RFID tag having timing and environment modules
AssigneeIntermec IP Corp.
InventorsRobert M. Paratore, Paul A. Maltseff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An RFID tag is provided with a timing module to measure elapsed time and an environment module to detect certain environmental conditions. The RFID tag includes a transmitter/receiver, memory module, antenna module, converter, and the timing and environment modules. In an embodiment of the invention, the timing module enables the user, upon interrogating the RFID tag, to determine the precise length of time from the previous charge of the RFID tag. The environment module enables the user to determine how long the RFID tag has been exposed to certain environmental conditions that have been pre-defined by the user.
Claims23
An RFID tag comprising:
- a memory having a data storage area;
- a transmitter/receiver coupled to said memory for communicating data between said memory and an external interrogator;
- and
- timing means for tracking elapsed time from a predefined initial condition of said RFID tag, wherein data corresponding to said elapsed time is communicated to said external interrogator.
A method for operating an RFID tag, comprising the steps of:
- measuring an amount of elapsed time from an initial state of said RFID tag;
- and
- reporting the measured elapsed time to an external interrogator in communication with said RFID tag.
A method for monitoring the freshness of a good, comprising the steps of:
- affixing an RFID tag to said good, said RFID tag being adapted to detect an amount of elapsed time from an initial condition of said good;
- interrogating said RFID tag to determine the measured elapsed time therefrom;
- and
- determining a freshness state of said good based on said determined elapsed time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.