Patent Publication Number: US-2006007000-A1

Title: File indexing and retrieval system employing RFID visual indicators

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims priority to and the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/586,338 filed on Jul. 7, 2004, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to radio frequency identification device (“RFID”) tags for use with file archiving systems. More particularly, a system is provided for locating an archived file or other item comprising a transmitter, a radio frequency identification tag attached to the archived file, and a search bar.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Known filing systems for storing large numbers of items exist which conform to prearranged physical filing schemes to aid in the search and retrieval of a particular one of the archived items. In order to preserve the order of the filing system, an item removed and returned to a shelf must be put back in a designated location to enable a later user to be able to find it in a predictable place. This system necessitates a great deal of time be spent maintaining the order of the archived items, and risks an item being mislaid in the event it is not re-shelved properly.  
      Furthermore, known RFID systems exist which are commonly used in retail operations and which employ RFID tags applied to merchandise along with a loop antenna coupled to a detector. The RFID “tags” may simply be a small sheet of a metal foil or a simple non-linear electronic device such as a diode. The presence of such a tag in the proximity of the loop antenna results in a distortion of the radio frequency signal transmitted by the antenna and discerned by the detector. Thus, the system functions simply as a proximity detector for such a tag.  
      More sophisticated RFID tags are known which employ an electronic device allowing the tag to respond upon receipt of radio frequency signals transmitted by the antenna by transmitting an identifying number or code stored on the tag itself. These so called “smart” tags are generally small label-like devices having a microchip and a miniature embedded antenna as well as an encapsulating material. These tags may be of the passive or active variety, wherein the active tags require an internal power supply. While the active tags can store a larger amount of information and return a signal over a longer range, they are much more expensive than passive tags, with the difference in some cases approaching the order of two hundred to one.  
      Additionally, RFID tags may be either inductively coupled or capacitively coupled. While inductively coiled RFID tags use a metal coil antenna responsive to a magnetic field rather than the conductive carbon ink antenna responsive to an electric field of the capacitively coupled RFID tags, both types of tags can employ a microprocessor capable of storing upwards of 96 bits of information.  
      An antenna produces an electronic “trigger” signal in the form of a radio frequency magnetic field which activates the RFID tag. The magnetic field serves as a carrier of power from the antenna to the RFID tag. The tag uses this trigger to generates a response in turn which is readable by the antenna. This response contains the information stored on the microprocessor of the RFID tag.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided for locating a stored item. The system comprises a transmitter, a radio frequency identification tag attached to a stored item, and a search bar. The search bar in turn comprises an antenna for receiving a signal from at least one of the transmitter and the radio frequency identification tag, a wiring harness connected to the antenna, and a plurality of visual indicators connected to the wiring harness. A unique pattern is stored on the radio frequency identification tag. During the transmission of a signal by the transmitter containing a pattern matching the unique pattern stored on the radio frequency identification tag, the wiring harness of the search bar illuminates one or more visual indicators in the proximity of the radio frequency identification tag.  
      In another embodiment, a distributed filing system comprises one or more individual communication cells having both a transceiver assembly and at least one search bar connected to the transceiver assembly, wherein the at least one search bar comprises an antenna for receiving a signal from at least one of the transceiver assembly and the radio frequency identification tag, a wiring harness connected to the antenna and in communication with the transceiver assembly, and a plurality of visual indicators connected to the wiring harness, a plurality of radio frequency identification tags storing unique patterns, wherein each of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags is associated with the transceiver assembly of a particular communication cell, and a central transmitter in communication with the transceiver assemblies of the communication cells. When a signal is transmitted by the transmitter to the transceiver assembly of an individual communication cell, a processor of the transceiver assembly attempts to match unique identification information of the signal with a unique pattern stored on a radio frequency identification tag associated with the transceiver assembly. When a match is made, the wiring harness of the search bar illuminates one or more visual indicators in the proximity of the radio frequency identification tag having a unique pattern matching the unique identification information of the signal.  
      In yet another embodiment, a method for managing a database system comprises periodically and automatically polling a plurality of radio frequency identification tags to induce transmission from the radio frequency identification tags of unique patterns stored thereon, and receiving the unique patterns transmitted by the radio frequency identification tags at a search bar having an antenna and a wiring harness connected thereto, searching a database of a transceiver connected to the wiring harness to locate files having unique patterns matching those received at the search bar, and updating presence and location of files stored in the database to reflect the unique patterns most recently received from the radio frequency identification tags. When the database is accessed by a user to locate a particular file associated with one of the plurality of radio frequency identification tags, the transceiver causes one or more of a plurality of visual indicators connected to the wiring harness of the search bar to illuminate to reflect the last known position of the file. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a control unit according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  shows an alternative embodiment to  FIG. 1  having a transmitter and a separate programming unit;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing yet another embodiment wherein a programming unit is attached as a peripheral device of a personal computer system;  
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a search bar according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  shows an arrangement having multiple search bars installed on a shelf for use in retrieving one of a plurality of archived items;  
       FIG. 6  shows a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . 
    
    
      Before any embodiment of the invention is explained in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the exemplary details of construction and arrangements set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of alternative embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of illustrative description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a control unit  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The control unit  100  includes a case  105  housing electronic, radio and printing components for programming RFID tags, transmitting signals to programmed RFID tags applied to archived materials to aid in the retrieval of said materials, and maintaining a database of archived materials and previous transmissions sent to the RFID tags applied to archived materials. The control unit  100  is designed to be relatively small and portable. In one exemplary embodiment, the control unit  100  is approximately the size of a laptop computer. In another embodiment, the control unit  100  is approximately the size of a moderately sized calculator.  
      The control unit  100  also includes a data input  110  and a data display  115 . A user wishing to archive a new item to be retrieved at a later date according to an embodiment of the present invention first inputs the name, title, or other identification corresponding to the item via the data input  110 . The data display  115  provides visual feedback to the user during the inputting process.  
      Once the data corresponding to a new item to be archived is entered into the data input  110  and the proper command is given, the control unit  100  proceeds to use the data given to program an RFID tag with a unique pattern. By providing a user interface together with RFID programming capabilities in the control unit  100 , the need to enter data for an archived file twice is avoided. This eliminates the potential for mistakes caused by human error when repeatedly entering similar data.  
      The control unit  100  includes a tag supply  130 . The tag supply  130  may be mounted externally or internally in the control unit  100 , and may be provided as a roll or folded stack of individual RFID tags. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the tag supply  130  is a roll of programmable RFID tags mounted externally on the case  105  of the control unit  100 . RFID tags are drawn into the case  105  of the control unit  100  as needed and programmed with the information entered by a user pertaining to a particular item to be archived. Subsequently, the programmed tags  125  are ejected from the case  105  so that they may be applied by a user to an item to be archived.  
      The method of programming the programmed tags  125  will be known to one skilled in the art, as is the division of RFID tags into read-only, read-write, and write-once read many (“WORM”) tags. WORM tags should be sufficient for the present invention, although if the user desires to reuse programmed tags  125  prepared for materials which are later discarded, the increased cost and complexity of using read-write RFID tags will be necessary.  
      A user wishing to retrieve a previously archived item uses the data input  110  to input a name, title, or other identification corresponding to the item to be retrieved. The data display  115  provides visual feedback to the user during this process as well. In one embodiment of the present invention, in addition to maintaining a database of data corresponding to the programmed tags  125  and items archived using the present system, the control unit  100  also stores data indicative of the previous several searches input by a user. This data enables a user to more easily perform repeated searches for commonly sought items. Furthermore, this data enables the user to briskly identify an unresponsive search bar, which indicates that the most frequently searched files may be away from the shelves and still with a previous user.  
      Once the data corresponding to an archived item is input using the data input  110  and the proper command is given, the control unit  100  sends a signal using an antenna  120  to an RFID tag, enabling a user to easily locate a desired item in the manner described hereinafter. In an exemplary embodiment, the control unit  100  transmits using an FM signal having a frequency of approximately 8 KHz. In another exemplary embodiment, the control unit  100  transmits using a signal having a frequency of approximately 13.5 MHz. In another exemplary embodiment, the control unit  100  transmits using a signal having a frequency of approximately 30 MHz. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the control unit  100  transmits a signal using the Post Office Code Standardization Advisory Group (“POCSAG”) protocol.  
      In a further embodiment, the control unit  100  continually searches its database as data is being entered by the user character by character at the data input  110 . As soon as the control unit  100  has enough data from the user to narrow down the results of the search to a single record, a signal is sent to the antenna  120  to pinpoint the desired archived item without need of a separate command from the user to begin the search. In an exemplary embodiment, the control unit  100  includes a scanning protocol wherein the input of a sufficient minute pattern (e.g. a few letters, words of title or name) allows the protocol to search a database and automatically complete the title or name on the display  115 . The user therefore need not type in complete data for multiple searches. After showing all the file search items on the display  115 , the user may prompt a search command to begin multiple searches.  
      In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the programmed tags  125  are passive RFID tags powered by electromagnetic induction caused by receiving a signal sent from the antenna  120 . In a further exemplary embodiment, the programmed tags  125  include microchips capable of storing between ten and thirty two bits of non-volatile data. In another embodiment, the programmed tags  125  include microchips capable of storing approximately sixty four bits of non-volatile data. In yet another embodiment, the programmed tags are joined to one another at perforated sections. When removed as individual tags, they measure in one embodiment between one half and 2 centimeters in width and between two and three centimeters in length. Finally, the programmed tags  125  may be provided with a self adhesive backing protected by a layer of backing paper. A user wishing to apply a programmed tag  125  to an item to be archived simply peels the backing off the tag and presses it to the item.  
       FIG. 2  shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the data storage, transmission and programming functions performed by the control unit  100  of  FIG. 1  are divided between a transmitter  200  and a programming unit  250 . As described above, the control unit  100  of  FIG. 1  incorporates means for interacting with a user of the system, programming an RFID tag (and concurrently saving the information programmed on the tag to a database maintained on the control unit  100 ) and transmitting a signal to an RFID tag applied to an archived item. In contrast, the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  provides a transmitter  200  enclosed by a case  205  and having a data input  210  and a data display  215  for interacting with a user (i.e. receiving data from a user and providing feedback to a user). The embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  also provides a separate programming unit  250  for programming RFID tags with a name, title, or other unique identification corresponding to an item to be archived. Because the programming functionality is provided in a separate unit to the transmitter  200 , the transmitter  200  may comprise an exceedingly compact and easy to carry unit.  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the transmitter  200  is provided with a data input  210  having an alphanumeric keypad. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the data input  210  may comprise a full “qwerty” keyboard, a stylus, touchpad or other input means. An alphanumeric keypad is shown in  FIG. 2  because it affords the data input  210  a satisfactory balance of functionality and compactness. If necessary, multi-function buttons  212  may be provided in a further alternative embodiment of the transmitter  200  to allow a greater range of possible input choices to the data input  210 .  
      The data display  215  included in the transmitter  200  may in one embodiment be provided by an LCD display capable of displaying a single line of 8 characters, each having 8 bits of data, in the manner of a four function calculator. Depending on the complexity of the data to be displayed on the data display  215 , a greater resolution may be needed. In another embodiment, the data display  215  comprises an LCD display capable of displaying eight lines of 21 characters each, wherein each character contains up to 64 bits of data, similar to many common graphing calculators currently in use. It will be understood to one skilled in the art that various embodiments are possible for the data display  215 . As with the data input  210 , a trade-off is presented in design of the data display  215  between the functionality and compactness of the display.  
      Regarding the programmer  250 , a device is provided allowing the user of the present system to program RFID tags in a manner similar to that provided by the control unit  100  of  FIG. 1 . The programmer  250  has a case  255  and a tag supply  230 . As with the tag supply  130  of the control unit  100  of  FIG. 1 , the individual RFID tags comprising the tag supply  230  may be mounted externally or internally in the programming unit  250 , and may be provided as a roll or folded stack of tags. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the tag supply  230  is a roll of programmable RFID tags mounted externally on the case  255  of the programming unit  250 . The programming unit  250  uses the tag supply  230  to produce programmed tags  225  according to data received from the transmitter  200 .  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the transmitter  200  and the programming unit  250  are provided with antennas  220  and  270 , respectively. At least one of the transmitter  200  and the programming unit  250  has the capability to broadcast a signal through its antenna which is receivable by RFID tags programmed according to the present invention and applied to archived materials. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the antennas  220  and  270  are also used to transmit data back and forth between the transmitter  200  and the programming unit  250 . As such, the programming unit  250  is able to receive data entered by the user into the transmitter  200  to program an RFID tag with said data. In a further alternative embodiment, the transmitter  200  and the programming unit  250  are provided with a cable  240  to allow the transmission of data between the transmitter  200  and the programming unit  250 .  
