Abstract:
A system and method that allows one to mark information with a pencil or conductive ink on paper 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 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:
[0001]    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. 
     
    
     
       CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0002]    Reference is made to commonly assigned co-pending patent applications Docket No. F-632 filed herewith entitled “METHOD FOR FIELD PROGRAMMABLE RADIO FREQUENCY DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION DEVICES” in the names of Anand D. Chhatpar, Jeffrey D. Pierce, Brian M. Romansky, Thomas J. Foth, and Andrei Obrea; Docket No. F-633 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; Docket No. F-635 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; Docket No. F-637 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; Docket No. F-638 filed herewith entitled “METHOD FOR FIELD PROGRAMMING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION LABELS” in the names of Thomas J. Foth, Brian M. Romansky, Jeffrey D. Pierce, and Anand V. Chhatpar; and F-639 filed herewith entitled “METHOD FOR FIELD PROGRAMMING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION RETURN FORMS” in the names of Jeffrey D. Pierce, Thomas F. Foth, Brian M. Romansky, Andrei Obrea, and Anand V. Chhatpar.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    This invention pertains to electronic circuits and, more particularly, to programmable radio frequency identification devices.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    From the invention of paper thousands of years ago to the present date, paper has been used as the preferred medium by individuals and societies for the recording, processing and storing of information. With the introduction of computers into society, many of the functions previously performed exclusively with paper are now being accomplished by writing information on paper and entering the written information into a computer. Typically, the information written on paper is entered into computers by optically scanning the paper. The foregoing method of entering information into computers is inconvenient, because the paper 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 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 into a computer.  
           [0005]    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.  
           [0006]    Bar codes have been used in a wide variety of applications as a source for information. Typically, bar codes are used at a point-of-sale terminal in merchandising for pricing and inventory control. Bar codes are also used in controlling personnel access systems, mailing systems, and in manufacturing for work-in-process and inventory control systems, etc. The bar codes themselves represent alphanumeric characters by series of adjacent stripes of various widths or lengths, i.e., the Universal Product Code, Planet Code, etc.  
           [0007]    A bar code is a set of binary numbers. It consists of black bars and white spaces. A wide black bar space signifies a one, and a thin black bar or space signifies a zero. The binary numbers stand for decimal numbers or letters. There are several different kinds of bar codes. In each one, a number, letter or other character is formed by a certain number of bars and spaces.  
           [0008]    Bar code reading systems or scanners have been developed to read bar codes. The bar code may be read by having a light beam translated across the bar code and a portion of the light illuminating the bar code is reflected and collected by a scanner. The intensity of the reflected light is proportional to the reflectance of the area illuminated by the light beam. This light is converted into an electric current signal, and then the signal is decoded.  
           [0009]    Conventional bar codes are limited in the amount of information they contain. Even two-dimensional bar codes, such as PDF-417 and Code -1, are limited to a few thousand bytes of information for practical uses. The ability to encode greater information density is limited by the resolution of available scanning and printing devices.  
           [0010]    It is also difficult to create or change a bar code without using a printing device.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a method that allows one to mark information with a pencil or conductive ink on a material equipped with a RFID type circuit, and have the marked information provide information 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 a pencil eraser and writing new information on 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 printed lines or by punching holes in the printed lines.  
           [0012]    This invention accomplishes the foregoing by utilizing the RFID unique 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 unique 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 binary values, i.e., ones or zeros. A user may complete the RFID unique 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 unique 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.  
           [0013]    An additional advantage of this invention is that a RFID type circuit may be combined with marked information that is read by the RFID circuit, wherein the marked information also forms a bar code. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art RFID circuit;  
         [0015]    [0015]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 ;  
         [0016]    [0016]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 ;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a drawing showing sensor circuit  25  of FIG. 2A in greater detail;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a seller furnished form to be completed by a buyer returning goods to a seller;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a drawing showing how a modified RFID circuit, attached to a piece of paper, provides information to the RFID circuit and how the user completed RFID circuit forms a bar code;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a drawing showing how a modified RFID circuit, attached to a piece of paper, may be touched by a human to indicate a desired selection; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a drawing showing how a modified RFID circuit, attached to a piece of paper, presents information in the RFID circuit, and how holes punched in the RFID circuit forms a code that may be read by a optical reader.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]    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 .  
         [0023]    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 .  
         [0024]    [0024]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).  
         [0025]    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.  
         [0026]    [0026]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 .  
         [0027]    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 .  
         [0028]    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 .  
         [0029]    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 .  
         [0030]    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 .  
         [0031]    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.  
         [0032]    [0032]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  
         [0033]    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. 2B.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 4 is a seller-furnished form to be completed by a buyer returning goods to a seller. RFID circuit  10  is attached to paper  50  by means of a conductive adhesive such as an anisotropic adhesive (not shown). The adhesive connects copper contacts (not shown) exiting RFID circuit  10  with graphite contacts  52 - 55  which terminate in lines  56 - 58 . A returned goods identification number  51  is placed on paper  50  to identify the buyer of the purchased goods. This number matches the identification number stored in RFID circuit  10 . Graphite contacts  52 ,  53 ,  54  and  55  and lines  56 ,  57 ,  58 ,  59  and  60  are printed on standard bond paper, standard photocopier paper, standard computer paper, etc., by a standard computer printer like the model Desk Jet 880C printer manufactured by Hewlett Packard using a Hewlett Packard 45 black ink cartridge. The Hewlett Packard laser jet 1100 printer and its associated toner cartridge may also be used to print graphite contacts  52 - 55  and lines  56  - 60 . It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that any conductive contacts may be used for the graphite contacts.  
         [0035]    If the buyer decides to return a shirt to the seller, the buyer uses a graphite pencil, i.e., number 2, HB, etc., or a Paper Mate ® black ball point pen to fill in rectangle  61 . If the buyer decides to return pants to the seller, the buyer fills in rectangle  62  with a graphite pencil, and if the buyer decides to return shoes to the seller, the buyer fills in rectangle  63  with a graphite pencil. If the buyer changes his/her mind regarding the goods to be returned or makes a mistake in filling in one of the rectangles, the buyer could erase the penciled marking in the rectangle with a pencil eraser so that a RFID reader would only read what the buyer indicated on the finished form. The buyer would insert the finished form into a package (not shown) containing the returned goods, and the seller would be able to read the completed form when he/she receives the package with a RFID read without opening the package.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 5 is a drawing showing how a modified RFID circuit attached to a piece of paper provides information to the RFID circuit and how the user completed RFID circuit forms a bar code. RFID circuit  100  is attached to paper  101  by means of an anisotropic adhesive (not shown). The adhesive connects copper contacts (not shown) exiting RFID circuit  100  with graphite contacts  102 - 113  which terminate in lines  102 - 113  and lines  114 - 126 . RFID circuit  100  is the same as RFID circuit  10  with circuit  24  replacing memory array  21  of FIG. 1 with different graphite contacts. Graphite contacts  102 ,  103 ,  104 ,  105   106 ,  107 ,  108 ,  109 ,  110 ,  111 ,  112  and  113  and lines  114 - 126  are printed on standard bond paper, standard photocopier paper, standard computer paper, etc., by a standard computer printer like the model Desk Jet 880C printer manufactured by Hewlett Packard using a Hewlett Packard 45 black ink cartridge. The Hewlett Packard laser jet 1100 printer and its associated toner cartridge may also be used to print graphite contacts  102 - 113  and lines  114 - 126 .  
         [0037]    If someone decided to use a graphite pencil, i.e., number 2, HB, etc., or a Paper Mate® black ballpoint pen to fill in rectangle  127 , rectangle  127  would represent a binary one of a bar code, and a closed circuit will exist between contact  102 , line  114 , line  126 , line  125  and contact  113 . If someone decided not to use a graphite pencil, i.e., number 2 HB, etc., or a Paper Mate® black ballpoint pen to fill in rectangle  128 , rectangle  128  would represent a binary zero of a bar code, and an open circuit will exist between contact  103 , line  115 , line  128 , line  125  and contact  113 . If someone decided to use a graphite pencil, i.e., number 2, HB, etc., or a Paper Mate® black ballpoint pen to fill in rectangle  129 , rectangle  129  would represent a binary one of a bar code, and a closed circuit will exist between contact  104 , line  116 , line  126 , line  125  and contact  113 . If someone decided not to use a graphite pencil, i.e., number 2, HB, etc., or a Paper Mate® black ballpoint pen to fill in rectangle  130 , rectangle  130  would represent a binary zero of a bar code, and an open circuit will exist between contact  105 , line  117 , line  126 , line  125  and contact  113 . It would be obvious to one skilled in the art if rectangles  131 ,  132 ,  134  and  137  were filed in with a graphite pencil, rectangles  131 ,  132 ,  134  and  137  would represent binary ones; and, if rectangles  133 ,  135 , and  136  were not filed in with a graphite pencil, rectangles  133 ,  135 , and  136  would represent binary zeros. The lines and contacts connecting rectangles  131 ,  132 ,  134  and  137  would be closed circuits, and the contacts connecting rectangles  133 ,  135 , and  136  would be open circuits.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 6 is a drawing showing how a modified RFID circuit attached to a piece of paper may be touched by a human to indicate a desired selection. RFID circuit  10  is attached to paper  138  by means of an anisotropic adhesive (not shown). The adhesive connects copper contacts (not shown) exiting RFID circuit  10  with graphite contacts  139 - 142 , which terminate in lines  143 - 147 . Graphite contacts  139 ,  140 ,  141  and  142  and lines  143 ,  144 ,  145 ,  146  and  147  are printed on paper  138  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 select the information represented by line  144 , the user would place their finger between points A and B on line  144  which completes the circuit from graphite contact  140  to line  144  to line  147  to graphite contact  142 . A RFID reader (not shown) will be able to read the above selection.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 7 is a drawing showing how a modified RFID circuit attached to a piece of paper presents information in the RFID circuit. Holes may be punched in lines  236 - 238  altering the information represented in the RFID circuit  10 . RFID circuit  10  is attached to paper  231  by means of an anisotropic adhesive (not shown). The adhesive connects copper contacts (not shown) exiting RFID circuit  10  with graphite contacts  232  - 235 , which terminate in lines  236 - 240 . Graphite contacts  232 ,  233 ,  234  and  235 , and lines  236 ,  237 ,  238 ,  239  and  240  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 select the information represented by line  236 , the user would make a hole  241  on line  236 , and if the user wanted to select the information represented on line  238 , the user would make a hole  242  on line  238 . Lines  239 ,  240  and  236 , hole  241  and contact  232  will form an open circuit. Lines  238 ,  240  and  239 , hole  242  and contact  234  will form an open circuit. Light may be passed through holes  241  and  242  to repeat the information represented by lines  236  and  238 .  
         [0040]    In some cases, an RFID circuit may be disabled by drawing a line, filling in a space, or punching a hole in a piece of paper to which the RFID circuit is coupled. The RFID circuit is changed by the resulting modification of its data bit or data bits so that the RFID circuit either does not respond to any interrogation, or responds only to certain interrogations. For example, the RFID circuit may be of the type such that it only responds to interrogations that are addressed to it, and the disabling action applied to the piece of paper may effectively change the address of the RFID circuit. An RFID circuit may be considered “disabled” when either it does not respond to any interrogation, or it does not respond to some interrogations while still being able to respond to other interrogations.  
         [0041]    As used in the appended claims, “conductive lines” may include lines printed with conventional black ink or toner.  
         [0042]    The above specification describes a new and improved circuit 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 printed lines or by punching holes in the printed lines. 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.