Wearable data transceiver with coupled antenna

• US 8,074,890 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consortium P Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Consortium P Incorporated
• Inventors: Duggan, Robert J, Webb, Spencer L
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gudorf, Laura
• Application Number:
  US12/554,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20110057042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/492, 343/700.R
• US Class Current: 235/492
• 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: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• 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 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals

Abstract

A flexible antenna capacitively coupled to related circuitry components for an active wearable data transceiver electronic location and identification device. Wearable data transceivers (WDXs) are employed as bracelets, badges, and may be incorporated with back pack straps and clothing at locations such as collars, cuffs, and hems. They employ various colors. Active transceiver communication devices are also mounted on objects for real time location tracking and identification. Body-mounted WDXs match the body with the antenna for sending and receiving signals. WDX power includes coplanar battery cells and circuitry has radio transmitter and radio receiver components.

Claims

1. A wireless data transceiver device (WDX) for communication comprising:

an enclosure;

a flexible antenna component;

communication circuitry for generating and receiving signals, wherein said communication circuitry is in electrical communication with said antenna component and said communication circuitry and said antenna component are within said enclosure, wherein said wireless data transceiver device is an active real time location and identification device;

said WDX communicates with a remote device through radio frequency wave transmission; and

said WDX comprising an active transmitter, said WDX both initiating communication with and responding to received signals of said remote transceiver;

wherein said device is matched to a proximate body of a wearer, said matching comprising;

reactive near-field interaction between said proximate body and said device;

whereby overall efficiency is improved and communication performance is enhanced.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said electrical communication with said flexible antenna component and said communication circuitry comprises capacitive coupling of said antenna to said circuitry, whereby reliability of operation of said WDX is achieved through flexure of said flexible antenna.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said capacitive coupling comprises an adhesive affixing said antenna component to said circuitry, wherein said adhesive is about 0.005 inch thick and sandwiched between conductive plates of about 0.25 inch in extent.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said matching network is a differential matching network comprising:

two symmetric branches, each said branch comprising a first capacitor, an inductor, and a second capacitor;

said inductor having a first lead and a second lead;

said first inductor lead is electrically coupled to a circuitry connection and a first lead of said first capacitor;

said second inductor lead is electrically coupled to an antenna connection and a first lead of said second capacitor;

a second lead of said first capacitor is coupled to a first ground; and

a second lead of said second capacitor is coupled to a second ground;

whereby said differential matching network matches impedance of said antenna at said antenna leads to output of said device'"'"'s transmitter and said differential matching network forms a low-pass filter having a cutoff frequency above band of operation of said device whereby harmonics are suppressed.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said first capacitor value is about 33 picofarads (pF);

said second capacitor value is about 22 picofarads (pF); and

said inductor value is about 18 nanohenries (nH).

6. The device of claim 1, wherein components of said enclosure are heat seam welded or RF seam welded.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is affixed to at least one of collar, hem, backpack strap, and object.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein assembly of said circuitry and said antenna is inserted through a slot defined by said enclosure, said slot being sealed once fastened around an appendage of a wearer.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein assembly of said circuitry and said antenna is inserted through a slot defined by said enclosure, and said slot is sealed prior to fastening around an appendage of a wearer.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein assembly of said circuitry and said antenna is inserted through a slot defined by said enclosure prior to seam welding components of said enclosure.

11. A wireless data transceiver device (WDX) for communication comprising:

an enclosure;

a flexible antenna component;

communication circuitry for generating and receiving signals, wherein said communication circuitry is in electrical communication with said antenna component and said communication circuitry and said antenna component are within said enclosure, wherein said wireless data transceiver device is an active real time location and identification device;

said WDX communicates with a remote device through radio frequency wave transmission; and

said WDX comprising an active transmitter, said WDX both initiating communication with and responding to received signals of said remote transceiver;

whereby power returning to a receiving antenna of said remote device from said WDX is diminished proportionate to a second power of range distance between said remote device and said WDX (1/R²).

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said circuit comprises a power source and an RF oscillator, wherein said RF oscillator is powered by and excited by said power source and said communication circuitry.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said device is disposable.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein said communication circuitry comprises an inflexible circuit board.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein said device operates in at least one frequency band of frequency bands of 285 MHz to 399.8 MHz, 410 MHz to 607.9 MHz, and 800 MHz to 928 MHz.

16. A wireless data transceiver device (WDX) for communication comprising:

an enclosure;

a flexible antenna component;

communication circuitry for generating and receiving signals, wherein said communication circuitry is in electrical communication with said antenna component and said communication circuitry and said antenna component are within said enclosure, wherein said wireless data transceiver device is an active real time location and identification device;

said WDX communicates with a remote device through radio frequency wave transmission; and

said WDX comprising an active transmitter, said WDX both initiating communication with and responding to received signals of said remote transceiver;

said device comprising at least one battery coplanar with a circuit board of said communication circuitry, said coplanar battery located within said circuit board, said battery circumscribed by an opening defined by said circuit board.

17. The device of claim 16, comprising clips retaining said at least one coplanar battery, wherein each of said clips comprises an arcuate segment;

said arcuate segment anchored at each extremity to a circuit board by an angled flexible leg located approximately along an extended diagonal of said battery;

said arcuate segment including a flexible-spring curved prong at approximately the center of inside curve of said arcuate segment, said prong providing said retaining force on said battery, whereby thickness of said device is reduced, moving components are eliminated, and installation and removal of said battery is accomplished without opening a battery enclosure.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein said device comprises a matching network at frequencies between 300 MHz and 347 MHz matching a differential transmitter output impedance of about 100 ohms.

19. A wireless data transceiver device (WDX) for communication comprising:

an enclosure;

a flexible antenna component;

communication circuitry for generating and receiving signals, wherein said communication circuitry is in electrical communication with said antenna component and said communication circuitry and said antenna component are within said enclosure, wherein said wireless data transceiver device is an active real time location and identification device;

said WDX communicates with a remote device through radio frequency wave transmission; and

said WDX comprising an active transmitter, said WDX both initiating communication with and responding to received signals of said remote transceiver;

wherein said flexible antenna comprises a single rectangular loop;

said communication circuitry comprises;

a power source to power said communication circuitry;

a power switch electrically connected between said power source and said communication circuitry;

whereby said device is electrically unpowered and inoperative until said switch is activated from a normal open circuit setting to a closed circuit setting;

an RF oscillator providing an RF source, distinct from an integrated circuit clock-generating oscillator;

an RF signal switch in RF communication with said flexible antenna;

an RF receiver in RF communication with said RF signal switch;

an RF demodulator in communication with said RF receiver;

a microprocessor in communication with said RF demodulator;

an RF modulator in communication with said microprocessor; and

an RF transmitter in RF communication with said RF modulator;

wherein said RF transmitter is in RF communication with said RF signal switch.

20. A method of locating and identifying a subject with a wireless data transceiver (WDX), comprising the steps of:

storing information in circuitry of said WDX;

placing said circuitry in electrical connection with an antenna component of said WDX;

inserting assembly of said circuitry and said antenna in an enclosure of said WDX;

attaching said enclosure to said subject to be associated with said stored information; and

accessing said information in said circuitry;

wherein said WDX circuitry and said WDX antenna comprise an active real time location and identification device, said WDX having an active transmitter, and said WDX both initiating communication with and responding to received signals of a remote transceiver;

wherein removing a tab activates said device;

said tab activation comprising;

changing setting of a power switch electrically connected between a power supply of said device and said circuitry of said device, whereby said device is electrically unpowered and inoperative until said switch is activated from a normal open circuit setting to a closed circuit setting by said activation.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said enclosure comprises means for attaching said enclosure to said subject, said enclosure further comprising means for retaining said assembly, wherein said retaining means comprises a resilient body portion defining an opening therein and a retaining lip adjacent said opening, whereby said opening may be deformed to permit insertion of said assembly into said body portion and said retaining lip assists in retaining said assembly in said body portion;

said assembly retaining means are associated with said attaching means.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said identifying comprises locating said subject by RF communication within a structure.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said coupling of said circuitry with said antenna is capacitive.

24. A method for operating on electromagnetic signals using a wireless data transceiver device comprising an antenna coupled to circuitry, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning said wireless data transceiver device proximate an individual;

coupling said wireless data transceiver device to said individual by proximity;

wherein said wireless data transceiver device is matched to body of said proximate individual, said matching comprising reactive near-field interaction between said proximate body and said wireless data transceiver device, whereby overall efficiency is improved and communication performance is enhanced;

receiving a receive signal at said wireless data transceiver device;

coupling said receive signal to said antenna of said wireless data transceiver device;

receiving said receive signal by said circuitry of said wireless data transceiver device, wherein said circuitry is coupled with said antenna;

decoding said received signal by a processor of said wireless data transceiver device;

generating transmit data;

generating a transmit signal by said circuitry of said wireless data transceiver device;

coupling said transmit signal to said antenna, wherein said antenna is coupled with said circuitry; and

transmitting said transmit signal;

wherein said wireless data transceiver device both initiates communication with and responds to received signals of a remote transceiver, and said wireless data transceiver device is an active real time location and identification device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said method comprises operating in at least one frequency band of frequency bands of 285 MHz to 399.8 MHz, 410 MHz to 607.9 MHz, and 800 MHz to 928 MHz.