US 11,915,085 B2
Systems and methods for enhanced directionality in RFID portal systems
Robert E. Grant, Coram, NY (US); and Michael J. Koch, Saint James, NY (US)
Assigned to Zebra Technologies Corporation, Lincolnshire, IL (US)
Filed by ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, Lincolnshire, IL (US)
Filed on May 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/751,138.
Prior Publication US 2023/0409846 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. G06K 7/10 (2006.01); G01S 13/46 (2006.01)
CPC G06K 7/10099 (2013.01) [G01S 13/46 (2013.01); G06K 7/10376 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for determining directionality of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag within a venue, the system comprising:
a first RFID transceiver arrangement configured to interrogate RFID tags disposed within a lane of a venue, wherein the first RFID transceiver arrangement is configured to have a signal range that extends over at least a first portion of the lane;
a second RFID transceiver arrangement configured to interrogate RFID tags disposed within the venue, wherein the second RFID transceiver arrangement is configured to generate a beam in a plurality of directions relative to the second RFID transceiver arrangement, wherein at least one of the directions extends over at least a second portion of the lane, the second portion of the lane being proximate to the first portion of the lane;
a third RFID transceiver arrangement configured to interrogate RFID tags disposed within a second lane of the venue, wherein the third RFID transceiver arrangement is configured to have a signal range that extends over at least a first portion of the second lane, wherein at least one of the directions for the beams generated by the second transceiver arrangement extends over at least a second portion of the second lane, the second portion of the second lane being proximate to the first portion of the second lane; and
a controller operatively connected to the first RFID transceiver arrangement the second RFID transceiver arrangement, and the third RFID transceiver arrangement, wherein the controller is configured to:
detect, via the first RFID transceiver arrangement, a first plurality of read events respectively corresponding to a first set of RFID tags;
detect, via the second RFID transceiver arrangement, a second plurality of read events respectively corresponding to a second set of RFID tags, wherein the second plurality of read events occurred within a threshold time from the first plurality of read events;
determine that a particular RFID tag is included in both the first set of RFID tags and the second set of RFID tags;
based upon the read events for the particular RFID tag detected via the second RFID transceiver arrangement, determine a direction of travel for the particular RFID tag; and
associate the determined direction of travel with RFID tags included in the first set of RFID tags.