Low-profile real-time location system tag
First Claim
1. A miniature and impact resistant real-time location system tag comprising:
- a signal processor configured to generate blink data, the blink data comprising a series of ultra wide band pulses and data;
a dielectric antenna support defining an antenna cavity;
a compact high bandwidth antenna seated within the antenna cavity and disposed in electrical communication with the signal processor, the antenna configured to transmit the blink data;
a radio frequency shield configured to prevent parasitic radiation affecting antenna transmissions;
a mechanical isolator configured to protect a printed circuit board device; and
a cup seal configured to prevent the mechanical isolator from entering the radio frequency shield, wherein the mechanical isolator comprises a potting material.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for an electrical-mechanical interface associated with a miniature RTLS tag, wherein a mechanical shock absorption comprises a protective antenna enclosure and a potting material to secure the electronics to printed circuit boards. A polyester cup seal prevents the potting material from interacting electrically with an RF antenna. A signal processor is electrically isolated from the antenna by a RF shield or metal can. The cup seal is vacuum-sealed about the RF shield. Flexibility in radiation patterns for the antenna is made possible by eliminating the electrical interactions of the dielectric materials associated with mechanical shock absorption and the antenna. The antenna is approximately circular, with a coaxial center feed through the antenna aperture, and is perturbed by purposeful metal and dielectric adjustments to generate nearly omni-directional radiation patterns in elevation and azimuth.
177 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A miniature and impact resistant real-time location system tag comprising:
-
a signal processor configured to generate blink data, the blink data comprising a series of ultra wide band pulses and data; a dielectric antenna support defining an antenna cavity; a compact high bandwidth antenna seated within the antenna cavity and disposed in electrical communication with the signal processor, the antenna configured to transmit the blink data; a radio frequency shield configured to prevent parasitic radiation affecting antenna transmissions; a mechanical isolator configured to protect a printed circuit board device; and a cup seal configured to prevent the mechanical isolator from entering the radio frequency shield, wherein the mechanical isolator comprises a potting material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for fabricating a miniature and impact resistant real-time location system tag, comprising:
-
sealing a cup seal to at least one printed circuit board, the cup seal structured to be sealed over a radio frequency shield and to prevent potting material from entering the radio frequency shield, wherein the at least one printed circuit board is associated with a signal processor, transmitter electronics, and an antenna; encasing a tag assembly comprising the at least one printed circuit board and the antenna within a shock absorbing material; depositing the potting material to secure the tag assembly within the shock absorbing material; and tuning the antenna, whereby the tuning is unaffected by the sealing, the encasing, or the depositing. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A miniature and impact resistant real-time location system location tag comprising:
-
a signal processor configured to generate blink data, the blink data comprising a series of ultra wide band pulses and data; a compact high bandwidth antenna configured to transmit the blink data in association with transmitter electronics; a radio frequency shield structured to prevent parasitic radiation from affecting antenna transmissions; at least one printed circuit board, wherein the at least one printed circuit board is associated with a signal processor and the antenna, wherein the at least one printed circuit board and the antenna comprise a tag assembly; a cup seal sealed around the radio frequency shield to prevent potting material from entering the radio frequency shield; and a shock absorbing material encasing the tag assembly wherein the potting material secures the tag assembly within the shock absorbing material. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A miniature and impact resistant real-time location system location tag comprising:
-
at least one printed circuit board comprising a signal processor and transmitter electronics; the signal processor configured to generate blink data, the blink data comprising a series of ultra wide band pulses and data; a compact high bandwidth antenna configured to transmit the blink data in association with the transmitter electronics, wherein the compact high bandwidth antenna is associated with the at least one printed circuit board; wherein the compact high bandwidth antenna and the at least one printed circuit board comprise a tag assembly; a shock absorbing housing encasing the tag assembly; and a cup seal structured to seal over the transmitter electronics comprised on a top layer of the at least one printed circuit board to prevent potting material from affecting the transmitter electronics. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A miniature and impact resistant real-time location system location tag comprising:
-
at least one printed circuit board comprising a signal processor and transmitter electronics, wherein the at least one printed circuit board comprises a plurality of printed circuit board layers and the transmitter electronics comprises a filter, the filter being embedded within the plurality of printed circuit board layers to prevent parasitic radiation from affecting an antenna radiation pattern; a plurality of printed circuit board planes embedded in one or more of the plurality of printed circuit board layers to further prevent parasitic radiation from affecting the antenna radiation pattern; the signal processor configured to generate blink data, the blink data comprising a series of ultra wide band pulses and data; a compact high bandwidth antenna configured to transmit the blink data in association with the transmitter electronics, wherein the compact high bandwidth antenna is associated with the at least one printed circuit board; wherein the compact high bandwidth antenna and the at least one printed circuit board comprise a tag assembly; and a shock absorbing housing encasing the tag assembly.
-
Specification