Inductively coupled loop antenna for a radio frequency identification reader
First Claim
1. A radio frequency identification reader system, comprising:
- a portable reader, including;
reader circuitry configured to generate an activation signal;
a first resonant antenna, where the first resonant antenna is electrically connected to the reader circuitry;
a reader housing containing the reader circuitry and the first resonant antenna;
a stationary antenna assembly including;
a resonant antenna unit including a housing and a second resonant antenna;
a loop antenna unit including a housing and a loop antenna; and
an electrical connection between the resonant antenna unit and the loop antenna unit;
wherein the first resonant antenna in the portable reader is inductively coupled to the second resonant antenna in the stationary antenna assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for reading EID tags in difficult to reach locations using a portable RFID reader. In many embodiments, the system includes a portable RFID reader and one or more stationary antenna assemblies. The stationary antenna assemblies typically include a loop antenna in a first location and a ferrite antenna in a second location. EID tags in the reading zone of the loop antenna can be read using the portable RFID reader via an inductive coupling between the resonant antenna in the portable RFID reader and the ferrite antenna in the stationary antenna assembly. One embodiment of the invention includes a portable reader having reader circuitry configured to generate an activation signal, a first resonant antenna, where the first resonant antenna is electrically connected to the reader circuitry, a reader housing containing the reader circuitry and the first resonant antenna, and a stationary antenna assembly having a resonant antenna unit including a housing and a second resonant antenna, a loop antenna unit including a housing and a loop antenna and an electrical connection between the resonant antenna unit and the loop antenna unit. In addition, the first resonant antenna in the portable reader is inductively coupled to the second resonant antenna in the stationary antenna assembly.
31 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A radio frequency identification reader system, comprising:
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a portable reader, including; reader circuitry configured to generate an activation signal; a first resonant antenna, where the first resonant antenna is electrically connected to the reader circuitry; a reader housing containing the reader circuitry and the first resonant antenna; a stationary antenna assembly including; a resonant antenna unit including a housing and a second resonant antenna; a loop antenna unit including a housing and a loop antenna; and an electrical connection between the resonant antenna unit and the loop antenna unit; wherein the first resonant antenna in the portable reader is inductively coupled to the second resonant antenna in the stationary antenna assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An antenna assembly, comprising:
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a first antenna circuit contained within a first housing; a second antenna circuit contained within a second housing; an electrical interconnection between the first and second antenna circuits. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of obtaining identification data from an animal electronic identification tag in a location tagged with a location electronic identification tag using a reader, comprising:
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inductively coupling the reader to a first antenna that is electronically connected to a second antenna; reading identification data from the animal electronic identification tag using the reader, when the animal electronic identification tag is located within the reading zone of second antenna; and directly reading identification data from the location electronic identification tag using the reader. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification