UHF RFID tag for marking underground assets and locations and method of using same
First Claim
1. An apparatus for locating underground assets, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing having a top and a bottom and providing a protected enclosure adapted for burial underground;
an ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag provided in the protected enclosure of the housing, the tag having a rear side facing the bottom of the housing and a front side facing the top of the housing, the tag having a chip and an antenna provided thereon;
the UHF RFID tag operating to be interrogated by a UHF radio signal passing through overlying earth through the top of the housing to transmit UHF data from the radiofrequency identification tag outward through the top of the housing and the overlying earth;
an electrically conductive reflector provided in the protected enclosure of the housing between the rear side of the tag and the bottom of the housing and spaced from the antenna beneath the antenna adapted to concentrate energy received through a top of the housing on the antenna; and
a permanent magnet provided in the housing adapted to direct magnetic flux lines outward through the top of the housing for detection through the overlying earth.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A marker for locating and identify assets which includes an ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag optimized for use below ground and able to more effectively communicate with a RFID reader through a lossy medium such as soil and air. The markers include a reflector which is sized relatively larger than the tag to help focus the forward pattern of the tag more tightly in a forward direction normal to the spiral surface. In addition, the tag includes a chip configured for the soil in which it is to be buried, and an antenna polarized to match the polarization of an RFID reader antenna that is part of a system that includes the marker and reader.
52 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus for locating underground assets, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a top and a bottom and providing a protected enclosure adapted for burial underground; an ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag provided in the protected enclosure of the housing, the tag having a rear side facing the bottom of the housing and a front side facing the top of the housing, the tag having a chip and an antenna provided thereon;
the UHF RFID tag operating to be interrogated by a UHF radio signal passing through overlying earth through the top of the housing to transmit UHF data from the radiofrequency identification tag outward through the top of the housing and the overlying earth;an electrically conductive reflector provided in the protected enclosure of the housing between the rear side of the tag and the bottom of the housing and spaced from the antenna beneath the antenna adapted to concentrate energy received through a top of the housing on the antenna; and a permanent magnet provided in the housing adapted to direct magnetic flux lines outward through the top of the housing for detection through the overlying earth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification