Radio frequency identification enabled mirrors

• US 9,996,791 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2017
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Original Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Inventors: Nyalamadugu, Sheshi, Mullis, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Trail, Allyson
• Application Number:
  US15/633,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20170300802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 235492, 343707, 343712, 343713
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1261 with antennae
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1276 with radio receivers, loud-speakers or buzzers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/085 at least one of the reflecting layers comprising metal
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0875 the reflecting layers comprising two or more metallic layers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07794 the record carrier comprising a booster or auxiliary antenna in addition to the antenna connected directly to the integrated circuit
• 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 1/3266 using the mirror of the vehicle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/106 Microstrip slot antennas patch antenna elements H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/378 Combination of fed elements with parasitic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled mirror includes a mirror comprising a reflective layer. The reflective layer comprises at least one layer of a metallic material. At least one portion of the reflective layer is removed to form a booster antenna from a remaining portion of the reflective layer. A dielectric coating is applied to the mirror where the reflective layer was removed. The RFID-enabled mirror further includes an RFID chip coupled to the booster antenna.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled mirror, comprising:

a mirror comprising a reflective layer, wherein the reflective layer comprises at least one layer of a metallic material, a first portion of the reflective layer is removed to form a first booster antenna from a remaining portion of the reflective layer, a second portion of the reflective layer is removed to form a second booster antenna from the remaining portion of the reflective layer;

a dielectric coating is applied to the mirror where the first portion of the reflective layer and the second portion of the reflective layer were removed; and

an RFID chip is coupled to the first booster antenna and the second booster antenna.

2. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 1, wherein the RFID chip is coupled to the first booster antenna and the second booster antenna via one of an inductive coupling and a capacitive coupling.

3. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 1, wherein the mirror further comprises a substrate, and wherein the reflective layer is deposited on the substrate.

4. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first booster antenna and the second booster antenna comprises a loop antenna.

5. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first booster antenna and the second booster antenna comprises a slot antenna having at least one slot corresponding to the removed first portion or the removed second portion of the reflective layer.

6. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 1, wherein the first booster antenna is configured to resonate at a first frequency band.

7. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 6, wherein the second booster antenna is configured to resonate at a second frequency band.

8. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 1, wherein the RFID-enabled mirror comprises one of a rearview mirror and a side view mirror.

9. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 1, wherein the dielectric coating comprises stacked layers of transparent dielectric material.

10. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 9, further comprising a protective layer deposited on top of the reflective layer.

11. A radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled mirror, comprising:

a mirror comprising a reflective layer, wherein;

the reflective layer comprises a dielectric coating;

at least a first portion and a second portion of the reflective layer are removed; and

a metallic material is applied to the mirror where the first portion and the second portion of the reflective layer were removed to form a first booster antenna and a second booster antenna; and

an RFID chip is coupled to the first booster antenna and the second booster antenna.

12. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 11, wherein the RFID chip is coupled to at least one of the first booster antenna and the second booster antenna via one of an inductive coupling and a capacitive coupling.

13. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 11, wherein the mirror further comprises a substrate, and wherein the reflective layer is deposited on the substrate.

14. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first booster antenna and the second booster antenna comprises a loop antenna.

15. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first booster antenna and the second booster antenna comprises a slot antenna having at least one slot corresponding to the removed first portion or the removed second portion of the reflective layer.

16. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 11, wherein the first booster antenna is configured to resonate at a first frequency band and the second booster antenna is configured to resonate at a second frequency band.

17. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 11, wherein the dielectric coating comprises stacked layers of transparent dielectric material.

18. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 11, further comprising a protective layer deposited on top of the reflective layer.

19. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 11, further comprising a switch adapted to control an operational state of the RFID-enabled mirror.

20. The RFID-enabled mirror of claim 19, wherein the operational state of the RFID-enabled mirror corresponds to a number of occupants in a vehicle.