Patent Publication Number: US-2023154300-A1

Title: Range discrimination in an rfid electronic article surveillance system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/981,206 filed Feb. 25, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present subject matter relates to radio frequency identification (“RFID”) devices. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to determining the position of an RFID device in an electronic article surveillance (“EAS”) system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In retail stores, an accurate count of the products on display and/or in storage is important. Additionally, it is important to have an effective anti-theft system in place. RFID tags and labels (which may be collectively referred to herein as “RFID devices”) have been employed to perform both of these functions. 
     An EAS system employing RFID technology has two primary read zones  10  and  12 , as shown in  FIG.  1   , each of which includes an associated RFID reader. The first read zone  10  is an area in the store where the products are presented to the consumer (which may be referred to herein as “inventory zone”), while the second read zone  12  is an area at the exit of the store where any RFID devices that have not been suitably deactivated may be detected (which may be referred to herein as a “detection zone”) to trigger some type of alarm, indicating that an attempt is being made to steal an item or items. When a customer properly purchases an item, the cashier either removes or deactivates the RFID device associated with it. If the RFID device is not removed or deactivated, an RFID reader or readers will read the device and cause an alarm or other alert to trigger in the detection zone  12 . 
     Although the above-described systems are widespread, there are certain disadvantages. When using RFID devices/systems for an EAS system, one common problem is that the read range of an RFID device in certain circumstances can be large enough that an RFID device in the inventory zone  10  can be read in the detection zone  12  or vice versa. To reduce this risk, a transition zone  14  is frequently provided between the inventory zone  10  and the detection zone  12  to physically separate the two read zones. However, on account of different RFID devices having greater sensitivity at an operating frequency and/or different articles having different effects on the performance of the associated RFID devices, it is necessary for the transition zone  14  to be relatively large. The larger the transition zone the smaller the inventory zone and therefore the less merchandise the retailer can present to customers for purchase. It would, thus, be advantageous to provide RFID devices that are configured in a way that allows for the size of the transition zone  14  to be reduced. 
     In a number of RFID-based EAS systems, an attempt is made to discriminate the range between the RFID device and the EAS reader system by measuring such factors as (when the reader system is transmitting at constant power) when the RFID device starts responding and the level of the response, which is commonly referred to as Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI). However, the results of such an approach may be unreliable due to an attenuation factor K and RFID device sensitivity T. K and T can be affected by environmental conditions, such as reflections and absorbing materials between an RFID device and the reader system, as well a loss caused by attempts to steal objects where a thief may place the RFID device close to a human body to attenuate the signals (referred to the human body model or human body effect). A high T and low K can make a distant RFID device (e.g., one in the inventory zone) respond at similar levels to a tag in the EAS zone and cause false alarms. It will be appreciated that an RFID reader transmitting at maximum power is ideal for detection when K is high, due to deliberate attempts to defeat the EAS system, but this also increases the probability of false alarms. Therefore, a method of discrimination that is independent of K would be advantageous. 
     SUMMARY 
     There are several aspects of the present subject matter which may be embodied separately or together in the devices, systems, and methods described and claimed below. These aspects may be employed alone or in combination with other aspects of the subject matter described herein, and the description of these aspects together is not intended to preclude the use of these aspects separately or the claiming of such aspects separately or in different combinations as may be set forth in the claims appended hereto. 
     Methods for determining a position of an RFID device in an electronic article surveillance system having first and second read zones are described herein. The method includes transmitting an RF signal to an RFID device and receiving a return signal from the RFID device at a first location and at a second location. The difference between a first strength of the return signal at the first location and a second strength of the return signal at the second location is computed and it is determined whether the RFID device is positioned in the first read zone based at least in part on the difference between the first and second strengths. 
     Electronic article surveillance systems for determining a position of an RFID device configured to transmit a return signal upon receiving an RF signal are also described herein. In some embodiments, the electronic surveillance system includes first and second read zones, first and second receiving antennas, and a controller. In some embodiments, the first receiving antenna is configured to receive a return signal at a first strength, while the second receiving antenna is configured to receive the return signal at a second strength. The controller is configured to determine whether the RFID device is positioned in the first read zone based at least in part on the difference between the first and second strengths. 
     Methods for determining a position of an RFID device in an electronic article surveillance system having first and second read zones are described herein. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting a first RF signal to an RFID device from a first location and changing the power of the first RF signal to a first power corresponding to a threshold at which a first return signal from the RFID device is received at the first location. A second RF signal is transmitted to the RFID device from a second location, with the power of the second RF signal being changed to a second power corresponding to a threshold at which a second return signal from the RFID device is received at the second location. The difference between the first strength and the second strength is determined, with it then being determined whether the RFID device is positioned in the first read zone based at least in part on the difference between the first and second strengths. 
     Electronic article surveillance systems for determining a position of an RFID device configured to transmit return signals upon receiving RF signals are also described herein. In some embodiments, the electronic surveillance system includes first and second read zones, first and second receiving antennas, and a controller. The first receiving antenna is configured to transmit a first RF signal to the RFID device and to change the power of the first RF signal to a first power corresponding to a threshold at which a first return signal from the RFID device is received by the first receiving antenna. The second receiving antenna is configured to transmit a second RF signal to the RFID device and to change the power of the second RF signal to a second power corresponding to a threshold at which a second return signal from the RFID device is received by the second receiving antenna. The controller is configured to determine whether the RFID device is positioned in the first read zone based at least in part on the difference between the first and second strengths. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic view of a conventional EAS system using RFID devices; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of an RFID-based EAS system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic view of another exemplary embodiment of an RFID-based EAS system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic view of an exemplary arrangement of antennas of a gate of an EAS system according to an aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic view of an EAS system of the present disclosure being used to determine the two-dimensional location of an RFID device; and 
         FIGS.  6 A- 6 C  illustrate an approach to determining movement of an RFID device using an EAS system according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriate manner. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an RFID-based EAS system  16  according to the present disclosure. In the embodiment of  FIG.  2   , an EAS system  16  includes a transmitting antenna  18  and two receiving antennas  20  and  22 . The antennas of an EAS system according to the present disclosure may be variously configured without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, though it may be preferable to employ antenna designs that have either equal gain in the zone of interest or a means for compensating for the values of RSSI/power measured. By way of example, the receiving antennas  20  and  22  of  FIG.  2    may be configured as dipole antennas, directional antennas, transmission line antennas, or combinations thereof. Differently configured antennas will have different performance characteristics and, thus, different advantages. Dipole antennas, for example, will give good angular coverage for an EAS system configured to detect the two-dimensional position of an RFID device. Directional antennas, on the other hand, are better configured for keeping the detection zone for a gate of an EAS system focused forward. Accordingly, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to EAS systems having particularly configured antennas, but rather that the aspects described herein may be practiced using a variety of differently configured antennas. 
     In the EAS system  16  of  FIG.  2   , the transmitting antenna  18  transmits an RF signal “S” to an RFID device  24  (e.g., an RFID tag or label attached to a piece of merchandise) positioned somewhere in the EAS system  16 . The RFID device  24  receives the RF signal S from the transmitting antenna  18  and returns a return signal, which is received by the first receiving antenna  20  and the second receiving antenna  22 . 
     On account of environmental conditions, the strength of the return signal will decrease as the distance traveled by the return signal increases. In the orientation of  FIG.  2   , the first receiving antenna  20  is positioned closer to the RFID device  24  than the second receiving antenna  22 , such that the strength or RSSI of the return signal will be greater at the first receiving antenna  20  than at the second receiving antenna  22 . In  FIG.  2   , the distance between the RFID device  24  and the first receiving antenna  20  is represented by “r” and the distance between the first and second receiving antennas  20  and  22  is represented by “0”, such that the distance between the RFID device  24  and the second receiving antenna  22  is r+0. 
     As described above, measuring the strength or RSSI of the return signal from an RFID device using a single antenna may not be particularly informative or useful. However, by comparing the strength or RSSI of a return signal using two antennas  20  and  22  positioned a known distance away from each other, it is possible to more reliably determine the approximate position of an RFID device  24  in an EAS system  16 . As described above, the strength or RSSI of a return signal is a function of the distance traveled by the return signal. The common distance traveled by the return signal in reaching the first and second receiving antennas  20  and  22  (which is represented in  FIG.  2    by “r”) may be canceled out when comparing the strength or RSSI of the return signal received by the first and second receiving antennas  20  and  22 . Thus, the difference between the strength or RSSI of the return signal received by the first receiving antenna  20  and the second receiving antenna  22  will be indicative of the loss of strength as the return signal travels the known distance θ between the first and second receiving antennas  20  and  22 . 
     The change in strength or RSSI of an RF signal obeys a square law, such that the difference in strength or RSSI of the return signal received by the first receiving antenna  20  and the second receiving antenna  22  will be indicative of the distance r between the RFID device  24  and the first receiving antenna  20 . Generally speaking, the difference between the strength or RSSI of the return signal received by the first receiving antenna  20  and the second receiving antenna  22  will be relatively large in magnitude when the distance r is relatively small, while the difference will be relatively small in magnitude when the distance r is relatively large. The exact magnitude of the difference will depend on a number of factors, but in an exemplary embodiment the magnitude of the difference will be on the order of approximately 6 dB when r=1, on the order of approximately 1.6 dB when r=5, and on the order of approximately 0.83 dB when r=10. 
     Regardless of the particular difference between the return signal strength or RSSI at the two receiving antennas  20  and  22 , it will be seen that any RFID device  24  that does not show a significant change in strength or RSSI can be considered to be a significant distance away from the receiving antennas  20  and  22 . While the illustrative example is not highly accurate at long distances (e.g., the difference in signal strength or RSSI is minor at r=5 and r=10), the EAS system  16  may be configured so as to not need high accuracy at relatively long ranges. For example, in one embodiment, the two receiving antennas  20  and  22  (or a single antenna with more than one reference plane, in the case of the receiving antennas being incorporated into a transmission line antenna) are placed between the inventory zone  10  and the detection zone  12 , with the first receiving antenna  20  positioned closer to the inventory zone  10  than the second receiving antenna  22 . When an RFID device  24  is positioned closer to the inventory zone  10  than to the detection zone  12  (i.e., closer to the first receiving antenna  20  than to the second receiving antenna  22 ), the difference between the strength or RSSI of the return signal received by the first receiving antenna  20  and the second receiving antenna  22  should be positive (i.e., the return signal should be stronger at the first receiving antenna  20  than at the second receiving antenna  22 ). 
     Thus, in this illustrative configuration, a difference in strength or RSSI of the return signal received by the first receiving antenna  20  and the second receiving antenna  22  that is positive and relatively small (i.e., less than a positive threshold value, which value is somewhere between 1.6 dB and 6 dB in the exemplary embodiment) will be sufficient to indicate that the RFID device  24  is positioned somewhere in the inventory zone  10 . The exact location of the RFID device  24  within the inventory zone (e.g., whether r=5 or r=10) may not be accurately determinable, but it is sufficient just to know that the RFID device  24  is in the inventory zone  10 , rather than in the detection zone  12  or the transition zone  14 . The exact positive threshold value for determining whether or not an RFID device  24  is sufficiently far away from the receiving antennas  20  and  22  will depend on a number of factors (e.g., the positions of the receiving antennas  20  and  22  within the EAS system  16  and the size of the transition zone  14 ), so the present disclosure is not limited to any particular positive threshold value. 
     Similarly, to determining that an RFID device  24  is somewhere in the inventory zone  10 , an EAS system  16  according to the present disclosure may also determine when an RFID device  24  is somewhere in the detection zone  12 . When the first receiving antenna  20  is positioned closer to the inventory zone  10  than the second receiving antenna  22 , and when an RFID device  24  is positioned closer to the detection zone  12  than to the inventory zone  10 , the difference between the strength or RSSI of the return signal received by the first receiving antenna  20  and the second receiving antenna  22  should be negative. Thus, in this illustrative configuration, a difference in strength or RSSI of the return signal received by the first receiving antenna  20  and the second receiving antenna  22  that is negative and relatively small (i.e., greater or closer to zero than a negative threshold value) will be sufficient to indicate that the RFID device  24  is positioned somewhere in the detection zone  12 . The exact negative threshold value for determining whether or not an RFID device  24  is sufficiently far away from the receiving antennas  20  and  22  will depend on a number of factors (e.g., the positions of the receiving antennas  20  and  22  within the EAS system  16  and the size of the transition zone  14 ), so the present disclosure is not limited to any particular negative threshold value. 
     It should be understood that the configuration of  FIG.  2    is merely exemplary and that EAS systems according to the present disclosure may be differently configured. For example,  FIG.  3    illustrates an EAS system  26  in which RF signals are transmitted by two receiving antennas  28  and  30 , rather than by a third, transmitting antenna (as in  FIG.  2   ). The EAS system  26  of  FIG.  3    may be referred to as operating in a “mono-static” mode, while the EAS system  16  of  FIG.  2    may be referred to as operating in a “bi-static” mode. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG.  3   , each receiving antenna  28 ,  30  transmits an RF signal to an RFID device  24  and receives a return signal. As in the embodiment of  FIG.  2   , the difference in the strength or RSSI of the return signal received by the first receiving antenna  28  and the second receiving antenna  30  may be used to determine the general position of the RFID device  24  (i.e., whether the RFID device  24  is located somewhere in the inventory zone  10  or somewhere in the detection zone  12 ). However, as two different RF signals are being sent to the RFID device  24  in the EAS system of  FIG.  3   , care must be taken to ensure that the return signals from the RFID device  24  are transmitted at the same power. The power of the return signal transmitted by the RFID device  24  upon receiving RF signals from the first and second receiving antennas  28  and  30  will be the same when the RFID device  24  receives just enough power to transmit a return signal (which is referred to herein as the “threshold”), which represents a constant power in and a constant power out. 
     In one embodiment, each receiving antenna  28 ,  30  will begin by transmitting a low-strength RF signal and then increasing the strength of the RF signal until first receiving a return signal from the RFID device  24 , which will be the strength of the RF signal of that receiving antenna at the threshold of the RFID device  24 . Alternatively, rather than starting at a low power, the threshold may be reached by the receiving antennas  28  and  30  initially transmitting a higher power RF signal that is sufficiently strong to reach the RFID device  24 , with the power being lowered until a return signal is no longer transmitted. Indeed, it should be understood that the threshold can reached using any of a number of suitable approaches, which can include a linear sweep or a binary search. 
     Just as the difference in the strength between two return signals may be used to determine the general location of the RFID device  24 , the difference in strength between the RF signal emitted by the first receiving antenna  28  at the threshold of the RFID device  24  and the RF signal emitted by the second receiving antenna  30  at the threshold of the RFID device  24  may be indicative of the general location of the RFID device  24 . The RF signals emitted by the two receiving antennas  28  and  30  will have the same (or at least substantially the same) strength or RSSI when reaching the RFID device  24 . The two RF signals will traverse the same distance r in reaching the RFID device  24 , such that the additional strength required to bring the RFID device  24  to threshold by the farther receiving antenna (which is the second receiving antenna  30  in the orientation of  FIG.  3   , but may be the first receiving antenna  28 , depending on the location of the RFID device  24 ) is entirely due to the losses associated with the distance θ between the receiving antennas  28  and  30 . This information may be used (by employing the principles described herein) to determine whether the RFID device  24  is a substantial distance away from the receiving antennas  28  and  30 , with a positive or negative difference indicating the side of the receiving antennas  28  and  30  on which the RFID device  24  is positioned. 
     For optimum performance, it is preferred for an RFID device  24  to have no changes or only relatively small changes in its position during the above-described measurements. A bi-static system may be advantageous in this regard, as it is only required that the power of the RF signal transmitted by the transmitting antenna  18  is sufficient to elicit a response from the RFID device  24 , whereas a mono-static system must adjust power transmitted to keep a particular RFID device  24  at threshold, which is slower. However, a mono-static system allows for a second approach to determining the general location of an RFID device  24 , which may be preferred in certain circumstances. 
     While an EAS system according to the present disclosure may be configured to be less accurate at longer ranges, it may be advantageous for the EAS system to be more accurate for monitoring movement of an RFID device from the transition zone  14  to the detection zone  12  to prevent false alarms. The determination of the movement of an RFID device may be based upon a comparison of the approximate location of the RFID device at a first time to the approximate location of the RFID device at a later second time. In one exemplary embodiment, an EAS system of the type described above may employed to determine the general position of an RFID device  24  at a first time, based on the difference in strength or RSSI between return signals received by two receiving antennas (as in the embodiments of  FIGS.  2  and  3   ) or the difference in power of RF signals emitted by two receiving antennas in bringing the RFID device  24  to threshold (as in the embodiment of  FIG.  3   ). The same approach may be used to determine the general position of the same RFID device  24  at a second time, with the difference between the general positions at the first and second times being indicative of the direction in which the RFID device  24  is moving. 
     While the EAS systems  16  and  26  of  FIGS.  2  and  3    may be used to determine the general position and movement of an RFID device  24 , an EAS system having more receiving antennas will be able to more accurately determine the position and, thus, movement of an RFID device  24 .  FIG.  4    illustrates an exemplary gate  32  of an EAS system having four receiving antennas  34   a - 34   d , while  FIG.  5    illustrates an exemplary approach to determining the position of an RFID device  24  using a system of the type shown in  FIG.  4   . It should be understood that an EAS system may have more than four receiving antennas and that such antennas may be variously positioned (including at different elevations, such as one or more antennas associated with a ceiling and others positioned at ground level) without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Regardless of the exact number and position of the receiving antennas of an EAS system, each receiving antenna has a known position within the EAS system and a known position with respect to the other receiving antennas. The approximate distance r 1 -r 4  between the RFID device  24  and each receiving antenna  34  ( FIG.  5   ) may be determined based on the strength or RSSI of a return signal received by each receiving antenna  34  or (in the case of receiving antennas configured to also transmit RF signals to the RFID device  24 ) the strength of the RF signal transmitted by each receiving antenna  34  in bringing the RFID device  24  to its threshold. By simultaneously solving differential values, the absolute and relative positions of the receiving antennas  34   a - 34   d  and the distances r 1 -r 4  between the RFID device  24  and the receiving antennas  34   a - 34   d  may be used to determine the two-dimensional position of the RFID device  24  (i.e., by triangulation). 
     After the two-dimensional position of an RFID device  24  has been determined at a first time, the process may be repeated at a later second time to determine the two-dimensional position of the RFID device  24  at the second time. The positions of the RFID device  24  at the two times may be compared to determine the direction of movement of the RFID device through the EAS system. As described above, this may be particularly relevant for determining when an RFID device  24  is moving through the transition zone  14  and toward the detection zone  12 , which may be indicative of an attempt to steal a piece of merchandise associated with the RFID device  24 . The two-dimensional position of the RFID device  24  may be determined at several times to more accurately and particularly trace the path of the RFID device  24  through the EAS system. It may be the case that the receiving antennas  34  are able to more accurately determine the position of an RFID device  24  at close range, in which case it may be advantageous for the receiving antennas  34  to be positioned adjacent to the detection zone  12  to track movement of RFID devices through the transition zone  14  and toward the detection zone  12 . 
       FIG.  6 A- 6 C  illustrate movement of an RFID device  24  through the gate  32  of  FIG.  4   , from a first position on one side of the gate  32  ( FIG.  6 A ) to a second position at the gate  32  ( FIG.  6 B ) to a third position on the opposite side of the gate  32  ( FIG.  6 C ). In  FIGS.  6 A- 6 C , the RFID device  24  is being monitored by two of the receiving antennas  34   a  and  34   b  of the gate  32 . The two receiving antennas  34   a  and  34   b  are separated by a distance θ (as in  FIGS.  2  and  3   ). When the RFID device  24  is a distance of more than four times greater than θ (r&gt;4×θ) away from the gate  32  (as in  FIG.  6 A ), and the RFID device  24  is moving toward the gate  32 , the angular difference between a direct line between the first receiving antenna  34   a  and the RFID device  24  (represented in  FIG.  6 A  by r 1 ) and a direct line between the second receiving antenna  34   b  and the RFID device  24  (represented in  FIG.  6 A  by r 2 ) is small, so the vector distance can be considered largely the separation θ of the two receiving antennas  34   a  and  34   b . This is similar to the arrangements shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , in which two antennas are treated or assumed to be aligned with an RFID device  24 . 
     As the range drops (i.e., as the RFID device  24  moves closer to the gate  32 ), the difference between the vector distance between the first receiving antenna  34   a  and the second receiving antenna  34   b  drops, so the range estimate (and the combined RSSI or strength of the return signals received by the receiving antennas  34   a  and  34   b ) then starts to increase. When the RFID device  24  is exactly the same distance from the first and second receiving antennas  34   a  and  34   b  (as in  FIG.  6 B ), the estimated range is essentially infinite. When the RFID device  24  transits through the gate  32 , the range estimate (and the combined RSSI or strength of the return signals received by the receiving by the receiving antennas  34   a  and  34   b ) then starts to decrease again, but showing the opposite direction, until the RFID device  24  is again a distance of more than four times greater than θ (r&gt;4×θ) away from the gate  32  (as in  FIG.  6 C ), at which time the range increases, giving a more accurate measurement of the range. This transit shape is characteristic of transiting the gate  32  and can be analyzed by looking at the differential of the calculated range change over time and the tendency of the combined RSSI to peak in the center of the gate  32  ( FIG.  6 B ) 
     In  FIGS.  6 A- 6 C , only one pair of receiving antennas  34   a  and  34   b  of the gate  32  of  FIG.  4    is illustrated as being used to track movement of an RFID device  24 . If a plurality of gates or pairs of receiving antennas are provided (as in  FIG.  4   ), a system controller may select the most appropriate pair of receiving antennas to monitor movement of an RFID device  24 . The most accurate estimate of range is the minimum value from any pair of receiving antennas (e.g., either receiving antennas  34   a  and  34   b  or receiving antennas  34   c  and  34   d  in  FIG.  4   ), representing an RFID device  24  being most closely aligned with that pair of receiving antennas. 
     It will be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present subject matter. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter, including those combinations of features that are individually disclosed or claimed herein. For these reasons, the scope hereof is not limited to the above description but is as set forth in the following claims, and it is understood that claims may be directed to the features hereof, including as combinations of features that are individually disclosed or claimed herein.