Abstract:
A system and method that allows one to mark information with a pencil on a label equipped with a RFID type circuit, and have the marked information provided to the RFID circuit, or have the written information cause the RFID circuit to supply information regarding the goods that are contained in a individual container. Individual containers may be placed in a larger container. The marked entered information may be corrected by erasing the written information with a pencil eraser and writing new information on the paper with a pencil. Information may also be marked into a RFID circuit or have the marked information cause the RFID circuit to perform some function by utilizing a standard ink jet computer printer to print lines on paper equipped with a RFID type circuit, by having the printed lines perform the function of wires. The aforementioned printed information may be modified by having an individual connect different printed wires by drawing a penciled line between the wires or by punching holes in the printed lines.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Reference is made to commonly assigned co-pending patent applications Ser. No. 10/431,066 filed herewith entitled “METHOD FOR FIELD PROGRAMMABLE RADIO FREQUENCY DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION DEVICES” in the names of Anand V. Chhatpar, Jeffrey D. Pierce, Brian M. Romansky, Thomas J. Foth and Andrei Obrea; Ser. No. 10/430,911 filed herewith entitled “METHOD FOR FIELD PROGRAMMING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION DEVICES THAT CONTROL REMOTE CONTROL DEVICES” in the names of Jeffrey D. Pierce, Brian M. Romansky, Thomas J. Foth and Anand V. Chhatpar; Ser. No. 10/430,925 filed herewith entitled “METHOD FOR FIELD PROGRAMMABLE RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TESTING DEVICES FOR TRANSMITTING USER SELECTED DATA” in the names of Thomas J. Foth, Brian M. Romansky, Jeffrey D. Pierce, Andrei Obrea and Anand V. Chhatpar; Ser. No. 10/430,922 filed herewith entitled “METHOD FOR FIELD PROGRAMMABLE RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION DEVICES TO PERFORM SWITCHING FUNCTIONS” in the names of Andrei Obrea, Brian M. Romansky, Thomas J. Foth, Jeffrey D. Pierce and Anand V. Chhatpar; Ser. No. 10/431,067 filed herewith entitled “METHOD FOR FIELD PROGRAMMING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION RETURN FORMS” in the names of Jeffrey D. Pierce, Thomas J. Foth, Brian M. Romansky, Andrei Obrea, and Anand V. Chhatpar; and Ser. No. 10/430,597 filed herewith entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FIELD PROGRAMMING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION DEVICES” in the names of Brian M. Romansky, Thomas J. Foth, Jeffrey D. Pierce, Andrei Obrea and Anand V. Chhatpar. 

   This Application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/419,361 filed Oct. 18, 2002, which is owned by the assignee of the present Application. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention pertains to electronic circuits and, more particularly, to programmable radio frequency product labels. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Dangerous goods are substances and articles that are potentially hazardous to people and property. They may be corrosive, flammable, explosive, oxidizing or reactive with water, toxic, radioactive, etc. Whatever their properties and their potential for injury and destruction, great care is needed in their handling, storage and transport. Examples of dangerous goods are explosives, gun powder, blasting material, bombs, detonators, smokeless powder, radioactive materials, ammunition, atomic weapons, chemical compounds or any mechanical mixture containing any oxidizing and combustible units, or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities, or packing that ignite by fire, friction, concussion, percussion or detonation of any part thereof which may and is intended to cause an explosion; poisons; carcinogenic materials; caustic chemicals; hallucinogenic substances; illegal materials; drugs that are illegal to sell and/or dispense; and substances which, because of their toxicity, magnification or concentration within biological chains, present a threat to biological life when exposed to the environment, etc. All other types of goods may be considered normal goods. 
   The government has promulgated regulations regarding the storage, handling and shipment of dangerous goods. These Regulations are designed to prevent accidents, provide safety standards to protect workers, the community and the environment from the effects of fires, explosions and escapes of these dangerous goods. 
   Dangerous goods and normal goods may be shipped and stored in individual containers that may be placed in larger containers. The contents and descriptions of the goods and information pertaining to the goods in the individual containers and the contents and descriptions of the goods and information pertaining to the goods in the larger containers may be written directly on the containers and/or labels that are attached to the containers. One of the problems of the prior art was that the only way to determine the information written on the individual containers that are placed in larger containers was to remove the individual containers from the larger containers. The foregoing process is labor intensive, time consuming and expensive. 
