MOBILE DEVICE EMPLOYING A DEPLOYABLE RFID ANTENNA

• US 20090239593A1
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Fagioli, James, Jayasinghe, Parakrama
• Application Number:
  US12/050,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20090239593A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.100
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/084 Pivotable antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/088 Quick-releasable antenna elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication

Abstract

Systems, devices and/or methods that facilitate improved form factors for RFID enabled mobile devices with RFID antenna component(s) are presented. These RFID antenna component(s) can be deployable, for example, foldable, slidable, detachable, or combinations thereof, among other means of deployment. By being able to place the RFID antenna component(s) in a packed configuration and/or one or more deployed configurations, the resulting improved form factor can improve usability, reduce maintenance complexity, and facilitate improved performance. Similarly, in a deployed configuration, the resulting form factor can function in a manner equivalent to, or at an improved level over, conventional devices, systems, and/or methods with regard to aspects related to the form factor.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates an improved from factor for a radio frequency identification (RFID) enabled mobile device (RFIDMD), comprising:

a mobile device component; and

a deployable RFID (DRFID) component deployably and communicatively interconnected with the mobile device component, such that the deployable RFID component can transition between at least one packed configuration and at least one deployed configuration.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the DRFID further comprises at least an RFID antenna.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the RFID antenna is at least one of an EPC Class 0 or EPC Class 1 type RFID antenna.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an intelligent component, wherein the intelligent component can, at least in part, form one or more inferences related to the packed configuration, the deployed configuration, a transitory configuration, or a combination thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the deployment modality comprises at least a hinge component.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the deployment modality comprises at least a slide component.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the deployment modality comprises at least a connector component.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the deployment modality comprises at least one degree of freedom at one or more points of articulation.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the volume of the extents of the three dimensional footprint of the packed configuration is less than the volume of the extents of the three dimensional footprint of the deployed configuration.

10. The system of claim 1, having a plurality of deployed configurations.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein transitions between at least two of the plurality of deployed configurations provides at least one of improved user ergonomics, reduced power consumption, improved RFID antenna directionality, improved RFID antenna range, or combinations thereof, during RFID related applications.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein transitions between the at least two deployed configurations is automatic.

13. The system of claim 1, having a plurality of packed configurations.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a configuration transition is at least in part effected by at least one of manual actuation, mechanical actuation, electro-mechanical actuation, electric actuation, pneumatic actuation, magnetic actuation, electro-magnetic actuation, or some combination thereof.

15. An electronic device comprising at least the DRFID of claim 1.

16. An electronic device comprising the system of claim 1.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a network connectable electronic device.

18. A method that facilitates transitions between a packed configuration and a deployed configuration of a RFIDMD comprising:

determining a need to transition between a packed configuration and a deployed configuration of a DRFID deployably and communicatively interconnected with a mobile device component; and

initiating the transition between the packed configuration and the deployed configuration of the DRFID deployably and communicatively interconnected with the mobile device component based, at least in part, on the determined need.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the transition between the packed configuration and the deployed configuration further comprises at least one of a foldable modality, a slideable modality, a connector modality, or combinations thereof

20. A method that facilitates transitions between a packed configuration and a deployed configuration of a RFIDMD comprising:

inferring a need to transition between a packed configuration and a deployed configuration of a DRFID deployably and communicatively interconnected with a mobile device component; and

initiating the transition between the packed configuration and the deployed configuration of the DRFID deployably and communicatively interconnected with the mobile device component based, at least in part, on the inferred need.