Multi-element RFID coupler
First Claim
1. A near field coupler system comprising:
- a transceiver;
a near field coupler in electrical communication with the transceiver, the near field coupler configured to transmit wireless signals to a targeted transponder, the near field coupler comprising;
a dielectric substrate having a first surface and a second surface;
a ground plane adjacent to the second surface of the dielectric substrate;
radiating elements disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate, wherein the radiating elements are coupled to the ground plane through one or more terminating resistors; and
at least one switching element coupled to each of the radiating elements, wherein the at least one switching element is;
provided in electrical communication with the transceiver; and
configured to selectively activate one or more radiating elements among the radiating elements to provide selective wireless communications between the transceiver and the one or more of the radiating elements to communicate with the targeted transponder having an unknown orientation relative to the radiating elements; and
a processor configured to determine a transceiver power level required to effectively communicate with the targeted transponder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An RFID communication system comprising a near field coupler that is capable of selectively communicating with a targeted transponder positioned among a group of multiple adjacent transponders. The coupler is configured to receive communication signals from a transceiver and transmit the signals to a targeted transponder in a transponder operating region. The coupler includes a number of radiating elements spaced apart and a switching element. The switching element selectively couples one or more of the radiating elements to the transceiver. The coupled elements transmit the signals into the transponder operating region by emanating a near field effect. The pattern of the near field effect may be adjusted by changing the combination of the coupled radiating elements.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A near field coupler system comprising:
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a transceiver; a near field coupler in electrical communication with the transceiver, the near field coupler configured to transmit wireless signals to a targeted transponder, the near field coupler comprising; a dielectric substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a ground plane adjacent to the second surface of the dielectric substrate; radiating elements disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate, wherein the radiating elements are coupled to the ground plane through one or more terminating resistors; and at least one switching element coupled to each of the radiating elements, wherein the at least one switching element is; provided in electrical communication with the transceiver; and configured to selectively activate one or more radiating elements among the radiating elements to provide selective wireless communications between the transceiver and the one or more of the radiating elements to communicate with the targeted transponder having an unknown orientation relative to the radiating elements; and a processor configured to determine a transceiver power level required to effectively communicate with the targeted transponder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of tuning a near field coupler system comprising:
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transmitting a communication signal from a transceiver to a near field coupler, the near field coupler comprising radiating elements and at least one switching element, wherein the at least one switching element is configured to provide selective electrical communication between the transceiver and one or more of the radiating elements among the radiating elements to define a plurality of radiating configurations for broadcasting wireless signals into a transponder operating region; positioning a targeted transponder within the transponder operation region, wherein the targeted transponder is arranged in an unknown orientation; broadcasting wireless signals into the transponder operating region; determining a selected radiating configuration of the plurality of radiating configurations, wherein the at least one switching element defines the selected radiating configuration and wherein the selected radiating configuration provides selective wireless communications between the transceiver and the one or more of the radiating elements to communicate with the targeted transponder having the unknown orientation; storing data associated with the selected radiating configuration; and accessing the data and utilizing the selected radiating configuration for subsequent transponders arranged in the unknown orientation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A near field coupler system comprising:
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a transceiver; a near field coupler in electrical communication with the transceiver, the near field coupler configured to transmit wireless signals to a targeted transponder, the near field coupler comprising; a dielectric substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a ground plane adjacent to the second surface of the dielectric substrate; radiating elements disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate, wherein the radiating elements are coupled to the ground plane through one or more terminating resistors; and at least one switching element coupled to each of the radiating elements, wherein the at least one switching element is; provided in electrical communication with the transceiver; and configured to selectively activate one or more radiating elements among the radiating elements to provide selective wireless communications between the transceiver and the one or more of the radiating elements to communicate with the targeted transponder having an unknown orientation relative to the radiating elements; and a processor configured to determine a preferred configuration of the at least one switching element to effectively communicate with the targeted transponder while minimizing inadvertent communications with transponders other than the targeted transponder and while enabling a reliable encoding of the targeted transponder.
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17. A method of tuning a near field coupler system comprising:
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transmitting a communication signal from a transceiver to a near field coupler, the near field coupler comprising radiating elements and at least one switching element, wherein the at least one switching element is configured to provide selective electrical communication between the transceiver and one or more of the radiating elements among the radiating elements to define a plurality of radiating configurations for broadcasting wireless signals into a transponder operating region; positioning a targeted transponder within the transponder operation region, wherein the targeted transponder is arranged in an unknown orientation; determining a power level for each of the plurality of multiple radiating configurations that accommodates a reliable encoding of the targeted transponder; broadcasting wireless signals into the transponder operating region; determining a selected radiating configuration of the plurality of radiating configurations, wherein the at least one switching element defines the selected radiating configuration and wherein the selected radiating configuration provides selective wireless communications between the transceiver and the one or more of the radiating elements to communicate with the targeted transponder having the unknown orientation; and storing data associated with the selected radiating configuration.
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18. A method of tuning a near field coupler system comprising:
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transmitting a communication signal from a transceiver to a near field coupler, the near field coupler comprising radiating elements and at least one switching element, wherein the at least one switching element is configured to provide selective electrical communication between the transceiver and one or more of the radiating elements among the radiating elements to define a plurality of radiating configurations for broadcasting wireless signals into a transponder operating region; positioning a targeted transponder within the transponder operation region, wherein the targeted transponder is arranged in an unknown orientation; broadcasting wireless signals into the transponder operating region; determining a selected radiating configuration of the plurality of radiating configurations, wherein the at least one switching element defines the selected radiating configuration and wherein the selected radiating configuration provides selective wireless communications between the transceiver and the one or more of the radiating elements to communicate with the targeted transponder having the unknown orientation; storing data associated with the selected radiating configuration; positioning a new transponder within the transponder operation region, wherein the new transponder is arranged in an orientation different than the unknown orientation; determining a new radiating configuration of the plurality of radiating configurations, wherein the at least one switching element defines the new radiating configuration and wherein the new radiating configuration provides selective wireless communications between the transceiver and one or more of the radiating elements to communicate with the new transponder having the new orientation; and storing new data associated with the new radiating configuration.
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Specification