Field-shaping shielding for radio frequency identification (RFID) system
First Claim
1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising:
- an antenna that forms an electromagnetic field that defines a communication zone in which RFID tags can be read, wherein the antenna has a substantially planar form; and
a substantially-contiguous conductive shield positioned a distance from the antenna within a plane parallel to the antenna to define an outermost region of the communication zone within the plane parallel to the antenna, wherein the conductive shield has a width that extends in the plane parallel to the antenna such that the electromagnetic field at any region beyond the conductive shield is below a threshold level for communication with the RFID tags, andwherein the conductive shield comprises planar conductive regions oriented to form a non-shielded inner region, and further wherein the antenna is disposed within the non-shielded inner region and parallel to the planar conductive regions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radio frequency identification (RFID) system is described that utilizes a substantially-contiguous conductive shield to shape an electromagnetic field formed by an antenna for communication with RFID tags. The antenna and the conductive shield have substantially planar forms, and may be mounted to a surface of a check-in/check-out area. The conductive shield is positioned around the antenna and within a plane parallel to the antenna, e.g., within the same plane. The conductive shield shapes the electromagnetic field to extend substantially in a direction perpendicular to the antenna, and prevents the electromagnetic field from forming substantially over the conductive shield.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising:
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an antenna that forms an electromagnetic field that defines a communication zone in which RFID tags can be read, wherein the antenna has a substantially planar form; and a substantially-contiguous conductive shield positioned a distance from the antenna within a plane parallel to the antenna to define an outermost region of the communication zone within the plane parallel to the antenna, wherein the conductive shield has a width that extends in the plane parallel to the antenna such that the electromagnetic field at any region beyond the conductive shield is below a threshold level for communication with the RFID tags, and wherein the conductive shield comprises planar conductive regions oriented to form a non-shielded inner region, and further wherein the antenna is disposed within the non-shielded inner region and parallel to the planar conductive regions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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providing an antenna that forms an electromagnetic field that defines a communication zone in which RFID tags can be read, wherein the antenna has a substantially planar form; selecting a width of a substantially-contiguous conductive shield such that when the conductive shield is positioned a distance from the antenna within a plane parallel to the antenna to define an outermost region of the communication zone within the plane parallel to the antenna, the electromagnetic field at any region beyond the conductive shield is below a threshold level for communication with the RFID tags; orienting planar conductive regions of the conductive shield to form a non-shielded inner region; and positioning the substantially-contiguous conductive shield having the selected width round the antenna within the non-shielded inner region a distance from an outer hoop of the antenna and parallel to the planar conductive regions. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification