Low profile, antenna array for an RFID reader and method of making same

• US 10,158,178 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Bit-Babik, Giorgi G, Faraone, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Dieu H
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEGEDE, BAMIDELE ADEFOLARIN
• Application Number:
  US14/225,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20150123869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 343857
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/10 using reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0006 Particular feeding systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/005 providing two patterns of opposite direction; back to back antennas H01Q25/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/247 by switching different parts of a primary active element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0464 Annular ring patch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

An antenna array, especially for use with a radio frequency identification reader, includes a ground plane and a pair of concentric, first and second, circular elements mounted at an elevation relative to the ground plane. First ports are arranged along the perimeter of the first element, and second ports are arranged along the perimeter of the second element. Each port conveys radio frequency signals in an operating band of frequencies. Each perimeter is substantially equal to an odd multiple of one-half of a guided wavelength at a center frequency of the respective operating band. Each adjacent pair of first ports, or adjacent pair of second ports, is successively spaced apart by a spacing constituting a whole multiple of one-half of the guided wavelength at the center frequency of the respective operating band. A polarized patch antenna may be positioned within the circular elements.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a ground support;

an electrically conductive, first endless element mounted on, and at an elevation away from, the ground support, the first endless element extending about a central axis at a first distance transversely of the central axis along a first perimeter; and

first ports successively arranged apart along the first perimeter of the first endless element about the central axis for conveying radio frequency signals in a first operating band of frequencies, a first one of the first ports including;

a series capacitor formed by a first plate spaced apart from the first endless element at a first location between the first endless element and the ground support; and

a shunt capacitor formed by a second plate spaced apart from the ground support at a second location between the first endless element and the ground support;

wherein;

the first perimeter is substantially equal to an odd multiple of one-half of a guided wavelength at a center frequency of the first operating band,

each adjacent pair of the first ports is successively spaced apart by a first spacing constituting a whole multiple of one-half of the guided wavelength at the center frequency of the first operating band, and

the first location is proximate to the first endless element and the second location is proximate to the ground support.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrically conductive, second endless element mounted on, and at an elevation away from, the ground support, the second endless element extending about the central axis at a second distance transversely of the central axis along a second perimeter, the second distance being greater than the first distance, the second perimeter being greater than the first perimeter; and

second ports successively arranged apart along the second perimeter of the second endless element about the central axis for conveying radio frequency signals in a second operating band of frequencies, the second perimeter being substantially equal to an odd multiple of one-half of a guided wavelength at a center frequency of the second operating band, and each adjacent pair of the second ports being successively spaced apart by a second spacing constituting a whole multiple of one-half of the guided wavelength at the center frequency of the second operating band.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the ground support is a ground plane, and wherein each endless element is a generally planar strip that is generally parallel to the ground plane.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elevation of each endless element is the same relative to the ground support.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each endless element extends around a circle and is circumferentially complete, and wherein the endless elements are concentric relative to the central axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first ports are equiangularly spaced apart along the first perimeter of the first circular endless element, and wherein the second ports are equiangularly spaced apart along the second perimeter of the second circular endless element.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second operating bands are the same and lie in a frequency range on the order of 902-928 MHz to accommodate a radio frequency identification reader.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a patch antenna mounted on the ground support about the central axis within the first endless element, and operative for radiating polarized waves.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second plates are disposed on a metal post.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first one of the first ports includes a first dielectric between the first plate and the first endless element, and a second dielectric between the second plate and the ground support.

10. A method of making an antenna array, comprising:

mounting an electrically conductive, first endless element on, and at an elevation away from, a ground support, and extending the first endless element about a central axis at a first distance transversely of the central axis along a first perimeter;

successively arranging first ports apart along the first perimeter of the first endless element about the central axis for conveying radio frequency signals in a first operating band of frequencies;

forming a series capacitor by mounting a first plate spaced apart from the first endless element at a first location between the first endless element and the ground support;

forming a shunt capacitor by mounting a second plate spaced apart from the ground support at a second location between the first endless element and the ground support, wherein the first location is proximate to the first endless element and the second location is proximate to the ground support;

configuring the first perimeter to be substantially equal to an odd multiple of one-half of a guided wavelength at a center frequency of the first operating band; and

successively spacing each adjacent pair of the first ports apart by a first spacing constituting a whole multiple of one-half of the guided wavelength at the center frequency of the first operating band.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

mounting an electrically conductive, second endless element on, and at an elevation away from, the ground support;

extending the second endless element about the central axis at a second distance transversely of the central axis along a second perimeter;

configuring the second distance to be greater than the first distance;

configuring the second perimeter to be greater than the first perimeter;

successively arranging a plurality of second ports apart along the second perimeter of the second endless element about the central axis for conveying radio frequency signals in a second operating band of frequencies;

configuring the second perimeter to be substantially equal to an odd multiple of one-half of a guided wavelength at a center frequency of the second operating band; and

successively spacing each adjacent pair of the second ports apart by a second spacing constituting a whole multiple of one-half of the guided wavelength at the center frequency of the second operating band.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising configuring the first and second operating bands to be the same and to lie in a frequency range on the order of 902-928 MHz to accommodate a radio frequency identification reader.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising configuring the ground support as a ground plane, and configuring each endless element as a generally planar strip that is generally parallel to the ground plane.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising configuring the elevation of each endless element to be the same relative to the ground support.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising configuring each endless element to extend around a circle and to be circumferentially complete, and configuring the endless elements to be concentric relative to the central axis.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising equiangularly spacing the first ports apart along the first perimeter of the first circular endless element, and equiangularly spacing the second ports apart along the second perimeter of the second circular endless element.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising mounting a patch antenna on the ground support about the central axis within the first endless element.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising positioning a first dielectric between the first plate and the first endless element, and positioning a second dielectric between the second plate and the ground support.