Multi-frequency RFID apparatus and methods of reading RFID tags
First Claim
1. A portable/handheld device, comprising:
- a processing module configured to selectively operate a reading mode selected from a far-field mode and a near-field mode; and
a directional antenna array coupled to said processing module, said directional antenna array comprising;
a first antenna element configured to radiate electromagnetic (EM) radiation in a far-field; and
a second antenna element coupled to said first antenna element, said second antenna element configured to radiate EM radiation in a near-field, said second antenna element comprising an antenna transducer configured to selectively cancel far-field EM radiation from said first antenna element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable/handheld device is provided having a processing module configured to selectively operate a reading mode selected from a far-field mode and a near-field mode, and a directional antenna array coupled to the processing module. The directional antenna array includes a first antenna element configured to radiate electromagnetic (EM) radiation in a far-field, and a second antenna element coupled to the first antenna element. The second antenna element is configured to radiate EM radiation in a near-field. The second antenna element includes an antenna transducer configured to selectively cancel far-field EM radiation from the first antenna element. A method of reading inductively coupled radio frequency identification (RFID) tags is also provided having the steps of scanning at least one frequency band to detect a RFID tag, and selectively radiating one of a near-field electromagnetic (EM) field and a far-field EM field based on the detected RFID tag.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A portable/handheld device, comprising:
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a processing module configured to selectively operate a reading mode selected from a far-field mode and a near-field mode; and
a directional antenna array coupled to said processing module, said directional antenna array comprising;
a first antenna element configured to radiate electromagnetic (EM) radiation in a far-field; and
a second antenna element coupled to said first antenna element, said second antenna element configured to radiate EM radiation in a near-field, said second antenna element comprising an antenna transducer configured to selectively cancel far-field EM radiation from said first antenna element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A multi-frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) device, said device comprising:
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a processor configured to scan frequency bands for RFID tags and select a reading mode frequency band based on said scanned frequency bands;
a switch coupled to said processor, said switch configured to select at least one reading mode frequency band;
a first antenna element coupled to said processor, said first antenna element configured to radiate electromagnetic (EM) radiation in a far-field; and
a second antenna element coupled to said first antenna element, said second antenna element configured to radiate EM radiation in a near-field, said second antenna element comprising an antenna transducer configured to selectively cancel far-field EM radiation from said first antenna element, one of said first antenna element and said second antenna element further configured to resonate at said at least one reading mode frequency band. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A multi-frequency interrogator antenna assembly comprising:
an array of radiating elements, said array of radiating elements configured as one of parasitically-driven, partially all-driven, and all-driven at a frequency set selected from about 135 kHz, about 13.56 MHz, about 915 MHz, about 2.45 GHz, and about 5.6 GHz. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method of reading inductively coupled radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, said method comprising the steps of:
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scanning at least one frequency band to detect a RFID tag; and
selectively radiating an electromagnetic (EM) field of at least one of a near-field EM field and a far-field EM field based on the detected RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification