RFID antenna system having reduced orientation sensitivity
First Claim
1. A tag reader comprising:
- a plurality of linearly polarized antennas, including at least a first antenna and a second antenna arranged non-parallel to the first antenna;
a control circuit in electrical communication with the plurality of antennas, the control circuit operable to switch the plurality of antennas on and off, wherein the first and second antennas transmit at different times; and
circuitry coupled to an output of the plurality of antennas to receive an electromagnetic signal from a tag in response to a transmission from one of the plurality of antennas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) antennas systems and methods that are less sensitive to orientation. One example includes an interrogator having a radio frequency transceiver, a first linearly polarized antenna in electrical communication with the transceiver, and a second linearly polarized antenna in electrical communication with the transceiver, the second antenna having a polarization in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first antenna; a control circuit is in electrical communication with the transceiver and with the first and second antennas, the control circuit operable to switch between interrogating with the first antenna and interrogating with the second antenna, and an RFID decoder is coupled to an output of the transceiver to decode an interrogated electromagnetic signal from a tag.
75 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A tag reader comprising:
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a plurality of linearly polarized antennas, including at least a first antenna and a second antenna arranged non-parallel to the first antenna;
a control circuit in electrical communication with the plurality of antennas, the control circuit operable to switch the plurality of antennas on and off, wherein the first and second antennas transmit at different times; and
circuitry coupled to an output of the plurality of antennas to receive an electromagnetic signal from a tag in response to a transmission from one of the plurality of antennas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An RFID interrogator comprising:
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a radio frequency transceiver;
a first linearly polarized antenna in electrical communication with the transceiver;
a second linearly polarized antenna in electrical communication with the transceiver, the second antenna having a polarization in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first antenna;
a control circuit in electrical communication with the transceiver and with the first and second antennas, the control circuit operable to switch between interrogating with the first antenna and interrogating with the second antenna; and
an RFID decoder coupled to an output of the transceiver to decode an interrogated electromagnetic signal from a tag. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A data reader comprising:
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an RFID tag reader comprising;
a plurality of linearly polarized antennas, at least a first antenna and a second antenna arranged non-parallel to the first antenna;
a control circuit in electrical communication with the plurality of antennas, the control circuit operable to switch the plurality of antennas on and off, wherein the first and second antennas transmit at different times;
circuitry coupled to an output of the plurality of antennas to receive an electromagnetic signal from a tag in response to a transmission from one of the plurality of antennas; and
an RFID decoder coupled to an output of the circuitry to extract the tag'"'"'s identification from the received electromagnetic signal; and
an optical code reader comprising;
an optical light source to reflect light off a bar code;
a photosensitive detector to receive a return optical signal from the bar code;
circuitry coupled to the photosensitive detector to process the return optical signal and to digitize the processed signal; and
an optical decoder to decode the digitized signal to extract the bar code'"'"'s identification therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for identification tag interrogation, the method comprising:
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alternately transmitting electromagnetic signals from a plurality of non-parallel, linearly polarized antennas, wherein less than all antennas transmit at the same time;
receiving a return electromagnetic signal including the identification of a tag in response to a transmission from one or more of the plurality of antennas; and
processing the return electromagnetic signal to extract the tag'"'"'s identification. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for identification tag interrogation, the method comprising:
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transmitting a first electromagnetic signal with a first linearly polarized antenna;
transmitting a second electromagnetic signal with a second linearly polarized antenna before or after the transmission of the first electromagnetic signal, the second antenna having a polarization in a direction not appreciably parallel to the first antenna;
receiving a return electromagnetic signal including the identification of a tag in response to a transmission from one of the first and second antennas; and
processing the return electromagnetic signal to extract the tag'"'"'s identification. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing or causing to be performed the method of 27.
Specification