An RFID system comprises an array of antennas each configured to emit a plurality of beams in different directions. The beams of each pair of adjacent antennas are directed towards one another and overlap. A pair of adjacent antennas transmits simultaneously and the overlapping beams interfere to create an interference pattern. An RFID reader controls the relative phase and/or frequency of the beams to move the interference pattern to read an RFID tag within the moving pattern. As the chance of a RFID tag responding to an emitted beam generally increases with signal strength of the reader beam an area of constructive interference means that RFID tags in that region are more likely to respond to the signal. The system can cover a large proportion of the area below ceiling-mounted antennas, where cover generally means that RFID tags in that area will be successfully read.

A system and method for hands-free stock picking using radio frequency identification (“RFID”) includes a fixed RFID reader configured to interrogate RFID tags associated with inventory that is disposed on shelving, and an RFID barrier that is configured to substantially inhibit interrogation of RFID tags associated with active inventory on the shelving. The RFID reader receives responses from the replenishment inventory on the shelving which are tabulated. When an item is picked from the active inventory and moved away from the RFID barrier, the RFID reader receives an increased number of responses for that item compared to the tabulated inventory. The system then associates the picked item with the associated customer order.

The present disclosure relates to a mobile agent in an RFID system with reduced power consumption and increased localization capabilities. In one aspect, a relay circuit attached to a mobility mechanism such as a drone or robot is in communication with an RFID reader and a backend host computer. The mobile agent moves around a warehouse, for instance, in which landmark RFID tags are arranged. The mobile agent can transmit with an adjustable power to identify a single landmark tag and associate it with object tags of one or more objects within the range of the mobile agent. The host computer can communicate with the mobile agent to instruct it to adjust its power when multiple landmark tags are detected.

An encoding module and related systems and components are provided. The encoding module includes a plurality of encoding elements arranged in an array of columns and rows and one or more switching elements configured to selectively connect the encoding elements to a reader. The connection of the encoding elements may be based on the location of a targeted transponder disposed among multiple adjacent transponders to ensure the selective communication with the targeted transponder only. The module is configured for various types and locations transponders to be used within a system, such as a printer-encoder. Each encoding element may include a loaded conductive strip comprising a loop shape portion and a shield that corresponds to the loop shape portion. In another embodiment, an access control system having an encoding module with the plurality of couplers and an access card having a plurality of transponders corresponding to the couplers is provided.

A flexible antenna for a wireless X-ray dosimeter chip is described. The flexible antenna includes a dipole antenna associated with an artificial magnetic conductor, wherein the artificial magnetic conductor includes; a top layer configured to partially act as a reflective surface; a bottom conductive ground plane layer configured to prevent propagation of incident electromagnetic waves and to reflect the electromagnetic waves; and a middle layer including a foam material configured to provide an appropriate phase delay between incident electromagnetic waves from the top layer and the reflected waves from the ground plane layer.

A lifecycle history tracking system for assets such as oilfield components and equipment supply uses blockchain technology. Items such as components and assemblies are tracked at various stages that includes recorded environmental data and other information such as testing, certification, transportation conditions, repair, and use conditions. The tracking uses RFID scanners at various stages and each component and assembly has a unique RFID tag. The relevant information is uploaded via nodes maintained by the various parties and added to a common blockchain and the new data is verified by other nodes. Condition based maintenance and improved inventory tracking is facilitated.

A UHF RFID system is disclosed in which an RFID transponder or tag can be simultaneously powered and interrogated by multiple RFID transceivers. The architecture of the system is such that each transceiver generates its own carrier wave, with a frequency that might be equal to or different from the other units, and the interrogation data is distributed throughout a network of transceivers and modulated by each transceiver unit onto their own carrier waves. During an interrogation period, one or more of the transceivers will be configured as the master unit, generating and distributing the protocols commands. The other units can be configured as transmitters, receivers or transceivers. After each period the units may be given different roles. The proposed setup yields a system with the capability to power and interrogate RFID tags with multiple readers, without compromising the required modulation depth and protocol handling.

A flexible antenna for a wireless X-ray dosimeter chip is described. The flexible antenna includes a dipole antenna associated with an artificial magnetic conductor, wherein the artificial magnetic conductor includes: a top layer configured to partially act as a reflective surface; a bottom conductive ground plane layer configured to prevent propagation of incident electromagnetic waves and to reflect the electromagnetic waves; and a middle layer including a foam material configured to provide an appropriate phase delay between incident electromagnetic waves from the top layer and the reflected waves from the ground plane layer.

Systems and methods for implementing a radio frequency identifier (RFID) system are provided. The methods include transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal, by an RFID interrogator with multiple antennas. The methods include receiving a superimposed received signal. The superimposed received signal includes replies from a first RFID tag and a second RFID tag that are overlapping in time. The methods also include separating the replies from the first RFID tag and second RFID tag though spatial processing of the superimposed received signal.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) device programming apparatus includes a transport system (102) to transport media (104) in a transport direction (106), and an RFID device reader (112) to obtain first device identification data from a first RFID device (108) on the media and second device identification data from a second RFID device (110) on the media that is offset from the first RFID device in the transport direction. A first RFID device programmer (114) may program the first RFID device associated with the first device identification data, and a second RFID device programmer (116) may program the second RFID device associated with the second device identification data.