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. Here, a programming unit  300  is provided as a peripheral device for a personal computer system having a central processing unit (“CPU”)  350 , a keyboard  310  and a monitor  315 . This personal computer system allows a user to enter data and maintain a database of archived records as with the transmitter  200  shown in  FIG. 2 . A programming unit  300  is provided to produce programmed tags  325  having identification data corresponding to archived records. The programming unit  300  is also provided with an antenna  320  to allow a user of the system to transmit a signal to RFID tags of archived items slated for retrieval by the user. The programming unit  300  may be connected to the CPU with a cable  340  in a manner similar to other peripheral devices used with the personal computer system such as a mouse  360 . Known protocols such as universal serial bus, firewire or the like may be used to transfer data between the CPU and the programming unit  300  along the cable  340 .  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the programming unit  300  is provided with an internal tag supply of a folded stack of RFID tags. After the programming unit  300  stores the name, title, or other identification to be stored on an RFID tag, the programmed tag  325  is passed out of the case  305 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  lacks the portability of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, the provision of the personal computer system allows software which controls the programming unit  300  and stores data relating to archived items to be easily updated. Furthermore, the personal computer system shown in  FIG. 3  may be incorporated easily into a network using known methods allowing data relating to items archived by the present system to be made available to multiple users.  
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a search bar  400  for use with an embodiment of the present invention. This search bar  400  serves as a signal receptor in the embodiment shown, and may be provided with a 110 volt power supply (not shown). In an alternate embodiment this power supply incorporates a power saving feature which switches off the current to the search bar  400  when the present system is not in use.  
      The search bar  400  may be comprised of a flexible tape or a stiffer bar incorporating materials such as plastic, glass, synthetics or the like. The search bar  400  has an antenna  420  provided along its length. In an alternative embodiment, the antenna  420  may be coiled, or copper tipped at intervals. The antenna may comprise a copper or aluminum element, optic fiber or an etched conductive ink.  
      The search bar  400  includes a horizontal portion  410  incorporating the antenna  420  described above. Said horizontal portion  410  is separated from a vertical portion  415  by a fold  405 . In one exemplary embodiment, the horizontal portion  410  has a width of between two and three centimeters. In another exemplary embodiment, the vertical portion  415  has a width of between one and two centimeters, and forms approximately a perpendicular angle with the horizontal portion  410 .  
      The vertical portion  415  of the search bar  400  is provided with a series of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”)  430 . In an exemplary embodiment, these LEDs  430  are between three tenths and one centimeter wide. When the horizontal portion  410  of the search bar  400  is applied to the underside of a shelf or other supporting surface, the vertical portion  415  faces outwards so that the LEDs  430  are visible to a user of the system. These LEDs  430  are connected to a wiring harness  425  which runs from the vertical portion  415  to the horizontal portion  410  to interface with the antenna  420 .  
      A user wishing to retrieve an archived item having an RFID tag attached thereto first operates the transmitter to send out a unique signal pattern in the manner discussed in the context of  FIGS. 1-3  above. The transmitter may save a log of past searches which may be used to speed the execution of subsequent searches. The E/M field of the signal pattern, when applied to an RFID tag, acts as a carrier of power from the antenna to the RFID tag. In one exemplary embodiment of the present system, the signal pattern from the transmitter acts as a trigger to power and thus induce a response signal from each and every RFID tag within range of the transmitter. This response contains a unique pattern previously stored on the microprocessor of the RFID tag by the programming unit discussed in the context of  FIGS. 1-3  above. In an alternative embodiment, the RFID tags may be fitted with modulation sensors which prevent them from transmitting or, alternately, receiving signals when a neighboring RFID tag is in use, i.e. modulating a signal of its own. These modulation sensors, which may also be placed along the search bar itself, help prevent interference between neighboring RFID tags.  
      Concurrently, the antenna  420  of the search bar  400  also receives the unique signal pattern from the transmitter. If an RFID tag is in the vicinity of the antenna  420 , the wiring harness  425  which is electrically connected to the antenna  420  senses a match between the unique pattern from the transmitter and the unique pattern induced in the RFID tag. Because of the limited range of the signal induced at the RFID tag, this match is an inherently localized phenomenon. Thus, components of the wiring harness  425  are able to discern where along the length of the search bar  400  the archived item sought by the user is located.  
      In one embodiment small-scale printable sensors, chips or transistors may be provided as part of the wiring harness  425  etched alongside the antenna  420 . These components illuminate the LEDs  430  when a match is found by the wiring harness  425  between received and induced signals in the vicinity of the origin of that signal. Thus, the ultimate effect is that when the search bar is secured below a shelf or other support for a plurality of archived items, a search performed according to the above embodiment will cause LEDs  430  to illuminate below an archived item having a matching RFID tag to the search performed. When the tag and/or archived item is removed from the shelf, the illumination of the LEDs  430  ceases.  
      In contrast to having a separate logic circuit in the wiring harness  425  for each LED  430  to sense a match between a signal received from the transmitter and a signal received from a proximate RFID tag, the wiring harness  425  may include in an alternative embodiment a single microcontroller or other processor, having multiplexed connections to each LED  430  and a sensor disposed above each LED  430 . Alternatively, the wiring harness  425  may include a single microcontroller having only a single electrical connection to the antenna of the search bar. In this embodiment, the microcontroller uses the distance, timing and strength of signals received from RFID tags along the antenna to determine their approximate location.  
      In another embodiment, the wiring harness  425  may include analog to digital and digital to analog converters to aid in the processing of signals received from the transmitter and RFID tags. In an alternative embodiment, these devices may transmit digital signals, thus obviating the need for such converters.  
      In an alternative embodiment, a second set of LEDs (not shown) having a different color than the LEDs  430  may be provided. LEDS in this second set are designed to illuminate upon receiving any signal from a proximate RFID tag regardless of the matching discussed above. In this manner a user can easily diagnose whether a section of the search bar  400  is operating properly and verify that a file being sought is not in the system at all rather than simply not being read by the system. A pressure sensor may be provided on the search bar to provide further information as to the presence of a file in the system in the event that the search bar is unable to read that file&#39;s RFID tag.  
      In another potential embodiment, RFID tags are provided having an internal logic as well as a memory. This logic allows the tags themselves to determine whether a signal received from a transmitter contains an ID matching that which is stored in the memories of the tags. As such, while the E/M field created by the signal pattern from the transmitter powers each and every RFID tag within range of the transmitter, the tags can discriminate a signal that matches their own unique ID codes and thus a response signal will be induced from only one RFID tag.  
      Accordingly, the wiring harness  425  of the search bar  400  may be of a much simpler construction, given that it no longer need determine a match between two signals. If the search bar  400  senses a signal from any adjacent RFID tag, it will energize the LED light or lights  430  in that region. As is known in the art, the LEDs  430  may be inductively coupled to the RFID tags in this embodiment to achieve this effect. In this embodiment, the wiring harness  425  may comprise simply the electrical connection between the antenna  420  and the LEDs  430 . Furthermore, in this embodiment the antenna  420  need not be a continuous structure, rather it may exist as a series of discontinuous antenna sections native to one or several LEDs  430 . In another alternative embodiment, an LED may be provided directly on each RFID tag to indicate to a user of the system that the logic of that RFID tag has determined that the signal from the transmitter matches the unique ID stored on that RFID tag.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the search bar may be provided with a repeater which receives a signal sent from the transmitter, amplifies it, and retransmits it to the RFID tags either directly or through the antenna  420 .  
       FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of the present invention having multiple search bars  500  installed along the underside of shelves  550 . These search bars  500  are provided to aid in the retrieval of one of several archived items  555 . The search bars  540  may be electrically connected to one another using a bar connector  540 . In this manner, only the first search bar  500  installed in a system need be connected to an external power supply (not shown). The subsequent search bars  500  share the power supplied with the first search bar  500  and any intermediates via bar connectors  540 . In one embodiment, the multiple search bars  500  may comprise together an individual cell in a distributed filing system. Files in each individual cell may be color coded for greater ease of searching. Furthermore, each individual cell may be provided with a transceiver assembly communicating with a central transmitter. In this embodiment, the transceiver assembly may act as a repeater to receive signals from the central transmitter and retransmit them to a plurality of radio frequency identification tags in the local cell, or it may be operated directly by a user, depending on convenience. Signals received from the central transmitter may contain a precoded sequences unique to one specific communication cell.  
