Inductively coupled extension antenna for a radio frequency identification reader
First Claim
1. A radio frequency identification reader assembly, comprising:
- a portable reader, including;
reader circuitry configured to generate an activation signal;
a first antenna, where the first antenna is electrically connected to the reader circuitry; and
a reader housing containing the reader circuitry and the first antenna;
an extension antenna including;
an elongated housing;
a second antenna located at one end of the housing; and
a third antenna located at the opposite end of the housing, where the second antenna is electrically connected to the third antenna; and
a mechanical coupler configured to fix one end of the elongated housing of the extension antenna to the housing of the portable reader, wherein the first antenna and second antenna are inductively coupled when the extension antenna is fixed to the housing of the portable reader by the mechanical coupler.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for adapting a portable RFID reader to create a portable RFID reader assembly that includes an extension antenna. In many embodiments, the extension antenna can be added to increase the reach of the portable RFID reader. The extension antenna is inductively coupled to the portable RFID reader and in many embodiments, the extension antenna is retrofit to an existing portable RFID reader. In other embodiments, a portable RFID reader and one or more extension antennas are produced as part of a set. One embodiment of the invention includes a reader having reader circuitry configured to generate an activation signal, a first antenna, where the first antenna is electrically connected to the reader circuitry, a reader housing containing the reader circuitry, an extension antenna including an elongated housing, a second antenna located at one end of the housing, and a third antenna located at the opposite end of the housing, where the second antenna is electrically connected to the third antenna. In addition, the first antenna and second antenna are inductively coupled.
-
Citations
27 Claims
-
1. A radio frequency identification reader assembly, comprising:
-
a portable reader, including; reader circuitry configured to generate an activation signal; a first antenna, where the first antenna is electrically connected to the reader circuitry; and a reader housing containing the reader circuitry and the first antenna; an extension antenna including; an elongated housing; a second antenna located at one end of the housing; and a third antenna located at the opposite end of the housing, where the second antenna is electrically connected to the third antenna; and a mechanical coupler configured to fix one end of the elongated housing of the extension antenna to the housing of the portable reader, wherein the first antenna and second antenna are inductively coupled when the extension antenna is fixed to the housing of the portable reader by the mechanical coupler. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An extension antenna, comprising:
-
a first resonant antenna circuit; a second resonant antenna circuit; an electrical interconnection between the first and second resonant antenna circuits; and an elongated housing containing the first and second antenna circuits and the electrical interconnection; wherein the elongated housing is configured to be fixed to a housing of a portable RFID reader by a mechanical coupler; wherein the first resonant antenna circuit is located at one end of the elongated housing; and wherein the second resonant antenna circuit is located at the opposite end of the elongated housing. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A radio frequency identification reader assembly, comprising:
a portable reader, including; reader circuitry configured to generate an activation signal; a first ferrite antenna, where the first ferrite antenna is electrically connected to the reader circuitry; and a reader housing containing the reader circuitry and the first ferrite antenna; an extension antenna including; an elongated housing; a second ferrite antenna located at one end of the housing; and a third ferrite antenna located at the opposite end of the housing, where the second ferrite antenna is electrically connected to the third ferrite antenna; and a mechanical coupler configured to fix one end of the elongated housing of the extension antenna to the housing of the portable reader, wherein the first ferrite antenna and second ferrite antenna are spaced no more than 2 cm apart, are axially aligned, and inductively coupled when the extension antenna is fixed to the housing of the portable reader by the mechanical coupler. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
Specification