Wireless communication and identification packages, communication systems, methods of communicating, and methods of forming a communication device

• US 6,133,836 A
• Filed: 02/27/1998
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Freddie W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/032,737
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.7, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/505, 340/825.54, 340/10.1, 343/700 MS, 343/702, 342/51, 235/492, 235/494
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides wireless communication and identification packages, communication systems, methods of identifying an identification device, methods of communicating, and methods of forming a communication device. In one aspect of the present invention, a wireless communication package includes a communication device having a substrate; communication circuitry borne by the substrate, the communication circuitry being configured to at least one of process and form wireless communication signals; and at least one antenna electrically coupled with the communication circuitry, the antenna being configured to at least one of receive wireless communication signals and output wireless communication signals; and an appendage coupled with the communication device, the appendage being configured to enhance at least one of receiving and outputting of wireless communication signals via the antenna.

Claims

1. A wireless communication package comprising:

a communication device including;

a substrate;

communication circuitry borne by the substrate, the communication circuitry being configured to at least one of process and form wireless communication signals; and

at least one antenna electrically coupled with the communication circuitry, the antenna being configured to at least one of receive wireless communication signals and output wireless communication signals; and

an appendage coupled with substantially an entire outer surface of the communication device, the appendage being configured to enhance at least one of receiving and outputting of wireless communication signals via the antenna.

2. The wireless communication package according to claim 1 wherein the communication device comprises a remote intelligent communication device.

3. The wireless communication package according to claim 1 wherein the communication device comprises a radio frequency identification device.

4. The wireless communication package according to claim 1 wherein the appendage comprises a spacer and a conductive layer.

5. The wireless communication package according to claim 4 wherein the conductive layer forms a ground plane.

6. The wireless communication package according to claim 4 wherein the conductive layer includes an outer periphery, and the antenna includes a peripheral edge received within the confines of the outer periphery of the conductive layer.

7. The wireless communication package according to claim 4 wherein the spacer has a width of approximately one quarter the wavelength of the wireless communication signals.

8. The wireless communication package according to claim 1 wherein the appendage is configured to reflect radio frequency energy of the wireless communication signals toward the antenna.

9. The wireless communication package according to claim 1 wherein the communication device further comprises a housing.

10. The wireless communication package according to claim 9 wherein the appendage is coupled with the housing.

11. The wireless communication package according to claim 9 wherein the housing comprises an encapsulant and the substrate.

12. The wireless communication package according to claim 9 wherein the appendage is coupled with an entire surface of the housing, and the area of a conductive layer of the appendage is larger than the attached surface of the housing.

13. The wireless communication package according to claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna includes a first antenna configured to receive wireless interrogation signals and a second antenna configured to output wireless identification signals.

14. A wireless identification package comprising:

a housing;

at least one antenna borne by the housing, the antenna being configured to at least one of receive wireless interrogation signals and output wireless identification signals;

communication circuitry electrically coupled with the antenna, the communication circuitry being configured to process received wireless interrogation signals and form wireless identification signals; and

an appendage coupled with a surface of the housing, the appendage being configured to enhance at least one of receiving wireless interrogation signals and outputting of wireless identification signals.

15. The wireless identification package according to claim 14 wherein the wireless communication package comprises a remote intelligent communication device.

16. The wireless identification package according to claim 14 wherein the wireless communication package comprises a radio frequency identification device.

17. The wireless identification package according to claim 14 wherein the appendage comprises a spacer and a conductive layer.

18. The wireless identification package according to claim 17 wherein the spacer has a thickness of approximately one quarter the wavelength of the wireless communication signals.

19. The wireless identification package according to claim 17 wherein the conductive layer comprises a ground plane configured to cover an entire surface of the housing.

20. The wireless identification package according to claim 19 wherein the area of the ground plane is greater than the area of the coupled surface of the housing.

21. The wireless identification package according to claim 14 wherein the appendage is configured to reflect radio frequency energy to increase radio frequency energy at the antenna.

22. The wireless identification package according to claim 14 wherein the housing comprises a substrate and an encapsulant.

23. The wireless identification package according to claim 14 wherein the at least one antenna includes a first antenna configured to receive wireless interrogation signals and a second antenna configured to output wireless identification signals.

24. The package of claim 14 wherein the appendage is coupled with substantially the entire surface of the housing.

25. A communication system comprising:

an interrogator configured to output and receive wireless communication signals; and

a wireless communication package configured to communicate with the interrogator, the wireless communication package including;

a communication device including a housing, at least one antenna borne by the housing, the antenna being operable to at least one of output and receive wireless communication signals, and communication circuitry coupled with the antenna, the communication circuitry being configured to process received wireless communication signals and form wireless communication signals; and

an appendage coupled with an external portion of the housing of the communication device, the appendage being configured to enhance wireless communications of the communication device.

26. The communication system according to claim 25 wherein the communication device comprises a remote intelligent communication device.

27. The communication system according to claim 25 wherein the communication device comprises a radio frequency identification device.

28. The communication system according to claim 25 wherein the appendage includes a spacer and a conductive layer.

29. The communication system according to claim 28 wherein the spacer has a width of approximately one quarter the wavelength of the wireless communication signals.

30. The communication system according to claim 25 wherein the appendage is configured to reflect radio frequency energy to increase radio frequency energy at the antenna.

31. The communication system according to claim 25 wherein the housing comprises a substrate and an encapsulant.

32. The system of claim 25 wherein the appendage is coupled with substantially an entire surface of the housing.

33. A communication system comprising:

an interrogator configured to output wireless interrogation signals and receive wireless identification signals;

a wireless communication package configured to receive the wireless interrogation signals from the interrogator and output wireless identification signals to the interrogator, the wireless communication package including;

a communication device including;

a housing;

a first antenna borne by the housing, the first antenna being operable to receive wireless interrogation signals;

a second antenna borne by the housing, the second antenna being operable to output wireless identification signals; and

communication circuitry coupled with the first and second antennas, the communication circuitry being configured to process received wireless interrogation signals and form wireless identification signals responsive to the wireless interrogation signals; and

an appendage coupled with an entire surface of the housing of the communication device and the appendage being configured to enhance wireless communications of the communication device, the appendage including;

a spacer attached to the surface of the housing and having a width of approximately one quarter of the wavelength of the wireless interrogation signals and the wireless identification signals; and

a ground plane attached to the spacer, the ground plane being configured to reflect the wireless interrogation signals and the wireless identification signals.

34. A method of communicating comprising:

providing an identification device;

coupling an appendage with substantially an entire outer surface of the identification device to increase radio frequency energy at an antenna of the identification device during communications;

outputting a wireless interrogation signal using an interrogator;

receiving the wireless interrogation within the identification device;

outputting a wireless identification signal using the identification device, the outputting being responsive to the receiving of the interrogation signal; and

receiving the wireless identification signal using the interrogator.

35. The method according to claim 34 wherein the coupling comprises coupling an appendage having a spacer and a conductive layer with the identification device.

36. The method according to claim 34 wherein the coupling comprises coupling an appendage having a spacer and a conductive layer with the identification device, the spacer having a width of approximately one quarter the wavelength of the wireless interrogation and identification signals.

37. The method according to claim 34 wherein the increasing comprises reflecting the wireless interrogation signals toward the antenna.

38. The method according to claim 34 further comprising enhancing the outputting.

39. The method according to claim 34 further comprising enhancing the outputting comprising reflecting the wireless identification signals using the appendage.

40. A method of communicating comprising:

forming a communication device having a housing about at least one of communication circuitry and an antenna;

receiving wireless communication signals using the communication device;

outputting wireless communication signals using the communication device; and

after the forming, coupling an appendage with the housing of the communication device to enhance at least one of the receiving and the outputting.

41. The method according to claim 40 wherein the coupling comprises coupling an appendage having a spacer and a conductive layer with the communication device.

42. The method according to claim 40 wherein the coupling comprises coupling an appendage having a spacer and a conductive layer with the communication device, the spacer having a width of approximately one quarter the wavelength of the wireless communication signals.

43. The method according to claim 40 wherein enhancing of the receiving comprises increasing radio frequency energy of received wireless communication signals at the antenna.

44. The method according to claim 40 wherein the enhancing comprises reflecting wireless communication signals.

45. The method according to claim 40 wherein the enhancing comprises reflecting wireless communication signals using a ground plane of the appendage.

46. The method of claim 40 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the appendage with substantially an entire surface of the housing.

47. A method of forming a wireless communication package comprising:

providing a substrate;

supporting an antenna using the substrate;

configuring the antenna to at least one of output and receive wireless communication signals;

electrically coupling wireless communication circuitry with the antenna;

forming a housing to house the antenna and the wireless communication circuitry; and

after the forming coupling an appendage configured to enhance wireless communications with an external portion of the housing.

48. The method according to claim 47 comprises a method of forming a wireless communication package including a remote intelligent communication device.

49. The method according to claim 47 comprises a method of forming a wireless communication package including a radio frequency identification device.

50. The method according to claim 47 wherein the forming the housing comprises forming the housing about the antenna and wireless communication circuitry.

51. The method according to claim 47 wherein the forming the housing comprises encapsulating the communication circuitry, the antenna and a surface of the substrate.

52. The method according to claim 47 further comprising forming an appendage having a conductive layer and a spacer intermediate the housing and the conductive layer.

53. The method according to claim 47 further comprising configuring the appendage for reflecting wireless signals and increasing radio frequency energy at the antenna using the conductive layer.

54. The method according to claim 47 further comprising receiving an outer peripheral edge of the antenna within the confines of an outer periphery of the appendage.

55. The method of claim 47 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the appendage with substantially an entire surface of the housing.

