Radio frequency identification system

Abstract

A radio frequency identification system, and method of operation thereof, provides: a sensor for sensing the absence or presence of a radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system; a supply system connected to the sensor for supplying the radio frequency identification transponder to the radio frequency identification system in the absence of the radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system; and a programmer connected to the sensor for writing transponder content to the radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system in the presence of the radio frequency identification transponder at the radio frequency identification system.

1 . A method comprising:
 feeding, with a feeder, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to a programming location;   while the RFID tag is at the programming location, programming the RFID tag to form a programmed RFID tag; and   providing, with the feeder, the programmed RFID tag to a robotic handling system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said programming the RFID tag is performed by the feeder. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag is programmed wirelessly. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said programming the RFID tag is performed through direct contact with the RFID tag. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said programming the RFID tag is programmed using two contacts that contact two corresponding contacts on the RFID tag. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said programming the RFID tag is performed by directly contacting the RFID tag with an antenna. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the robotic handling system comprises a pick-and-place robot. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising printing on a label included with the RFID tag. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reading the RFID tag or the programmed RFID tag prior to said providing the programmed RFID tag to a robotic handling system. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a feeder configured to feed a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag to a programming location; and   a programmer configured to program the RFID tag to form a programmed RFID tag while the RFID tag is at the programming location;   wherein the feeder is further configured to provide the programmed RFID tag to a robotic handling system.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the programmer is configured to program the RFID tag wirelessly. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the programmer is configured to program the RFID tag through direct contact with the RFID tag. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the programmer is configured to program the RFID tag through two contacts on the RFID tag. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the programmer is configured to program the RFID tag by directly contacting the RFID tag with an antenna. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the robotic handling system comprises a pick-and-place robot. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a printer configured to print on a label included with the RFID tag. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a reader configured to read the RFID tag or the programmed RFID tag prior to the feeder providing the programmed RFID tag to a robotic handling system.