ANTENNA ASSEMBLY FOR SERVICE STATION

• US 20100273543A1
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gasngo R&D Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Petratec International Ltd.
• Inventors: Vilnai, yoav, Weitzhandler, Shimon, Yalon, Avi
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.700
• 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: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity

Abstract

Disclosed are antenna assemblies suitable for establishing wireless communication with entities that have variable or indeterminate antenna orientation, especially entities having a limited power supply, the antenna assemblies comprising two linearly polarized reception antennae (18, 20) positioned so that the orientation of the antennae define a plane. Disclosed are also service station provided with such an antenna assembly. Disclosed are also methods of establishing wireless communication in a service station between a service station controller and entities that have variable or indeterminate antenna orientation, especially entities having a limited power supply.

Claims

1. An antenna assembly, comprising:

a) a first linearly polarized radio frequency antenna; and

b) a second linearly polarized radio frequency antenna, positioned so that the orientation of said second antenna is at an angle relative to the orientation of said first antenna so as to define a plane having a front side and a back side

wherein said first antenna and said second antenna are configured to function as reception antennae; and

wherein said first antenna is configured to function as a reception antenna substantially independently from said second antenna.

2. The antenna assembly of claim 1, further comprising

c) a radio frequency receiver functionally associated with said first antenna and said second antenna.

3. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein said first antenna is an omnidirectional antenna.

4. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein said second antenna is an omnidirectional antenna.

5. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein said first antenna and said second antenna are configured for reception of substantially the same wavelengths.

6. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein said angle between said orientation of said first antenna and said orientation of said second antenna is not less than about 45°

.

7. The antenna assembly of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency reflector configured to reflect radio frequency radiation to a front side of said plane defined by said orientation of said first and second antennae.

8. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein said first antenna and said second antenna are configured to function as transmission antennae.

9. The antenna assembly of claim 8, wherein said first antenna is configured to function as a transmission antenna substantially independently from said second antenna.

10. The antenna assembly of claim 8, a radio frequency transmitter functionally associated with said first antenna and said second antenna.

11. The antenna assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

d) a third linearly polarized radio frequency antenna; and

e) a fourth linearly polarized radio frequency antenna, positioned so that the orientation of said fourth antenna is at an angle relative to the orientation of said third antenna so as to define a plane having a front side and a back side;

wherein said third antenna and said fourth antenna are configured to function as transmission antennae.

12. The antenna assembly of claim 11, wherein said third antenna is configured to function as a transmission antenna substantially independently from said fourth antenna.

13. The antenna assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

f) a radio frequency transmitter functionally associated with said third antenna and said fourth antenna.

14. The antenna assembly of claim 11, wherein said third antenna and said fourth antenna are configured for transmission of substantially the same wavelengths.

15. The antenna assembly of claim 11, wherein said angle between said orientation of said third antenna and said orientation of said fourth antenna is not less than about 45°

.

16. The antenna assembly of claim 11, wherein said plane defined by said orientation of said third and fourth antennae is substantially parallel to or includes said plane defined by said orientation of said first and second antennae.

17. The antenna assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

g) a fifth linearly polarized radio frequency antenna, positioned so that the orientation of said fifth antenna is substantially not-coplanar with said plane defined by said orientations of said first and second antennae, said fifth antenna configured to function as a reception antenna.

18. The antenna assembly of claim 17, wherein said fifth antenna is configured to function as a reception antenna substantially independently from said first antenna and said second antenna.

19. The antenna assembly of claim 17, further comprising:

c) a radio frequency receiver functionally associated with said first antenna, said second antenna and said fifth antenna.

20. The antenna assembly of claim 17, wherein said first antenna and said fifth antenna are configured for reception of substantially the same wavelengths.

21. The antenna assembly of claim 11, further comprising:

h) a sixth linearly polarized radio frequency antenna, positioned so that the orientation of said sixth antenna is substantially not-coplanar with said plane defined by said orientation of said third and fourth antennae, said sixth antenna configured to function as a transmission antenna.

22. The antenna assembly of claim 17, wherein said fifth antenna is configured to function as a transmission antenna substantially independently from said first antenna and said second antenna.

23. The antenna assembly of claim 21, further comprising:

f) a radio frequency transmitter functionally associated with said third antenna, said fourth antenna and said sixth antenna.

24. The antenna assembly of claim 23, wherein said third antenna and said sixth antenna are configured for transmission of substantially the same wavelengths.

25. A service station provided with a wireless communication system, comprising:

a) a service station controller comprising a receiver functionally associated with an antenna assembly of claim 1;

b) at least one entity, each said entity comprising a dedicated transmitter and an antenna;

wherein said service station controller receiver and said antenna assembly are configured for reception of signals transmitted by said entity.

26. The service station of claim 25,

said service station controller comprising a transmitter functionally associated with said antenna assembly;

and

said at least one entity comprises a dedicated receiver;

wherein said service station controller and said entity are configured for mutual two-directional communication.

27. The service station of claim 25, wherein a said entity comprises a vehicle identification tag reader functionally associated with a fuel-dispensing location and comprising a dedicated transmitter and an antenna.

28. The service station of claim 27, a said antenna of a said vehicle identification tag reader mounted on a fuel-dispensing nozzle of a said fuel-dispensing location.

29. The service station of claim 27, a said vehicle identification tag reader mounted on a fuel-dispensing nozzle of a said fuel-dispensing location.

30. The service station of claim 25, wherein a said entity comprises a vehicle mounted transmitter including a dedicated transmitter and an antenna.

31. The service station of claim 25, said antenna assembly mounted on a structure so that said back side of said plane defined by said orientation of said first and second antennae substantially faces said structure.

32. A method of establishing wireless communication in a service station, comprising:

a) providing an antenna assembly of claim 1 including at least two transmission antennae and at least two reception antennae;

b) providing a service station controller comprising a transmitter functionally associated with said transmission antennae and a receiver functionally associated with said reception antennae;

c) providing at least one entity, each said entity comprising a dedicated transceiver and an antenna wherein said service station controller and said entities are configured for mutual two-directional communication using said service station controller transmitter and receiver and said entity transceivers, and where each said entity is identifiable to said service station controller

d) said service station controller transmitting a signal to a specific entity using at least two transmission antennae of said antenna assembly;

e) subsequently to d, said service station controller listening for a response from said specific entity using at least one reception antenna of said antenna assembly; and

f) subsequently to e, from amongst said reception antennae, selecting a single reception antenna for further communication between said service station controller and said specific entity.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein a said entity comprises a vehicle identification tag reader functionally associated with a fuel-dispensing location and comprising a dedicated transmitter and an antenna.

34. The method of claim 33, said antennae of said vehicle identification tag readers mounted on a fuel-dispensing nozzle of a said fuel-dispensing location.

35. The method of claim 33, said vehicle identification tag readers mounted on a fuel-dispensing nozzle of a said fuel-dispensing location.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein a said entity comprises a vehicle mounted transmitter including a dedicated transmitter and an antenna.

37. The method of claim 32, said antenna assembly mounted on a structure so that said back side of said plane defined by said first and second antennae substantially faces said structure.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein said transmission antennae and said reception antennae are different antennae.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein said transmission antennae and said reception antennae are the same antennae.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein said transmission of said signal to said specific entity is simultaneous through at least two said transmission antennae.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein said transmission of said signal to said specific entity is serially through at least two said transmission antennae.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein said single reception antenna selected is the antenna determined as having best reception of signals transmitted from said specific entity.

43. The method of claim 32, wherein said single reception antenna selected is the first antenna determined as having sufficient reception of signals transmitted from said specific entity.

44. The method of claim 32, wherein

said receiver of said service station controller is configured to receive signals at least two different frequencies;

wherein said listening for a response from said specific entity includes receiving signals at least two different frequencies of said at least two different frequencies; and

wherein said selecting a single reception antenna includes selecting a reception frequency from amongst said at least two different frequencies.