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Detecting wear through use of information-transmitting devices

Detecting wear through use of information-transmitting devices description/claims

The present invention relates generally to information-transmitting devices (such as radio frequency identification, or “RFID”, tags), and more particularly, the use of such devices for detecting wear of items.

Information-transmitting devices, such as those commonly referred to as RFID tags, may be used for labeling and tracking items of merchandise from manufacturing through distribution and retail sale. A typical RFID tag includes both passive elements (e.g., an antenna) and active elements (e.g., a read-write data memory, control circuitry, and a radio frequency transponder). RFID transmissions are, by definition, wireless. RFID tags are typically not self-powered, but may receive their power via capacitative coupling from an external radio frequency source. When brought into proximity with an RFID reader at a typical effective distance of about 1 centimeter to 5 meters (depending on the type of tag), the RFID tag receives sufficient power to enable clocking the semiconductor and analog portions comprising the transponder, control circuits, and data memory through enough clock cycles that the tag can return the data bits from its memory as a digitally-encoded RF signal. This is advantageous because the tag can be read (or written) from a distance without the necessity of line-of-sight, as had been required to read a bar code with a laser scanner.

RFID technology has generally been utilized for inventory control (e.g., in a warehouse, manufacturing, or distribution facility) and for item identification at the point of sale as an improvement over today's nearly ubiquitous laser-scanned bar codes. Several large retailers have indicated a desire to begin using RFID tagging on all their inventory. The cost of RFID tags is expected to decline to the point of being cost-effective even on small-value retail items.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a method of detecting wear through use of information-transmitting devices, comprising a step of providing at least one information-transmitting wireless device for each of one or more wear positions of an item, wherein each of the devices is adapted for transmitting information to a reader, such that each of the devices can transmit information usable for detecting wear of the item as the item wears.

In another aspect, the present invention comprises a system for detecting wear through use of information-transmitting devices, comprising at least one information-transmitting wireless device provided for each of one or more wear positions of an item, wherein each of the devices is adapted for transmitting information to a reader, such that each of the devices can transmit information usable for detecting wear of the item as the item wears.

In yet another aspect, the present invention comprises a computer program product for detecting wear through use of information-transmitting devices, the computer program product comprising computer-readable code embodied on one or more computer-usable media, the computer-readable code comprising instructions that when executed on a computer cause the computer to receive wear-related information from at least one information-transmitting wireless device provided for each of one or more wear positions of an item, each of the devices adapted for transmitting the wear-related information, and to use the received wear-related information for detecting wear of the item.

When using a plurality of devices for a particular wear position, the devices in the various aspects may be stacked or placed in a depth-wise, end-to-end arrangement. As another alternative, a single device having a plurality of separable areas may be provided for each of one or more wear positions. As yet another alternative, a single device may be provided for each of one or more wear positions such that its failure to transmit indicates wear at the corresponding wear position. An information-transmitting device may become damaged or missing, due to item wear, and an RFID reader may therefore be unable to scan (i.e., receive a signal from) the device.

The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the non-limiting detailed description set forth below.

The present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numbers denote the same element throughout.

FIG. 1 illustrates a representative RFID tag, according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 (comprising FIGS. 2A-2D) illustrates sample positionings of RFID tags in a stacking arrangement;

FIG. 3 (comprising FIGS. 3A-3C) illustrates sample positionings of RFID tags in a depth-wise arrangement;

FIG. 4 illustrates a sample positioning of RFID tags in a connecting arrangement;

FIG. 5 (comprising FIGS. 5A and 5B) illustrates use of RFID tags to detect that an item containing multiple tags has failed (e.g., by breaking);

FIG. 6 (comprising FIGS. 6A and 6B) illustrates an alternative use of RFID tags to detect that an item has failed (e.g., by breaking);

FIG. 7 (comprising FIGS. 7A and 7B) depicts an RFID tag adapted for detecting item wear from multiple sides, where the tag may or may not be physically attached to the item;

FIG. 8 provides a flow diagram showing use of RFID tags for detecting wear; and

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