Low cost radio frequency identification (rfid) dispensing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019174969-A1
Application number	US-201916273643-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 12, 2019
Priority date	Dec 29, 2008
Publication date	Jun 13, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) dispenser that includes low cost electronic components that can read and write to the tag of a refill cartridge. In one embodiment, the reader utilizes a multi band pass filter to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. In another embodiment, the controller utilizes an internal comparator to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. The dispenser in both embodiments also includes a pair of transistors that write to the RFID tag of the refill cartridge. A dispenser according to the invention also includes the capability to read and/or write to tags upon cartridges employed by the dispenser, and augmenting the operation of the dispenser as a function thereof. Additionally, a dispenser of variable size is presented that is adaptable, through adjustable partitions or a telescoping cup, to receive and maintain cartridges of various sizes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A soap or sanitizer dispenser comprising:
a housing; a receptacle for receiving a refill unit; an RFID antenna; an RFID controller; an actuation mechanism; logic for reading a dispense count that relates to the volume of fluid in a refill unit from an RFID tag on a refill unit; logic for writing a dispense count that relates to the volume of fluid in a refill unit on an RFID tag on a refill unit.

2 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 further comprising logic for reading a type of material in a refill unit.

3 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 2 wherein the information read from the RFID tag indicates the fluid is a sanitizer.

4 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 2 wherein the information read from the RFID tag indicates the fluid is a sanitizer gel.

5 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 2 wherein the information read from the RFID tag indicates the fluid is a soap.

6 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the dispenser adjusts a dispense quantity as a function of the type of fluid.

7 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the dispenser adjusts a dispense rate as a function of the type of fluid.

8 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the dispenser parameter is a dispense quantity.

9 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the information read from the RFID tag is dispense count that is related to an amount of fluid in the refill unit.

10 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 wherein the dispenser writes a dispense count to the RFID tag is that is related to an amount of fluid in the refill unit.

11 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a sensor for sensing whether the housing is closed and wherein if the housing is not disclosed, the dispenser does not dispense a fluid.

12 . A soap or sanitizer dispenser comprising:
a housing; a receptacle for receiving a refill unit; an RFID antenna; an RFID controller; an actuation mechanism; logic for reading information from an RFID tag on a refill unit containing fluid; logic for setting a dispense parameter as a function of information read from the RFID tag.

13 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 12 wherein the information read from the RFID tag is a fluid type.

14 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 12 wherein the dispenser parameter is a dispense quantity.

15 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 12 wherein the dispenser parameter is a dispense rate.

16 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 12 wherein the dispenser parameter is a dispense quantity.

17 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 12 wherein the information read from the RFID tag is dispense count that is related to an amount of fluid in the refill unit.

18 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 12 wherein the dispenser writes a dispense count to the RFID tag is that is related to an amount of fluid in the refill unit.

19 . A soap or sanitizer dispenser comprising:
a housing; a receptacle for receiving a refill unit that contains a soap or sanitizer; an RFID antenna; an RFID controller; an actuation mechanism; logic for reading an identification code from an RFID tag on a refill unit containing a soap or sanitizer; wherein the identification code indicative of the manufacturer of the refill unit; logic for preventing the dispensing of soap or sanitizer from the refill unit if the manufacturer of the refill unit is not an authorized manufacturer.

20 . The soap or sanitizer dispenser of claim 19 further comprising logic for reading a dispense count indicative of a volume of fluid from the RFID tag on the refill unit and logic for writing a dispense count indicative of a volume of fluid in the refill unit on the RFID tag on the refill unit.

Assignees

• Gojo Ind Inc

Inventors

• Wegelin Jackson W
• Reynolds Aaron R
• Curtis Chip W

Classifications

• G09F23/0058

  on electrical household appliances, e.g. on a dishwasher, a washing machine or a refrigerator · CPC title

• G05D7/0629

  characterised by the type of regulator means · CPC title

• B67D1/0078

  Ingredient cartridges · CPC title

• B67D2001/0811

  provided with coded information · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title