       FIG. 5  shows the shelves  550  supporting a plurality of archived items  555 . These items may comprise in various embodiments file folders, VHS cassettes, compact disk cases, books, or the like. Ordinarily, the physical arrangement of these archived items  555  must conform to a prearranged filing scheme to aid in the search and retrieval of a particular one of the archived items  555 . An item removed and returned to the shelf  550  must be put back in a specific location to preserve to this filing scheme. Items stored in, say, alphabetical order must be put back in their alphabetical order; a misfiled item risks being lost in the shuffle, necessitating time consuming manual search for the desired item.  
      The search bars  540  are shown in  FIG. 5  having their vertical portions  515  facing outwards. The LEDs  530  provided on the vertical portions  515  can thus indicate which archived item  555  features an RFID tag  560  corresponding to a signal sent out by the control unit  100  of  FIG. 1 , the transmitter  200  of  FIG. 2 , the programming unit  250  of  FIG. 2 , the programming unit  300  of  FIG. 3 , or other alternative embodiment. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the RFID tag  560  is a passive, inductively coupled tag. In a further exemplary embodiment, the RFID tag  560  is a passive, capacitively coupled tag.  
      Thus, in the current system, a user of the system need only look for a flashing LED  530  to find a desired archived item  555 , rather than having to search through a physical filing arrangement. In an alternative embodiment, where a very large number of archived items  555  are present, the RFID tags  560  may be color coded, and archived items  555  with like colored RFID tags  560  may be stored together. The color coding scheme in one embodiment relates to the first letter in the name of the archived item  555 . Thus, while the archived items  555  are still being provided according to a set physical arrangement, it remains a relatively simple arrangement and a user of the system is able to find individual archived items  555  easily within color coding groups using the LEDs  530  without having to organized the archived items  555  within their color coding groups.  
       FIG. 6  shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention wherein a search bar  600  is depicted having a horizontal portion  610  attached to the underside of a shelf  650  using an adhesive  670 . In one embodiment, the adhesive  670  is a pressure sensitive self adhesive layer provided along the length of the search bar  600 . The adhesive  670  may be covered with a backing tape (not shown) to be removed by the user at the time of installation of the search bar  600 . In alternative embodiments, the horizontal portion  610  of the search bar  600  may be affixed to a shelf  650  using clips, tucks, a loop and pile fastener system or other means known to one skilled in the art.  
      The horizontal portion  610  of the search bar  600  is attached to a vertical portion  615  at a fold  605 . In the embodiment shown, the vertical portion  615  extends upwards from the horizontal portion  610  and is oriented at an approximately ninety degree angle with the horizontal portion  610 . In an alternative embodiment, the horizontal portion  610  rests on the main plane of the shelf  650 , and the vertical portion  615  extends downward from the horizontal portion  610 .  
      In a further alternative embodiment, the vertical portion may be oriented at an acute or obtuse angle with the horizontal portion  610 . The angle must not be so obtuse that it prevents a user from observing the LEDs  430  provided on the vertical portion  615 , nor should it be so acute that it prevents an overlap between the horizontal portion  610  and the shelf  650  sufficient to allow the adhesive  670  or other attachment means provided to secure the search bar  600  to the shelf  650 . In yet another alternative embodiment, the two portions  610  and  615  of the search bar  600  may be provided in the same vertical plane, and the search bar  600  having this orientation may be affixed to a shelf  650  using clips, tucks, a loop and pile fastener system or other means known to one skilled in the art.  
      In an exemplary embodiment, the shelf  650  is a nonmetal shelf less than five centimeters in thickness. This ensures a strong wireless signal will be able to travel between the antenna in the horizontal portion  610  of the search bar  600  and the RFID tag  660  provided on the archived item  655 . In a further exemplary embodiment, the RFID tag  660  is applied nearest the bottom of the archived item  655 . This provides a short distance between the antenna and the RFID tag  660 , further ensuring a strong wireless signal.  
      In an alternative embodiment, the shelf  650  may be provided with a mechanized device (not shown), enabling an archived item  655  to be partially ejected from the shelf  650  for easy visibility upon being the subject of a successful search.  
      In another alternative embodiment, the search bars  400 ,  500  or  600  may be provided with a buzzer or other device which gives the user an audio indication of each successful search processed by the system. This affords the user yet another way to quickly locate an archived item, as well as a quick way to judge the volume of results his search has returned.