction with one or more antennas, readers or other receivers or recognition devices that can detect the object identifying devices and read data transmitted or presented thereby. Such antenna(s), receivers, etc., may have different locations. For example, in an assembly line process, an antenna(s) and/or reader may be positioned at one or more locations along the path of travel of the objects to which the object identifying devices are attached. Information associated with each object identifying device is then received, read or otherwise gained by the respective antenna(s), reader, etc., once the associated objects of interest are sufficiently within its receiving range.
Proper transfer of information from an RFID tag to an antenna typically requires that the RFID tag be placed in a particular orientation with respect to the antenna. For example, it may be required that the body of the RFID tag pass over an antenna in a position that is substantially parallel thereto. Additionally, it may be required that the RFID tag pass the antenna within some small predetermined distance thereof in order for a successful reading to be obtained. Similar requirements may be associated with other object identifying devices, such as bar code labels, wherein the label must be presented to a bar code reader with a particular orientation.
As such, it is desirable with respect to an RFID, bar code or other object identifying system to be able to quickly and easily attach object identifying devices to the objects to be detected, in a manner such that the orientation of the object identifying devices is properly maintained with regard to one or more associated antenna(s), readers, etc. As can be understood, however, this can be especially challenging in situations wherein object identifying devices will be attached to objects of various size and shape. This problem may be compounded when a particular object identifying device orientation is required and different objects to be tagged lack similar object identifying device attachment point(s) or structures.
Consequently, there is a need for an inexpensive object identifying device attachment means that is capable of temporarily attaching object identifying devices to dissimilar objects in a manner such that said object identifying devices are nonetheless presented to a corresponding antenna(s), reader, etc., in a proper orientation and within an acceptable distance therefrom. The universal spring-clip mounting devices of the present invention satisfy this need.
The present invention is directed to various spring-clip mounting devices that can be used to temporarily attach object identifying devices to dissimilar objects. Although it is clear from the foregoing commentary that such devices may include RFID tags, bar code labels, and a variety of other object identifying devices known to one skilled in the art, for purposes of simplicity, only exemplary RFID tag mounting devices are described hereafter. It is to be understood, however, that these mounting devices may often also be employed to mount other types of object identifying devices, whether bar code labels or otherwise. For example, a bar code label could be attached to a substrate similar in shape to a RFID tag, which substrate may be subsequently attached to a mounting device of the present invention.
As one example, a universal spring-clip RFID tag mounting device (hereafter RFID tag mounting device) of the present invention may be used to attach a RFID tag to dissimilar vehicle bodies that lack corresponding attachment point(s) or structures, while still maintaining the proper location and orientation of the RFID tag with respect to an associated antenna(s).
Preferably, a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention is designed to make use of one or more potential attachment points/structures present on each of the objects to which the RFID tags are to be attached. The potential attachment points/structures may be unique to each of the objects of interest, yet still capable of engagement by one or more portions of the same universal spring-clip mounting device.
In order to maximize its usage, a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention may have one or more RFID tag attachment portions and one or more object attachment portions. Preferably, a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention is comprised of a resilient material, such as a spring steel. One or more portions of the RFID tag mounting device may be provided with structure capable of connection to a RFID tag. One or more other portions of such a RFID tag mounting device may be provided for connection of said device to an object of interest. In one exemplary embodiment, a RFID tag mounting device is constructed of a resilient wire that is bent into a desired shape and provided with various object engaging portions (e.g., extending arms) that are sized and configured to engage one or more slots or holes present in one or more objects of interest. Such arms may be of dissimilar size and/or shape, may extend in different directions, and may reside in different planes.
Preferably, at least a body portion of a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention is adapted for compression and expansion (i.e., inward and outward movement). For example, with respect to above-mentioned exemplary embodiment, compression of the body portion may also produce an inward or outward displacement of one or more object engaging portions that are connected to the body portion. This displacement may thereby permit an object engaging portion to be inserted to a slot(s) or hole(s) of, or otherwise hooked onto or engaged with, an object of interest. Upon discontinuation of the compressive force, the body portion and, thus, the object engaging portions return to their normal position, whereby the relevant one(s) thereof exert a retaining force on the object, such as on the walls of the object surrounding the slot(s) or hole(s).
A RFID tag mounting device of the present invention can thus be configured to mount RFID tags to a variety of dissimilar objects. For example, by providing multiple object engaging portions and by arranging the object engaging portions at multiple locations and/or extending the object engaging portions in multiple directions, it is possible to substantially change the orientation of a RFID tag mounting device or to attach a RFID tag mounting device to structure(s) of an object lying in dissimilar planes while still maintaining the same orientation of an RFID tag.
Attachment of an RFID tag to a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention may also be accomplished in a manner that allows for reorientation thereof. In this manner, a single RFID tag mounting device, or a minimal number of RFID tag mounting devices, can be used to attach RFID tags to a number of dissimilar objects, while still maintaining the RFID tag in a proper orientation with respect to one or more associated antennas. As such, the cost of manufacturing or purchasing RFID tag mounting hardware and/or the inefficiency of swapping RFID tag mounting hardware can be reduced.
In addition to the features mentioned above, other aspects of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments, wherein like reference numerals across the several views refer to identical or equivalent features, and wherein:
a and 4b show the RFID tag mounting device of
a and 5b illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention; and
a and 6b depict yet another exemplary embodiment of a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention.
An exemplary RFID tag 5 is shown passing over a corresponding antenna 10 in
As shown, the RFID tag 5 is maintained substantially parallel to the antenna 10 as it passes thereover. Such a relationship between the RFID tag 5 and the antenna 10 is desirable so as to optimize communications therebetween. However, other orientations of a RFID tag are possible according to the present invention, as are other positional relationships between a RFID tag and an associated antenna(s). As such, nothing herein is to be interpreted as limiting the present invention to the RFID tag orientation or RFID tag/antenna positional arrangement shown in
Referring now to
Another view of the of vehicle body coupled RFID tag 5 of
A more detailed understanding of the exemplary RFID tag mounting device 20 illustrated in
This particular embodiment of the RFID tag mounting device 20 is shown to have a main body portion 50 that includes a pair of similar extending legs 50a, although it should be realized that other embodiments may have a greater number of legs. Each leg 50a is shown to have several bends. Although optional, such bends may facilitate routing of the RFID tag mounting device 20 around various features of a vehicle body or other object to which the RFID tag mounting device will be attached. As can be observed by reference to
The RFID tag attachment portion 55 permits connection of the RFID tag 5 to the RFID tag mounting device 20. In this particular embodiment, the RFID tag attachment portion 55 of the RFID tag mounting device 20 is comprised of a loop formed in the RFID tag mounting device during its construction, from which the legs 50a of the main body portion 50 extend. The RFID tag 5 is equipped with a coupler 60 that mates with the RFID tag attachment portion 55. Although not essential to the present invention, this embodiment of the RFID tag coupler 60 includes a pivot pin assembly 65 that permits at least limited rotation of the RFID tag 5 about the RFID tag attachment portion 55.
Obviously, other embodiments of a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention may employ RFID tag attachment portions of different design. For example, instead of forming a loop or other structure in a unitary piece of material, a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention may be formed from separate segments. More specifically, a RFID tag mounting device may be formed from separate halves that are subsequently joined at an end that subsequently functions as a RFID tag attachment portion. The ends may then be joined or otherwise connected by any of a multitude of ways that would be understood by one skilled in the art. Such joining techniques may include, without limitation, welding or other bonding, clamping fasteners, wrapping, etc. In any event, it is preferred that regardless of the particular design of the RFID tag mounting device, the overall resiliency thereof is retained.
In addition to employing RFID tag attachment portions of different design, it is to be understood that the RFID tag attachment portion of other RFID tag mounting device embodiments may occur at different locations than those shown herein. For example, instead of occurring substantially at one end of the RFID tag mounting device, it is possible that a RFID tag attachment portion may occur at some other point along the main body portion. It is also possible that a RFID tag attachment portion may be arranged in a different orientation (e.g., in a different plane) than the orientations shown herein.
As with the possibility of employing numerous RFID tag attachment portion designs, it is also possible to make use of numerous RFID tag coupler designs. Such couplers may allow for pivoting or other movement of an attached RFID tag. Conversely, such a coupler may be designed to clamp or otherwise securely affix the RFID tag to the RFID tag mounting device, whether in a single orientation or in selectable orientations with respect thereto.
A RFID tag mounting device of the present invention may include various numbers of object engaging portions. The particular RFID tag mounting device 20 shown in
A RFID tag mounting device of the present invention is generally retained on an object of interest by a combination of its inherent spring force and the design of the object engaging portions 25, 30. For example, the resilient nature of the RFID tag mounting device 20 allows the extending legs 50a of the main body portion 50 to be compressed (i.e., inwardly displaced), which also results in an inward movement of the object engaging portions 25, 30. This reduces the footprint presented by the object engaging portions 25, 30, allowing them to be passed through the respective holes 35, 45 of the respective vehicle bodies 15, 40.
With the selected object engaging portion 25, 30 located in its corresponding hole 35, 45, removal of the compression force from the main body portion 50 allows the extending legs 50a and the associated object engaging portions 25, 30 to return toward their normal static positions—the result of which is engagement of the particular object engaging portion with the structure of the vehicle body surrounding the hole (see
Preferably, the object engaging portions of a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention are designed to provide secure retention of the RFID tag mounting device to an object of interest once it has been engaged therewith, as described above. For example, in the RFID tag mounting device 20 embodiment shown in
As can be best observed by reference to
A RFID tag mounting device of the present invention may obviously be provided with an object engaging portion(s) employing a dissimilar extending arm. In fact, two different extending arm designs are shown to be present on the RFID tag mounting device 20. Alternatively, a completely different retention mechanism may be employed by the object engaging portion(s) of a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention. For example, such designs may make use of hooks, barbs, knurled or other high-friction surfaces, or combinations thereof, as well as any other retention features that would be known to one skilled in the art.
As would be clearly understood, removal of the RFID tag mounting device of the present invention is accomplished in reverse of its attachment to an object of interest. For example, removal of the RFID tag mounting device 20 is accomplished simply by re-compressing the main body portion 50 and withdrawing the particular object engaging portion 25, 30 from its respective hole 35, 45.
Two alternative embodiments of a RFID tag mounting device 70, 75 are illustrated in
While each of the exemplary RFID tag mounting devices 20, 70, 75 shown in
Other alternative embodiments are also possible. In one such embodiment, a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention is constructed from separate components instead of from a unitary structure as shown and described above. For example, such an embodiment may have a more simplistic main body portion with one or more separate engaging portions attached thereto. The separate engaging portions may be welded, bonded, clipped or otherwise attached to the main body portion by any technique known to one skilled in the art.
It can be understood from the foregoing that various derivations of the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein are possible. For example, RFID tag mounting devices of the present invention can obviously be of different size, shape and material than those specifically shown or described herein. Similarly, such devices may be attached to an array of objects, not just vehicle bodies, and may be used in conjunction with a variety of other object identifying devices, such as bar code labels. Further, depending on the object to which such devices are to be attached, retention may be accomplished in a manner other than by engagement with a hole or other aperture. Rather, a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention can be designed to exert a retention force on various structural features of such objects - whether such retention force is inwardly or outwardly directed. It should also be understood that, while providing more than one object engaging portion may best exploit the use of a RFID tag mounting device of the present invention, such devices may include only one object engaging portion.
Other deviations from the exemplary embodiments presented herein are also obviously possible, while still falling within the scope of the present inventive concept. For example, although the exemplary embodiments shown herein are particularly adapted for attachment to a RFID tag, such mounting devices could also be specifically adapted for attachment to other object identifying devices. In one such embodiment, a base or other suitable substrate may be attached to or may be integral with a mounting device of the present invention for receiving and presenting a bar code label to an associated reader. Other adaptations may be made with respect to the use of other types of object identifying devices. As such, while certain embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above, the scope of the invention is not to be considered limited by such disclosure, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as evidenced by the following claims:
