FR3046481A1 - IMPROVEMENT TO IDENTIFICATION PADS WITH RFID-UHF OF UNDRIVED RAW WOOD - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the traceability of undried raw wood, equipped with UHF RFID chips; the wafer includes a device neutralizing electromagnetic waves (EM) emanating from the wood, thus enabling a reader placed at a distance to perform a safe and optimum reading of the UHF RFIDs fixed on each log at all stages of the supply chain of wood, in an inter-operational traceability of logging in the forest, skidding, transport, sorting, storage, and sawmill sawing.

Description

Improvement to identification plates with UHF RFID of undried raw wood.

The present invention is in the field of UHF RFID identification of undried raw wood such as mainly logs and logs of timber felled trees, in their traceability to their subsequent mechanized processing in flows of 2nd and 3rd transformation.

There are several patents that already refer to other patents in this area:

The report of 31 January 2002 of the European project "Lineset" led by the Tràtek Institute (André Lucken) of Sweden, ((Didier Pischedda, Technical Wood Center, France) already shows woodtag plates with low RFID tags Frequency integrated into the wafer in a volume space thereby non-empty European patent EP 2 207 130 B1 / Leuvrey Bernard 07 01 2010, deals only with the remote setting of the RFID UHF equipping a wafer attached to the raw wood loaded of water, in order to obtain its reading out of the interferences of EM (electro-magnetic) waves emitted by the wood, the water emitting EM waves in the same frequencies as the RFID UHF (from 860 to 960 Mhz) UHF RFIDs are in some cases integrated into the closed housing center, and these dwellings are therefore non-empty, patent 11 03476 of 14 11 11 / Leuvrey B, provides solutions by wood traceability with UHF RFID, but without use of the operating principle ionnel using an empty enclosure Korean patent 1020090070185 A of 21 07 2009 shows the use of an RFID placed on the upper face of a non-metallic enclosure and connected to metal film-shaped elements integrated into a box , device free of a second conductive element applied opposite the opposite side of the box, this lower side (the bottom of the box) being non-metallic (therefore non-conductive) reported to the enclosure and occupied by fixing studs molded in thermo-plastic; device intended for a monetary or access control domain. Patent 011038 of 03 08 11 / Leuvrey B, shows a wafer using a UHF RFID; Fig1 shows a single element (13) used conductor and without any empty cage; in another version according to FIG 2, the conductive element surrounds a cage which is not empty since having in its central interior the UHF RFID (10). patent application 1202689 of 02/2012 / Leuvrey B shows in FIG12 a non-empty cavity as comprising a mobile support carrying a UHF RFID. Patent Application No. 1501188 of 08/06/2015 / Leuvrey B provides pallet traceability solutions by integrating a UHF RFID device placed inside an enclosure here of tubular shape and thus this enclosure being non-empty the Latschbacher patent US202 / 0170213 A1 Nov 21 2002 shows a wafer enclosing a RFID (non-UHF), therefore in a non-empty enclosure, and in devices already defined and previously exploited in the Leuvrey patent No. 8701700 of 1111 02 1987

These pre-cited documents do not respond in transmitting EM waves to the following "functional principle" (PF): external EM waves can not pass through two opposite walls of an empty enclosure, if these walls are of a conductive nature.

Recall that the UHF RFID (7) is generally integrated in an inlay, adhesive medium comprising the chip (7.3) (chip = the chip containing in its memory a sequential number) and an antenna called dipole (7.2) (ie 2 terminals, reception, transmission), this dipole antenna (7.2) in broken lines (7.1) and of dielectric nature (electrically conductive); here UHF RFID is called "passive" because it does not produce energy; the UHF RFID by means of its antenna (7) communicates with a reader (13) by EM electromagnetic waves (12) in the legal frequencies of 860 to 960 Mhz; the reader (13) thus transmits energy to the UHF RFID (7) via its forward waves (12a) EM; and the RFID UHF (7) by its antenna then sends its sequential number by the return waves (12r) EM to the reader (13) which then processes the information in a computer device adapted and exploited in the recognition and traceability of wood by all interoperable users of the supply chain.

The design and use of UHF RFID is used in the context of international and state-controlled administrative rules, defining frequency ranges from 860 to 960 Mhz allocated to a few large areas on the planet such as Europe, America, Asia .

UHF RFID allows remote reading, even at a great distance (depending on the configuration of antennas and readers); this is the advantage of UHF RFID compared to other RFIDs operating in other frequency ranges as well as other reading systems such as the bar code (optical code requiring a reader nearby or even against the code). The other big advantage of UHF RFID is that it uses a sequential numbering, each UHF RFID inlay contains in its memory (chip 7.3) a unique number in the world; thus this system allows the interoperability by all the users in the traceability and monitoring of each object associated with a UHF RFID, in logistics architectures on a very large operational scale.

