Radio frequency identification reader antenna arrangement with multiple linearly-polarized elements
First Claim
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1. An antenna apparatus for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader, comprising:
- a fixed overhead housing configured to enclose an RFID reader having a plurality of radio ports coupled thereto; and
a plurality of antenna elements disposed outside of the housing and configured to be coupled to the radio ports through the housing, each antenna element comprising a full wavelength loop element oriented between, and parallel to, a director plate and a reflector panel, the reflector panels of the antenna elements being joined together to define a common reflector box defining the housing that contains the radio ports and acts as an electrical ground for electrical components in the common reflector box;
wherein the antenna elements are linearly polarized and are each arranged in a circle around the housing, with a first type of the antenna elements outwardly radiating vertical polarization and with a second type of the antenna elements outwardly radiating horizontal polarization, and wherein the first type of the antenna elements and the second type of the antenna elements are alternately arranged in the circle, andwherein the RFID reader directs the radio ports to sequentially communicatively connect only one antenna element at a time to the RFID reader such that only one antenna element is operable to transmit/receive at any instant in time.
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Abstract
An antenna method and apparatus for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader includes an RFID reader, a plurality of radio ports of the RFID reader, and a plurality of linearly polarized antenna elements coupled to the radio ports, wherein the RFID reader directs the radio ports to sequentially communicatively connect only one antenna element at a time to the RFID reader such that only one antenna element is operable to transmit/receive at any instant in time. The antenna elements are mounted in an alternating vertically polarized and horizontally polarized configuration.
15 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An antenna apparatus for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader, comprising:
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a fixed overhead housing configured to enclose an RFID reader having a plurality of radio ports coupled thereto; and a plurality of antenna elements disposed outside of the housing and configured to be coupled to the radio ports through the housing, each antenna element comprising a full wavelength loop element oriented between, and parallel to, a director plate and a reflector panel, the reflector panels of the antenna elements being joined together to define a common reflector box defining the housing that contains the radio ports and acts as an electrical ground for electrical components in the common reflector box; wherein the antenna elements are linearly polarized and are each arranged in a circle around the housing, with a first type of the antenna elements outwardly radiating vertical polarization and with a second type of the antenna elements outwardly radiating horizontal polarization, and wherein the first type of the antenna elements and the second type of the antenna elements are alternately arranged in the circle, and wherein the RFID reader directs the radio ports to sequentially communicatively connect only one antenna element at a time to the RFID reader such that only one antenna element is operable to transmit/receive at any instant in time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader, comprising:
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a fixed overhead housing containing the RFID reader; a plurality of radio ports disposed within the housing; and an antenna apparatus disposed outside of the housing and coupled to provide communications to the RFID reader via the radio ports, wherein the antenna apparatus comprises; a plurality of linearly polarized antenna elements coupled to the radio ports, each antenna element comprising a full wavelength loop element oriented between, and parallel to, a director plate and a reflector panel, the reflector panels of the antenna elements being joined together to define a common reflector box defining the housing that contains the radio ports and acts as an electrical ground for electrical components in the common reflector box; wherein the antenna elements are each arranged in a circle around the housing, with a first type of the antenna elements outwardly radiating vertical polarization and with a second type of the antenna elements outwardly radiating horizontal polarization, and wherein the first type of the antenna elements and the second type of the antenna elements are alternately arranged in the circle, and wherein the RFID reader directs the radio ports to sequentially communicatively connect only one antenna element at a time to the RFID reader such that only one antenna element is operable to transmit/receive at any instant in time. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for reading Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags with a fixed overhead RFID reader having a plurality of radio ports coupled thereto, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of antenna elements each comprising a full wavelength loop element oriented between, and parallel to, a director plate and a reflector panel, the reflector panels of the antenna elements being joined together to define a common reflector box defining a housing that contains the radio ports and acts as an electrical ground for electrical components in the common reflector box, wherein the antenna elements are linearly polarized and are each arranged in a circle around the housing, with a first type of the antenna elements outwardly radiating vertical polarization and with a second type of the antenna elements outwardly radiating horizontal polarization, and wherein the first type of the antenna elements and the second type of the antenna elements are alternately arranged in the circle; sequentially communicatively connecting only one antenna element at a time to the RFID reader via the radio ports such that only one antenna element is operable to transmit/receive at any instant in time; and reading RFID tags within an RFID read coverage area of each sequenced antenna element. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification