TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to RFID tag identification. More particularly embodiments of the invention relate to a method of determining location of a RFID tag in a confined area using lighting panels.

BACKGROUND

RFID tags are small electronic circuits that respond with a data-carrying Radio Frequency (RF) reply signal when interrogated with an RF signal at a particular frequency.

RFID tags are expected to have a large number of applications in many settings to track and store materials and inventory. Libraries, hospitals, warehouses, retail stores, manufacturing plants, military bases, and the like are all expected to employ RFID tags for various applications.

Problem with the RFID tags is that determination of where the tag is located relative to the RFID reader device. The interrogating radio waves emitted by the RFID reader are of course invisible, and provide no indication to the user where the reader is scanning. This can cause confusion for the user when there are many RFID tags present, or when the user wants to scan for tags in a localized area, or when the user wants to identify a particular RFID tag among many.

Some RFID reader devices can electronically determine the location of an RFID tag. Typically, this is accomplished by triangulation, using the data generated from a plurality of networked RFID readers in different locations. Problem with the electronic RFID tag location is that, even though the tag location may be known electronically, there is no way to indicate to the user the location of the tag.

Hence, there is a need for an RFID reader that can indicate to the user where the RFID reader is scanning, or indicates to the user the tag location. At present, RF based ID card that is not only used for identification but also for checking time in and time out in the workplace. Extending the limits of the same, the present invention intends to give much more functionality into the device than just identification. This developed lighting system not only has the capability of lighting a room but also can identify the people around the light panel based on their RFID.

SUMMARY
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of determining location of a RFID tag in a confined area comprising, configuring plurality of lighting panels in the confined area, wherein the lighting panels are equipped with RFID reader. After configuring the lighting panels, the location of each of the lighting panel is provided to a central server. The RFID reader identifies plurality of RFID's present in the vicinity of the lighting panels. The identified RFID's are stored in a look up table of a microcontroller associated with each of the lighting panel. A particular RFID is sent to the plurality of lighting panels, wherein the lighting panels check their respective look up table to detect the presence of the particular RFID. If the particular RFID is present in the look up table, information of the lighting panel which detected the presence of the particular RFID is sent to the central server to identify the location of the RFID tag.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a system for determining location of a RFID tag in a confined area comprising plurality of lighting panels configured in the confined area. The lighting panels are equipped with a RFID reader. The system comprises a central server which stores location information of each of the lighting panel. The lighting panels are associated with a microcontroller, having a look up table. The look up table stores plurality of RFID's which are identified by the RFID reader in the confined area. The microcontroller sends information of the lighting panel to the central server to determine the location of the RFID tag.

In one embodiment, the RFID reader identifies plurality of RFID's present in the confined area within 9 meters of range.
In one embodiment, the central server interacts with 8000 lighting panels, wherein the distance between each of the lighting panels is 1.2 km.

In one embodiment, the storage size of the look up table is 256 bytes. The look up table gets updated when a new RFID tag enters the confined area and gets deleted when the RFID tag leaves the confined area.

In one embodiment, the storage size of the look up table is 256 bytes. The look up table gets updated when a new RFID tag enters the confined area and gets deleted when the RFID tag leaves the confined area.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments* and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig.l is an exemplary block diagram which illustrates a system for determining location of a RFID tag in a confined area.

Fig. 2 shows block diagram of the lighting panel.

Fig.3 shows voltage driver circuit configured in the lighting panel.

Fig. 4 shows LED driver circuit configured in the lighting panel.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method and system for determining location of a RFID tag in a confined area.

Fig. 1 is an exemplary block diagram which illustrates a system for determining location of a RFID tag in a confined area. The system comprises plurality of lighting panels configured in the confined area. In one embodiment the lighting panels are LED panels. A person skilled in the art would understand that any other type of the lighting panels can be used in the workplace. The lighting panels are equipped with RFID reader. The location of each of the lighting panel is updated with a central server. In one embodiment, RFID tags are provided for an object entering the confined area. The RFID reader identifies the RFID's which are present in the vicinity of the lighting panels and these identified RFID's are stored in a look up table of a microcontroller associated with the lighting panel. In one embodiment, the maximum storage size of the look up table is 256 bytes. The microcontroller associated with the lighting panel sends information of the lighting panel to the central server to determine the location of the RFID tag.

In one embodiment, the lighting panel maintains a look up table on the microcontroller. The look up table's maximum storage size is 256 bytes. The RFID module is interfaced with the microcontroller. The selected RFID reader interacts with the microcontroller through the RS232 interface. When a person with a new ID enters the surrounding of the lighting panel with in the vicinity of the RFID reader, the lookup table on that corresponding microcontroller is updated and accordingly gets deleted once the respective person leaves the vicinity of the RFID reader. In one embodiment, the selected RFID reader has a range of 9 meters within which it reads the RFID tag information of an object in the confined area and sends the RFID tag information to the central server. In one embodiment, the central server can interact with 8000 lighting panels through the microcontroller associated with the lighting panels wherein the maximum distance between each lighting panel is 1.2km.

