Combination barcode reader and radio frequency identification read/write device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11010569-B2
Application number	US-201916531952-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2019
Priority date	Aug 3, 2018
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

A system includes a processor, a barcode reader, and an RFID R/W component. The barcode reader scans a barcode of an item to generate barcode information, and communicates the barcode information to the processor. The RFID R/W component receives, from the processor, a serialization number corresponding to the barcode information. The RFID R/W component then writes the serialization number to an RFID tag of the item.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a barcode reader component configured to:
scan a barcode of an item to generate barcode information; and
communicate the barcode information;

a processing component configured to:
receive the barcode information from the barcode reader component; and
evaluate the barcode information and responsively generate a serialization number corresponding to the barcode information; and
communicate the serialization number; and

a radio-frequency identification (RFID) read/write (R/W) component configured to:
receive, from the processing component, the serialization number; and
write the serialization number to an RFID tag on the item.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an item receiver configured to receive the item.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the item receiver comprises a window through which the barcode reader is configured to scan the barcode of the item when the item is located in the item receiver.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein, when the item is located in the item receiver, only a barcode of interest is visible to the barcode reader.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID R/W component comprises a near-field antenna.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the serialization number comprises an EPC.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the barcode reader component is configured to provide audible feedback indicating a code has been captured.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the barcode includes formats comprising at least one of retail, supply chain, and 2D codes.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID R/W component employs an adjustable RF power level.

10. A method for operating a system including a barcode reader, an RFID R/W component, and a processor configured to execute a software application, the method comprising:
scanning, with the barcode reader, a barcode of an item to generate barcode information;
communicating, by the barcode reader, the barcode information;
receiving, by the processor from the barcode reader, the barcode information;
evaluating, by the software application, the barcode information;
in response to said evaluating, responsively generating, by the application, a serialization number corresponding to the barcode information;
communicating, by the processor, the serialization number;
receiving, by the RFID R/W component from the processor, the serialization number; and
writing, with the RFID R/W component, the serialization number to an RFID tag of the item.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising verifying, using the RFID R/W component, that the serialization number has been written to the RFID tag of the item.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein an item receiver is configured to receive the item before the scanning step.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the item receiver comprises a window through which the barcode reader scans the barcode of the item when the item is located in the item receiver.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein, when the item is located in the item receiver, only a barcode of interest is visible to the barcode reader.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the RFID R/W component comprises a near-field antenna.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the serialization number comprises an EPC.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the method is performed automatically without user intervention.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the barcode reader component provides at least one of audible or visible feedback indicating a code has been captured.

19. The method of claim 10 , wherein the barcode reader component is configured to read a plurality of barcode formats, including at least one of retail, supply chain, or 2D codes.

20. The method of claim 10 , wherein the RFID R/W component employs an adjustable RF power level.

Assignees

• Promega Corp

Inventors

• Tourdot Matt
• George Brian
• Biermeier Dillon
• Kuehl John

Classifications

• G06K7/10544

  by scanning of the records by radiation in the optical part of the electromagnetic spectrum · CPC title

• G06K7/0004 Primary

  Hybrid readers · CPC title

• G06K7/0008

  General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer · CPC title

• G06K7/1097

  Optical sensing of electronic memory record carriers, such as interrogation of RFIDs with an additional optical interface · CPC title

• G06K7/10237

  the reader and the record carrier being capable of selectively switching between reader and record carrier appearance, e.g. in near field communication [NFC] devices where the NFC device may function as an RFID reader or as an RFID tag · CPC title