초록 ▼

An RFID enabled paper roll includes a tubular core, a paper stock wound around the core, and a radio frequency integrated circuit electrically coupled to an antenna and positioned on the core. A system for reading a radio frequency integrated circuit positioned on an item of inventory in a warehouse

An RFID enabled paper roll includes a tubular core, a paper stock wound around the core, and a radio frequency integrated circuit electrically coupled to an antenna and positioned on the core. A system for reading a radio frequency integrated circuit positioned on an item of inventory in a warehouse comprises a material handling device and an RFID reader coupled to the material handling device. The material handling device has at least member for use in transporting an item of inventory. The reader is configured to read the radio frequency integrated circuit associated with the item of inventory when the item is in proximity to the material handling device.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system for managing inventory said system comprising: at least one material handling device for use in transporting an item of inventory, said item of inventory having a readable identifier associated therewith; at least one inventory reader coupled to the at least one mate

What is claimed is: 1. A system for managing inventory said system comprising: at least one material handling device for use in transporting an item of inventory, said item of inventory having a readable identifier associated therewith; at least one inventory reader coupled to the at least one material handling device wherein said inventory reader is aimed to read the identifier associated with the item of inventory; a computer processor in communication with the at least one reader for receiving information regarding said item of inventory from the reader; and a position locating system on said material handling device, wherein said position locating system takes position readings from overhead references to determine the position of the item of inventory and transmits information to the computer processor so that position determinations can be made; and a location measurement device mounted on at least one material handling device, wherein said location measurement device determines a current location of the at least one material handling device using sensed measurements of movements of the material handling device and thus updates the position of the material handling device between said position readings taken by said position locating system. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the position locating system comprises a plurality of transmitters and at least one receiver. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one material handling device is at least one fork lift truck, having at least one arm extending outwardly from the at least one fork lift truck, and the at least one inventory reader positioned on each fork lift truck so that when the at least one arm is in proximity to the item of inventory, the at least one inventory reader can communicate with the identifier associated with the item of inventory. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one arm on the at least one fork lift truck comprises a pair of arms. 5. The system of claim 3, further comprising an inlet and wherein the sensor is positioned on the inlet and is electrically coupled to an inlet antenna, with the inlet being positioned on the item of inventory. 6. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one RFID receiver is positioned on the at least one material handling device and the plurality of RFID transmitters are positioned at spaced locations throughout a warehouse. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one material handling device comprises a plurality of material handling devices, with an RFID receiver being positioned on each material handling device. 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of RFID transmitters are positioned on the ceiling of the warehouse. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of RFID transmitters are positioned in spaced intervals. 10. The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of RFID transmitters includes at least two RFID transmitters, and each RFID transmitter is configured to transmit an RF signal at a pre-determined frequency. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein each RFID transmitter transmits at a different pre-determined frequency than the other transmitters. 12. The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of overhead references is selected from the group consisting of beacon, tag, RFID transmitter, and any combinations thereof. 13. The system of claim 2, wherein the position locating system comprises a plurality of transmitters, each at spaced locations, and wherein at least one inventory reader or receiver is mounted on at least one material handling device. 14. The system of claim 2, wherein information transmitted from the plurality of overhead references is not received by the computer processor causing a blind area to exist between spaced locations of the plurality of overhead references, said blind area being compensated for by said location measurement device. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the location measurement device is selected from the group consisting of inertial measurement unit, distance sensor, and any combinations thereof. 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises an RFIC. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein the inventory reader comprises an RFID reader. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one inventory reader coupled to the at least one material handling device is for reading the identifier associated with the item of inventory when the item of inventory is in proximity to the at least one material handling device. 19. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer processor in communication with the at least one inventory reader is for both receiving information from the inventory reader and for transmitting information to the inventory reader. 20. The system of claim 1, wherein the location measurement device and the position locating system transmit information to the computer processor to determine the position of the at least one material handling device when positioned between the spaced locations of the plurality of overhead references. 21. The system of claim 1, wherein the position locating system is used in tracking historical positions of the item of inventory or the material handling device. 22. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second computer processor in communication with the computer processor for maintaining the location of an item of inventory. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the second computer processor communicates with the computer processor to maintain the identification of an item of inventory. 24. The system of claim 23, wherein the identification of the item of inventory is calculated and the identification of the item of inventory is communicated from the inventory reader to the second computer processor. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the second computer processor suggests a proper placement position for the item of inventory. 26. The system of claim 1, wherein the location measurement device is used to track the location of the material handling device when the receiver is not receiving a signal from a transmitter. 27. The system of claim 1, wherein the location measurement device comprises an inertial measurement unit. 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the inertial measurement unit comprises at least one of a lateral accelerometer, longitudinal accelerometer, and a yaw rate gyro. 29. The system of claim 28, wherein the location measurement device measures a heading angle of the material handling device through the use of an electronic compass. 30. The system of claim 27, wherein the location measurement device measures distance traveled through a distance sensor. 31. The system of claim 30, further comprising a triangulation algorithm stored in the computer processor. 32. The system of claim 30, wherein the material handling device includes wheels and the distance sensor wherein the distance sensor determines a distance traveled based upon rotation of the at least one wheel. 33. The system of claim 1, wherein the location measurement device updates a Kalman filter running on said computer processor during time periods between updates by the position locating system to maintain continuous position information in said computer processor. 34. The system of claim 1, wherein the material handling device includes a securing device extending out from a fork lift truck. 35. The system of claim 34, wherein the location of the item of inventory is identified using the position locating system upon an activation of said securing device. 36. The system of claim 35, further comprising a pressure switch positioned on the securing device whereby the pressure switch is activated upon a loading of the item of inventory. 37. The system of claim 1, wherein the location of the item of inventory is identified using the position locating system, said position locating system being triggered using a sensor, said sensor being adapted to sense a backing away of said material handling device from said item of inventory. 38. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one arm is a carton clamp. 39. A material handling device comprising: an inventory reader coupled to the at least one material handling device aimed to obtain inventory identification information; a second locating reader coupled to the at least one material handling device; a first computer processor in communication with the second reader for receiving information regarding at least one surveyable reference located above said material handling device; a position locating system for determining a position of said material handling device relative to said at least one surveyable reference using said first computer processor; and a location measurement device mounted on at least one material handling device for dynamically determining the position of the at least one material handling device based at least in part upon sensed readings relating to the movement of the material handling device and wherein the location measurement device works in concert with the position locating system to update the position of the material handling device. 40. The material handling device of claim 39, wherein said at least one surveyable reference comprises a plurality of spaced-apart surveyable references, each of said surveyable references presenting one or more signals, said signals being receivable by said second reader on said material handling device. 41. The material handling device of claim 40, wherein the plurality of spaced-apart surveyable references is a plurality of RF transmitters and said second reader is an RF receiver. 42. The material handling device of claim 39, wherein the at least one material handling device has at least one arm extending outwardly from the at least one fork lift truck, and said inventory reader is positioned on each fork lift truck so that when the at least one arm is in proximity to an item of inventory, and the inventory reader can communicate with a readable identifier associated with the item of inventory. 43. The material handling device of claim 42, wherein the at least one arm the at least one fork lift truck comprises a pair of arms. 44. The material handling device of claim 39, wherein the inventory reader comprises an RFID reader. 45. The material handling device of claim 39 wherein the location measurement device comprises an inertial measurement unit. 46. The material handling device of claim 39 comprising: a mechanical handling system used for the purpose of relocating inventory; a subsystem for triggering a second reader on said material handling device when a particular item of inventory has been either secured or unsecured, said second reader adapted to, upon activation, retrieve information from an identifier on said particular item of inventory. 47. The material handling device of claim 46 wherein said subsystem further comprises a pressure sensor for recognizing when said particular item has been either secured or unsecured, and notifying either said first computer processor or a second computer processor to initiate said second reader. 48. The material handling device of claim 39 comprising: wherein said second reader is adapted to, upon activation, retrieve information from an environmental sensor on a particular item of inventory. 49. The system of claim 39, wherein an identification of an item of inventory is able to be made by taking a reading from the second reader, and then communicating said identification and an inventory position into an inventory computer process running on a second computer processor, said second computer processor being remote from said material handling device. 50. The system of claim 49, wherein the second computer processor suggests a recommended placement position for the item of inventory. 51. The system of claim 39, wherein the material handling device includes a securing device and the location of the item of inventory is identified using the position locating system upon an activation of said securing device. 52. The system of claim 51, further comprising a switching mechanism positioned on the securing device whereby the switching mechanism is activated upon a loading of the item of inventory. 53. The material handling device of claim 39 comprising: an error-compensation module operating in the computer. 54. The material handling device of claim 53 wherein said error-compensation module is a Kalman filter process. 55. An inventory management system comprising: a position reader coupled to a material handling device wherein said position reader is oriented to take readings from above, said material handling device being adapted to move inventory; a first computer processor which, upon a handling of an item of inventory by said material handling device, receives a reading from said position reader regarding a position for said material handling device relative to a plurality of spaced-apart overhead surveyable references; said first computer processor uses said reading to determine and record a position for an item of inventory; and said material handling device includes a location measurement system which uses motion sensor readings to dynamically compliment readings obtained using said first reader said position for said material handling device. 56. The system of claim 55 wherein said material handling device includes a mechanism capable of engaging said item of inventory, said item of inventory having an identifier which can be read by an inventory reader on said material handling device, said second reader being triggered by an engagement of said item of inventory. 57. The system of claim 55 wherein said location measurement system includes an inertial measurement unit.