3-axis RFID tag antenna

• US 20070152831A1
• Filed: 09/15/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sean Eisele
• Original Assignee: Sean Eisele
• Inventors: Eisele, Sean
• Application Number:
  US11/521,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20070152831A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.700
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with three antennas may be disposed on a label, with the shape of the label and the arrangement of the antennas being such that when the label is properly attached to a rectangular object, each of the antennas will be orthogonal to the other two. In this way, the box may be set on any of its sides (e.g., on a conveyor belt), and at least two antennas will still be properly oriented for reading by a pre-positioned RFID reader.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising

planar substrate having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag circuit disposed on the planar substrate;

a first antenna disposed on the first portion and connected to the RFID tag circuit;

a second antenna disposed on the second portion and connected to the RFID tag circuit; and

a third antenna disposed on the third portion and connected to the RFID tag circuit;

wherein the planar substrate is capable of being shaped such that a surface of the first portion, a surface of the second portion, and a surface of the third portion are approximately orthogonal to each other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third antennas are disposed on the planar substrate such that the first, second, and third antennas are approximately orthogonal to each other when the first, second, and third portions are approximately orthogonal to each other.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the planar substrate is comprised of a flexible material capable of being folded along a line between the first and second portions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the planar substrate is comprised of a flexible material capable of being folded along a line between the second and third portions.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive material to attach the planar substrate to an object.

6. An apparatus, comprising

an object having first, second, and third surfaces approximately orthogonal to each other;

a planar substrate coupled to the object, the planar substrate having a first portion coupled to the first surface, a second portion coupled to the second surface, and a third portion coupled to the third surface;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag circuit disposed on the planar substrate;

a first antenna disposed on the first portion and connected to the RFID tag circuit;

a second antenna disposed on the second portion and connected to the RFID tag circuit; and

a third antenna disposed on the third portion and connected to the RFID tag circuit;

wherein the first, second, and third antennas are approximately orthogonal to each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the planar substrate is coupled to the object with an adhesive material.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first antenna is disposed approximately parallel to a first edge of the object, the second antenna is disposed approximately parallel to a second edge of the object, and the third antenna is disposed approximately parallel to a third edge of the object, the first, second, and third edges meeting at a common corner of the object.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first antenna is disposed approximately diagonally to first and second edges of the object, the second antenna is disposed approximately diagonally to second and third edges of the object, and the third antenna is disposed approximately diagonally to the first and third edges of the object, the first, second, and third edges meeting at a common corner of the object.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the object is an approximately rectangular-shaped container.

11. A method, comprising

attaching a planar substrate to an object, the object comprising three sides that are approximately orthogonal to each other, the planar substrate having attached thereto a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with at least three antennas, wherein said attaching comprises:

attaching a first portion of the planar substrate to a first of the three sides;

attaching a second portion of the planar substrate to a second of the three sides; and

attaching a third portion of the planar substrate to a third of the three sides.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said attaching the first, second, and third portions comprises attaching such that the three antennas are approximately orthogonal to each other.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said attaching further comprises attaching such that the first antenna is approximately parallel to a first edge of the object, the second antenna is approximately parallel to a second edge of the object, and a third antenna is approximately parallel to a third edge of the object.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said attaching further comprises attaching such that the first antenna is approximately diagonal to a first edge of the object, the second antenna is approximately diagonal to a second edge of the object, and the third antenna is approximately diagonal to a third edge of the object.