RF PASSIVE REPEATER FOR A METAL CONTAINER

• US 20070262868A1
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Assa Abloy AB
• Original Assignee: Solstice Medical, LLC
• Inventors: Westrick, Michael, Sands, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,462,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.700
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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

Abstract

A storage container assembly includes a container having a metal side wall, and a passive wireless repeater mounted on the side wall. The repeater includes a first antenna on one side of the side wall, a second antenna on an opposite side of the side wall, and an electrical connection between the first antenna and the second antenna. The electrical connection may be in the form of a first connector mounted to the first antenna and a second connector mounted to the second antenna.

Claims

1. A storage container assembly, comprising:

a container including a metal side wall;

a passive wireless repeater mounted on said side wall, said repeater including a first antenna on one side of said side wall, a second antenna on an opposite side of said side wall, and an electrical connection between said first antenna and said second antenna.

2. The storage container assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical connection includes a first connector mounted to said first antenna and a second connector mounted to said second antenna.

3. The storage container assembly of claim 2, wherein said first connector includes one of a pin and a socket, and said second connector includes one of a mating pin and socket.

4. The storage container assembly of claim 2, wherein said first connector includes a plurality of pins, and said second connector includes a plurality of mating sockets.

5. The storage container assembly of claim 1, wherein said first antenna and said second antenna are substantially impedance matched.

6. The storage container assembly of claim 1, wherein said first antenna is mounted on a first dielectric substrate, and said second antenna is mounted on a second dielectric substrate.

7. The storage container assembly of claim 6, wherein said first dielectric substrate and said second dielectric substrate are mounted in a sandwiched arrangement on opposite sides of said side wall using a plurality of fasteners passing through said each of said first dielectric substrate, said side wall and said second dielectric substrate.

8. The storage container assembly of claim 6, wherein said first antenna and said second antenna are each RFID antennas.

9. An antenna assembly for use with a storage container including a metal side wall, said antenna assembly comprising:

a first antenna on one side of said side wall;

a second antenna on an opposite side of said side wall; and

an electrical connection between said first antenna and said second antenna.

10. The antenna assembly of claim 9, wherein said electrical connection includes a first connector mounted to said first antenna and a second connector mounted to said second antenna.

11. The antenna assembly of claim 10, wherein said first connector includes one of a pin and a socket, and said second connector includes one of a mating pin and socket.

12. The antenna assembly of claim 10, wherein said first connector includes a plurality of pins, and said second connector includes a plurality of mating sockets.

13. The antenna assembly of claim 9, wherein said electrical connection is configured to impedance match between said first antenna and said second antenna.

14. The antenna assembly of claim 9, wherein said first antenna is mounted on a first dielectric substrate, and said second antenna is mounted on a second dielectric substrate.

15. The antenna assembly of claim 14, wherein said first antenna and said second antenna are each RFID antennas.