56. A method of communicating comprising:

outputting a radio frequency interrogation signal using an interrogator;

receiving the radio frequency interrogation signal using a first antenna of a wireless identification device;

coupling an appendage having a ground plane and a spacer with a housing of the wireless identification device;

reflecting radio frequency energy of the radio frequency interrogation signal using the appendage;

processing the radio frequency interrogation signal within the wireless identification device following the receiving;

forming a radio frequency identification signal responsive to the processing of the radio frequency interrogation signal;

outputting the radio frequency identification signal using a second antenna of the wireless identification device;

reflecting radio frequency energy of the radio frequency identification signal using the appendage;

spacing the first antenna and second antenna from the conductive layer a distance approximately equal to one quarter the wavelength of the radio frequency interrogation and identification signals using the spacer; and

receiving the radio frequency identification signal using the interrogator.

57. A communication system comprising:

an interrogator configured to output and receive wireless communication signals;

a wireless communication package configured to communicate with the interrogator, the wireless communication package including;

a communication device including a housing, at least one antenna borne by the housing, the antenna being operable to at least one of output and receive wireless communication signals, and communication circuitry coupled with the antenna, the communication circuitry being configured to process received wireless communication signals and form wireless communication signals; and

an appendage coupled with the housing of the communication device, the appendage being configured to enhance wireless communications of the communication device; and

wherein the housing comprises a substrate and an encapsulant.

58. A method of forming a wireless communication package comprising:

providing a substrate;

supporting an antenna using the substrate;

configuring the antenna to at least one of output and receive wireless communication signals;

electrically coupling wireless communication circuitry with the antenna;

forming a housing;

coupling an appendage configured to enhance wireless communications with the housing; and

wherein the forming the housing comprises encapsulating the communication circuitry, the antenna and a surface of the substrate.

59. A wireless communication package comprising:

a communication device including;

a substrate;

communication circuitry borne by the substrate, the communication circuitry being configured to at least one of process and form wireless communication signals; and

at least one antenna electrically coupled with the communication circuitry, the antenna being configured to at least one of receive wireless communication signals and output wireless communication signals; and

an appendage comprising a spacer and a conductive layer coupled with the communication device, the appendage being configured to enhance at least one of receiving and outputting of wireless communication signals via the antenna.

60. The wireless communication package of claim 59 wherein the conductive layer forms a ground plane.

61. The wireless communication package of claim 59 wherein the conductive layer includes an outer periphery, and the antenna includes a peripheral edge received within the confines of the outer periphery of the conductive layer.

62. The wireless communication package of claim 59 wherein the spacer has a width of approximately one quarter the wavelength of the wireless communication signals.

63. A wireless communication package comprising:

a communication device including;

a housing comprising an encapsulant and a substrate;

communication circuitry borne by the substrate, the communication circuitry being configured to at least one of process and form wireless communication signals; and

at least one antenna electrically coupled with the communication circuitry, the antenna being configured to at least one of receive wireless communication signals and output wireless communication signals; and

an appendage coupled with the communication device, the appendage being configured to enhance at least one of receiving and outputting of wireless communication signals via the antenna.

64. A wireless communication package comprising:

a communication device including;

a housing including a substrate;

communication circuitry borne by the substrate, the communication circuitry being configured to at least one of process and form wireless communication signals; and

at least one antenna electrically coupled with the communication circuitry, the antenna being configured to at least one of receive wireless communication signals and output wireless communication signals; and

an appendage coupled with an entire surface of the housing of the communication device, the appendage being configured to enhance at least one of receiving and outputting of wireless communication signals via the antenna, and the area of a conductive layer of the appendage is larger than the attached surface of the housing.

65. A wireless communication package comprising:

a communication device including;

a substrate;

communication circuitry borne by the substrate, the communication circuitry being configured to at least one of process and form wireless communication signals; and

a first antenna and a second antenna individually electrically coupled with the communication circuitry, the first antenna being configured to receive wireless interrogation signals and the second antenna being configured to output wireless identification signals; and

an appendage coupled with the communication device, the appendage being configured to enhance at least one of receiving and outputting of wireless communication signals via the antenna.

66. A method of communicating comprising:

providing an identification device;

coupling an appendage having a spacer and a conductive layer with the identification device to increase radio frequency energy at an antenna of the identification device during communications;

outputting a wireless interrogation signal using an interrogator;

receiving the wireless interrogation signal within the identification device;

outputting a wireless identification signal using the identification device, the outputting being responsive to the receiving of the interrogation signal; and

receiving the wireless identification signal using the interrogator.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein the spacer has a width of approximately one quarter the wavelength of the wireless interrogation and identification signals.

68. A method of communicating comprising:

forming a communication device including supporting communication circuitry and an antenna using a substrate;

receiving wireless communication signals using the communication device;

outputting wireless communication signals using the communication device; and

after the forming, coupling an appendage having a spacer and a conductive layer with the communication device to enhance at least one of the receiving and the outputting.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein the spacer has a width of approximately one quarter the wavelength of the wireless communication signals.