Systems and methods for enhancing the magnetic coupling in a wireless communication system

• US 7,696,884 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Macronix International Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lai, Po-Chih, Shen, Chia-Jui, Lee, Kung-Hua, Luo, Huan-Chin, Chiang, Lu-Shan, Lo, Ying-Che
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/378,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20070222602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.2, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/572.9, 343/866, 343/895, 343/731
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• 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

Abstract

An RFID system comprises an intermediate device that includes a first and second antenna coils connected together in a close loop format. The coils are formed on a flexible substrate that can be folded around a magnetic flux blocker such that one loop is on side of the blocker and the other loop is on the other side of the blocker. The intermediate device can then improve communication between a reader on one side of the blocker and a tag on the other. The coil on the reader side of the blocker can receive RF signals being generated by the reader and convert them to an electrical signal that can be passed to the coil on the tag side of the blockage. The second coil can then generate an RF signal that can be transmitted to the tag.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a first communication device;

a second communication device configured to communicate with the first communication device via wireless communication signals; and

a passive intermediate antenna formed around opposing surfaces of a magnetic flux blocker and interposed between the first and second communication devices, the passive intermediate antenna comprising a first coil and a second coil formed on a substrate, the substrate comprising a flexible portion between the first and second coils bent around the magnetic flux blocker.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first communication device is a reader and the second communication device is a tag.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils comprise the same number of turns.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils comprise approximately the same dimensions.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils comprise a different number of turns.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils comprise different dimensions.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils are approximately the same shape.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils are of different shapes.

9. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils are tuned to operate at approximately 125 KHz or 134.2 KHz.

10. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils are tuned to operate at approximately 13.56 MHz.

11. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils are tuned to operate in a UHF frequency band.

12. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils are tuned to operate in a microwave frequency band.

13. A passive intermediate antenna for use in wireless communication system, the passive intermediate antenna configured to bend or form around opposing surfaces of a magnetic flux blocker in line between a first communication device and a second communication device, the passive intermediate antenna comprising:

a first coil configured to communicate with the first communication device;

a second coil configured to communicate with the second communication device;

a substrate comprising a first region on which the first coil is formed, a second region on which the second coil is formed, and a flexible region joining the first and second regions, the flexible region configured to enable the passive intermediate antenna to bend or form around the magnetic flux blocker.

14. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the entire substrate is a flexible substrate.

15. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein at least one of the regions on which the first and second substrates are formed comprises a rigid substrate material.

16. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the first and second coils are electrically connected.

17. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the first and second coils are formed using printed wiring board techniques.

18. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the first and second coils are formed using printing processes.

19. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the first and second coils comprise the same number of turns.

20. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the first and second coils comprise approximately the same dimensions.

21. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the first and second coils comprise a different number of turns.

22. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the first and second coils comprise different dimensions.

23. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the first and second coils are approximately the same shape.

24. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the first and second coils are of different shapes.

25. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the first and second coils are tuned to operate at approximately 125 KHz or 134.2 KHz.

26. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the first and second coils are tuned to operate at approximately 13.56 MHz.

27. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the first and second coils are tuned to operate in a UHF frequency band.

28. The passive intermediate antenna of claim 13, wherein the first and second coils are tuned to operate in a microwave frequency band.

29. A wireless communication device, comprising:

an internal wireless communication tag configured to communicate with an external reader;

a battery disposed between the internal wireless communication tag and the external reader; and

an intermediate antenna configured to bend or form around the battery, the intermediate antenna comprising;

a first coil configured to communicate with the external reader,

a second coil configured to communicate with the internal wireless communication tag,

a substrate comprising a first region on which the first coil is formed, a second region on which the second coil is formed, and a flexible region joining the first and second regions, the flexible region configured to enable the intermediate antenna to bend or form around the battery.

30. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the entire substrate is a flexible substrate.

31. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein at least one of the regions on which the first and second substrates are formed comprises a rigid substrate material.

32. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the first and second coils are electrically connected.

33. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the first and second coils are formed using printed wiring board techniques.

34. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the first and second coils are formed using printing processes.

35. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the first and second coils comprise the same number of turns.

36. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the first and second coils comprise approximately the same dimensions.

37. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the first and second coils comprise a different number of turns.

38. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the first and second coils comprise different dimensions.

39. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the first and second coils are approximately the same shape.

40. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the first and second coils are of different shapes.

41. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the first and second coils are tuned to operate at approximately 125 KHz or 134.2 KHz.

42. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the first and second coils are tuned to operate at approximately 13.56 MHz.

43. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the first and second coils are tuned to operate in a UHF frequency band.

44. The wireless communication device of claim 29, wherein the first and second coils are tuned to operate in a microwave frequency band.