UHF RFID TAG FOR MARKING UNDERGROUND ASSETS AND LOCATIONS AND METHOD OF USING SAME

• US 20180005103A1
• Filed: 05/25/2017
• Published: 01/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Berntsen International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Berntsen International Inc.
• Inventors: Hungate, Steven, Rushing, William C., Klonsinski, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,204,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• 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 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07783 the coil being planar
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07784 the inductive antenna consisting of a plurality of coils stacked on top of one another
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation

Abstract

A marker for locating and identify assets which includes an ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) tag optimized for use below ground and able to more effectively communicate with a RFID reader through a lossy medium such as soil and air. The markers include a reflector which is sized relatively larger than the tag to help focus the forward pattern of the tag more tightly in a forward direction normal to the spiral surface. In addition, the tag includes a chip configured for the soil in which it is to be buried, and an antenna polarized to match the polarization of an RFID reader antenna that is part of a system that includes the marker and reader.

Claims

1. An apparatus for locating assets, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having a top and a bottom;

an ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification tag provided in the housing, the tag having a rear side facing the bottom of the housing and a front side facing the top of the housing, the front side having a chip and a dual spiral antenna provided thereon;

a reflector provided in the housing between the rear side of the tag and the bottom of the housing; and

a permanent magnet provided in the housing between the rear side of the tag and the bottom of the housing;

wherein the antenna has an antenna outside dimension;

and wherein the reflector has a reflector outside dimension greater than the antenna outside dimension.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector dimension is a reflector diameter and the antenna dimension is an antenna diameter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector dimension is a reflector width and the antenna dimension is an antenna width.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflector dimension is a reflector area and the antenna dimension is an antenna area.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna operates at an ultra-high frequency in the range of 890 MHz to 940 MHz.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the antenna operates at an ultra-high frequency of about 915 MHz.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the chip and antenna are impedance matched at a frequency in the range of 890 MHz to 940 MHz.

8. An apparatus for locating assets, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having a top and a bottom;

an ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification tag provided in the housing, the tag having a rear side facing the bottom of the housing and a front side facing the top of the housing, the front side having a chip and a Yagi antenna provided thereon;

a reflector provided in the housing between the rear side of the tag and the bottom of the housing; and

a permanent magnet provided in the housing between the rear side of the tag and the bottom of the housing;

wherein the antenna has an antenna outside dimension;

and wherein the reflector has a reflector outside dimension greater than the antenna outside dimension.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the reflector dimension is a reflector diameter and the antenna dimension is an antenna diameter.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the reflector dimension is a reflector width and the antenna dimension is an antenna width.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the reflector dimension is a reflector area and the antenna dimension is an antenna area.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the antenna operates at an ultra-high frequency in the range of 890 MHz to 940 MHz.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the antenna operates at an ultra-high frequency of about 915 MHz.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the chip and antenna are impedance matched at a frequency in the range of 890 MHz to 940 MHz.

15. An apparatus for locating assets, the apparatus comprising:

a housing having a top and a bottom;

an ultra-high frequency radio frequency identification tag provided in the housing, the tag having a rear side facing the bottom of the housing and a front side facing the top of the housing, the front side having a chip and backfire helix antenna provided thereon;

a reflector provided in the housing between the rear side of the tag and the bottom of the housing; and

a permanent magnet provided in the housing between the rear side of the tag and the bottom of the housing;

wherein the antenna has an antenna outside dimension;

and wherein the reflector has a reflector outside dimension greater than the antenna outside dimension.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the reflector dimension is a reflector diameter and the antenna dimension is an antenna diameter.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the reflector dimension is a reflector width and the antenna dimension is an antenna width.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the reflector dimension is a reflector area and the antenna dimension is an antenna area.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the antenna operates at an ultra-high frequency in the range of 890 MHz to 940 MHz.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the antenna operates at an ultra-high frequency of about 915 MHz.