LINE-OF-SIGHT RFID TAG READER
First Claim
1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag reader comprising:
- a highly-directional antenna operable to create a highly focused and thinly shaped lobe, the lobe being the volume of space within which Radio Frequency (RF) signals can be detected and coupled to the RFID tag reader and also within which RF signals can propagate after being transmitted by the RFID tag reader;
a transmit signal chain operable to produce a transmission signal at a RF frequency, the transmit signal chain operably connectable to the highly-directional antenna;
a receive signal chain operable to accept and down-convert a received signal at a RF frequency, the receive signal chain operably connectable to the highly-directional antenna for accepting the received signal at the RF frequency; and
a controller for managing the operation of the RFID tag reader, the controller operably connected to the transmit and the receive signal chains.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided by aspects of the invention are devices, systems and methods for enabling the use of RFID tags that are not unnecessarily complex by changing the arrangement and operation of RFID tag readers Specifically, provided in some embodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention is a RFID tag reader incorporating a type of highly directional antenna, known as a pencil beam antenna. In operation, a pencil beam antenna has a highly focused and thinly shaped lobe. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that an antenna lobe is the volume of space within which RF signals can be detected and coupled to a receiver connected to the pencil beam antenna or within which RF signals can propagate after being transmitted by a transmitter connected to the pencil beam antenna. The highly focused and thinly shaped lobe created by the pencil beam antenna enables selective communication with individual RFID tags, even those RFID tags incorporating low-directivity antennas.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag reader comprising:
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a highly-directional antenna operable to create a highly focused and thinly shaped lobe, the lobe being the volume of space within which Radio Frequency (RF) signals can be detected and coupled to the RFID tag reader and also within which RF signals can propagate after being transmitted by the RFID tag reader; a transmit signal chain operable to produce a transmission signal at a RF frequency, the transmit signal chain operably connectable to the highly-directional antenna; a receive signal chain operable to accept and down-convert a received signal at a RF frequency, the receive signal chain operably connectable to the highly-directional antenna for accepting the received signal at the RF frequency; and a controller for managing the operation of the RFID tag reader, the controller operably connected to the transmit and the receive signal chains. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag reader having a highly-directional antenna, the highly-directional antenna operable to produce a highly-focused and thinly shaped lobe, the method comprising:
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aiming the highly-focused and thinly shaped lobe at a RFID tag; transmitting a signal to the RFID tag; and receiving a signal back from the RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification