Techniques are provided to estimate the location of an RFID tag using tag read information, such as a tag read count or a tag read rate, and an opportunity metric, such as an inventory cycle duration, inventory cycle rate, or inventory cycle count. A tag tracking system determines read information for a tag in a zone and an opportunity metric associated with the tag and the zone. The tag tracking system then computes a success rate based on the tag read information and opportunity metric, and uses the success rate to estimate the location of the tag.

A system and method for the supply of a medical storage container that has a required inventory of medical articles. An enclosure is used to isolate, scan, and inventory a tray or other container of medical articles. The container and each of the medical articles stored in the container having a wireless identification device. A probe injects activation energy and receives identification data in the enclosure. A program compares the scanned identification of the tray and the inventory of the tray to the required inventory list for the tray and indicates any differences. Extra articles and expired and recalled articles are identified. Text and graphical data displays of inventory are provided. Selectable periods for expiration of medical articles are also provided.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided using RFID devices to assist in detecting retail product label removal. For example, a system includes a product identifier including a base substrate, a first RFID tag device, a second RFID tag device, a metallic substrate, a first attachment mechanism, and a second attachment mechanism. By one approach, the first attachment mechanism is configured to fail with an application of a lower separation force than the second attachment mechanism, such that upon an action causing a separation force to separate the base substrate from a first retail product will cause the first attachment mechanism to fail such that the base substrate will be removed from the metallic substrate and the first retail product. In some embodiments, upon this separation and removal, the second RFID tag device will then be readable by the RFID tag reader.

An automatic inventory tracking and control system tracks the inventory of medical articles in an enclosure by providing a robust electromagnetic (EM) field within the enclosure. The enclosure has electrically-conductive walls. Wireless identification devices such as RFID tags, attached to each medical article respond to the electromagnetic field by transmitting unique data identified with each medical article. A probe or probes are used to generate transverse electromagnetic modes in the enclosure.

An RF module includes a base with a probe, a reader unit, a communications unit, and a control unit that establish an EM field into a container having electrically-conductive walls. RFID tags attached to medical articles located within the container are activated and produce identification signals. The probe and base receive the identification signals and provide identification data related to medical articles located within the container. The RF module is self-contained in that it needs only power and a data connection with which to operate. Where an Ethernet is used, power is obtained by PoE. The RF module is used to retrofit existing medication containers or may be used during the construction of a new medication container.

A device for a handle of a motor vehicle door. The device includes, integrated into the door, a primary module that supplies power by inductive coupling to a secondary module integrated into the handle. The primary module includes a primary coil and the secondary module having a secondary coil positioned facing the primary coil. The secondary coil also serves as a repeater for contactless communication between the primary module and a terminal. If the handle is retractable, the device also allows the position of the handle during its movement between a deployed position and a retracted position to be estimated.

Plasmonic-surface antenna systems are described in which resonators, or cells, are closely arranged but do not touch. At least a portion of a radiating surface includes a plurality of cells (operative as resonators) placed very close together to one so that a surface (plasmonic) wave causes near replication of the current of one cell in an adjacent cell. Cells with one or more fractal shapes may be used as a fractal plasmonic surface (FPS). Systems and/or methods are described of using plasmonic surfaces or fractal plasmonic surfaces for radiofrequency identification (RFID). A PS or FPS may act as an intermediary array of antennas, which can serve to connect an RFID reader with one or more RFID tags. Structures including cages are described that can include one or more surfaces that are each an FPS. Methods of power transfer are described.

A pet monitoring device (101) for monitoring a sub-dermal RFID microchip (103), the pet monitoring device comprising: a wearable item (1) bearing 1 to 5 turns of electrical conductor (7) wound circumferentially to form a wearable item resonator; and an RFID reader (9) attachable and detachable to said wearable item, wherein said RFID reader comprises: a driving circuit (1100) comprising a primary inductance (Lp) inductively coupled to said wearable item when said RFID reader is attached to said wearable item; a secondary inductance (Ls) and resonance capacitor (Cs) conductively coupled to said wearable item when said RFID reader is attached to said wearable item, wherein the secondary inductance and resonance capacitor form the wearable item resonator with said electrical conductor, wherein the wearable item resonator comprises a circuit (1004) to automatically adjust said resonance capacitor to compensate for a size of said wearable item when fitted to said pet; wherein the driving circuit is operable to drive the wearable

Improved RFID devices and manufacturing methods that utilize more efficient RFID designs, result in less manufacturing material waste and increased recycling opportunities, all without sacrificing RFID device performance, are disclosed herein. Some exemplary embodiments of the improved RFID device may make use of a thinner foil, a hollowed-out foil, a no-strip design, or a tessellated design that may reduce material usage. Other exemplary embodiments may use a lower-impact and/or biodegradable adhesive so as to improve aluminum recycling and lessen risks to the environment.

A method, system, and apparatus for forming and applying an RFID label may be shown and described herein. Exemplary embodiments can include a new type of RFID inlay that has a multi-element antenna design, allowing for an RFID label thus equipped to be coupled to a carton, for example, around an edge or a corner. Thus, even if part of the RFID label is blocked or obscured, for example by neighboring cartons, the label can still be read as desired.