Tracking apparatus, system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for tracking a RFID Tag comprising:
- at least one near-field focused antenna comprising an array of element and a beamformer to form multiple fixed beams in the near-field, wherein said beamformer includes at least one phase shifter that includes a voltage tunable dielectric capacitor for focusing beams;
a sensor adpapted to sense the position of said Tag; and
a controller adpapted to accept position information and adapted to activate the proper fixed beam along a course so as to enable the near-field focused beams to track said Tag.
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Abstract
An apparatus capable of tracking a target, comprising at least one near-field focused antenna comprising an array of elements and a phase shifter to form multiple fixed beams in the near-field, a sensor capable of sensing the location of the target, and a controller capable of accepting position information and capable of activating the proper fixed beam along a course so as to enable the near-field focused beams to track the target. The array of elements may be substantially linear and the sensor may be optical, mechanical, thermal, or sonic position detection subsystems.
264 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for tracking a RFID Tag comprising:
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at least one near-field focused antenna comprising an array of element and a beamformer to form multiple fixed beams in the near-field, wherein said beamformer includes at least one phase shifter that includes a voltage tunable dielectric capacitor for focusing beams; a sensor adpapted to sense the position of said Tag; and a controller adpapted to accept position information and adapted to activate the proper fixed beam along a course so as to enable the near-field focused beams to track said Tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus adapted to tracking a RFID Tag comprising:
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an array of elements; a beamformer adapted to form multiple fixed beams in the near-field, wherein said beamformer includes at least one phase shifter that includes a voltage tunable dielectric canacitor for focusing said beams; a sensor adapted to sense the location of said Tag; and a controller adapted to accept location information and activate the proper fixed beam so as to enable near-field focused beams to track said Tag. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for tracking a RFID Tag comprising:
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at least one near-field focused antenna comprising a set of transmit arrays, wherein each array includes a set of elements arranged substantially in an arc, wherein said are lies in a plane substantially normal to the direction of motion of said Tag; a beemform for each transmit array adapted to form at least one fixed beam in us near-field, wherein said beamformer includes at least one phase shifter that includes a voltage tunable dielectric capacitor for focusing beams; a sensor adapted to determine the position of said Tag; and a controller adapted to accept positiam information and adapted to activate the proper fixed beam so as to enable the near-field flied beams to track the Tag. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of tracking a RFID Tag comprising:
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forming multiple fixed beams in the near-field with at least one near-field focused antenna comprising an array of elements and a phase stifter, wherein the formation of beams involves the use of at least one said phase shifter that includes a voltage tunable dielectric capacitor for focusing beams; sensing the location of said Tag with a sensor; and accepting location information by a controller adapted to activate the proper fixed beam along a course so as to enable the near-field focused beams to track said Tag. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for tracking a RFID Tag comprising:
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a conveyor adapted to move staid Tag within a near field focused antenna comprising an are of transmit antenna arrays, wherein said are lies in a plane substantially normal to the direction of motion of said Tag; a beamformer for each transmit array adapted to form at least one fixed beam in its near-field, wherein said beamformer includes at least one phase shifter that includes a voltage tunable dielectric capacitor for focusing beams; a sensor adapted to determine the position of said Tag; and a controller adapted to accept position information and adapted to activate the proper fixed beam so as to enable the near-field focused beams to track the Tag.
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Specification