Multiple feed point slot antenna

• US 7,528,785 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Horrell, Peter Robert George, Forster, Ian J
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord; Marceau
• Application Number:
  US11/318,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20060250314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 343/767, 343/746, 343/768, 343/757, 340/572.7, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.8
• US Class Current: 343/767
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/12 Longitudinally slotted cylinder antennas; Equivalent structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/18 the slot being backed by, or formed in boundary wall of, a resonant cavity longitudinally slotted cylinder H01Q13/12 ; Open cavity antennas

Abstract

A wireless communication device and method for identifying a container, or communication information about a container using a slot in the container as an antenna. The device includes a wireless communication device for transmitting information regarding the container. The container includes an outer wall forming rim and a slot between the rim edge and the outer wall that is circular and continues without boundaries. The wireless communication device is coupled to the slot to provide the slot antenna for communications. An impedance matching network is additionally provided to make the operating frequency of the slot substantially the same as the operating frequency of the wireless communication device. Alternatively, shorting posts may be placed in the slot to define boundaries of the slot to match the operating frequency of the slot to the operating frequency of the antenna. Multiple feed points may be provided between the wireless communication device and the slot.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device configured for attachment to a container having a slot, wherein the wireless communication device is electrically coupled to the slot via multiple feed points when the device is attached to the container, and wherein the coupling of the wireless communication device to the slot forms a slot antenna that enables the device to wirelessly communicate information.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising a substrate on which the wireless communication device is mounted, wherein the substrate is configured for attachment to the container.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the substrate is a dielectric material.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the substrate is bent to fit between a rim and a wall of the container when the device is attached to the container.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 2, further comprising a transmission line that extends from the wireless communication device and runs along an axis of the substrate to electrically couple the wireless communication device to the multiple feed points.

6. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising multiple transmission lines, each transmission line electrically coupling the wireless communication device to a different feed point.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising a rectifier that is integrated into the wireless communication chip and electrically coupled to one or more of the multiple feed points.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 1, further comprising multiple rectifiers, wherein each rectifier is electrically coupled to a different feed point.

9. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein when the device is attached to the container, the multiple feed points are positioned within the slot such that the slot antenna is operative at multiple frequencies.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein when the device is attached to the container, the multiple feed points are positioned within the slot such that reflections between different feed points and the wireless communication device cancel.

11. A method of using a slot on a container as an antenna, the method comprising:

attaching a wireless communication device to a container having a slot; and

electrically coupling the wireless communication device to the slot via multiple feed points, wherein the coupling of the wireless communication device to the slot forms a slot antenna that enables the device to wirelessly communicate information.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein attaching the wireless communication device to the container comprises positioning the device within the slot.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein electrically coupling the wireless communication device to the slot via the multiple feed points is achieved by positioning the wireless communication device within the slot.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising mounting the wireless communication device on a substrate, wherein the substrate is configured for attachment to the container.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the substrate is a dielectric material.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising electrically coupling a transmission line to the wireless communication device and to the multiple feed points, wherein the transmission line extends from the wireless communication device and runs along an axis of the substrate.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication device is mounted on a substrate, the method further comprising bending the substrate to fit between a rim and a wall of the container when attaching the device to the container.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising electrically coupling multiple transmission lines to the wireless communication device, wherein each transmission line electrically couples the wireless communication device to a different feed point.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising electrically coupling a rectifier that has been integrated into the wireless communication chip to one or more of the multiple feed points.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising electrically coupling multiple rectifiers to the multiple feed points, wherein each rectifier is electrically coupled to a different feed point.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising communicating information between the wireless communication device and an interrogation reader through the slot antenna formed by the slot of the container.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising interrogating the wireless communication device at one of a plurality of frequencies at which the device is configured to receive interrogation.

23. The method of claim 11, further comprising positioning a transmission line proximate to the slot to electrically couple each of the multiple feed points to the wireless communication device.

24. A system, comprising:

a container having a slot;

a wireless communication device configured to remotely communicate information associated with the container; and

a slot antenna formed by electrically coupling the wireless communication device to the slot, wherein the slot antenna includes a plurality of feed points that electrically couple the wireless communication device at different points to the slot.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising a substrate on which the wireless communication device is mounted, wherein the substrate is a dielectric material.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the slot is formed by a rim in the container and the substrate is configured to fit within the rim.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the slot is formed by a curl in the container forming the rim, and wherein the substrate is curled to be placed within the rim of the container.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the slot is formed by a rim in the container, and wherein the substrate is configured to fit between the rim and a wall of the container.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the slot is formed by at least two conductive elements in proximity to one another.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the slot is formed by an area of free space contained on a conductive surface of the container.

31. The system of claim 24, further comprising a transmission line electrically coupling the wireless communication device to the plurality of feed points.

32. The system of claim 24, further comprising multiple transmission lines, each transmission line electrically coupling the wireless communication device to a different feed point in the slot antenna.

33. The system of claim 24, further comprising a rectifier that is electrically coupled to one or more of the plurality of feed points.

34. The system of claim 24, further comprising multiple rectifiers, each of which is electrically coupled to a different feed point of the plurality of feed points.

35. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of feed points are positioned within the slot such that the slot antenna is operative at multiple frequencies.

36. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of feed points are positioned within the slot such that reflections between different feed points and the wireless communication device cancel.