RFID PASSIVE REFLECTOR FOR HIDDEN TAGS

• US 20140125460A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Sinnett, Jay Clifford, James, Harold S.
• Application Number:
  US14/119,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20140125460A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07764 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier attachable to a tire tire temperature or pressur control arrangements, see B60C23/00
• 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 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10376 the interrogation device being adapted for being moveable
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

The subject matter relates to methods for communicating with an RFID tag that is positioned out of the line-of-sight of a communications device. A passive reflector is provided corresponding to an antenna resonant at the operating frequency of the tag. The antemia may be supported by an insulative or conductive wand for manual placement within the line-of-sight of both the tag and a communications device wishing to communicate with the tag. The passive reflector receives signals from either or both the tag and communications device and retransmits the signals. In this manner signals are able to “turn a comer” to improve communications capabilities.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method for reading a hidden tag positioned out of line-of-sight of a tag reader, comprising:

providing an antenna resonant at the operating frequency of the tag;

providing a receiver capable of receiving signals at the operating frequency of the tag; and

positioning the antenna at a location within the line-of-sight of both the tag and the receiver,

whereby signals from the tag will be received by the antenna and re-transmitted thereby to the receiver.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the antenna is temporarily manually positioned.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising supporting the antenna by an insulative wand.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising supporting the antenna by an extendable insulative wand.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising supporting the antenna by a conductive wand.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising supporting the antenna by an extendable conductive wand.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising supporting the antenna by a conductive wand electrically coupled thereto.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

supporting the antenna at one end of a wand; and

mechanically coupling the other end of the wand to the receiver.

29. A method for communicating with a hidden radio frequency (RF) tag, comprising:

providing an antenna resonant at the operating frequency of the tag;

providing a transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving signals at the operating frequency of the tag; and

positioning the antenna at a location within the line-of-sight of both the tag and the transceiver,

whereby signals exchanged between the tag and the transceiver will be received by the antenna and re-transmitted.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the antenna is temporarily manually positioned.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising supporting the antenna by an insulative wand.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising supporting the antenna by an extendable wand.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising supporting the antenna by a conductive wand.

34. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

supporting the antenna at one end of a wand; and

mechanically coupling the other end of the wand to the transceiver.

35. A system for providing a passive reflector for an RFID tag, comprising:

an antenna resonant at the operating frequency of the RFID tag;

a manually supportable wand, the antenna being secured to a first end of the wand; and

wherein the antenna is configured to passively reflect signals from the RFID tag to a remote device.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the antenna is positioned at a location within line-of-sight of both the REID tag and the remote device.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the wand is an extendable wand.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the wand is a conductive wand.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the antenna is electrically coupled to the wand.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein the wand is an insulative wand.