Passive resonant reflector

• US 7,551,085 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EnXnet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EnXnet, Inc.
• Inventors: Langan, William J., Corley, Ryan, Pempsell, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen; Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US11/426,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.7, 340/10.1, 295/92, 295/921, 296/00, 296/01, 298/25, 343/904, 343/850
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a passive resonant reflector and a method for the same are provided. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the passive resonant reflector includes first and second conductive/capacitance layers, one or more insulation layers separating the first and second conductive/capacitance layers, and a transceiver antenna having first and second ends. The first end of the transceiver antenna is coupled to the first conductive/capacitance layer, while the second end of the transceiver antenna is coupled to the second conductive/capacitance layer. The transceiver antenna is operable to receive a transmitted radio frequency signal, charge the first and second conductive/capacitance layers with the received radio frequency signal, and transmit the received radio frequency signal upon a discharge of the first and second conductive/capacitance layers.

Claims

1. A passive resonant reflector, comprising:

first and second conductive/capacitance layers;

one or more insulation layers separating the first and second conductive/capacitance layers;

a transceiver antenna having first and second ends; and

a first diode coupling the first end of the transceiver antenna to the first conductive/capacitance layer, the second end of the transceiver antenna coupled to the second conductive/capacitance layer;

wherein the transceiver antenna is operable to receive a transmitted radio frequency signal, charge the first and second conductive/capacitance layers with the received radio frequency signal, and transmit the received radio frequency signal upon a discharge of the first and second conductive/capacitance layers.

2. The passive resonant reflector of claim 1, further comprising a protective coating substantially enclosing the first and second conductive/capacitance layers, one or more insulation layers, and transceiver antenna.

3. The passive resonant reflector of claim 1, further comprising a second diode coupling the second end of the transceiver antenna to the second conductive/capacitance layer.

4. The passive resonant reflector of claim 1, wherein the transceiver antenna comprises metal.

5. The passive resonant reflector of claim 1, wherein the transceiver antenna comprises a carbon compound.

6. The passive resonant reflector of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductive/capacitance layers comprise an acetate film.

7. The passive resonant reflector of claim 1, wherein the one or more insulation layers comprise Mylar.

8. A passive resonant reflector, comprising:

first and second conductive/capacitance layers;

one or more insulation layers separating the first and second conductive/capacitance layers; and

a transceiver antenna having first and second ends, the first end of the transceiver antenna coupled to the first conductive/capacitance layer, the second end of the transceiver antenna coupled to the second conductive/capacitance layer;

wherein the transceiver antenna is operable to receive a transmitted radio frequency signal, charge the first and second conductive/capacitance layers with the received radio frequency signal, and transmit the received radio frequency signal upon a discharge of the first and second conductive/capacitance layers; and

wherein the passive resonant reflector is operable to be disarmed by applying a magnetic field to the passive resonant reflector sufficient to alter a capacitance property of the first and second conductive/capacitance layers.

9. A method for forming a passive resonant reflector, comprising:

coupling a first end of a transceiver antenna to a first conductive/capacitance layer with a first diode;

coupling a second end of the transceiver antenna to a second conductive/capacitance layer; and

separating the first and second conductive/capacitance layers with one or more insulation layers.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising substantially enclosing the first and second conductive/capacitance layers, one or more insulation layers, and transceiver antenna within a protective layer.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein coupling the second end of the transceiver antenna to the second conductive/capacitance layer comprises coupling the second end of the transceiver antenna to the second conductive/capacitance layer with a second diode.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the transceiver antenna comprises metal.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the transceiver antenna comprises a carbon compound.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second conductive/capacitance layers comprise an acetate film.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more insulation layers comprise Mylar.

16. A method of electronically source tagging an object, comprising:

tagging an object with a passive resonant reflector comprising first and second conductive/capacitance layers, one or more insulation layers separating the first and second conductive/capacitance layers, and a transceiver antenna having first and second ends, the first end of the transceiver antenna coupled to the first conductive/capacitance layer, the second end of the transceiver antenna coupled to the second conductive/capacitance layer;

transmitting a first radio frequency signal to the passive resonant reflector such that the first and second conductive/capacitance layers of the passive resonant reflector store the transmitted radio frequency;

receiving a second radio frequency signal transmitted by the passive resonant reflector upon a discharge of the first and second conductive/capacitance layers;

signaling an alarm in response to receiving the second radio frequency signal; and

disarming the passive resonant reflector by applying a magnetic field to the passive resonant reflector sufficient to alter a capacitance property of the first and second conductive/capacitance layers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second radio frequency signals are substantially identical.