SYSTEMS, METHODS AND ASSOCIATED RFID ANTENNAS FOR PROCESSING A PLURALITY OF TRANSPONDERS

• US 20130193209A1
• Filed: 03/21/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsirline, Boris Y., Torchalski, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 10,078,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/449
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/045 the record carrier being of the non-contact type, e.g. RFID, and being specially adapted for attachment to a disc, e.g. a CD or DVD
• 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 19/07716 the record carrier comprising means for customization, e.g. being arranged for personalization in batch
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07773 Antenna details antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/086 sensing passive circuit, e.g. resonant circuit transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/526 Electromagnetic shields
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

An RFID system for selectively communicating with a targeted transponder from among a group of multiple adjacent transponders is provided. The RFID system may include a transponder conveyance system adapted to transport at least one targeted transponder from a group of multiple adjacent transponders through a transponder encoding area along a feeding direction and an antenna having a resonant inductor and a ferrite material, wherein the ferrite material at least partially covers the resonant inductor and defines an exposed portion of the resonant inductor. In one antenna-transponder alignment, the exposed portion extends substantially parallel to the feeding direction.

Claims

1. A system for communicating with a targeted transponder disposed between an upstream transponder and a downstream transponder, wherein the upstream transponder, the targeted transponder, and the downstream transponder are movable along a feed path through a communication area and each of the targeted transponder, upstream transponder, and downstream transponder define a length in a feed direction, the system comprising

an antenna configured to generate a magnetic field, wherein the antenna defines a length extending in the feed direction that is approximately equal to or less than the length of each of the targeted transponder, the upstream transponder, and the downstream transponder;

a transponder conveyance system configured to transport the downstream transponder, the targeted transponder, and the upstream transponder along a feed path to an interrogation position in which the targeted transponder and the antenna are substantially aligned lengthwise and wherein, in the interrogation position, at least a portion of the targeted transponder collects magnetic flux of the magnetic field capable of activating the targeted transponder and neither the upstream transponder nor the downstream transponder collects magnetic flux of the magnetic filed capable of activation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna includes a resonant inductor and a shielding element that at least partially encloses the resonant inductor thereby defining an exposed portion of the resonant inductor and an enclosed portion of the resonant inductor, and wherein the exposed portion of the resonant inductor extends substantially parallel to the feed path.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the resonant inductor includes a spiral coil on a printed circuit board and wherein the spiral coil generally defines a first plane and the targeted transponder defines a second plane that is generally orthogonal to the first plane.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the resonant inductor includes a spiral coil on a printed circuit board and wherein the spiral coil generally defines a first plane and the targeted transponder defines a second plane that is generally parallel to the first plane.