Antenna arrangement

• US 7,268,742 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mobile Aspects
• Original Assignee: Mobile Aspects
• Inventors: Rahim, Muhammad R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US11/378,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20060214864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 343/742, 343/867, 343/741, 343/866, 340/572.7
• US Class Current: 343/867
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0025 Modular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

An antenna arrangement including a first antenna module having a first antenna loop positioned in a plane for emitting a signal in a first spatial area, and at least one additional antenna loop positioned in substantially the same plane for emitting a signal in an additional spatial area. The arrangement includes at least one power source in communication with the first antenna module for providing current thereto. The first spatial area and the additional spatial area at least partially overlap, and the first antenna loop and the additional antenna loop are powered by the power source in a specified pattern. A method of identifying at least one item is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An antenna arrangement, comprising:

a first antenna module, including;

a first antenna loop positioned in a plane and configured to emit a signal in a first spatial area;

at least one additional antenna loop positioned in substantially the same plane and configured to emit a signal in an additional spatial area; and

at least one power source in communication with the first antenna module and configured to provide current thereto;

wherein the first spatial area and the additional spatial area at least partially overlap;

wherein the first antenna loop and the additional antenna loop are configured to be powered by the power source in specified pattern;

wherein the at least one additional antenna loop comprises a plurality of additional antenna loops, each having a respective additional spatial area, each spatial area overlapping with at least one other spatial area.

2. The antenna arrangement of claim 1, wherein ends of at least one of the first antenna loop and the additional antenna loops are in communication with a respective switch, such that, when the switches are closed, current flows to and around the antenna loop.

3. The antenna arrangement of claim 2, wherein the ends include a entry end in communication with an entry switch and an exit end in communication with an exit switch, such that, when the switches are closed, current flows around the antenna loop.

4. The antenna arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a matching board in communication with the first antenna loop and the additional antenna loops, through which power from the power source is transmitted.

5. The antenna arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first antenna loop and at least one of the additional antenna loops are disposed on a common planar substrate.

6. The antenna arrangement of claim 1, wherein the pattern is a sequential and serial pattern.

7. The antenna arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a computing device in communication with the at least one power source, the first antenna module, the first antenna loop, the at least one additional antenna loop, a switch, a switch module device, a power splitter, a control board, an antenna control device, an antenna identification device, a matching board, a reader or any combination thereof.

8. The antenna arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a matching circuit in communication with the first antenna module and configured to transmit current from the power source thereto and receive signals from the first antenna module for further transmission.

9. The antenna arrangement of claim 1, further comprising:

a second antenna module including a first antenna loop configured to emit a signal in a first spatial area and at least one additional antenna loop configured to emit a signal in an additional spatial area;

wherein the first spatial area and the additional spatial area at least partially overlap;

a third antenna module including a first antenna loop configured to emit a signal in a first spatial area and at least one additional antenna loop configured to emit a signal in an additional spatial area;

wherein the first spatial area and the additional spatial area at least partially overlap; and

a fourth antenna module including a first antenna loop configured to emit a signal in a first spatial area and at least one additional antenna loop configured to emit a signal in an additional spatial area;

wherein the first spatial area and the additional spatial area at least partially overlap;

wherein the second antenna module is coplanar with and spaced from the first antenna module, at least one antenna loop of the first antenna module and at least one antenna loop of the second antenna module powered substantially simultaneously;

wherein the fourth antenna module is coplanar with and spaced from the third antenna module, at least one antenna loop of the third antenna module and at least one antenna loop of the fourth antenna module powered substantially simultaneously.

10. The antenna arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a reader configured to receive identification signals transmitted through the first antenna loop, the at least one additional antenna loop or any combination thereof.

11. An antenna arrangement, comprising:

a first antenna module, including;

a first antenna loop positioned in a plane and configured to emit a signal in a first spatial area;

at least one additional antenna loop positioned in substantially the same plane and configured to emit a signal in an additional spatial area, wherein the first spatial area and the additional spatial area at least partially overlap;

at least one power source in communication with the first antenna module and configured to provide current thereto, wherein the first antenna loop and the additional antenna loop are configured to be powered by the power source in specified pattern; and

a second antenna module including a first antenna loop configured to emit a signal in a first spatial area and at least one additional antenna loop configured to emit a signal in an additional spatial area;

wherein the first spatial area and the additional spatial area at least partially overlap.

12. The antenna arrangement of claim 11, wherein the second antenna module is aligned with, positioned substantially in the same plane as and oriented at about 90°

with respect to the first antenna module.

13. The antenna arrangement of claim 12, wherein the first antenna module and the second antenna module are in a stacked relationship, such that the first antenna module and the second antenna module are substantially immediately adjacent with each other.

14. The antenna arrangement of claim 11, wherein the second antenna module is coplanar with and spaced from the first antenna module.

15. The antenna arrangement of claim 14, wherein the first antenna module and the second antenna module are positioned on a single, substantially planar substrate.

16. The antenna arrangement of claim 11, wherein the at least one antenna loop of each of the first antenna module and the second antenna module are powered substantially simultaneously.

17. The antenna arrangement of claim 11, further comprising a power splitter unit in communication with the power source and configured to split the power and simultaneously provide current to the first antenna module and the second antenna module.

18. The antenna arrangement of claim 11, further comprising at least one matching circuit in communication with at least one of the first antenna module and the second antenna module.

19. The antenna arrangement of claim 18, wherein the matching circuit is configured to transmit power to the antenna module and receive signals from the module for further transmission.

20. An antenna arrangement, comprising:

a first antenna module positioned in a plane and including;

a first antenna loop configured to emit a signal in a first spatial area;

at least one additional antenna loop configured to emit a signal in an additional spatial area;

wherein the first spatial area and the additional spatial area at least partially overlap;

a second antenna module substantially aligned with, positioned substantially in the same plane as and oriented at about 90°

with respect to the first antenna module, the second antenna module including;

a first antenna loop configured to emit a signal in a first spatial area;

at least one additional antenna loop configured to emit a signal in an additional spatial area;

wherein the first spatial area and the additional spatial area at least partially overlap; and

at least one power source in communication with the first antenna module and the second antenna module and configured to provide power thereto;

wherein the first antenna loop and the additional antenna loop of the first and second antenna modules are configured to be powered by the at least one power source in specified pattern.

21. A method of identifying at least one item, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first antenna loop positioned in a plane and configured to emit a signal in a first spatial area;

(b) providing a plurality of additional antenna loops positioned in substantially the same plane and configured to emit a signal in a respective additional spatial area;

(c) powering the first antenna loop to thereby emit a signal in a first spatial area; and

(d) powering each of the additional antenna loops to thereby emit a signal in each additional spatial area;

wherein the first spatial area and each of the additional spatial areas at least partially overlap at least one other spatial area;

wherein the first antenna loop and each of the additional antenna loops are configured to be powered in specified pattern.