Antenna interfaces for mobile RFID readers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, comprising:
- a first antenna;
an antenna interface coupled to the first antenna;
a transceiver coupled to the antenna interface, wherein the transceiver is configured to generate a communication signal to communicate with at least one RFID tag;
a docking interface coupled to the antenna interface, wherein the docking interface is configured to detachably interface the reader with a docking station, the docking station including a contact member coupled to at least one additional antenna; and
a housing that contains the transceiver, the antenna interface, and the docking interface, wherein the docking interface is accessible at an external surface of the housing;
wherein the antenna interface is configured to couple the communication signal to the first antenna when the reader is detached from the docking station, to enable the first antenna to transmit the communication signal; and
wherein the antenna interface is configured to couple the communication signal to the contact member when the docking interface is interfaced with the docking station, to enable the at least one additional antenna to transmit the communication signal.
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for communicating with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags using an RFID reader are provided. A first communication signal configured to communicate with at least one RFID tag is generated. The first communication signal is transmitted from a first antenna of the reader. The reader is docked with a docking station, the docking station including a contact member coupled to at least one additional antenna, enabling the reader to couple a second communication signal through the contact member to the at least one additional antenna.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, comprising:
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a first antenna; an antenna interface coupled to the first antenna; a transceiver coupled to the antenna interface, wherein the transceiver is configured to generate a communication signal to communicate with at least one RFID tag; a docking interface coupled to the antenna interface, wherein the docking interface is configured to detachably interface the reader with a docking station, the docking station including a contact member coupled to at least one additional antenna; and a housing that contains the transceiver, the antenna interface, and the docking interface, wherein the docking interface is accessible at an external surface of the housing; wherein the antenna interface is configured to couple the communication signal to the first antenna when the reader is detached from the docking station, to enable the first antenna to transmit the communication signal; and wherein the antenna interface is configured to couple the communication signal to the contact member when the docking interface is interfaced with the docking station, to enable the at least one additional antenna to transmit the communication signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An antenna system, comprising:
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a plurality of antennas; an electrical signal link coupled to the plurality of antennas in a series topology; and a docking station configured to detachably interface with a handheld reader, the docking station including a first contact member coupled to the electrical signal link; wherein the docking station is configured to couple the first contact member to a second contact member of the handheld reader when the docking station is interfaced with the handheld reader. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for communicating with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags using an RFID reader, comprising:
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generating a first communication signal confignred to communicate with at least one RFID tag; transmitting the first communication signal from a first antenna of the reader; and docking the reader with a docking station, the docking station including a contact member coupled to at least one additional antenna; said docking the reader with the docking station enabling the reader to couple a second communication signal through the contact member to the at least one additional antenna. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for communicating with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags using an RFID reader, said reader including a first antenna, comprising:
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docking the reader with a docking station, the docking station including a contact member coupled to at least one additional antenna; said docking the reader with the docking station enabling the reader to couple a communication signal through the contact member to the at least one additional antenna, wherein said docking the reader with the docking station disables the reader from transmitting the communication signal from the first antenna. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for communicating with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, comprising:
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means for generating a first communication signal configured to communicate with at least one RFID tag; means for transmitting the first communication signal from a reader; means for docking the reader with a docking station; and means for enabling the reader to couple a second communication signal to at least one additional antenna through the docking station.
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Specification