Spatially selective UHF near field microstrip coupler device and RFID systems using device

• US 9,852,318 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsirline, Boris Y., Hohberger, Clive P., Gawelczyk, Robert, Donato, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US13/712,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20140002243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,840 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721, 455 411, 101288, 705 146, 235385
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/12 otherwise than by punching
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications

Abstract

A system having a UHF RFID transceiver is adapted to communicate exclusively with a single electro-magnetically coupled transponder located in a predetermined confined transponder operating region. The system includes a near field coupling device comprising a plurality of lines connected in parallel with an unmatched load. The near field coupling device may be formed, for example on a printed circuit board with a plurality of electrically interconnected traces and a ground plane. The system establishes, at predetermined transceiver power levels, a mutual electro-magnetic coupling which is selective exclusively for a single transponder located in a defined transponder operating region. Also included are methods for selective communication with the transponder in an apparatus such as a printer-encoder.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with a transponder in a transponder operating region having boundaries, comprising:

positioning a targeted transponder proximate a spaced array of near field concentrations of an RF signal, ones of the near field concentrations being spaced apart along a direction of travel of a web carrying the targeted transponder, wherein the near field concentrations are spaced relative to dimensions of the targeted transponder such that the targeted transponder overlaps and is excited by a plurality of the near field concentrations;

in response to determining that the targeted transponder is positioned in a near field concentration gap located (i) within the boundaries of the operating region and (ii) between adjacent ones of the near field concentrations, moving the targeted transponder to a different position within the operating region; and

communicating with the transponders targeted, wherein moving each of the targeted transponder to the different position within the operating region comprises moving the web via a media conveyance portion.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

moving the targeted transponder through the transponder operating region in the direction of travel, wherein the dimensions include a length of the targeted transponder that is smaller than an operating region length of the transponder operating region, wherein the near field concentrations extend transversely to the operating region length; and

communicating with the targeted transponder using the near field concentrations of the RF signal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein moving the targeted transponder comprises moving printable media in which the targeted transponder is embedded.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising printing visual indicia onto the printable media.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the near field concentrations are parallel and have leaky edges.

6. A method of communicating with a transponder, the method comprising:

moving a web of transponders, including a targeted transponder, in a first direction through a transponder operating region having a pattern of spaced near field concentrations of an RF signal, ones of the near field concentrations being spaced apart along the first direction, the pattern having at least one gap located (i) within boundaries of the operating region and (ii) between adjacent ones of the near field concentrations;

exciting the targeted transponder with at least one the near field concentrations;

determining when the targeted transponder is aligned with the gap; and

in response to determining the targeted transponder is aligned with the gap, moving the targeted transponder in the first direction until the transponder is within the operating region and out of the gap.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein moving the targeted transponder comprises moving printable media in which the targeted transponder is embedded.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising printing visual indicia onto the printable media.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the near field concentrations are parallel.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein exciting the targeted transponder results from at least one transmission element having a zig-zag configuration.

11. An encoder configured to communicate with a transponder in an operating region of the encoder, the encoder comprising:

an array of transmission elements configured to form a pattern of spaced near field concentrations of an RF signal, ones of the near field concentrations being spaced apart along a direction of travel of a web carrying the transponder, the pattern having at least one gap located (i) within boundaries of the operating region and (ii) between adjacent ones of the near field concentrations; and

a media conveyance portion configured to sequentially move a web of transponders through the transponder operating region.

12. The encoder of claim 11, wherein an operating region length of the transponder operating region in a direction generally perpendicular to the near field concentrations is greater than a length of the transponder in the direction perpendicular to the near field concentrations.

13. The encoder of claim 11, wherein the gap between the near field concentrations is significantly less than the length of the transponder in the direction generally perpendicular to the near field concentrations.

14. The encoder of claim 11, wherein the transponder overlaps and is excited by a plurality of the near field concentrations when located in the transponder operating region.

15. The encoder of claim 11, wherein the near field concentrations are parallel and have leaky edges.

16. The encoder of claim 11, wherein at least one of array elements has a zig-zag configuration.

17. The encoder of claim 11 is further configured to be integrated into a printer.

18. The encoder of claim 11 is further configured to encode a transponder embedded in a printable media.