RFID antenna cupped reflector

• US 20080246615A1
• Filed: 04/04/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Duron, Mark, Knadle, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US11/730,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20080246615A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for radio frequency identification (RFID) reader antennas are described. In as aspect, a reader antenna includes a reflecting element and a radiating element. The reflecting element has a body that defines a cavity. The radiating element is positioned in the cavity. The radiating element transmits a RF signal for the reader antenna. The reflecting element reflects the RF signal to alter a characteristic of the RF signal transmitted by the reader antenna.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader antenna, comprising:

a cup-shaped reflecting element having a body that defines a cavity; and

a patch radiating element positioned in the cavity.

2. The RFID reader antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a second cup-shaped reflecting element that defines a second cavity;

wherein the first cup-shaped reflecting element is positioned in the second cavity.

3. The RFID reader antenna of claim 2, further comprising:

a third cup-shaped reflecting element that defines a third cavity;

wherein the second cup-shaped reflecting element is positioned in the third cavity.

4. The RFID reader antenna of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one additional cup-shaped reflecting element;

wherein the second cup-shaped reflecting element is positioned in a cavity of the at least one additional cup-shaped reflecting element.

5. The RFID reader antenna of claim 1, wherein the body has a substantially rectangular shape.

6. The RFID reader antenna of claim 5, the body has at least one rounded corner.

7. The RFID reader antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a counterpoise element having opposing first and second surfaces; and

a radome;

wherein the second surface of the counterpoise element is coupled to a surface of the body in the cavity;

wherein said patch radiating element is positioned in an enclosure that includes the radome.

8. The RFID reader antenna of claim 7, further comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) input signal connector;

wherein said counterpoise element has a port that receives RF input signal connector; and

wherein a RF input signal from the RF input signal connector is coupled to the patch radiating element.

9. The RFID reader antenna of claim 7, further comprising:

a mounting bracket coupled to a second surface of the body external to the cavity.

10. The RFID reader antenna of claim 9, further comprising:

a first plurality of attachment members that fasten the mounting bracket to the second surface of the body.

11. The RFID reader antenna of claim 10, further comprising:

a second plurality of attachment members coupled to the mounting bracket;

wherein the second plurality of attachment members are configured to mount the RFID reader antenna to a operating location.

12. The RFID reader antenna of claim 1, wherein the cup-shaped reflecting element is configured to increase a radiating range of the RFID reader antenna relative to a radiating range of the patch radiating element.

13. The RFID reader antenna of claim 1, wherein the cup-shaped reflecting element is configured to increase a gain of the RFID reader antenna relative to a gain of the patch radiating element.

14. The RFID reader antenna of claim 1, wherein the cup-shaped reflecting element is configured to narrow a width of a pattern radiated by the RFID reader antenna relative to a pattern radiated by the patch radiating element.

15. The RFID reader antenna of claim 1, wherein the body has a substantially circular or round shape.

16. A method in a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader antenna, comprising:

radiating a first radio frequency (RF) signal; and

reflecting the radiated first RF signal with a cup-shaped reflecting element to generate a second RF signal that is a combination of the first RF signal and the RF signal reflected with the cup-shaped reflecting element.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said radiating comprises:

radiating the first radio frequency (RF) signal from a patch radiating element.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said radiating further comprises:

radiating the first radio frequency (RF) signal from the radiating element positioned in a cavity of the cup-shaped reflecting element.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

reflecting the radiated first RF signal with a second cup-shaped reflecting element, wherein the second RF signal is a combination of the first RF signal, the RF signal reflected with the first cup-shaped reflecting element, and the RF signal reflected with the second cup-shaped reflecting element.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

reflecting the radiated first RF signal with at least one additional cup-shaped reflecting element, wherein the second RF signal is a combination of the first RF signal, the RF signal reflected with the first cup-shaped reflecting element, and the RF signal reflected with the at least one additional cup-shaped reflecting element.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said reflecting comprises:

generating the second RF signal to have a range greater than a range of the first RF signal.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein said reflecting comprises:

generating the second RF signal to have a gain greater than a gain of the first RF signal.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein said reflecting comprises:

generating the second RF signal to have a narrower radiation pattern than a radiation pattern of the first RF signal.

24. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader antenna, comprising:

means for radiating a first radio frequency (RF) signal; and

means for reflecting the radiated first RF signal to generate a second RF signal that is a combination of the first RF signal and the reflected RF signal.