Inventory system and methods of using the same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an inventory system that can include a tagged inventory item, wherein the tagged inventory item includes a radio field tag attached to an inventory item; and an inventory device, wherein the inventory device includes a weighing surface, an array of force sensing resistors, and at least one radio field antenna, wherein the array of force sensing resistors and the at least one radio field antenna are configured to weigh and identify the tagged inventory item through the weighing surface, and methods of using the same. One benefit of the system and method disclosed herein can be monitoring inventory having changing amounts of content in real time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A radio field tag for identifying a tagged inventory item containing a liquid or a slurry, comprising:
 an integrated circuit layer, a concentrating layer, and an item adhesive layer,   wherein the integrated circuit layer includes an integrated circuit,   wherein the concentrating layer is located between the integrated circuit layer and the item adhesive layer,   wherein the circuit adhesive layer attaches a portion of the integrated circuit layer to a portion of the concentrating layer, and   wherein the item adhesive layer attaches a portion of the concentrating layer to the tagged inventory item containing a liquid or a slurry,   wherein the concentrating layer includes a radio signal enhancing material, and   wherein the concentrating layer enhances an amount of radio signal from the radio field tag to an at least one radio field antenna relative to a radio field tag without the concentrating layer.   
     
     
         2 . The radio field tag of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit layer is in direct contact with the circuit adhesive layer,
 wherein circuit adhesive layer is in direct contact with the concentrating layer,   wherein concentrating layer is in direct contact with the item adhesive layer, and   wherein the item adhesive layer is in direct contact with the tagged inventory item containing a liquid or a slurry.   
     
     
         3 . The radio field tag of  claim 1 , wherein the radio signal enhancing material includes a solid foam. 
     
     
         4 . The radio field tag of  claim 3 , wherein the solid foam includes a polystyrene foam, a foam rubber, a silicone foam, a polyurethane foam, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The radio field tag of  claim 2 , wherein the radio signal enhancing material includes a solid foam. 
     
     
         6 . The radio field tag of  claim 5 , wherein the solid foam includes a polystyrene foam, a foam rubber, a silicone foam, a polyurethane foam, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The radio field tag of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit adhesive layer, the concentrating layer, and the item adhesive layer includes an acrylic polymer, an acrylic co-polymer, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The radio field tag of  claim 1 , wherein the item adhesive layer includes an epoxy, a polyurethane, a cyanoacrylate, a silicone resin, a polyimide, and acrylic polymer, and combinations or mixtures thereof; or
 wherein the circuit adhesive layer includes cyanoacrylates, silicone resins, polyimides, and combinations or mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The radio field tag of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit of the radio field tag is not connected to a power source and is capable of using a radio signal from the at least one radio field antenna to charge up and transmit a radio field identification code; or
 wherein the integrated circuit is capable of drawing sufficient charge from a battery to charge up and transmit a radio field identification code; or   wherein the integrated circuit has access to or is connected to a non-battery power source and is capable of drawing sufficient charge from the non-battery power source to charge up and transmit a radio field identification code to the at least one radio field antenna.   
     
     
         10 . A radio field tag for identifying a tagged inventory item containing a liquid or a slurry, comprising:
 an integrated circuit layer, a concentrating layer, and an item adhesive layer,   wherein the integrated circuit layer includes an integrated circuit,   wherein the concentrating layer is located between the integrated circuit layer and the item adhesive layer,   wherein the circuit adhesive layer attaches a portion of the integrated circuit layer to a portion of the concentrating layer, and   wherein the item adhesive layer attaches a portion of the concentrating layer to an adhesive backing,   wherein the concentrating layer includes a radio signal enhancing material, and   wherein the concentrating layer enhances an amount of radio signal from the radio field tag to an at least one radio field antenna relative to a radio field tag without the concentrating layer.   
     
     
         11 . The radio field tag of  claim 10 , wherein the integrated circuit layer is in direct contact with the circuit adhesive layer,
 wherein circuit adhesive layer is in direct contact with the concentrating layer,   wherein concentrating layer is in direct contact with the item adhesive layer, and   wherein the item adhesive layer is in direct contact with the adhesive backing.   
     
     
         12 . The radio field tag of  claim 11 , wherein the radio signal enhancing material includes a polystyrene foam, a foam rubber, a silicone foam, a polyurethane foam, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A method of identifying a tagged inventory item containing a liquid or a slurry comprising:
 providing a radio field tag for identifying a tagged inventory item containing a liquid or a slurry, wherein the radio field tag includes an integrated circuit layer, a concentrating layer, and an item adhesive layer, wherein the integrated circuit layer includes an integrated circuit, wherein the concentrating layer is located between the integrated circuit layer and the item adhesive layer, wherein the circuit adhesive layer attaches a portion of the integrated circuit layer to a portion of the concentrating layer, and wherein the item adhesive layer attaches a portion of the concentrating layer to an adhesive backing;   removing the adhesive backing;   forming a tagged inventory item containing a liquid or a slurry by bringing the item adhesive layer into contact with an inventory item; and   charge up and transmit a radio field identification code from the radio field tag by providing a radio signal from at least one radio field antenna,   wherein the concentrating layer includes a radio signal enhancing material, and   wherein the concentrating layer enhances an amount of radio signal from the radio field tag to an at least one radio field antenna relative to a radio field tag without the concentrating layer.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the integrated circuit layer is in direct contact with the circuit adhesive layer,
 wherein circuit adhesive layer is in direct contact with the concentrating layer,   wherein concentrating layer is in direct contact with the item adhesive layer, and   wherein the item adhesive layer is in direct contact with the tagged inventory item containing a liquid or a slurry.   
     
     
         15 . The radio field tag of  claim 14 , wherein the radio signal enhancing material includes a solid foam. 
     
     
         16 . The radio field tag of  claim 15 , wherein the solid foam includes a polystyrene foam, a foam rubber, a silicone foam, a polyurethane foam, or a combination thereof.