Adapter for tag and docking station

• US 7,333,019 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Savi Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Farrell, Steven J., Redler, Timothy R., Cargonja, Nikola
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan, Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US11/129,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20060255944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/10.51, 340/10.52, 3405727- 8, 340 1051- 52, 235435-436, 235/439, 235441-443, 235/492, 361/683, 361/686, 361/731, 361/733, 361/369, 361/740, 361/747
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07739 comprising a first part capable of functioning as a record carrier on its own and a second part being only functional as a form factor changing part, e.g. SIM cards type ID 0001, removably attached to a regular smart card form factor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0013 by galvanic contacts, e.g. card connectors for ISO-7816 compliant smart cards or memory cards, e.g. SD card readers connectors in general H01R13/00; connectors for SIM cards used in mobile phones or the like H04B1/3816

Abstract

An adapter has a cradle portion that can removably receive a radio frequency identification tag. A first electrical connector is positioned in the cradle portion so that, when a tag is removably received in the cradle portion, the first electrical connector electrically couples the adapter to the tag. A second electrical connector is disposed on the adapter at a location spaced from the cradle portion, and the adapter includes structure that electrically couples the first and second electrical connectors.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising an adapter having:

a cradle portion that can removably receive a radio frequency identification tag;

a first electrical connector positioned in said cradle portion so that, when a tag is removably received in said cradle portion, said first electrical connector electrically couples said adapter to the tag;

a second electrical connector disposed on said adapter at a location spaced from said cradle portion, said second electrical connector having only three contacts, and said contacts being positioned at locations that each correspond to a respective point of an equilateral triangle; and

structure electrically coupling said first and second electrical connectors.

2. An apparatus comprising an adapter having:

spaced electrical first and second connectors, said first connector having a configuration compatible with a radio frequency identification tag connector, and said second connector having only three contacts, said contacts being positioned at locations that each correspond to a respective point of an equilateral triangle; and

structure electrically coupling said first and second connectors.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said adapter includes a cradle portion that can removably receive a radio frequency identification tag, said first connector being positioned in said cradle portion so that, when a tag is removably received in said cradle portion, said first connector electrically couples said adapter to the tag, said second connector being disposed on said adapter at a location spaced from said cradle portion.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said structure includes circuitry that is electrically coupled between said first and second connectors, and that is disposed within said adapter.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said structure includes a circuit board that is disposed within said adapter and that has said circuitry thereon;

and

wherein one of said first and second connectors has a plurality of contacts with end portions that extend through and are soldered to said circuit board.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said circuitry includes a portion that inverts an electrical signal traveling from one of said first and second connectors to the other thereof.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said circuitry includes:

a first signal path for first signals traveling from said second connector to said first connector;

a second signal path for second signals traveling from said first connector to said second connector; and

a circuit portion that influences the second signals traveling along said second signal path, said circuit portion receiving operating power from said second connector through said first signal path.

8. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first connector has a plurality of contacts that each include a resiliently biased pin.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said cradle portion of said adapter has a tag receiving recess and has a projection within said recess, said resiliently biased pins being located near an outer end of said projection.

10. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first connector has a plurality of contacts arranged in a configuration different from the configuration of said contacts of said second connector.

11. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said adapter is approximately T-shaped, has a cross part with a center portion, and has a stem that projects transversely outwardly from said center portion of said cross part, said cross part including said cradle portion, and said second connector being located on said stem at a location spaced from said cross part.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, including a tag docking station having a recess that can removably receive said stem of said adapter, said tag docking station having within said recess an electrical third connector that electrically engages said second connector when said stem of said adapter is removably disposed in said recess.

13. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said structure electrically coupling said connectors includes circuitry that is electrically coupled to said contacts of said second connector, and that is configured to communicate through said second connector according to a half duplex protocol.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said circuitry includes:

a first signal path for first signals traveling from said second connector to said first connector;

a second signal path for second signals traveling from said first connector to said second connector; and

a circuit portion that influences the second signals traveling along said second signal path, said circuit portion receiving operating power from said second connector through said first signal path.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first connector has three contacts, and wherein said circuitry includes:

a first said contact of each of said first and second connectors being coupled to ground;

a second said contact of said first connector being connected to a second said contact of said second connector;

a first capacitor coupled between ground and said second contact of said second connector;

a first resistor coupled between ground and a third said contact of said first connector,

second and third resistors coupled in series with each other between ground and said third contact of said first connector, with said second resistor between said third resistor and said third contact of said first connector;

a second capacitor coupled in parallel with said second resistor;

a fourth resistor and a transistor coupled in series with each other between ground and said second contact of said second connector, with said fourth resistor between said transistor and said second contact of said second connector; and

a fifth resistor having one end coupled to a node between said transistor and said fourth resistor, and having another end coupled to a third of said contacts of said second connector.

16. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an exterior surface of said adapter has an approximately cylindrical recess therein, said contacts of said second connector being disposed at an inner end of said recess.

17. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said adapter has a stem that extends approximately parallel to a direction and has an outer end, said second connector being disposed on said stem at a location spaced in said direction from said outer end of said stem.