Module with RFID tag and associated bridge antenna

• US 7,432,817 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Bell, Scott J., Rommelmann, Heiko, Rodriguez, Alberto, Phipps, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham; Lam P
• Application Number:
  US11/388,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20070222606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/568.1, 340/10.1, 340/571, 235/385, 235/492
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794

Abstract

An RFID bridge antenna is positioned between a tag antenna associated with a tag and a reader antenna associated with a reader. The bridge includes at least two RF antenna elements spaced apart from one another and coupled together by an electrical conductor. The first RF antenna element is located proximate to the tag antenna and the second RF antenna element is located proximate to the reader antenna. An electromagnetic carrier signal transmitted by the reader antenna is received by one of the RF antenna element and retransmitted to the tag antenna by the other RF antenna element, increasing the distance over which the tag can communicate with the reader. Where the tag is attached to a packaged object, the RFID bridge antenna may be included in the package to allow wireless data communication between the tag and a reader. The reader may also be located external to the package. For example, one of the RF antenna elements may be attached to a label on the package, allowing data stored in the tag to be extracted by the external reader. The object may be a module, also known as a customer replaceable unit (CRU), and the tag may be configured as a customer replaceable unit monitor (CRUM). The module may take the form of a container having a closure cap equipped with a tag and the container may be stored in a cabinet along with an RFID bridge antenna mounted on the cabinet door to establish data communication between the tag and a reader.

Claims

1. A cabinet for storage of at least one container having a tag associated therewith, said tag including a tag antenna coupled to an integrated circuit device having data related to a product stored in said container, said cabinet comprising, in combination:

a framework defining a storage area having an opening, said container being disposed within said storage area with said tag antenna being accessible through said opening,

a reader having a reader antenna disposed within said storage area, said reader antenna being accessible through said opening,

a panel moveable mounted to said framework for closing said opening, said panel having a an inner side surface facing said opening when said panel is closed, and

an RFID bridge antenna mounted to said inner side surface of said panel, said bridge antenna including at least two RF antenna elements coupled together by a conductor, said RF antenna elements being spaced apart and so positioned on said panel as to substantially align themselves one with each one of said tag and reader antennas when said panel is closed, thereby increasing the distance over which said tag can communicate with said reader.

2. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said conductor is a flexible, low loss coaxial cable.

3. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said panel is moveably hinged onto said framework.

4. The cabinet of claim 3, wherein said container has a removable cap on which said tag and tag antenna are attached and wherein said container is disposed on its side within said storage compartment exposing said tag antenna though said opening.

5. The cabinet of claim 4, wherein said RFID antenna bridge is attached directly to said inner side surface of said panel.

6. The cabinet of claim 3, wherein said RFID antenna bridge is attached to a substrate and wherein said substrate is secured to said inner side surface of said panel.

7. The cabinet of claim 6, wherein said substrate is a PC board.

8. The cabinet of claim 6, wherein said conductor is a low loss, open twin lead cable and wherein said RFID antenna including said RF antenna elements and said twin lead cable are printed onto the surface of said PC board.

9. The cabinet of claim 5, wherein said framework is part of a printing machine and wherein said container is a storage bottle containing one of:

toner, liquid ink, oil and cleaning fluid.