Item identification device antenna

• US 9,251,390 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2010
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation
• Inventors: Claessen, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEDEKEL, TABITHA F
• Application Number:
  US12/960,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20120138682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,884 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/376, 235/381, 235/383, 235/439, 705/14.24, 705/14.37, 705/22, 340/572.1, 340/572.5, 340/572.7, 340/572.8
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

An item identification device antenna which provides better field coverage for reading item identification tags. The item identification device antenna includes a first portion coupled to a tag reader for reading a tag on an item, wherein the first portion is for radiating an electromagnetic field at a predetermined frequency, and a second portion in the electromagnetic field for resonating at the predetermined frequency to radiate another electromagnetic field for reading the tag. The tags may include radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.

Claims

1. An item identification device antenna for use in a disc rental kiosk comprising:

a first portion coupled to a tag reader of the kiosk, wherein the first portion is for radiating an electromagnetic field at a predetermined frequency in a first direction for reading a tag on a disc to be returned to the kiosk; and

a second portion coupled to the kiosk, the second portion being in the electromagnetic field for resonating at the predetermined frequency and for radiating another electromagnetic field in a second direction opposite to the first direction for reading the tag when the disc is between the first and second portions before the disc passes into the kiosk through a disc return slot of the kiosk, and wherein walls of the disc return slot are constructed of a non-conductive material, and wherein the second portion is inclined at an angle relative to the first portion, and wherein first portion is situated below a bottom wall of the disc return slot and the second portion is situated above an upper wall of the disc return slot, and wherein the return slot is configured to open when the tag is identified in an inventory and the return slot is configured to shut when the tag is not identified in the inventory.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the tag comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a number of loops.

4. The antenna of claim 3, wherein the first portion further comprises tuning components for tuning the first portion to the predetermined frequency.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a number of loops.

6. The antenna of claim 5, wherein the second portion further comprises tuning components for tuning the second portion to the predetermined frequency.

7. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the one electromagnetic field and the other electromagnetic field overlap.

8. An item identification device antenna for use in a disc rental kiosk comprising:

a first loop antenna coupled to the kiosk, the first loop antenna coupled to a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader for radiating an electromagnetic field at an RFID tag reading frequency in a first direction towards a disc to be returned to the kiosk; and

a second loop antenna coupled to the kiosk, the second loop antenna in the electromagnetic field tuned to the RFID tag reading frequency, wherein the second loop antenna resonates at the RFID tag reading frequency and radiates another electromagnetic field in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the one and the other electromagnetic fields overlap for reading an RFID tag on the disc when the disc is between the first and second loop antennas before the disc passes into the kiosk through a disc return slot of the kiosk, and wherein walls of the disc return slot are constructed of a non-conductive material, wherein the second loop antenna is inclined at an angle relative to the first loop antenna, and wherein first loop antenna is situated below a bottom wall of the disc return slot and the second loop antenna is situated above an upper wall of the disc return slot, and wherein the return slot is configured to open when the RFID tag is identified in an inventory and the return slot is configured to shut when the RFID tag is not identified in the inventory.

9. A method of creating an item identification field for use in a disc rental kiosk comprising:

radiating an electromagnetic field at a predetermined frequency in a first direction for reading an item identification tag of a disc to be returned by a first antenna portion coupled to a tag reader of a kiosk; and

resonating at the predetermined frequency to radiate another electromagnetic field in a second direction opposite to the first direction by a second antenna portion of the kiosk, wherein the second antenna portion is in the electromagnetic field, and wherein the item identification tag is external to the kiosk and between the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion before the disc passes into the kiosk through an item return slot of the kiosk, and wherein walls of the item return slot are non-conductive, and wherein the second antenna portion is inclined at an angle relative to the first antenna portion, and wherein first antenna portion is situated below a bottom wall of the item return slot and the second antenna portion is situated above an upper wall of the item return slot, and wherein the return slot is configured to open when the item identification tag is identified in an inventory and the return slot is configured to shut when the item tag is not identified in the inventory.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the item identification tag is located between the first and second antenna portions during reading.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the one electromagnetic field and the other electromagnetic field overlap.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the tag comprises a radio frequency identification tag.