Reconfigurable scanner and RFID system using the scanner
First Claim
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1. A reconfigurable scanner for scanning for ID tags containing scannable antennas oriented in multiple directions relative to the scanner, without need for physical movement of the scanner, the reconfigurable scanner comprising:
- a scanning element broadcasting a signal in a selected direction, the scanning element having a plurality of variable conductive elements;
control means for electrically controlling and changing the selected direction in which the scanning element broadcasts the signal by powering and unpowering the plurality of variable conductive elements; and
transceiver means for generating an electromagnetic wave and receiving a responsive electromagnetic wave signal from a sensed ID tag within an effective range of the scanner, whereby unpowered variable conductive elements do not cause any interference with the scanning signal.
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Abstract
A scanner has plasma loop or plasma window antennas for selectively scanning for ID tags along distinct radials of the scanner. Scanner elements are made electromagnetically invisible to adjacent elements by removing power or lowering plasma densities so that the scanner elements do not interfere with its own operation. Activatable ID tags and a shipping container suitable for scanning with electromagnetic energy are also disclosed.
83 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A reconfigurable scanner for scanning for ID tags containing scannable antennas oriented in multiple directions relative to the scanner, without need for physical movement of the scanner, the reconfigurable scanner comprising:
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a scanning element broadcasting a signal in a selected direction, the scanning element having a plurality of variable conductive elements;
control means for electrically controlling and changing the selected direction in which the scanning element broadcasts the signal by powering and unpowering the plurality of variable conductive elements; and
transceiver means for generating an electromagnetic wave and receiving a responsive electromagnetic wave signal from a sensed ID tag within an effective range of the scanner, whereby unpowered variable conductive elements do not cause any interference with the scanning signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A scanner system comprising:
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a plurality of electromagnetically scannable ID tags; and
a reconfigurable scanner having a scanning element with a plurality of variable conductive elements switchable between electromagnetically active and electromagnetically invisible, control means for switching the variable conductive elements between electromagnetically active and electromagnetically invisible, and a transceiver means for generating and receiving an electromagnetic scanning signal in a direction determined by the control means, the scanning signal interacting with the scannable ID tags located in the direction of the scanning signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A scanner system for detecting the contents of a shipping container, the system comprising:
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a plurality of slots formed in the shipping container for permitting a selected bandwidth of electromagnetic wave to penetrate the shipping container;
at least one electromagnetically scannable ID tag associated with the contents of the shipping container; and
a reconfigurable scanner having a scanning element with a plurality of variable conductive elements switchable between electromagnetically active and electromagnetically invisible, control means for switching the variable conductive elements between electromagnetically active and electromagnetically invisible, and a transceiver means for generating and receiving an electromagnetic scanning signal, the scanning signal having a frequency within the selected bandwidth for penetrating the shipping container to detect the at least one ID tag. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification