RFID-based sensors, RFID readers and software sense a changed condition. In one embodiment, an RFID-based sensor includes a base that may be placed at a location where a condition may change. The sensor includes an RFID tag that is coupled to the base. The sensor also includes a detector that can be electrically coupled to the RFID tag. If the condition changes, an electrical property of the detector also changes, impacting an operation of the RFID tag. The impacted operation can be detected by an RFID reader/interrogator so as to provide a notification. An advantage over the prior art is that the condition change can be sensed wirelessly over a domain that can be laborious or hazardous to access otherwise. Moreover, RFID based sensors can be made by modifying common RFID tags.

An object detection system includes a reader waveguide (101) formed as an open transmission line, an RFID tag (102) placed above the reader waveguide (101), a signal strength acquisition unit (103) that acquires signal strength of a read signal read from the RFID tag (102) by electromagnetic coupling through the reader waveguide (101), and an object detection unit (104) that detects physical characteristics of an object (105) corresponding to the acquired signal strength based on a relationship between a plurality of (three or more values of) signal strength of the read signal and physical characteristics of the object to be detected.

A vehicular system (1) detects a magnetic marker (10) laid in a road and wirelessly communicates with a wireless tag (15) attached to the magnetic marker (10). The system includes a measuring unit (2) which detects the magnetic marker (10) by sensing magnetism, a tag reader (34) which executes a communication process with the wireless tag (15), and a control unit (32) which sets a communication start point as a start point of the communication process by the tag reader (34). The control unit (32) sets, as a communication start point, a time after a lapse of specified time with reference to a time point of detection at which the measuring unit (2) detects the magnetic marker (10). Upon reading information from the wireless tag (15), the tag reader (34) terminates communication, thereby shortening a communication time.

A condition monitoring system includes a radio frequency transponder module including an RFID chip having a first memory, and an antenna; at least one sensor module that monitors data related to the condition of an item and includes a second memory for storing the monitored data; and a communication interface that couples the at least one sensor module to the RFID chip of the radio frequency transponder module so that the sensor module is operative to communicate with the RFID chip by way of the communication interface and the RFID chip first memory is operative to store data related to the item.

Beverage shrinkage monitoring technology is disclosed and is used to reduce beverage shrinkage at bars, clubs, restaurants, and other establishments that dispense beverages. Bottles are topped with wireless (RFID/Bluetooth/WiFi) enabled liquor/wine nozzles that only pour when handled by appropriate staff members who wear RFID wristbands or bracelets. The wireless (RFID/Bluetooth/WiFi) enabled liquor/wine nozzles also report sales to a point of sales (POS) system. Beer taps include proprietary wireless (RFID/Bluetooth/WiFi) enabled beer tap adapters that are mounted to or embedded in the beer taps.

A pallet sled includes a pair of tines extending forward from a base. A load wheel supports each of the pair of tines. The load wheels are each configured to move away from the respective tine to lift the respective tine upward relative to a support surface on which the load wheel is supported. A processor on the pallet sled records usage of the sled, such as lift cycles, location over time, battery condition, lift height, weight lifted, distance traveled, and the like. A communication circuit may be configured to send data from the pallet sled to a remote server. An identification reader may be configured to read an identification tag of an object supported on the pair of tines, such as an rfid tag on a pallet.

A system for event notification based on editing a transponder identifier is disclosed herein. The system may include a sensor system, a transponder, a transponder reader, and a controller. The system may detect an event associated with a sensor. The system may identify a transponder associated with the sensor. The system may cause the transponder to store an event identifier in a memory location of an identifier, of the transponder, to form an edited identifier. The event identifier may be associated with the event. The system may determine that the transponder responded to the query from the transponder reader. The system may store a confirmation that the event identifier was provided to the transponder reader via the transponder.

A contactless card reader comprises a contactless card reader front-end coupled to a processor. A communications module is coupled to the processor and a set of sensors is coupled to the processor. The set of sensors determines parameters related to the location, orientation and motion of the card reader. The processor receives the parameters from the set of sensors and utilizes the parameters and scenario configuration data to evaluate a rule. The result of the evaluation of the rule results in a limitation on the operation of the card reader. The communications module is configured to intermittently receive the scenario configuration data from external sources.

A condition monitoring system includes a radio frequency transponder module including an RFID chip having a first memory, and an antenna; at least one sensor module that monitors data related to the condition of an item and includes a second memory for storing the monitored data; and a communication interface that couples the at least one sensor module to the RFID chip of the radio frequency transponder module so that the sensor module is operative to communicate with the RFID chip by way of the communication interface and the RFID chip first memory is operative to store data related to the item.

A contactless card reader comprises a contactless card reader front-end coupled to a processor. A communications module is coupled to the processor and a set of sensors is coupled to the processor. The set of sensors determines parameters related to the location, orientation and motion of the card reader. The processor receives the parameters from the set of sensors and utilizes the parameters and scenario configuration data to evaluate a rule. The result of the evaluation of the rule results in a limitation on the operation of the card reader. The communications module is configured to intermittently receive the scenario configuration data from external sources.