Energy source communication employing slot antenna

• US 7,755,556 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Buffalo Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ginn, Michael G., Forster, Ian J., King, Patrick F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hoang V
• Application Number:
  US12/172,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20080293455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/767, 343/768, 343/769, 343/770, 343/720
• US Class Current: 343/767
• 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: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• 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 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• 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 13/106 Microstrip slot antennas patch antenna elements H01Q9/0407
• 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

The invention relates to a wireless communication device that is coupled to an energy source, such as a battery, capacitor, or solar cell. The wireless communication device is coupled to an antenna of the energy source for wireless communication. The antenna receives communication signals from an interrogation reader or other communication device. The wireless communication device may be attached to a device or container for purposes such as communicating information regarding identification, manufacturing, tracking, and the like. The wireless communication device may also be coupled to the energy source for power.

Claims

1. A wireless communication energy source system, comprising:

an energy source including a body having a first terminal and a second terminal separated by a separator to form an antenna for wireless communication; and

a wireless communication device coupled to the antenna using at least one feed point;

wherein the wireless communication device is further coupled to the first and second terminals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the first terminal using a feed line and coupled to said second terminal through a conductive portion of the wireless communication device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a pin and is coupled to the second terminal using the pin.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the first terminal using a first feed line and the second terminal using a second feed line.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second feed lines each comprise a conductive adhesive.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first feed line further comprises a non-conductive adhesive, and wherein the conductive adhesive of the first feed line is coupled to the first terminal and the non-conductive adhesive of the first feed line is coupled to the second terminal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the antenna using a first of the at least one feed point, and wherein the first feed point comprises a conductive adhesive.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interrogator configured to communicate information wirelessly with the wireless communication device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the interrogator is further configured to emit a signal to the wireless communication device to power the wireless communication device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is configured such that the signal recharges the energy source.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the interrogator is further configured to communicate with the wireless communication device to transfer information.

12. An energy source, comprising:

a body having a positive terminal and a negative terminal separated by a separator forming a slot between the positive and negative terminals;

a sleeve coupled to the body; and

a wireless communication device situated between the sleeve and the body, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the slot using at least one feed point.

13. The energy source of claim 12, wherein the wireless communication device is a passive device.

14. The energy source of claim 12, wherein the wireless communication device is an active device.

15. The energy source of claim 12, wherein the wireless communication device comprises first and second feed lines that are coupled to the first and second terminals.

16. The energy source of claim 15, wherein the first and second feed lines are attached to the first and second terminals using a conductive adhesive.

17. The energy source of claim 12, wherein the separator forms a seal between the first terminal and the second terminal.

18. The energy source of claim 12, further comprising an adhesive situated between the wireless communication device and the body to attach the wireless communication device to the body.

19. The energy source of claim 12, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the slot using a feed line.

20. The energy source of claim 19, wherein the feed line is a conductive tab.

21. The energy source of claim 20, wherein the conductive tab is about three millimeters in width.

22. The energy source of claim 19, wherein the feed line is directly connected to said slot.

23. The energy source of claim 19, wherein the feed line is reactively connected to the slot.

24. The energy source of claim 19, wherein the feed line comprises a plurality of feed lines.

25. The energy source of claim 12, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the slot using a plurality of feed lines.

26. A wireless communication energy source system, comprising:

an energy source, including a body having a positive terminal and a negative terminal separated by a separator forming a slot between the positive and negative terminals;

a sleeve coupled to the body;

a wireless communication device situated between the sleeve and the body, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the slot using at least one feed point; and

an interrogator configured to communicate information wirelessly with the wireless communication device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the interrogator is further configured to emit a signal to the wireless communication device to power the wireless communication device.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the system is configured such that the signal recharges the energy source.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the interrogator is further configured to communicate with the wireless communication device to transfer information.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the information comprises at least one of identification information, tracking information, or manufacturing information.

