RFID material tracking method and apparatus
Methods and apparatus for tracking items use a RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) tag with a material tracking system capable of real-time location and identification of items. RFID tags are attached to the item to be tracked.
1 . A method of attaching an identification tag to an object, the method comprising:
forming a shallow polypropylene cup;
attaching a radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup; and
attaching the polypropylene cup to the object.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup includes placing a bar code label in the polypropylene cup.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup includes placing an radio frequency identification tag containing a manufacturer serial number in the polypropylene cup.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup includes molding the radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup includes associating manufacturing lot information with the radio frequency identification tag.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the polypropylene cup to the object includes attaching the polypropylene cup to a wafer box.
7 . A method of attaching an identification tag to an object, the method comprising:
forming a shallow polypropylene cup;
welding a radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup; and
attaching the polypropylene cup to the object.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein welding the radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup includes welding the radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup ultrasonically.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the method includes removing the radio frequency identification tag from the polypropylene cup at completion of a production cycle.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein welding the radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup includes placing a bar code label in the polypropylene cup.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein welding the radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup includes placing an radio frequency identification tag containing a manufacturer serial number in the polypropylene cup.
12 . A method of attaching an identification tag to an object, the method comprising:
forming a shallow polypropylene cup;
attaching a radio frequency identification to the polypropylene cup; and
welding the polypropylene cup to the object.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein welding the polypropylene cup to the object includes welding the polypropylene cup to the object ultrasonically.
14 . The method of claim 12 , the method includes removing the radio frequency identification tag from the polypropylene cup at the completion of a production cycle.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein attaching the radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup includes placing a bar code label in the polypropylene cup.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein attaching the radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup includes placing an radio frequency identification tag containing a manufacturer serial number in the polypropylene cup.
17 . A method of attaching an identification tag to an object, the method comprising:
forming a shallow polypropylene cup;
welding a radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup ultrasonically;
welding the polypropylene cup to the object ultrasonically; and
associating the radio frequency identification tag with manufacturer data regarding the object.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the method includes removing the radio frequency identification tag from the polypropylene cup at the completion of a production cycle.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein welding the radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup includes welding a bar code label to the polypropylene cup.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein welding the radio frequency identification tag to the polypropylene cup includes welding an radio frequency identification tag containing a manufacturer serial number to the polypropylene cup.
21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein associating the radio frequency identification tag with manufacturer data includes associating the radio frequency identification tag with manufacturer data provided to a database.
22 . The method of claim 17 , wherein associating the radio frequency identification tag with manufacturer data includes generating historical information regarding the object to which the identification is attached.
23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the method includes:
removing the radio frequency identification tag from the polypropylene cup at the completion of a production cycle;
recycling the radio frequency identification tag for attachment to a second object; and
associating the radio frequency identification tag with manufacturer data regarding the second object.