RFID SCREW SPECIFICALLY FOR USE ON EYEGLASS FRAMES

Abstract

The embodiments of the present invention are an RFID device including an RFID tag, an antenna, and a programmable logic. The RFID tag is inside a custom screw of an eyeglass frame configured to track and identify the eyeglass frame. The antenna is inside the custom screw of the eyeglass frame configured to receive a transmitted signal to collect and power the RFID tag. The programmable logic is inside the custom screw of the eyeglass frame configured to process and store transmission and sensor data. Barcodes are eliminated because a person using a barcode reader has the burden of scanning every item one-by-one, and assuring that the tag is within the line of sight of the reader.

Claims

1. An RFID device, comprising: a) an RFID tag inside a custom screw of an eyeglass frame configured to track and identify the eyeglass frame; b) an antenna inside the custom screw of the eyeglass frame configured to receive a transmitted signal to collect and power said RFID tag; and c) a programmable logic inside the custom screw of the eyeglass frame configured to process and store transmission and sensor data; wherein barcodes are eliminated because a person using a barcode reader has the burden of scanning every item one-by-one, and assuring that the tag is within the line of sight of the reader.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein when said device is activated through a source signal usually a few millimeters to meters away responds with signal data, including serial number of the eyeglass frame.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said device further extends the ability to receive multiple signals from multiple said devices within range, usually a few millimeters to meters and transmit a response to a remote managed system which can be used for theft protection and management of internal or external inventory.

4. The device of claim 2, further comprising software that focuses on prevention of theft by taking inventory within an optical retail outlet; and wherein said RFID device uses a cloud-based-system to inform select eyeglass manufacturers and distributers of a sale to improve restocking.

5. The RFID tag of claim 2, wherein components of said RFID device are placed inside the custom screw.

6. The RFID device of claim 2, wherein said device avoids the use of a matching circuit for said antenna and relays on a fine-tuned antenna to power said device.

7. The RFID device of claim 2, wherein said antenna and components of said RFID device must be in resonance that occurs when inductance reactance and capacitance are about equal for achieving maximum possible energy transfer.

8. The RFID device of claim 2, wherein inductance resistance is much less than capacitance.

9. The RFID device of claim 2, wherein bandwidth is at least twice data rate.

10. An RFID device for use on eyeglass frames, wherein the eyeglass frame includes a pair of eye wires or rims surrounding and holding a pair of lenses in place in a front frame, a pair of end pieces that connect the pair of eye wires or rims, respectively, via a pair of hinges, respectively, to a pair of temples, respectively, wherein the pair of hinges connecting the pair of end pieces of the front frame to the pair of temple/eye pieces, respectively, allow a pivoting movement of the pair of temples with a single RFID screw in one of the hinges of the glasses, wherein the pair of temple/eye pieces on either side of the skull, respectively, are pivotally attached to the pair of end pieces, respectively, by the pair of hinges, respectively, and wherein said RFID tag comprising: a) an integrated circuit for storing and processing information that modulates and demodulates radio-frequency (RF) signals; b) means for collecting the DC power from an incident reader signal; and c) an antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal so as to form a transmission; wherein information from said RFID tag is stored in a non-volatile memory; and wherein barcodes are eliminated because a person using a barcode reader has the burden of scanning every item one-by-one, and assuring that the tag is within the line of sight of the reader.

11. The RFID device of claim 10, wherein said device uses said RFID tag that allows read only or read/write instruction.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said device is applicable on various frequencies and not limited to 915 MHz including HF and UHF frequencies.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING

[0141] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an example of a single prior art screw with tag;

[0142] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an example of a pair of prior art screws with tags;

[0143] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic example of a binary tree method of identifying a prior art RFID tag;

[0144] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a pair of glasses utilizing the screw with the RFID device of the embodiments of the present invention;

[0145] FIG. 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW 5 in FIG. 4 of the hinge of the pair of glasses shown in FIG. 4 utilized with the screw with the RFID device of the embodiments of the present invention;

[0146] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the screw with the RFID device of the embodiments of the present invention;

[0147] FIG. 7 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken along LINE 7-7 of FIG. 6;

[0148] FIG. 8 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken along LINE 8-8 of FIG. 6;

[0149] FIG. 9 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken along LINE 8-8 of FIG. 6;

[0150] FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D are diagrammatic top plan views illustrating different configurations for the antenna; and

[0151] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the workflow of the RFID device of the embodiments of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN FIGURES OF DRAWING

Background of Invention

Description of Prior Art

[0152] 10 prior art RFID tag [0153] 12 pair of prior art RFID tags [0154] 14 binary tree method of identifying an RFID tag

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Pertinent Parts of Eyeglass Frame 22

[0155] 22 eyeglass frame [0156] 24 pair of eye wires or rims [0157] 26 pair of lenses [0158] 28 front frame [0159] 30 pair of end pieces [0160] 32 pair of hinges [0161] 34 pair of temples

Configuration of Screw with RFID Device 40

[0162] 40 screw with RFID device [0163] 42 integrated circuit for storing and processing information that modulates and demodulates radio-frequency (RF) signals [0164] 44 apparatus for collecting AC power signal from incident reader signal [0165] 46 antenna for receiving and transmitting signal [0166] 46a 0.36 A straight dipole antenna of antenna 46 [0167] 46b ink-reducing 0.36 A straight dipole antenna of antenna 46 [0168] 46c meander dipole antenna of antenna 46 [0169] 46d ink-reducing 0.25 A meander dipole antenna of antenna 46 [0170] 48 non-volatile memory [0171] 50 fixed or programmable logic for processing transmission and sensor data, respectively [0172] 52 PCB [0173] 54 chip [0174] 56 capacitor [0175] 58 custom screw [0176] 60 work flow

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Pertinent Parts of an Eyeglass Frame 22

[0177] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, an eyeglass frame is shown generally at 22.

[0178] The pertinent parts of the eyeglass frame 22 include:

[0179] A pair of eye wires or rims 24 surrounding and holding a pair of lenses 26 in place in a front frame 28;

[0180] A pair of end pieces 30 that connect the pair of eye wires or rims 24, respectively, via a pair of hinges 32, respectively, to a pair of temples 34, respectively;

[0181] The pair of hinges 32 connecting the pair of end pieces 30 of the front frame 28 to the pair of temple/eye pieces 34, respectively, allow a pivoting movement of the pair of temples 34, with a pair of RFID devices, respectively, of the embodiments of the present invention being a pair of hinge pins thereof, respectively; and

[0182] The pair of temple/eye pieces 34 on either side of the skull, respectively, pivotally attach to the pair of end pieces 30, respectively, by the pair of hinges 32, respectively.

Configuration of the Screw with the RFID Device 40

[0183] The configuration of the screw with the RFID device 40 can best be seen in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10a, 10b, and 10c, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

[0184] The screw with the RFID device 40 comprises an integrated circuit 42 for storing and processing information that modulates and demodulates radio-frequency (RF) signals, apparatus 44 for collecting the AC power signal from an incident reader signal, and an antenna 46 for receiving and transmitting the signal. Information is stored in a non-volatile memory 48 of the screw with the RFID device 40, and barcodes are eliminated because a person having to use a barcode reader has the burden of scanning every item one-by-one, and assuring that the tag is within the line of sight of the reader.

[0185] Even though the barcodes are eliminated may be considered a negative limitation by some, it is the only way, and by far the clearest way, to state the limitation, and therefore must be considered in determining patentability. Support for this assertion can be found in the notice entitled Practice Re: Technical Rejections, dated Apr. 30, 1965 (814 O.G. 715), which states that: [0186] The inclusion of a negative limitation shall not, in itself, be considered a sufficient basis for objection to or rejection of a claim. [Emphasis added]

[0187] And, in In re Duva, 156 USPQ 90, 94 (CCPA 1967), where the Court stated: [0188] [I]t [is] held proper to claim a negative limitation even if a positive expression could have been employed and even at the point of novelty . . . [Emphasis added]

[0189] The fact that barcodes are eliminated and the tag does not have to be within the line of sight of the reader, so it may be embedded in the tracked object is of critical importance and obviously a point of novelty, since it eliminates a person using a barcode reader from having the burden of scanning every item one-by-one, and the tag must be within the line of sight of the reader, so it may be embedded in the tracked object.

[0190] In contradistinction, Cypher et al. do use barcodes, as discussed at [0071] of Cypher et al., where it is taught: [0191] In another example, a paper tag may be affixed to the items 406 and 408, and the identification unit 118 may make use of a barcode scanner to uniquely identify the items 406 and 408.[Emphasis added]

[0192] Examiner Savusdiphol, in the parent application, cites only [0029], 0040], [0041], and [0043] of Cypher et al. to show the elimination of barcodes in Cypher et al.'s invention, but does not cite [0071] which teaches the use of barcodes in the Cypher et al.'s invention, as discussed above.

[0193] The screw with the RFID device 40 includes either fixed or programmable logic 50 for processing the transmission and sensor data, respectively.

[0194] The integrated circuit 42 is mounted on a PCB 52, including a chip 54 and a capacitor 56, and the antenna 46.

[0195] The PCB 52 extends axially in the screw, and the antenna 46 is a sticker for design interchangeability.

[0196] The chip 54 and the capacitor 56 are disposed generally centrally on the PCB 52, with the antenna 46 straddling them. This design maximizes real estate within the screw.

[0197] In order to have read/write ability, the screw with the RFID device 40 uses a class 2 gen IC (the SL3S12-5-15-DS IC). The antenna 46 is embedded or placed inside the screw.

[0198] The RFID tag 20 is made of one of high-end plastic and silver ink.

[0199] The antenna 46 utilizes near field magnetic induction coupling at 915 MHz, with the integrated circuit being SL3S1205_15. Said design approach is applicable on various frequencies and not limited to 915 MHz including HF and UHF frequencies.

[0200] As shown in FIG. 10A, the antenna 46 is configured as a 0.36 A straight dipole antenna 46a.

[0201] As shown in FIG. 10B, the antenna 46 is configured as an ink-reducing 0.36 A straight dipole antenna 46b.

[0202] As shown in FIG. 10C, the antenna 46 is configured as a 0.25 A meander dipole antenna 46c.

[0203] As shown in FIG. 10D, the antenna 46 is configured as an ink-reducing 0.25 A meander dipole antenna 46d.

[0204] The reason why it is imperative to have the RFID device embedded in a mini eyeglass screw, ergo, the name screw with the RFID device, is the inventory and transportation process can be tracked from the manufacturing to the distribution to the retail inventory (including tracking of theft), and then when a sale is made in which case the information will then be sent back to the manufacturer/distributor. This allows all the manufacturers of frames to participate, whereas the patch or RFID wrap around the frame will only be supported by a small number of manufacturers and retailers. The one thing all frame manufacturers use are the mini screws. It would be a large disadvantage to get manufacturers to change the way they are already producing frames for them to add an additional component to the frame, such as, the screw with the RFID device 40.

[0205] Hitachithe Japanese semiconductor companyhas unveiled a prototype for the next generation of its -Chip (pronounced mu-chip). The chip is just 0.3 millimeters square.

Space Available

[0206] The RFID device components are placed inside a custom screw 58 that is based on Safe-Lok Hinge & Eye wire ScrewPart #275015300.

[0207] The measurements of the custom screw 58 are as follows:

[0208] Head Diameter2.0 mm;

[0209] Screw Diameter1.4 mm; and

[0210] Screw Length3.5 mm.

Approach

[0211] Considering the limited space for the application, a true antenna will be a complex task to devise. The antenna 46 is devised to resonate at the frequency of interest (915 MHz). The antenna 46 will utilize near field magnetic induction coupling between the source transmitter and the receiving antenna to activate the passive tag device mounted. Hence the antenna 46 is designed to maximize the induced voltage, targeted read range is 30 cm.

Tag Chip Specs

[0212] The chip 54 chosen for this application is UCODE 8m ICs model SL3S1205_15. Infra, are the technical details based on the provider's datasheet:

Mechanical Details

[0213] Die to Die distance (metal sealring-metal sealring) 21.4 m, (X-scribe line width: 15 m);

[0214] Die to Die distance (metal sealring-metal sealring) 21.4 m, (Y-scribe line width: 15 m);

[0215] Chip step, Y-length: 490 m;

[0216] Chip step, X-length: 480 m;

[0217] Bump to bump distance X (RF1-RF2): 115 m;

[0218] Distance bump to metal sealring Y: 23.5 m;

[0219] Bump size (TP1, TP2) Y: 100 m;

[0220] Bump to bump distance Y (RF1-TP2, RF2-TP1): 50 m;

[0221] Bump size (RF1, RF2) Y: 278 m;

[0222] Distance bump to metal sealring X: 23.5 m;

[0223] Bump size (TP1, TP2) X: 134.2 m;

[0224] Bump size (RF1, RF2) X: 151.5 m; and

[0225] Distance bump to metal sealring Y: 441.5 m.

RF Interface Characteristics

[0226] All parameters and conditions listed are based on the system application of the embodiments of the present invention from SL3S1205_15 datasheet.

Parameters and Their Associated Values

[0227] Input Frequency is 915 MHz;

[0228] Minimum Input Power (Read Sensitivity) is 22.9 dBm;

[0229] Minimum Input Power (Write Sensitivity) is 17.8 dBm;

[0230] Chip Input Capacitance is 0.69 pF;

[0231] Chip Impedance is 14-j242 (at 915 MHz);

[0232] Typical Assembled Impedance is 19-j234 (at 915 MHz); and

[0233] Typical Assembled Impedance in case of Single-Slit Antenna Assembly is 13-j191 (at 915 MHz).

[0234] Note: It is always recommended to modify the designed antenna's physical properties as to have the antenna 46 connected directly to the load (avoiding the use of a matching circuit). Please refer to the FIG. 11 for the work flow 60 for this attempt.

[0235] The IC datasheet indicates the chip input capacitance condition to be a parallel connection.

[0236] To achieve the maximum possible energy transfer, the antenna 46 and components must be in resonance that occurs when the inductance reactance and the capacitances are about equal.

[0237] The capacitive reactance can be calculated as (the capacitance value C is provided by the chip datasheet):

[00001]$X_C=\frac{1}{2.Math..Math..Math.\mathrm{fC}}$$X_C=\frac{1}{2\left(915{10}^6\right)\left(0.69{10}^{-12}\right)}$$X_C=252.0867$

[0238] The inductive reactance is calculated as:

X.sub.L=2fL

X.sub.L=2(91510.sup.6)(8.52410.sup.9)

X.sub.L=49.0054

[0239] The inductive reactance is much less than the capacitance. The two equations will be equated to find the best inductance.

[00002]$X_L=X_C$$2.Math..Math..Math.\mathrm{fL}=252.0867$$L=\frac{252.0867}{2\left(915{10}^6\right)}$$L=4.39{10}^{-8}.Math..Math.H$

[0240] To verify the resonance frequency of the circuit for the calculated inductance and tuning capacitance used for the tag:

[00003]$f_o=\frac{1}{2.Math..Math.\sqrt{\mathrm{LC}}}$$f_o=\frac{1}{2\sqrt{\left(43.9{10}^{-9}\right)\left(0.69{10}^{-12}\right)}}$$f_o=914457078.8.Math..Math.\mathrm{Hz}$$f_o=914.46.Math..Math.\mathrm{MHz}$

[0241] It can be seen that rounding roughly raises a 0.059% error margin from 915 MHz. Hence we can proceed with these values.

[0242] From the datasheet of the IC, the minimum write cycle endurance is 100 k cycles (100 KHz).

[0243] Thus, the bandwidth needs at least twice of the data rate.

[0244] The Q factor can be obtained as:

[00004]$Q_{\max }=\frac{f_o}{B}$$Q_{\max }=\frac{915{10}^6}{200{10}^3}$$Q_{\max }=4575$

Impressions

[0245] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

[0246] While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as an RFID device specifically for use on eyeglass frames, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0247] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.