31. A battery, comprising:

a body including an electrolyte plate structure, a first terminal, and a second terminal, wherein the first and second terminals are separated by a separator to form a slot therebetween, and wherein the electrolyte plate structure has a nonconductive void area therein;

a wireless communication device situated within the nonconductive void area, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the slot.

32. The battery of claim 31, wherein the wireless communication device is a passive device.

33. The battery of claim 31, wherein the wireless communication device is an active device.

34. The battery of claim 31, wherein the wireless communication device comprises first and second feed lines coupled to the first and second terminals.

35. The battery of claim 34, wherein the first and second feed lines are attached to the first and second terminals using a conductive adhesive.

36. The battery of claim 31, wherein the separator forms a seal between the first terminal and the second terminal.

37. The battery of claim 31, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the slot using a feed point.

38. The battery of claim 31, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the slot using a feed line.

39. The battery of claim 38, wherein the feed line is a conductive tab.

40. The battery of claim 39, wherein the conductive tab is about three millimeters in width.

41. The battery of claim 38, wherein the feed line is directly connected to the slot.

42. The battery of claim 38, wherein the feed line is reactively connected to the slot.

43. The battery of claim 31, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the slot using a plurality of feed lines.

44. The battery of claim 38, wherein the feed line comprises a plurality of feed lines.

45. A wireless communication energy source system, comprising:

a battery including a body having an electrolyte plate structure, a first terminal, a second terminal, and a dielectric separating the first and second terminals to form a slot therebetween, wherein the electrolyte plate structure has a nonconductive void area therein;

a wireless communication device situated within the nonconductive void area, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the slot; and

an interrogator configured to communicate information wirelessly with the wireless communication device.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the interrogator is further configured to emit a signal to the wireless communication device to power the wireless communication device.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the system is configured such that the signal recharges the battery.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein the interrogator is further configured to communicate with the wireless communication device to transfer information.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the information comprises at least one of identification information, tracking information, or manufacturing information.

50. An energy source, comprising:

a body having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a dielectric material forming a slot antenna therebetween, wherein the first and second terminals are configured to provide a source of energy; and

a wireless communication device coupled to at least one of the first and second terminals.

51. The energy source of claim 50, wherein the wireless communication device is a passive device.

52. The energy source of claim 50, wherein the wireless communication device is an active device.

53. The energy source of claim 50, wherein the wireless communication device comprises first and second feed lines that are coupled to the first and second terminals.

54. The energy source of claim 53, wherein the first and second feed lines are attached to the first and second terminals using a conductive adhesive.

55. The energy source of claim 53, wherein the feed line comprises a plurality of feed lines.

56. The energy source of claim 50, wherein the dielectric material forms a seal between the first and second terminals.

57. The energy source of claim 50, further comprising an adhesive situated between the wireless communication device and the body to attach the wireless communication device to the body.

58. The energy source of claim 50, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the slot antenna using a feed line.

59. The energy source of claim 58, wherein the feed line is a conductive tab.

60. The energy source of claim 59, wherein the conductive tab is about three millimeters in width.

61. The energy source of claim 58, wherein the feed line is directly connected to the slot antenna.

62. The energy source of claim 58, wherein the feed line is reactively connected to the slot antenna.

63. The energy source of claim 50, wherein the wireless communication device is coupled to the slot antenna using a plurality of feed lines.

64. A wireless communication energy source system, comprising:

an energy source including a body having a first terminal, a second terminal, and a dielectric material forming a slot antenna therebetween;

a wireless communication device coupled to at least one of the first and second terminals; and

an interrogator configured to communicate information wirelessly with the wireless communication device.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the interrogator is further configured to emit a signal to the wireless communication device to power the wireless communication device.

66. The system of claim 65, wherein the system is configured such that the signal recharges the energy source.

67. The system of claim 64, wherein the interrogator is further configured to communicate with the wireless communication device to transfer information.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the information comprises at least one of identification information, tracking information, or manufacturing information.