RFID reader device having closely packed antennas
First Claim
1. A reader device for locating and tracking multiple tags, said reader device comprising:
- a plurality of closely packed antenna circuits;
at least one controller configured to control the plurality of closely packed antenna circuits; and
wherein the at least one controller is configured to activate one or more of the antenna circuits to generate at least one resonance signal field configured to interrogate at least one tag while substantially preventing or reducing cross-coupling of signals between the one or more active antenna circuits and at least one antenna circuit within the at least one resonance signal field to a sufficiently low level, wherein the sufficiently low level substantially prevents misreads from unwanted tags, to thereby track the multiple tags in a substantially controlled manner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reader device for locating and tracking multiple tags includes a plurality of closely packed antenna circuits and at least one controller configured to control the plurality of closely packed antenna circuits. The at least one controller is configured to activate one or more of the antenna circuits to generate at least one resonance signal field configured to interrogate at least one tag associated with the one or more active antenna circuits while substantially preventing or reducing cross-coupling of signals between the one or more active antenna circuits and at least one antenna circuit within the at least one resonance signal field to a sufficiently low level, wherein the sufficiently low level substantially prevents misreads from unwanted tags, to thereby track the multiple tags in a substantially controlled manner.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A reader device for locating and tracking multiple tags, said reader device comprising:
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a plurality of closely packed antenna circuits; at least one controller configured to control the plurality of closely packed antenna circuits; and wherein the at least one controller is configured to activate one or more of the antenna circuits to generate at least one resonance signal field configured to interrogate at least one tag while substantially preventing or reducing cross-coupling of signals between the one or more active antenna circuits and at least one antenna circuit within the at least one resonance signal field to a sufficiently low level, wherein the sufficiently low level substantially prevents misreads from unwanted tags, to thereby track the multiple tags in a substantially controlled manner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for locating and tracking tags with a reader device, said reader device having at least one antenna circuit, said method comprising:
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activating the at least one antenna circuit to generate a resonance signal field configured to interrogate a tag associated with the active at least one antenna circuit; and decoupling at least one other antenna circuit positioned within the resonance signal field of the active at least one antenna circuit to reduce cross-coupling of signals between the active at least one antenna circuit and the at least one other antenna circuit positioned within the resonance signal field to a sufficiently low level, wherein the sufficiently low level substantially prevents misreads from unwanted tags. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for tracking a plurality of electronic devices having a plurality of radio frequency (RF) tags associated therewith, said apparatus comprising:
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a rack having a plurality bays, said plurality of bays housing the plurality of electronic devices; and at least one reader device having at least one antenna circuit, wherein the at least one reader device is configured to interrogate a plurality of RF tags through generation of at least one resonance signal field while substantially preventing or reducinci cross-coupling of signals between the at least one antenna circuit and at least one other antenna circuit within the at least one resonance signal field to a sufficiently low level, to thereby determine at least one of a location and presence of an electronic device located in a first bay and an electronic device located in a second bay of the rack. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification