Pallet jack antenna for RFID system
First Claim
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1. An antenna system for interrogating radio frequency identification (RFID) tags with backscatter coupling techniques, said antenna suitable for mounting on the fork of a pallet jack, comprising:
- a pallet jack fork, said pallet jack fork including a top surface, a first cut-out in said top surface, and two side surfaces, wherein said top and side surfaces form an internal channel;
an antenna mounted in said internal channel, said antenna comprising a radiating element and a power distribution network;
a cover mounted in said cut-out essentially flush with said top surface, so as to permit said radiating element to project a first radio frequency signal from said cut-out in an essentially upward direction.
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Abstract
The present invention provides an antenna for reading RFID tags in a material handling environment. At least one ruggedized, upward-looking antenna is mounted on the fork (or other base-level platform) of a pallet jack or pallet truck. The antenna can be configured to read RFID tags on pallets that are loaded on the pallet jack and communicate the tag information to a warehouse management system.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An antenna system for interrogating radio frequency identification (RFID) tags with backscatter coupling techniques, said antenna suitable for mounting on the fork of a pallet jack, comprising:
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a pallet jack fork, said pallet jack fork including a top surface, a first cut-out in said top surface, and two side surfaces, wherein said top and side surfaces form an internal channel;
an antenna mounted in said internal channel, said antenna comprising a radiating element and a power distribution network;
a cover mounted in said cut-out essentially flush with said top surface, so as to permit said radiating element to project a first radio frequency signal from said cut-out in an essentially upward direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of collecting inventory tracking data in material handling environment using an integrated pallet jack fork antenna, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing product RFID tags on a pallet and/or inventory on the pallet, wherein the product RFID tags represent inventory contents;
transmitting an RF signal from an antenna on the pallet jack fork; and
reading information from the product RFID tags using backscatter coupling techniques. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An antenna system for interrogating radio frequency identification (RFID) tags with backscatter coupling techniques, said antenna suitable for mounting on the fork of a pallet jack, comprising:
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a pallet jack fork, said pallet jack fork including a top surface, a two or more cut-outs in said top surface, and two side surfaces, wherein said top and side surfaces from an internal channel;
an antenna mounted in said internal channel at each cut-out, each of said antennas comprising a radiating element and a power distribution network;
a cover mounted in each of said cut-outs, said cover being essentially flush with said top surface, so as to permit each of said antennas to project a radio frequency signal from said cut-out in an essentially upward direction. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification