초록 ▼

A radio frequency identification (RFID) assembly is configured for use with cast concrete components. The RFID assembly has a planar back plate having a plurality of break-away, registration posts extending perpendicular to the nominal plane of the back plate, and a plurality of gripping surfaces ex

A radio frequency identification (RFID) assembly is configured for use with cast concrete components. The RFID assembly has a planar back plate having a plurality of break-away, registration posts extending perpendicular to the nominal plane of the back plate, and a plurality of gripping surfaces extending opposite the registration posts. The RFID assembly further includes a RFID transponder encapsulated between the back plate and a cover. The RFID transponder is programmed with information concerning the cast concrete component to which the RFID tag is affixed.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A cast concrete component configured for in ground installation, the cast concrete component comprising: a hollow portion having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a wall thickness between the inner and outer surfaces and an open interior inside of the inner surfa

What is claimed is: 1. A cast concrete component configured for in ground installation, the cast concrete component comprising: a hollow portion having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a wall thickness between the inner and outer surfaces and an open interior inside of the inner surface; a radio frequency identification (RFID) assembly mounted flush along the outer surface of the hollow portion, the RFID assembly including (i) a RFID tag having a memory configured with data uniquely identifying the cast concrete component, and an antenna coupled to the memory, and (ii) a housing that encapsulates the RFID tag, the housing having one or more gripping surfaces extending into the cast concrete component that keep the RFID assembly secured to the concrete component during the in ground installation; and one or more reinforcing elements disposed between the inner and outer surfaces, wherein the RFID tag of the RFID assembly is configured to be readable from the open interior of the hollow portion through the wall thickness. 2. The cast concrete component of claim 1 wherein the memory is a read only memory. 3. The cast concrete component of claim 1 wherein the identifying data includes a serial number a portion of which identifies a manufacturer of the cast concrete component. 4. The cast concrete component of claim 1 wherein the housing of the RFID assembly further includes a back plate and a cover, and the RFID tag is encapsulated between the back plate and the cover. 5. The cast concrete component of claim 1 wherein the RFID assembly further includes human-readable information disposed within the housing, and visible through at least a portion of the housing. 6. The cast concrete component of claim 5 wherein the human-readable information includes at least one of: a name of an entity that manufactured the cast concrete component, and a telephone number of the entity that manufactured the cast concrete component. 7. The cast concrete component of claim 1 further comprising: a label attached to the RFID housing, the label bearing: human-readable information identifying at least a manufacturer of the cast concrete component, and a bar code associated with information concerning the cast concrete component. 8. A method for casting a concrete component having built-in identifying information, the method comprising: setting up a mold for casting the concrete component, the mold defining an inner surface, an outer surface, a wall thickness between the inner and outer surfaces, and a hollow interior inside of the inner surface; placing one or more reinforcement elements in the mold; suspending a radio frequency identification (RFID) assembly from the one or more reinforcing elements pending an inspection of the mold; releasably attaching the RFID assembly to the mold at a predetermined location on the outer surface following the inspection, the RFID assembly having (i) a RFID tag with a memory configured with data uniquely identifying the concrete component and an antenna coupled to the memory, (ii) human-readable information, and (iii) a housing that encapsulates the RFID tag and has one or more gripping surfaces for extending into the concrete component; adding wet concrete to the mold between the inner and outer surfaces so that the concrete envelopes at least part of the RFID assembly, said concrete, when dry, forming the concrete component; and removing the concrete component from the mold, leaving the RFID assembly secured to the concrete component, wherein the RFID tag of the RFID assembly is configured to be readable from the hollow interior of the cast concrete component. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the RFID assembly further includes one or more registration posts extending from the RFID assembly, and the mold includes a corresponding receiving hole for each of the one or more registration posts of the RFID assembly, the attaching further comprising: inserting each of the one or more registration posts of the RFID assembly into the corresponding receiving hole of the mold. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the RFID assembly defines a nominal plane and the one or more registration posts extend from the nominal plane of the RFID assembly. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the removing further comprises: breaking away a portion of each of the one or registration posts. 12. A radio frequency identification (RFID) assembly for attachment along a surface of a cast concrete component, the RFID assembly comprising: a back plate having a front, and a back; a cover attached to the front of the back plate; an RFID tag disposed between the cover and the back plate, the RFID tag including a memory configured with data uniquely identifying the cast concrete component, and an antenna coupled to the memory; a label bearing human-readable information concerning the cast concrete component; at least one gripping surface extending from the back of the back plate, and configured to be received into the cast concrete component; and a hook wherein the hook is sized for grasping a reinforcement element. 13. The RFID assembly of claim 12 comprising at least one registration post. 14. The RFID assembly of claim 12 composing at least one registration hole. 15. The RFID assembly of claim 12 wherein the label is disposed between the back plate and the cover, at least a portion of the cover is transparent, and the human-readable information is visible through the transparent portion of the cover. 16. The RFID assembly of claim 12 wherein the cover and the back plate form a watertight seal around the RFID tag.