Low-profile real-time location system tag

• US 9,864,946 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Richley, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Haupt, Kristy A
• Application Number:
  US15/455,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20170185886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0702 the arrangement including a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0704 the battery being rechargeable, e.g. solar batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0772 Physical layout of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07728 the record carrier comprising means for protection against impact or bending, e.g. protective shells or stress-absorbing layers around the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07773 Antenna details antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142

Abstract

An example disclosed example includes a housing; a printed circuit board carried by the housing and including an antenna feed aperture; a logic circuit disposed on a first side of the printed circuit board, the logic circuit to generate blink data comprising pulses and data; an antenna disposed on a second side of the printed circuit board, the antenna in electrical communication with the logic circuit via the antenna feed aperture, the antenna configured to transmit the blink data; a dielectric potting material to protect the logic circuit; and a seal to cover the antenna feed aperture, the seal to prevent the dielectric potting material from entering the antenna feed aperture.

Claims

1. A real-time location system tag comprising:

a housing;

a printed circuit board carried by the housing and including an antenna feed aperture;

a logic circuit disposed on a first side of the printed circuit board, the logic circuit to generate blink data comprising pulses and data;

an antenna disposed on a second side of the printed circuit board, the antenna in electrical communication with the logic circuit via the antenna feed aperture, the antenna configured to transmit the blink data;

a dielectric potting material to protect the logic circuit; and

a seal to cover the antenna feed aperture, the seal to prevent the dielectric potting material from entering the antenna feed aperture.

2. A real-time location system tag as defined in claim 1, further comprising an antenna support coupled to the printed circuit board, wherein the antenna is seated in the antenna support.

3. A real-time location system tag as defined in claim 2, further comprising:

an aperture in the antenna support; and

a radio frequency feed provided to the antenna through the aperture in the antenna support and the antenna feed aperture in the printed circuit board.

4. A real-time location system tag as defined in claim 1, further comprising a power supply disposed on the first side of the printed circuit board.

5. A real-time location system tag as defined in claim 1, wherein the antenna is a raised circular patch antenna.

6. A real-time location system tag as defined in claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency shield covering transmitter electronics disposed on the printed circuit board.

7. A real-time location system tag as defined in claim 6, wherein the radio frequency shield defines a metal can structured to cover the transmitter electronics.

8. A real-time location system tag as defined in claim 6, wherein the seal encases the radio frequency shield and the antenna feed aperture.

9. A real-time location system tag as defined in claim 1, wherein the potting material comprises an epoxy.

10. A real-time location system tag as defined in claim 1, wherein the seal comprises a polyester material.

11. A method for fabricating a real-time location system tag, comprising:

positioning a printed circuit board in a housing, the printed circuit board including a logic circuit disposed on a first side of the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board including an antenna feed aperture, the logic circuit to facilitate transmission of blink data;

positioning an antenna in the housing and disposed on a second side of the printed circuit board, the antenna configured to transmit the blink data;

placing the antenna in electrical communication with the logic circuit via the antenna feed aperture;

affixing a seal to the printed logic circuit to cover the antenna feed aperture; and

depositing a dielectric potting material in the housing, wherein the seal prevents the dielectric potting material from entering the antenna feed aperture.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, further comprising covering a portion of the logic circuit with a radio frequency shield.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein depositing the dielectric potting material in the housing is performed with the radio frequency shield covering the portion of the logic circuit.

14. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the portion of the logic circuit includes transmitter electronics.

15. A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising grounding the radio frequency shield.

16. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein affixing the seal to the printed logic circuit comprising covering the radio frequency shield with the seal.

17. A method as defined in claim 11, further comprising seating the antenna in an antenna support having an aperture.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, further comprising aligning the antenna feed aperture with the aperture of the antenna support to enable the placing of the antenna in electrical communication with the logic circuit via the antenna feed aperture.