   Another problem experienced by the prior art was that the information written on the containers and/or labels had to be directly scanned by optical scanners or directly viewed by humans in order to be read. An additional problem encountered by the prior art was that if many individual containers having goods were placed in a larger sealed container, someone may remove, i.e., steal some of the individual containers from the larger container and reseal the larger container without the custodian of the larger container realizing that some individual containers are missing. 
   Another problem of the prior art is that someone may remove an individual container from a larger sealed container and replace the removed container with a different container and then reseal the larger container without the custodian of the larger container realizing the change. This may result in a theft or dangerous goods being substituted for normal goods. 
   The information written on the containers and/or the information written on the labels that are attached to the containers may be written on paper and then entered into a computer. Typically, the information written on paper and/or labels is entered into computers by optically scanning the paper and/or labels. The foregoing method of entering information into computers is inconvenient, because the paper and/or label must be placed directly on the scanner, and no intervening objects may be placed between the paper and the scanner. Another method utilized by the prior art for writing information on paper and/or labels and entering the written information into a computer involved placing a piece of paper over an expensive digitizing pad and using a special pen that produced digital data by indicating the coordinates of the digitizing pad. Thus, heretofore, there was no economic, convenient way for wirelessly entering information written on plain paper, labels, and/or on containers into a computer. 
   Another method utilized by the prior art for entering information into a computer involved the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. The RFID tags were programmed to contain digital information either during the manufacturing of the read only memory portion of the RFID integrated circuit, or in the field using electromagnetic radio frequency signals to store information in the nonvolatile memory portion of the RFID tag. One of the difficulties involved in the utilization of RFID tags was that if an end user wanted to enter information into the RFID tag, the end user had to use a specialized device that communicated with the RFID tag through a radio frequency. Another problem involved in the utilization of RFID tags that were programmed by the manufacturer was that the end user had to share the information that was going to be programmed into the RFID tag with the manufacturer of the tag. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a method that allows one to mark information with a pencil on a material, equipped with a RFID type circuit, and have the marked information provided to the RFID circuit, or have the written information cause the RFID circuit to perform some function. The material may be any cellulose type product, i.e., paper, cardboard, chipboard, wood or plastic, fabric, animal hide, etc. The marked entered information may be corrected by erasing the written information, with an pencil eraser and writing new information on the paper or other material with a pencil. Information may also be marked into a RFID circuit or have the marked information cause the RFID circuit to perform some function by utilizing a standard ink jet computer printer to print lines on paper equipped with a RFID type circuit, by having the printed lines perform the function of wires. The aforementioned printed information may be modified by having an individual connect different printed wires by drawing a penciled line between the wires or by punching holes in the printed lines. 
   This invention accomplishes the foregoing by utilizing the RFID serial number generation portion of the RFID circuit that is used when the RFID circuit is being read. In the prior art, the bits used to encode one&#39;s and zero&#39;s into the generation portion of the RFID circuit were typically fixed. This invention utilizes the serial number generation portion of the RFID circuit by exposing on a piece of paper some or all of the bits left open or closed to represent a binary values, i.e., ones or zeros. A user may complete the RFID serial number storage portion of the RFID circuit by filling in the space between the connections with a pencil to alter the binary values. Alternatively, the serial number generation portion of the RFID circuit may be exposed on a piece of paper with all of the connections made, and a user may break a space between the connections with a sharp instrument or hole punch to alter the binary values. Alternatively, the serial number generation portion of the RFID circuit may have some of the bits all ready left open or closed to represent a unique number. 
   An additional advantage of this invention is that the one may be able to read the information written on individual containers and/or labels that are affixed to individual containers that are placed inside larger containers without opening the larger containers. 
   A further advantage of this invention is that when individual containers having goods were placed in a larger sealed container, someone will be able to determine that some of the individual containers have been removed from the larger container without opening the larger container. 
   A further advantage of this invention is that a custodian will be able to detect if someone removes an individual container from a larger sealed container and replaces the removed container with a different container and then reseal the larger container. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a prior art RFID circuit; 
       FIG. 2A  is a drawing of a circuit  24  that replaces memory array  21  of  FIG. 1  showing how programming of the bits may be accomplished by making the bits externally available for programming RFID circuit  10 ; 
       FIG. 2B  is a drawing of a circuit  300  that is an alternate representation of circuit  24 , that replaces memory array  21  of  FIG. 1  showing how programming of the bits may be accomplished by making the bits externally available for programming RFID circuit  10 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a drawing showing sensor circuit  25  of  FIG. 2A  in greater detail; 
       FIG. 4  is a drawing of a label to be completed by a party possessing dangerous goods that is going to be attached to a container; 
       FIG. 5  is a drawing of a label to be completed by a party having custody of goods that is going to be attached to a container; and 
       FIG. 6  is a drawing showing how a modified RFID circuit attached to a piece of paper may be altered to indicate a desired selection. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , the reference character  10  represents a prior art RFID circuit. Circuit  10  may be the model MCRF 200 manufactured by Microchip Technology, Inc. of 2355 West Chandler Blvd, Chandler, Ariz. 85224. RFID reader  11  is connected to coil  12 , and  12  is coupled to coil  13 . Coil  13  is connected to modulation circuit  14 . Modulation circuit  14  is connected to clock generator  15  and rectifier  16 . Modulation control  17  is coupled to modulation circuit  14 , clock generator  15  and counter  18 . Counter  18  is coupled to column decode  20 . Row decode  19  is coupled to memory array  21 , and array  21  is coupled to modulation control  17 . It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that a battery may be used to supply power to circuit  10 . 
   Reader  11  has a transmitter mode and a receiver mode. During the transmit mode of reader  11 , reader  11  transmits a radio frequency signal for a burst of time via coil  12 . After the transmission of a signal by reader  11 , reader  11  turns into a receiver. Coil  12  is inductively linked with coil  13 , and coil  13  receives the radio frequency signal from coil  12  and converts the aforementioned signal into inductive energy, i.e., electricity. When coil  13  has sufficient energy, coil  13  will cause clock generator  15  to generate timing pulses which drive counter  18 . Counter  18  drives row decode  19  which causes memory array  21  to read the fixed bit data pattern stored in memory array  21  one bit at a time. As the data bits are being read by array  21 , the data bits are transmitted to modulation control circuit  17 . Control circuit  17  sends the data bits to reader  11  via modulation circuit  14  and coils  13  and  12 . 
     FIG. 2A  is a drawing of a circuit  24  that replaces memory array  21  of  FIG. 1  showing how programming of the bits may be accomplished by making the bits externally available for programming RFID circuit  10 . A plurality of sensor circuits  25  is contained in circuit  24 . Sensor circuits  25  are labeled SC 1  SC 2  SC 3  . . . SC n . Line  29  is connected to SC 1  and graphite contact  52  and line  30  is connected to SC 2  and graphite contact  53 . Line  31  is connected to SC 3  and graphite contact  54  and line  32  are connected to SC n  and graphite contact  55 . There is a sensor circuit  25  for each graphite contact. The description of  FIG. 4  will describe how information may be entered into circuit  24  via graphite contacts  52 - 55 . SC 1  has an input  33 , which enables the data output  34 . Input  33  is connected to one of the n lines  37 , and data output  34  is connected to data line  36  and pull up resistor  35 . Data line  36  is connected to modulation control  17  (FIG.  1 ). 
   When counter  18  selects the value  1 , column decode  20  will enable line  33 , which will cause the same logic level that is on graphite contact  52  to be placed on data output  34 . When line  33  is not selected, the value on graphite contact  52  does not have any influence on the data output line  34 . Enable outputs  33  for SC 1  . . . SC n  are bundled together in lines  37  so that only one line  37  is turned on at a time. Lines  37  are connected to column decode  20 . Column decode  20  is connected to counter  18 , and counter  18  is connected to row decode  19 . Counter  18  generates a sequence of numbers from 1 through n to enable a different line  37  in sequential order. Thus, data line  36  will receive the data outputs  34  from SC 1  . . . SC n  at different times. 
     FIG. 2B  is a drawing of a circuit  300  that is an alternate representation of circuit  24 , that replaces memory array  21  of  FIG. 1  showing how programming of the bits may be accomplished by making the bits externally available for programming RFID circuit  10 . Circuit  300  includes AND gates  301 ,  302 ,  303  and  304  and OR gate  305 . 
   One of the inputs of AND gate  301  is connected to column decode  20  and the other input to AND gate  301  is connected to one of the ends of resistor  322 , one of the ends of diode  306  and one of the ends of diode  314 . The other end of resistor  322  is connected to ground. The other end of diode  306  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  310 , and the other end of toggle switch  310  is connected to row decode  19 . The other end of diode  314  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  318 , and the other end of toggle switch  318  is connected to row decode  19 . 
   One of the inputs of AND gate  302  is connected to column decode  20 , and the other input to AND gate  302  is connected to one of the ends of resistor  323 , one of the ends of diode  307  and one of the ends of diode  315 . The other end of resistor  323  is connected to ground. The other end of diode  307  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  311 , and the other end of toggle switch  311  is connected to row decode  19 . The other end of diode  315  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  319 , and the other end of toggle switch  319  is connected to row decode  19 . 
   One of the inputs of AND gate  303  is connected to column decode  20 , and the other input to AND gate  303  is connected to one of the ends of resistor  324 , one of the ends of diode  308  and one of the ends of diode  316 . The other end of resistor  324  is connected to ground. The other end of diode  308  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  312 , and the other end of toggle switch  312  is connected to row decode  19 . The other end of diode  316  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  320 , and the other end of toggle switch  320  is connected to row decode  19 . 
   One of the inputs of AND gate  304  is connected to column decode  20 , and the other input to AND gate  304  is connected to one of the ends of resistor  325 , one of the ends of diode  309  and one of the ends of diode  317 . The other end of resistor  325  is connected to ground. The other end of diode  309  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  313 , and the other end of toggle switch  312  is connected to row decode  19 . The other end of diode  317  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  321 , and the other end of toggle switch  321  is connected to row decode  19 . 
   Column decode  20  and row decode  19  function by taking the selected output at logic one, i.e., a high level and keeping all the other outputs at logic zero, i.e., a low level. The output of AND gates  301 - 304  are connected to the input of OR gate  305 , and the output of OR gate  305  is data that is connected to the input of modulation circuit  17 . If switches  310 ,  311 ,  312  and  313 , respectively, remain open, AND gates  301 - 304 , respectively, will have a “zero” output. If switches  310 ,  311 ,  312  and  313 , respectively, are closed, AND gates  301 - 304 , respectively, will have a “one” output. The output of AND gates  301 - 304 , respectively, will be read when switches  318 - 321 , respectively, are closed. 
     FIG. 3  is a drawing showing sensor circuit  25  of  FIG. 2A  in greater detail. The negative input of comparator  41  is connected to line  29 , and the positive input of comparator  41  is connected to line  38 . Comparator  41  may be a LM339N comparator. One end of line  38  is connected to a 2-3 volt reference voltage, and the other end of line  38  is connected to one of the ends of resistor  39 . The other end of resistor  39  is connected to the positive input of comparator  41  and one of the ends of resistor  40 . The other end of resistor  40  is connected to the input of NAND gate  42 , the output of comparator  41  and one of the ends of resistor  43 . The other end of resistor  43  is connected to a source voltage to act as a pull up resistor. The other input to NAND gate  42  is enable output  33 . The output of gate  42  is data output  34 . Resistor  39  may be 47,000 ohms, and resistor  40  may be 470,000 ohms. Resistor  43  may be 1,000 ohms. Comparator  41  has a positive feedback to provide a small amount of hysteresis 
   Sensor circuit  25  is a differential circuit that accommodates variations in the conductivity of the conductive material. The conductive material may be used as a voltage divider to produce V ref  on line  38  under the same conditions experienced by paper in  on line  29 . Thereby, nullifying the effects of varying resistance in the conductive material. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that sensor circuit  25  may replace switches  310 - 313  and  318 - 321  of FIG.  2 B. 
     FIG. 4  is a drawing of a label to be completed by a party possessing dangerous goods that is going to be attached to a container. RFID circuit  10  is attached to material  100  by means of a conductive adhesive such as an anisotropic adhesive (not shown). The manufacturer, shipper and/or custodian of Dangerous goods may place the identity of the goods  98 , i.e., nitric acid and manufacturer information and/or other information  99  on material  100  by writing the identity  98  and information  99  on material  100  in a manner that identity  98  and information  99  may be, read by a RFID reader. Graphite contacts  101 - 107  and lines  108 - 114  are printed on material  100  with a standard computer printer, like the model Desk Jet 880C printer manufactured by Hewlett Packard using a Hewlett Packard  45  black ink cartridge. 
   If the custodian of a container having nitric acid to which material  100  is affixed or is going to be affixed decides that the nitric acid is toxic, the custodian uses a graphite pencil, i.e., number  2 , HB, etc., or a Paper Mate® black ball point pen to fill in rectangle  116 . If the custodian of a container having nitric acid to which material  100  is affixed or is going to be affixed decides that the nitric acid is corrosive, the custodian uses a graphite pencil, i.e., number  2 , HB, etc., or a Paper Mate® black ball point pen to fill in rectangle  118 . If the custodian of a container having nitric acid to which material  100  is affixed or is going to be affixed decides that the nitric acid loses its potency, expires and/or should only remain in the container until December 2004, the custodian uses a graphite pencil, i.e., number  2 , HB, etc., or a Paper Mate® black ball point pen to fill in rectangle  120 . 
   If the custodian of the container having nitric acid decides that the nitric acid is radioactive the custodian fills in rectangle  115  with a graphite pencil. If the nitric is flammable rectangle  117  is filled in with a graphite pencil and if the nitric acid loses its potency, expires and/or should only remain in the container until December 2004 rectangle  120  is filled in with a graphite pencil. 
   Hence, printed lines  108 - 114  perform the function of wires so that information may be modified in the RFID type circuit by having an individual connect different printed wires by drawing a penciled line between the wires, i.e., filling in rectangles  115 - 120  with a graphite pencil or by punching holes in rectangles  115 - 120  to supply information regarding the dangerous goods. 
   If the custodian of the container having nitric acid changes his/her mind regarding the classification of the goods or makes a mistake in filling in one of the rectangles, the custodian could erase the penciled marking in the rectangle with a pencil eraser so that a RFID reader would only read what the custodian indicated on material  100 . The custodian would affix material  100  to the nitric acid individual container (not shown), and the custodian would be able to read the completed material  100  even if material  100  and its container is placed in a larger container, without opening the larger container. 
     FIG. 5  is a drawing of a label to be completed by a party having custody of goods that is going to be attached to a container. RFID circuit  10  is attached to material  97  by means of a conductive adhesive such as an anisotropic adhesive (not shown). The manufacturer, shipper and/or custodian of goods, i.e. ABC Company may place the information regarding the goods  96 , on material  97  by writing information  96  on material  97  in a manner that information  96  may be, read by a RFID reader. Graphite contacts  121 - 124  and lines  135 - 148  are printed on material  97  with a standard computer printer, like the model Desk Jet 880C printer manufactured by Hewlett Packard using a Hewlett Packard  45  black ink cartridge. 
   If the custodian of a container having goods to which material  97  is affixed or is going to be affixed or is placed in the container containing the goods decides that the goods are containers of 325 mg aspirin that have 500 tablets in each container, the custodian uses a graphite pencil, i.e., number  2 , HB, etc., or a Paper Mate® black ball point pen to fill in rectangles  149 ,  152  and  153 . 
   Hence, printed lines  135 - 148  perform the function of wires so that information may be modified in the RFID type circuit by having an individual connect different printed wires by drawing a penciled line between the wires, i.e., filling in rectangles  149 - 161  with a graphite pencil or by punching holes in rectangles  149 - 161  to supply information regarding the goods. 
   If the custodian of the container having aspirin changes his/her mind regarding the classification of the goods or makes a mistake in filling in one of the rectangles, the custodian could erase the penciled marking in the rectangle with a pencil eraser so that a RFID reader would only read what the custodian indicated on material  97 . For instance, if a model  1  calculated made in 2002 is in the container rectangles  156  and  158  would be filled in with a graphite pencil, i.e., number  2 , HB, etc., or a Paper Mate® black ball point pen. The custodian would affix material  97  to the individual container of aspirin (not shown) or place material  97  in the individual containers, and the custodian would be able to read the completed material  97  even if material  97  and its container is placed in a larger container, without opening the larger container. Thus, it will be easier to inventory the goods that are in the containers. 
     FIG. 6  is a drawing showing how a modified RFID circuit attached to a piece of paper may be altered to indicate a desired selection. RFID circuit  10  is attached to paper  231  by means of an adhesive (not shown). Graphite contacts  232 ,  233 ,  234  and  235  and lines  236 ,  237 ,  238  and  239  are printed on paper  231  by a standard computer printer like the model Desk Jet 880C printer manufactured by Hewlett Packard using a Hewlett Packard  45  black ink cartridge. If a human user wanted to alter the information represented by line  236  or  238 , the user would remove adhesive labels  241  or  242  on lines  236  or  238 . A RFID reader (not shown) will be able to read the above selection. 
   The above specification describes a new and improved label and RFID type circuit that uses printed lines to perform the function of wires so that information may be modified in the RFID type circuit by having an individual connect different printed wires by drawing a penciled line between the wires or by creating openings in the printed lines to supply information regarding the goods. It is realized that the above description may indicate to those skilled in the art additional ways in which the principles of this invention may be used without departing from the spirit. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.