Monitor tag with patch antenna

• US 6,049,278 A
• Filed: 03/24/1997
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Szmurlo, Thomas Edmund, Guthrie, Warren E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/822,748
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572, 340/573, 340/539, 340/825.34, 343/700 MS, 343/848, 343/846, 235/380, 235/382
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• 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 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0421 with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element H01Q9/0414 takes precedence

Abstract

A monitor tag having a radio frequency transmitter and a patch antenna. The antenna is in communication with the transmitter and has a first conductive patch and a second conductive patch substantially parallel to each other, and separated from each other by a dielectric material in contact with both patches and having a thickness sufficient to create a gap between the patches wherein the radiation resistance will be controlled during operation of the antenna. The first conductive patch has a dimension of one-quarter or one-half wavelength, depending upon available space and desired pattern. Because the electric field is launched from the gap between the patches and is highly concentrated, bringing the monitor tag close to a metal object or attaching it thereto will have minimal impact on the impedance of the antenna. The monitor tag can be used for a number of purposes including asset protection and identification by affixing respective tags with conventional transmitters to respective metal and nonmetal articles and transmitting chosen respective information about each article. Of particular applicability is a monitor tag device worn by a person such that the wearer can be monitored with respect to chosen parameters as developed for observing or regulating and transmitted or received by the antenna of the present monitor tag invention.

Claims

1. A monitor tag comprising:

a) a radio frequency transmitter;

b) a patch antenna with which the transmitter is in communication and comprising a first conductive patch and a second conductive patch, said patches substantially parallel to each other, shorted therebetween, and separated from each other by a dielectric material in contact with both patches and having a thickness sufficient to create a gap between the patches wherein radiation will be concentrated during operation of the antenna, and wherein the first conductive patch has a dimension of one-quarter wavelength and the second conductive patch is a ground plane of at least the same dimension; and

c) a housing within which said transmitter and antenna are enclosedly disposed, said housing attachable to an object.

2. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein in the antenna the conductive patches are constructed of copper.

3. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 2 wherein in the antenna the dielectric material has a dielectric constant between 1 and 100.

4. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 3 wherein in the antenna the dielectric material has a constant of 4 and a thickness of about 0.030 inch.

5. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 4 wherein in the antenna the ground plane is sufficiently small to produce a radiation pattern having a back lobe.

6. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein in the antenna the dielectric material has a dielectric constant between 1 and 100.

7. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein in the antenna the dielectric material has a constant of 4 and a thickness of about 0.030 inch.

8. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 1 wherein in the antenna the ground plane is of a size sufficiently small to produce a radiation pattern having a back lobe.

9. A monitor tag comprising:

a) a radio frequency transmitter;

b) a patch antenna with which the transmitter is in communication and comprising a first conductive patch and a second conductive patch, said patches substantially parallel to each other and separated from each other by a dielectric material in contact with both patches and having a thickness sufficient to create a gap between the patches wherein radiation will be concentrated during operation of the antenna, and wherein the first conductive patch has a dimension of one-half wavelength and the second conductive patch is a ground plane of at least the same dimension; and

c) a housing within which said transmitter and antenna are enclosedly disposed, said housing attachable to an object.

10. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 9 wherein in the antenna the conductive patches are constructed of copper.

11. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 10 wherein in the antenna the dielectric material has a dielectric constant between 1 and 100.

12. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 11 wherein in the antenna the dielectric material has a constant of 4 and a thickness of about 0.030 inch.

13. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 12 wherein in the antenna the ground plane is sufficient ly small to produce a radiation pattern having a back lobe.

14. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 9 wherein in the antenna the dielectric material has a dielectric constant between 1 and 100.

15. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 9 wherein in the antenna the dielectric material has a constant of 4 and a thickness of about 0.030 inch.

16. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 9 wherein in the antenna the ground plane is sufficiently small to produce a radiation pattern having a back lobe.

17. A monitor tag device to be worn by a person, the device comprising:

a) a radio frequency transmitter;

b) a patch antenna with which the transmitter is in communication and comprising a first conductive patch and a second conductive patch, said patches substantially parallel to each other and separated from each other by a dielectric material in contact with both patches and having a thickness sufficient to create a gap between the patches wherein radiation will be concentrated during operation of the antenna, and wherein the first conductive patch has a dimension of one-quarter or one-half wavelength and the second conductive patch is a ground plane of at least the same dimension, with said patches shorted therebetween when the first patch has a one-quarter wavelength; and

c) a housing within which said transmitter and antenna are enclosedly disposed, said housing having a fastener member releasably attachable to a person to thereby monitor the whereabouts of said person.

18. A monitor tag device as claimed in claim 17 wherein in the antenna the conductive patches are constructed of copper.

19. A monitor tag device as claimed in claim 18 wherein in the antenna the dielectric material has a dielectric constant between 1 and 100.

20. A monitor tag as claimed in claim 19 wherein in the antenna the dielectric material has a constant of 4 and a thickness of about 0.030 inch.

21. A monitor tag device as claimed in claim 20 wherein in the antenna the ground plane is sufficiently small to produce a radiation pattern having a back lobe.

22. A monitor tag device as claimed in claim 17 wherein in the antenna the dielectric material has a dielectric constant between 1 and 100.

23. A monitor tag device as claimed in claim 17 wherein in the antenna the dielectric material has a constant of 4 and a thickness of about 0.030 inch.

24. A monitor tag device as claimed in claim 17 wherein in the antenna the ground plane is sufficiently small to produce a radiation pattern having a back lobe.