Patent Description:
Most commonly, passive RFID inlays are relatively inexpensive as compared to semi-passive and active RFID inlays, while it utilizes an etching process to develop its antenna design, which commands a high production output to achieve economies of scale.

<CIT> relates to a combined electrical article surveillance (EAS)/radio frequency identification (RFID) security tag with EAS and RFID components configured within the tag housing. The disclosed embodiment allows the EAS and RFID components to be housed side by side without impacting the RFID's signal quality, due to a housing design that positions the RFID chip away from the EAS elements.

<CIT> discloses waterslide system capable of tracking user performance and providing feedback. The system may incorporate sensors and tags for interaction, enabling modifications to the waterslide based on performance feedback.

<CIT> relates to a support system for electronic tags, featuring at least one anchoring profile that can be attached to a supporting structure.

It is an object of the present application to provide an improved RFID detection device and an RFID detection system.

According to a first aspect, an RFID detection device for detecting a ferromagnetic item, which is placed on the RFID detection device, wherein the RFID detection device comprises a housing, an RFID inlay, which is positioned in the housing, a detuning element, which is positioned in the housing, a magnet, which positioned in the housing and configured to move the detuning element and the RFID inlay relative to each other from a first position in which the detuning elements abuts the RFID inlay to a second position in which the detuning element is spaced apart from the RFID inlay or vice versa, and the detuning element being configured to detune the RFID inlay when the detuning element abuts the RFID inlay in the first position, is provided.

The RFID detection device can be an active RFID detection device, a semi-passive RFID detection device, or a passive RFID detection device. The RFID detection device can operate with low frequency (<NUM>-<NUM>), high frequency (<NUM>), ultra-high frequency (<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> for Europe, and <NUM>-<NUM> for North America).

The housing can comprise an upper part and a lower part. The upper part and a lower part can abut.

The ferromagnetic item can be a tool, a screw, a device, or a metallic item. The ferromagnetic item can comprise ferromagnetic material. The ferromagnetic material can also be attached to a tool, a screw, a device, or a metallic item. So, the ferromagnetic item itself can comprise a material different from the ferromagnetic material. In this case, a ferromagnetic material can be attached to the ferromagnetic item to make it detectable.

The detuning element is an element to detune the coil of the RFID inlay. Communication between the RFID and an external RFID-Reader can be interrupted by the detuning element. The detuning element can be moveable in the housing.

In a first position, the detuning element abuts to the RFID inlay. The detuning element can abut to a side of the RFID inlay.

To reach the first position the detuning element can be moved toward the RFID inlay. The movement from the detuning element can be initiated by the ground force or a spring.

In another embodiment, the first position can be reached by moving the RFID inlay towards the detuning element. This movement can also be initiated by the ground force or a spring.

The second position can be reached by moving the detuning element apart from the RFID inlay or by moving the RFID inlay apart from the detuning element. The movement of the RFID inlay or the detuning element can be initiated by the magnet. The magnet can be mounted to RFID inlay or the detuning element depending on the movement.

Through this solution, an RFID detection device is provided, which is easy to use, cheap in production, and can be quickly adapted to several use cases.

According to an embodiment the RFID inlay further comprises a strip aluminium antenna.

The antenna can be etched on the RFID inlay. The antenna can comprise metallic material. In particular the antenna is strip aluminium. The strip aluminium can be attached to the RFID inlay. The strip aluminium can be glued to the RFID inlay.

Through this solution, a cheap antenna can be provided. The antenna can be easily added to the RFID inlay. The antenna improves communication between the RFID inlay and the RFID-Reader.

According to an embodiment the magnet comprises neodymium material.

The magnet can be a neodymium magnet. The neodymium magnet (also known as NdFeB, NIB, or Neo magnet) is a permanent magnet made from an alloy of neodymium, iron, and boron to form the Nd2Fe14B tetragonal crystalline structure.

According to this solution, a field of application and compactness is improved. Due to the magnetic force of the neodymium magnet a size of the magnet can be reduced. This leads to a more compact RFID detection device.

According to an embodiment the detuning element comprises aluminium material.

The detuning element can comprise a material to detune the RFID inlay if the detuning element abuts to the RFID inlay. The detuning element can comprise plastic material, semi-conductive material, and/or metallic material, particularly aluminium material.

Through this solution, the detuning capability of the detuning element can be improved.

According to an embodiment the housing comprises plastic material.

The housing can comprise soft plastic materials, hard plastic materials and/or ABS materials.

Through this solution, housing is provided, which is easy and cheap to manufacture.

According to an embodiment an air gap comprises <NUM> to <NUM>, in particular <NUM>, between the detuning element and the RFID inlay in the second position.

Through this solution, the communication between the RFID inlay and the RFID-Reader can be improved.

According to an embodiment the housing comprises a rectangular basic shape.

The housing can comprise any basic shape, in particular a circular basic shape, a square basic shape, a triangular basic shape, or an oval basic shape.

Through this solution, the RFID detection device better fits the tool and improves the detectability of the RFID inlay.

According to an embodiment the detuning element is attached to a plate.

Through this solution, a thickness of the detuning element can be reduced and at the same time, form stability can be improved. Decreasing a amount of material needed for the detuning element also decreases production costs.

According to an embodiment the plate further comprises a <NUM> grams weight.

In another embodiment the plate and the magnet can be one piece. In particular, the plate can be a metallic plate. In particular the plate can be a magnetic plate.

Alternatively, or additional the weight or the size of the magnet can be adjusted.

Through this solution, the sensitivity of the RFID detection device can be adjusted to a predetermined sensitivity.

According to a second aspect an RFID detection system for detecting an RFID detection device, which comprises an RFID Reader and the RFID detection device, wherein the RFID reader is configured to communicate with the RFID inlay, is provided.

The RFID detection system comprises the RFID detection system as described above and the RFID Reader. The RFID-Reader can communicate with the RFID inlay of the RFID detection device depending on the relative position of the RFID inlay to the detuning element.

If the RFID-Reader can communicate with the RFID inlay the ferromagnetic item is taken up by the RFID detection device.

Depending on the communication the RFID-Reader can output if a ferromagnetic item is taken up by the RFID detection device.

If there are several RFID detection devices the communication can also contain information to identify the RFID detection device or the RFID inlay.

Embodiments of the application will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, in which.

<FIG> shows an isometric view of an RFID detection device <NUM>.

The RFID detection device <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM>. A base <NUM> of the housing <NUM> can comprise a rectangular shape. The base <NUM> of the housing <NUM> can also comprise a circular shape or a triangular shape. The housing can comprise a grip <NUM>. The grip <NUM> makes it simple to open the closed housing <NUM>. On each corner of a wall of the housing <NUM> is a pin holder <NUM> arranged. The main housing can comprise several pin holders <NUM>.

In the housing <NUM> is an RFID inlay <NUM> positioned. The RFID inlay <NUM> can comprise RFID structures <NUM>. In one embodiment the RFID inlay <NUM> comprises an antenna <NUM>. The antenna can be an aluminium foil antenna <NUM>, which is arranged on the RFID inlay <NUM>.

Also, in housing <NUM> a detuning element <NUM> is arranged. The detuning element <NUM> can comprise a material to detune the RFID inlay. The detuning element <NUM> can comprise metal, plastic or semiconductive material. In particular, the detuning element <NUM> can be an aluminium foil.

The detuning element <NUM> can be part of an optional plate <NUM>. The detuning element can be integrated into plate <NUM>. Plate <NUM> is also arranged in housing <NUM>. The detuning element <NUM> is arranged between the RFID Inlay <NUM> and the plate <NUM>. Plate <NUM> can comprise plastic material. Plate <NUM> can comprise a hole <NUM> to take up a magnet <NUM>. Alternatively, the magnet <NUM> on the plate <NUM>. In an embodiment, which is not shown here, the magnet can alternatively be mounted to the RFID inlay <NUM> or the detuning element <NUM>. For example, magnet <NUM> can comprise neodymium material. In particular the magnet <NUM> can comprise ferromagnetic material. Magnet <NUM> can be glued into hole <NUM> or to the play <NUM>. The magnet <NUM> can also be mounted with a press-fit inside hole <NUM>.

The RFID detection device <NUM> also comprises a top cover <NUM>. The top cover comprises pins, which are not shown here. The pins can be arranged on a bottom side, which is pointing towards the housing <NUM>. The pins can be arranged on each corner of the top cover <NUM>. A position of the pins can correspond to the pin holders <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The Pin holders <NUM> take up the pins of the top cover <NUM>. The top cover <NUM> closes the housing <NUM>. In an embodiment, not shown here, the housing can comprise a first part and a second part, which can abut. In another embodiment, the housing can be one-piece. For example, the housing <NUM> can be made by injection moulding.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of an RFID detection system <NUM> with the RFID detection device <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and an RFID-Reader <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> of the RFID detection device <NUM> is shown in a closed state. The RFID inlay <NUM>, the detuning element <NUM>, the optional plate <NUM>, the magnet <NUM>, which are not shown here, are positioned in the housing <NUM>.

The RFID detection system <NUM> also comprises the RFID-Reader <NUM>. The RFID-Reader <NUM> comprises a coil, which is not shown here, to generate a magnetic field. The RFID-Reader <NUM> can communicate with the RFID detection device <NUM> depending on a position of the detuning element <NUM> relatives to the RFID inlay <NUM>.

In a first position, the detuning element <NUM> abuts the RFID inlay <NUM>. Abuts can also mean, that the detuning element <NUM> is spaced apart from the RFID inlay <NUM> with a very small distance. The distance can be <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>, particularly <NUM>,<NUM>. If the detuning element <NUM> and the RFID inlay <NUM> are in the first position the RFID inlay coil, which is not shown here, is detuned by the detuning element <NUM>. Communication between the RFID-Reader <NUM> and the RFID detection device <NUM> is not possible.

In a second position, the detuning element <NUM> is spaced apart from the RFID inlay <NUM>. For example, the RFID inlay <NUM> can be moved away from the detuning element <NUM>. Alternately the detuning element <NUM> can be moved away from the RFID inlay <NUM>. If the detuning element <NUM> is spaced apart from the RFID inlay <NUM>, the detuning element <NUM> stops detuning the RFID inlay coil or at least reduces the detuning of the RFID inlay coil. In this case, the RFID inlay <NUM> can communicate with the RFID-Reader <NUM>. The RFID-Reader <NUM> can read information from the RFID inlay <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of the RFID detection device <NUM> with ferromagnetic items <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of the RFID detection device <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. This embodiment shows the RFID detection device <NUM> as a tool holder.

The top cover <NUM> is mounted with screws <NUM> on the housing <NUM>. The top cover <NUM> comprises a recess <NUM>. The recess <NUM> can take up the ferromagnetic item <NUM>. The ferrimagnetic item <NUM> can be a tool. The ferromagnetic item <NUM> can comprise parts with ferromagnetic material. The ferromagnetic item <NUM> or parts of the ferromagnetic item <NUM> can be able to magnetize, i.e. stainless steel <NUM>-grade or steel.

The RFID detection device <NUM> can comprise one single RFID inlay <NUM>, one single detuning element <NUM>, one single optional plate <NUM> and one single magnet <NUM>. For example the RFID detection device <NUM> can be configured to detect if a specific amount of tools are taken up in the recess <NUM>.

In another embodiment the RFID detection device <NUM> can comprise several RFID inlays <NUM>, several foils <NUM>, several plates <NUM> and several magnets <NUM>. Each RFID inlay <NUM>, each foil <NUM>, each plate <NUM> and each magnet <NUM> can correspond to the recess <NUM> and/or to the ferromagnetic item <NUM> and can be summarized as a detection unit. The RFID detection device <NUM> can comprise several detection units. Each detection unit can be separate from other detection units. Each detection unit can detect the ferromagnetic item <NUM> taken up by the corresponding recess <NUM>.

If the ferromagnetic item <NUM> is taken away from the recess <NUM>, the RFID detection device <NUM> or each detection unit is in the first state.

If the ferromagnetic item <NUM> is taken up by the recess <NUM>, the RFID detection device <NUM> or each detection unit is in the second position.

In the second position an air gap between the detuning element <NUM> and the RFID inlay <NUM> can be <NUM> to <NUM>, particularly <NUM>. Due to the air gap, the RFID inlay <NUM> can communicate with the RFID reader <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An RFID detection device (<NUM>) for detecting a ferromagnetic item (<NUM>), which is placed on the RFID detection device (<NUM>), wherein the RFID detection device (<NUM>) comprises the following components:
- A housing (<NUM>),
- A RFID inlay (<NUM>), which is positioned in the housing (<NUM>),
- A detuning element (<NUM>), which is positioned in the housing (<NUM>),
- A magnet (<NUM>), which positioned in the housing (<NUM>) and configured to move the detuning element (<NUM>) and the RFID inlay (<NUM>) relative to each other from a first position in which the detuning elements (<NUM>) abuts the RFID inlay (<NUM>) to a second position in which the detuning element (<NUM>) is spaced apart from the RFID inlay (<NUM>) or vice versa, and
- The detuning element (<NUM>) being configured to detune the RFID inlay (<NUM>) when the detuning element (<NUM>) abuts the RFID inlay (<NUM>) in the first position.