In one embodiment, the central server provides information of the number of RFID's present in the confined area and their respective RFID's.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of determining location of a RFID tag in a confined area. The confined area is configured with plurality of lighting panels, wherein the lighting panels are equipped with RFID reader. After configuring the lighting panels, the location of each of the lighting panel is provided to a central server through RS232 interface. The RFID reader identifies plurality of RFID's present in the vicinity of the lighting panels. The identified RFID's are stored in a look up table of the microcontroller associated with that lighting panel. The microcontroller connected to each of the lighting panel interacts with the other lighting panel through RS485 interface. A particular RFID is sent to the plurality of lighting panels, wherein the microcontroller of the lighting panels check their respective look up table to detect the presence of the particular RFID. If the particular RFID is present in the look up table, the corresponding microcontroller sends information of that lighting panel which detected the presence of the particular RFID to the central server. In one embodiment the lighting panel information is sent to the server. The server based on the information identifies the location of the lighting panel with the confined area. This in turn will determine the location of the person carrying the RFID

Fig. 2 shows block diagram of the lighting panel. The lighting panel comprises of a voltage regulator circuit, a microcontroller, RFID reader module, LED driver circuit and RS-485 communication circuit.

In one embodiment, the microcontroller interacts with the central server and the other lighting panels through the RS-485 circuit.

In one embodiment, the microcontroller interacts with the RFID reader configured in the lighting panel through the RS232 interface.

In one embodiment, the microcontroller requires a constant output voltage of 5V for its operation. But the LED panels provide power which ranges from 5W to 35W. The voltage regulator circuit is configured in the lighting panel to provide the constant output voltage of 5V. Fig.3 shows the voltage regulator circuit. The voltage regulator circuit accept different voltages and gives a constant output voltage of 5V. The voltage regulator circuit uses 7805 Integrated Circuit (IC) with the required filtering circuit. There are capacitors connected on either ends of the regulator which help in noise cancellation and for arresting peak bursts. The voltage regulator circuit ensures the required 5 V for the working of the microcontroller and the related circuit.

In one embodiment, the microcontroller works at a constant voltage of 5V but the security system supports different LED light panels, of different wattage. Hence we need an interface circuit that could understand the signals received by the microcontroller and control the light panel accordingly. Fig.4 shows the LED driver circuit. The LED driver circuit basically consists of a buffer which protects the microcontroller and shifts the voltage levels appropriately to drive the mosfet's which in-turn drives the LED panels. The positive of the LED panel directly goes to the power supply and the negative of the panel is triggered through a mosfet circuit. The microcontroller pins first are connected to a buffer IC ensuring the safety of the microcontroller. Output of the same is pulled high giving the required voltage to trigger the mosfet. Once the mosfet gets triggered it gives a closed path for the current to flow through thus switching on the LED panel.

As in our security system we require variable intensity of light we incorporated Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technique for controlling the LED panel light intensity. In this technique pulse of particular frequency and duty cycle is generated and fed to the light panel through the mosfet and driver circuit. By changing the duty cycle we can control the intensity of the light coming from the LED panel.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides dimming of the lighting panels, individual dimming, ON/OFF and person identification. This could be achieved by sending the information to the microcontrollers of the respective lighting panels.

Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based here on. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A METHOD OF DETERMINING LOCATION OF A RFID TAG IN A CONFINED AREA, said method
comprising acts of:

configuring plurality of lighting panels in the confined area, wherein the lighting panels are equipped with RFID reader;
providing location information of each of the lighting panel to a central server;

identifying RFID's present in the vicinity of the lighting panels by the RFID reader;

storing the identified RFID's in a look up table, wherein the look up table is configured with each of the lighting panel;

sending a particular RFID to the plurality of lighting panels, wherein the lighting panels check their respective look up table to detect the presence of the particular RFID; and

sending information of the lighting panel which detected the presence of the particular RFID to the central server to identify the location of the RFID tag.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is associated with an object present in the confined area.

3. A system for determining location of a RFID tag in a confined area comprising:

plurality of lighting panels configured in the confined area, wherein each lighting panel is equipped with a RFID reader;

a central server for storing location information of each of the lighting panel in its database; and

a microcontroller associated with a look up table is configured in each of the lighting panel, said look up table stores plurality of RFID's which are identified by the RFID reader in the confined area, wherein the microcontroller sends information of the lighting panel to the central server to determine the location of the RFID tag.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the microcontroller interacts with the RFID reader through RS485 interface and communicates with the other lighting panels through RS232 interface.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the microcontroller checks for a particular RFID in the look up table of each of the lighting panels.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the microcontroller sends the information of the lighting panel upon detecting the presence of the particular RFID in that lighting panel.

7. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the RFID reader identifies the RFID's present in the confined area within 9 meters of range.

8. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the central server interacts with 8000 lighting panels, and distance between each of the lighting panels is 1.2 km.