Storage cabinet with multiple RFID readers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9875461-B2
Application number	US-201615090023-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2016
Priority date	Nov 19, 2012
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

An RFID cabinet system is provided for monitoring items having an RFID tag. System includes cabinet having open interior where items are stored and at least one door providing access to items. Static RFID system is provided for reading and identifying data embedded on RFID tag located on at least some of the items placed within cabinet. Static RFID system is configured to monitor substantially all items located within the interior of cabinet when door is closed. Transaction RFID system is provided for reading one of the RFID tags upon removal or return of the associated item from cabinet. Transaction RFID system is operable when door is open. Computer system is configured to sense opening and closing of door. Computer system is configured to receive input that identifies user, and computer system is configured to periodically record data read from RFID tags by static RFID system and transaction RFID system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cabinet system for monitoring items having an RFID tag, the system comprising:
a cabinet comprising:
an interior where items are stored, wherein the cabinet is divided into at least two zones, and wherein each zone has a different access level; and
at least one door providing direct access to each of the zones to gain access to at least some of the items via an opening that is covered by the doors when the doors are closed;

a static RFID system for reading and identifying data embedded on RFID tags located on at least some of the items placed within the cabinet, wherein the static RFID system is configured to scan substantially all of the items located within the zones of the cabinet when the doors are closed;
a transaction RFID system for reading the data on one of the RFID tags upon detecting removal of the associated item from the RFID cabinet, wherein the transaction RFID system is positioned on the cabinet such that when an item is removed from the interior, the item must pass through the transaction RFID system to permit the item to be detected and scanned while being removed from the interior through the opening without scanning other items in the cabinet; and
a computer system that is configured to receive an input that identifies a user, and wherein the computer system is configured to periodically record the data read from the RFID tags by the static RFID system and the transaction RFID system.

2. The cabinet system according to claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to detect opening and closing of the doors, and wherein the transaction RFID system is activated by one of the doors being opened and is deactivated by one of the doors being closed.

3. The cabinet system according to claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of zones comprises a different level of access.

4. The cabinet system according to claim 1 , wherein the transaction RFID system is configured to read the data on one of the RFID tags for a detection time that is less than 2 seconds while the static RFID system requires at least 5 seconds to scan substantially all of the items.

5. The cabinet system according to claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to store and correlate expiration date information with the items in the cabinet and to provide an indication of an approaching or past expiration date for each of the items.

6. The cabinet system according to claim 1 , wherein the input comprises one or more of a biometric identifier, a username, a password, and a signal from a wireless device assigned to the user.

7. The cabinet system according to claim 1 , further comprising an external item reader, the external item reader comprising at least one of a RFID scanner and a bar code reader.

8. The cabinet system according to claim 1 , wherein the static RFID system is configured to be placed in sleep mode where items are not scanned when the door is open and the transaction RFID system is active.

9. A cabinet system for monitoring items having an RFID tag, the system comprising:
a cabinet comprising:
a frame;
a computer system supported by the frame and having a display screen;
an interior where items are stored; and
at least one door providing direct access to at least some of the items via an opening that is covered by the at least one door when the at least one door is closed;

a static RFID system for reading and identifying data embedded on RFID tags located on at least some of the items placed within the cabinet, wherein the static RFID system is configured to scan substantially all of the items located within a specified portion of the interior of the cabinet when the at least one door is closed;
a transaction RFID system separate from the static RFID system for reading the data on one of the RFID tags upon removal of the associated item from the RFID cabinet without reading the data on the other RFID tags remaining in the cabinet;
wherein the computer system is configured to display on the display screen a name of the item that has been removed;
wherein the computer system is configured to receive an input that identifies a user, and wherein the computer system is configured to periodically record the data read from the RFID tags by the static RFID system and the transaction RFID system.

10. The cabinet system according to claim 9 , wherein the cabinet further comprises a plurality of doors and the interior comprises a plurality of storage areas, and wherein each of the plurality of doors controls access to a corresponding one of the plurality of storage areas.

11. The cabinet system according to claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of storage areas comprises a different level of access.

12. The cabinet system according to claim 9 , wherein the transaction RFID system is configured to read the data on one of the RFID tags for a detection time that is less than 2 seconds while the static RFID system requires at least 5 seconds to scan substantially all of the items.

13. The cabinet system according to claim 9 , wherein the computer system is configured to store and correlate expiration date information with the items in the cabinet and to provide an indication of an approaching or past expiration date for each of the items.

14. The cabinet system according to claim 9 , wherein the input comprises one or more of a biometric identifier, a username, a password, and a signal from a wireless device assigned to the user.

15. The cabinet system according to claim 9 , further comprising an external item reader, the external item reader comprising at least one of a RFID scanner and a bar code reader.

16. The cabinet system according to claim 9 , wherein the static RFID system is configured to be placed in sleep mode where items are not scanned when the door is open and the transaction RFID system is active.

17. A cabinet system for monitoring items having an RFID tag, the system comprising:
a cabinet comprising:
an interior where items are stored; and
at least one door providing direct access to at least some of the items via an opening that is covered by the at least one door when the at least one door is closed;

a static RFID system for reading and identifying data embedded on RFID tags located on at least some of the items placed within the cabinet, wherein the static RFID system is configured to scan substantially all of the items located within a specified location in the interior of the cabinet when the at least one door is closed;
a transaction RFID system for reading the data on one of the RFID tags upon detecting removal of the associated item from the RFID cabinet, wherein the transaction RFID system is activated by the at least one door being opened and is deactivated by the at least one door being closed, and wherein the transaction RFID system is positioned on the cabinet such that when an item is removed from the interior, the item must pass through the transaction RFID system to permit the item to be detected and scanned while being removed from the interior through the opening without scanning other items in the cabinet; and
a computer system that is configured to detect opening and closing of the at least one door, wherein the computer system is configured to stop or pause any reading of the data of the RFID tags by the static RFID system upon detection of the door opening,
wherein the computer system is further configured to receive an input that identifies a user, and wherein the computer system is configured to periodically record the data read from the RFID tags by the static RFID system and the transaction RFID sys

Assignees

• Omnicell Inc

Inventors

• D'Ambrosio George John
• Ganel Onne
• Moody Nat
• Moreno Gerardo

Classifications

• G07G1/009 Primary

  the reader being an RFID reader · CPC title

• G07C9/37

  using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition · CPC title

• G06Q20/203

  Inventory monitoring · CPC title

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06K7/1413

  1D bar codes · CPC title