Wireless communication device and method
First Claim
1. A device, comprising:
- a wireless communication device comprising communication electronics;
a pole antenna connected to said communication electronics wherein said pole antenna is tuned to receive a first signal at a first operating frequency; and
a slot wherein said pole antenna is coupled to said slot to form a slot antenna connected to said communications electronics wherein said slot antenna is tuned to receive a second signal at a second operating frequency;
said communication electronics receives said first signal and said second signal and communicates at said first operating using said pole antenna and communicate at said second operating frequency using said slot antenna.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a wireless communication device that is capable of communicating using a pole antenna in a first mode and a slot antenna in a second mode. The wireless communication device contains at least one conductive tab that provide an antenna. The tab(s) form a pole antenna, and the tabs may also be attached across a slot to form a slot antenna. The wireless communication device can communicate at different frequencies using the pole antenna in a first mode and the slot antenna in a second mode. The tab(s) may be attached across a slot created in a package to form a slot antenna, or the tab(s) may be attached to a slot that is created as part of the wireless communication device to form a slot antenna. The tab(s) and/or the slot may also contain an adhesive material to attach the wireless communication device to a package, container or other material. More than one slot may be provided to form a circularly polarized antenna. The wireless communication device can be placed inside a conductive package using a slot antenna to provide unshielded communications. The wireless communication device can be further adapted to detect when the package is opened and to communicate such information. The wireless communication devices can be printed or placed on a carrier or support, such as film, to be stamped onto packages in a manufacturing facility and/or assembly line. The carrier may be a conductive material in which tabs are formed as part of the carrier before the wireless communication device is attached.
77 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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a wireless communication device comprising communication electronics;
a pole antenna connected to said communication electronics wherein said pole antenna is tuned to receive a first signal at a first operating frequency; and
a slot wherein said pole antenna is coupled to said slot to form a slot antenna connected to said communications electronics wherein said slot antenna is tuned to receive a second signal at a second operating frequency;
said communication electronics receives said first signal and said second signal and communicates at said first operating using said pole antenna and communicate at said second operating frequency using said slot antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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12. A device for attaching to a package, comprising:
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a wireless communication device;
at least one conductive tab connected to said wireless communication device; and
a slot formed by a non-conductive portion in a conductive material;
wherein said at least one conductive tab is attached to said slot to form a slot antenna.
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16. A method of attaching a wireless communication device to a package in an assembly line, comprising:
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mounting said wireless communication device that includes communication electronics onto a carrier;
stamping said wireless communication device onto the package from the carrier placed in close proximity to the package; and
said communication electronics is adapted to communicate at a first frequency using said pole antenna and is adapted to communicate at a second frequency when said pole antenna is coupled to a slot on the package to form a slot antenna.
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17. A method of attaching a wireless communication device to a package in an assembly line, comprising the steps of:
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mounting said wireless communication device on a carrier;
cutting a slot into the package;
stamping said wireless communication device onto the package from the carrier placed in close proximity to the package;
wherein said stamping step further comprises the step of coupling said wireless communication device to said slot to form a slot antenna.
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Specification