Here the traceability of raw undried woods (8) is total in the whole chain and followed by the wood, since the felling (mechanized or manual) of the tree, the skidding, the transport, the storage, the sawing in mechanized sawmills at very high yields, as well as in small sawmills that can better label local resources, up to the follow-up of deforested wood, before their subsequent 2nd and 3rd transformations, including drying, in and for wood recovery in all areas (construction, carpentry, carpentry, cabinetmaking ...)

The wood of the tree is C02 well, and the well managed renewable forest with RFID UHF has a role of the highest importance, in a management with continuous and optimum traceability; the forest being a renewable resource and therefore of ecological importance positively capital for the future of the planet.

Fresh and therefore undried wood is composed of about 40 to 50% water; water is a conductive element carrying electromagnetic EM waves evolving in the same frequencies used and defined in UHF RFIDs (in the frequencies of 860 to 960 Mhz); which poses precisely a EM wave conflict preventing the smooth operation of the dialogue between the reader (13) and the UHF RFID (7) of the wafer (1) fixed against the undried raw wood with a high water content; as an indication, the so-called "dry" wood being defined by only about 10 to 15% of water, and therefore in a nuisance volume of EM waves of water considered negligible in the RFID UHF reading.

This document provides new solutions, as outlined below. The invention will be better understood through the following drawings. FIG. 1 shows a general and oblique external view of the wafer equipped with its UHF RFID fixed on its external upper face and here optionally partially overlapping on the lateral sides, the wafer being equipped. under it a 1-compartment enclosure, this plate here in view before its attachment to unseasoned raw wood. * FIG 2 shows the UHF RFID plate according to Fig1 in the cross section (AA), (and here without lateral debort of the RFID UHF), and fixed to the raw wood (8) undried; as well as the position of the reader (13) at a distance from the wood (8), and the trajectories of the EM waves (12a and 12r) of the reader to the UHF RFID and the UHF RFID to the reader, as well as the trajectories of the waves (10). ) wood moving in a direction out of the device of the reader> RFID UHF> reader dialog. * FIG3, according to FIGIet 2, shows, in an enlarged sectional view, a synthesis of the more elaborate device and comprising an empty chamber with 2 compartments, and showing the operation of the EM waves in the reading of UHF RFID.

The present invention uses here the "functional principle" (PF) cited above in the transmission of EM (electro-magnetic) waves (here in the UHF-ultra-high frequency frequencies) in a closed and empty volumetric loudspeaker type device. waterproof and here of parallelepipedal shape on 6 sides: EM waves outside an enclosure can pass through this enclosure (4) closed volume in a directional axis cutting 2 opposite sides if these 2 sides are of "driver" nature (driver = quality of drive or transmit an electric current).

As a reminder of the EM forces in the presence: * on the one hand UHF RFID (dielectric element by its antenna, antenna of broken form, "dielectric" is understood including 2 properties: that of insulation or here that of driver when the reader (13) polarizes a magnetic field to the 2 dielectric terminals of the RFID UHF antenna storing this energy, the antenna then becoming conductive in an EM-based device (12a-12r) in the "Reader * RFIDUHF * Reader * And on the other hand the raw wood (8) undried and composed of a lot of water (also conductive element) evolving in the same frequencies, which scrambles and prevents the communication between the reader and the RFID UHF, and therefore the merits of the solutions described in this document.

The wafer (1) equipped with a UHF RFID (7) is made of thermo-plastic material (non-conductive) and is fixed flat on the section (17) of a log or bar of undried raw wood. ; this wafer (1) comprises a chamber (4) closed and empty volume and preferably parallelipipedic 6 sides, including 4 sides (6L) vertical and 2 horizontal sides parallel to the section of the wood, or according to FIG2 a horizontal side (6F) lower bearing against the wood (8) and an upper side here being the upper face (1) of the wafer; According to FIG3, this upper horizontal side (1) of the enclosure (4) being therefore the upper flat element and external to the wood of the wafer (1), carries solidly the UHF RFID (7) in position above (7a) or in position below (7b), in a contact maintained (by bonding or other suitable means) and permanent contact UHF RFID inlay (7) of "dielectric" (conductive) nature;

The upper side (1) of the wafer associated with the UHF RFID (driver) is therefore considered conductive in the space covered by Pantenne (7) of the RFID UHF.

