Radio frequency identification system

Abstract

A radio frequency identification system, and method of operation thereof, provides: a sensor for sensing the absence or presence of a radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system; a supply system connected to the sensor for supplying the radio frequency identification transponder to the radio frequency identification system in the absence of the radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system; and a programmer connected to the sensor for writing transponder content to the radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system in the presence of the radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system.

1 . A method of operation of a radio frequency identification system comprising:
 providing a radio frequency identification transponder;   sensing the absence or presence of the radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system;   supplying the radio frequency identification transponder to the radio frequency identification system in the absence of the radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system; and   writing transponder content to the radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system in the presence of the radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein writing the transponder content to the radio frequency identification transponder is performed wirelessly. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising reading transponder content wirelessly from the radio frequency identification transponder. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising printing a label for attachment to the identification radio frequency transponder to correspond to the transponder content. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising coordinating interactions among the sensing, supplying, and writing steps. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein supplying the radio frequency identification transponder includes feeding an assembly line. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operation of a radio frequency identification system comprising:
 providing an identification tag incorporating a radio frequency identification transponder;   sensing the absence or presence of the identification tag at the radio frequency identification system;   supplying the identification tag to the radio frequency identification system upon sensing the absence of the identification tag at the radio frequency identification system; and   writing transponder content to the radio frequency identification transponder upon sensing the presence of the identification tag at the radio frequency identification system.   
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7  wherein writing the transponder content is performed wirelessly to the radio frequency identification transponder with or without an antenna in the identification tag. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 7  further comprising reading the transponder content from the radio frequency identification transponder with an integral antenna or a connected antenna. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 7  further comprising reading the transponder content and printing a label to correspond to the transponder content. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 7  further comprising coordinating interactions for printing a label, writing the radio frequency identification transponder, controlling an assembly line programmer, and feeding the assembly line. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 7  wherein feeding the labels in line includes feeding the assembly line just-in-time or on-demand. 
     
     
         13 . A radio frequency identification system comprising:
 a sensor for sensing the absence or presence of a radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system;   a supply system connected to the sensor for supplying the radio frequency identification transponder to the radio frequency identification system in the absence of the radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system; and   a programmer connected to the sensor for writing transponder content to the radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system in the presence of the radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system.   
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the programmer includes circuitry for wirelessly writing the transponder content. 
     
     
         15 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the programmer includes circuitry for reading transponder content from the radio frequency identification transponder. 
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising a printer for printing a label to correspond to the transponder content and attaching the label to the radio frequency identification transponder. 
     
     
         17 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising:
 a printer adjacent to the programmer; 
 an assembly line adjacent to the feeder; and 
 a controller connected to coordinate interactions among the printer, the assembly line, and the programmer. 
 
     
     
         18 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  further including an assembly line adjacent the feeder. 
     
     
         19 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  further including a process control system for controlling the radio frequency identification system and additional radio frequency identification systems simultaneously. 
     
     
         20 . The system as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising an assembly line perpendicular to the direction in which the supply system supplies the radio frequency transponder.