The UHF RFID (7) is according to the drawing FIG1 located on the upper face of the wafer (1) and optionally absolutely decenter (7.1) partial on the small side and vertical sides of the enclosure (4) and without contact to the fund (6F), with the aim of widening the "conducting" surface provided by the dielectric nature of the UHF RFID, this widening laterally the base of the impedance cone (16, FIG. 3) delimiting the connection space of the RFID UHF (7) to the reader. According to FIG3, the impedance cone (16) defines a zone of resistance to external EM waves emitted by conductive materials and thus "predators" carried by the raw undried wood (8). The impedance cone (16), also known as the resonance cone (16), thus limits and covers the spatial zone thus protected and open to the transmission of the EM waves (12a or 12r) between the reader (13) and the UHF RFID (7). ) fixed in a position above (7a) or below (7b) of the upper face of the cage (4a) or (4a and 4b) in the optional case of a chamber with 2 compartments (4a and 4b). ; the reader (13) sends energy by its EM waves in the forward direction (12a) to the UHF RFID which gives its information (its sequential number) by the EM waves in the return direction (12r) to the reader (13).

According to FIG2, the horizontal second side (6F) located at the lower base of the enclosure (4) is thus in support and in maintained contact on the section (17) of the undried raw wood (8) of the log ( with its bark (9), this side (6F) is dielectric (conductive) preferentially obtained in a thermo-plastic material of conductive nature (obtained for example by mixing metal powders such as copper, aluminum, carbon), the vertical sides and therefore side walls (6L) of the enclosure are of a non-conductive material and participate in the development of a chamber here structurally closed preferentially parallelipedic and sealed, the reading of UHF RFID (7) is made possible here by and in the combination of the 3 basic components together: the creation of an empty enclosure (4), the UHF RFID used as a conductive element affixed solidarily to the upper wall of the enclosure (4), the conductive bottom (6F) and inferior r of the enclosure in contact with wood.

Thus, at this stage of realization of the UHF RFID device on undried raw wood as already described above, the previously mentioned "functional principle" (PF) is already positively used and realized in the fact that on the one hand external EM waves (12a) coming from the reader (13) and, on the other hand, the outer EM waves (10) coming from the raw wood (8) not dried in an opposite direction, can not pass through the two opposite walls of an enclosure empty (4), if these walls are of conductive nature.

Note that the word "empty" here does not mean an absolute void, but is understood without the presence of a driver (example: water) and only filled with air and empty of any objects present in the free space between the walls of the enclosure.

Optionally this 2nd side (6F) driver is replaced directly by the "undried raw wood" (driver by the nature of the water) of the log (8), the wood thus acting as a conductive background in its permanent contact with the the enclosure (4); in this case the line (17) of support of the wood wafer comes into position (15).

This device can be further optimized as described in FIG 3 by the use of a chamber (4) empty then optionally 2 compartments (4a and 4b) empty; that is, 2 cumulative spaces that are barriers to EM waves from undried raw wood; this optimized device is obtained by a partition wall (11) central horizontally and cutting horizontally completely the enclosure (4) in 2 enclosures (4a and 4b); this intermediate spacer 1) is of a conductive nature, such as made of "conductive" thermoplastic material. The enclosure (4) is preferably sealed in its 2 variants with one or two compartments, and may also be optionally made separately and in the end reported as integral fastening under the wafer in the same operating arrangements described above; this option makes it possible to manufacture the enclosure apart from the wafer, in the same criteria and definitions and technical means in accordance with the innovative goal sought, and in an optimization of its manufacture and quality in the assembly of the component elements.

In all the aforementioned cases, the communication of the EM waves (12a and 12r) of the UHF RFID in the dialogue with the reader (13) transits in Γ space (16) of the cone (16) of resonance.

The plate (1) in its simple structure is made of non-conductive thermoplastic molding.

The conductive elements (11) and (6F) are made of thermo-plastic that is basically non-conductive but becomes conductive by metered mixing with added conductive materials such as, for example, carbon powder or aluminum or copper fibers, or still of stainless steel to name only the main ones.

In particular and more expensive sophisticated applications, the UHF RFID (7) can be replaced by a magnetic resonance recognition device such as split-ring resonator (SRR) (split ring resonator) made from artificial composite materials, evolving in other frequency ranges than those used and defined in the UHF RFID; the enclosure (4) here having the main or even unique function of containing the SRR and protecting it.

In other adapted versions, conductive inks can be used deposited as conductive elements and substitute for them.

Indicatively, the wafer in its real form and its operational function is achievable in a global thickness of a few mm only, and according to the dimensional validation of the empty compartments (4a or 4b) by real tests.

In a sawmill on the mechanized lines for the routing of logs (or ridges) of wood equipped with RFID UHF, a reader (13) in a fixed position near the mechanized line is equipped according to "pendular" (19) mobile favoring the reading and therefore the recognition of the number of the scrolling wood, and often associated in the exploitation of the global computing device with other indispensable information such as the cubage by measuring devices of the diameters and length of the ridges of each ridge placed on the feed line.

The mechanized woodworking line may also include a reader mounted and secured to a flexible mat; this carpet is "licker" and is in a vertical free position falling across the U-shaped tank and thus barrage ridges pulled by the supply chain; the tray in its shape keeps the ridges pulled by shackles laid and in action on the bottom of the tray. The carpet "licking" at the passage and in contact with each bottle is precisely lick and thus identify the UHF RFID plate (posed as soon as the wood is cut), on the cut of the can according to its position at one end or the other end of the can.

Logs of wood are always spaced in their scrolling on the line of feeding, thus allowing the permanent and effective operation of this device "reader lécher"; this "licking reader" guarantees an optimum reading by its contact against UHF RFID; the carpet can include several readers incorporated, so as to cover a large area of the wood cutting, especially in very large diameter woods;

The carpet liner is composed of flexible strips, thus promoting the best contact with wood.

The plate (1) for identification and traceability of undried raw wood with UHF RFID (7) comprises an enclosure (4), the vacuum of which is obtained, in an alternative version, by its manufacture in a solid cellular structure (FIGS. means full of many empty cavities) obtained by injection of a suitable thermoplastic and lighter type by gas expansion in the injection mold, and in a non-conductive material.

The plate (l) for identification and traceability of UHF RFID non-dried wood in an alternative version is equipped with a SRR (split-ring resonator) type device in recognition of EM waves in an electromagnetic field. ; this technical device circumvents the difficulty brought by nuisances of the EM waves of the water of the undried raw wood, by having an amplifying antenna coupled electromagnetically to an electronic module, the structure of the SRR being elaborated from meta-materials .

This SRR device is preferably used in its protected position inside the chamber (4) which has become non-empty here; here the void of the enclosure (4) no longer has the absolute function according to the "functional principle" (PF) stated and used previously.

The present invention relates to all other devices in applications of the same kind.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS R1 / Plate (l) for identification and traceability of raw wood (8) not dried with RFID UHF (7), composed of thermoplastic material and placed in its functional position fixed on the section (17) of the "wood ( 8), which has been solidarily equipped with a preferably sealed and hermetically sealed volume chamber of 6-sided parallelepiped shape, is "characterized" in that the reading of the UHF RFiD (7) in its open and active dialogue with the EM-wave reader (13) provided by the reader (13), in a conical transit space (16) of the EM waves, is obtained by the association together of the following 3 elements (a, b, c). : a) said enclosure (4) is empty between at least its two sides (the top (1) and the bottom (6f)) flat and opposite and parallel to the section of the wood, said sides (1 and 6f) being of nature "Drivers" either by their own conductive material or associated with other conductive a structure of the UHF RFID antenna in its functional quality of "conductor" when it is activated by the energy of the EM waves that it receives from the reader, or the "undried raw wood (8)" it -Even driver if it acts as background (6f), b) UHF RFID (7), activated in its nature and functional quality of "conductor" by the EM wave energy it receives from the reader, is fixed solidly in contact against the upper side (1) of the wafer (1) in positionna) on the external face or alternatively in position (7b) on the internal face, said upper and flat zone (1) of the wafer thus acting here on the upper side (top (1) flat and conductor of the enclosure (4), c) the bottom (6F) of the enclosure (4), already integrated or reported element of the enclosure (4) and acting here in its conductive function, is made in a thermo-plastic material made conductive by means of metered mixture of non-conductive polymers av ec "conductive" materials such as carbon powders or metal fibers, and held against "undried raw wood (8)" in its pressed contact, said bottom (6F) conducting in this enclosure device (4), being optionally replaced directly by the "undried raw wood" (conductor) thus acting as a conducting ground in its permanent contact with the enclosure (4), said enclosure (4) being optionally made in 2 compartments and 4b), by adding an intervening wall (11) of the same "conducting" nature as the bottom (6F), this device with 2 compartments thus acting doubly in the enhanced function of preventing the passage of EM waves (10) emanating from the raw wood (8) not dried. R2 plate (l) for identification and traceability of undried raw wood with UHF RFID (7), according to claim 1, characterized in that the enclosure (4) is optionally a part made separately, and in function reported jointly to the basic structure of the plate (1) R3 Plate (1) for identification and traceability of the undried raw wood with UHF RFID (7), according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the reader (13) is optionally fixed to a device of the soft carpet and strappy type thus promoting its contact with UHF RFIDs attached to wooden logs passing on a mechanized feed line, or optionally attached to a device of the pendular type (19) movable. R4 plate (l) for identification and traceability of undried raw wood with UHF RFID (7), according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an enclosure (4) whose vacuum is obtained, in an alternative version, by its manufacture in a honeycomb structure obtained by thermoplastic injection adapted and lighter type by gaseous extension in the injection mold, and in a non-conductive material. R5 plate (1) for identification and traceability of undried raw wood with UHF RFID (7), according to claim 1, characterized in that in an alternative version, it is equipped with an RFID device of SRR type (split- ring resonator) in the recognition of EM waves in an electromagnetic field, said SRR device then preferably being located in its protected position inside the chamber (4) which has become here non-empty.