Wireless communication packages, a radio frequency identification device communication package, an appendage, a method of communicating, and a method of forming a wireless communication package

• US 6,333,693 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2000
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Freddie W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/660,537
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/505, 343/700.MS, 342/51, 455/128, 455/129, 455/347, 455/351, 455/550, 455/575, 455/90
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides wireless communication and identification packages, communication systems, methods of identifying an identification device, methods of communicating, and methods of forming a communication device. In one aspect of the present invention, a wireless communication package includes a communication device having a substrate; communication circuitry borne by the substrate, the communication circuitry being configured to at least one of process and form wireless communication signals; and at least one antenna electrically coupled with the communication circuitry, the antenna being configured to at least one of receive wireless communication signals and output wireless communication signals; and an appendage coupled with the communication device, the appendage being configured to enhance at least one of receiving and outputting of wireless communication signals via the antenna.

Claims

1. A wireless communication package comprising:

a communication device comprising;

a housing; and

communication circuitry coupled with the housing and configured to communicate wireless signals; and

an appendage comprising a conductive layer immovably affixed to and spaced from the housing and configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the communication circuitry.

2. The wireless communication package of claim 1 wherein the appendage is coupled with an entire surface of the housing.

3. The wireless communication package of claim 1 wherein the appendage is coupled with an external surface of the housing.

4. The wireless communication package of claim 1 wherein the appendage is coupled directly with the housing.

5. The wireless communication package of claim 1 wherein the appendage has an outer periphery greater than an outer periphery of a surface of the housing coupled with the communication device.

6. The wireless communication package of claim 1 wherein the appendage comprises:

a ground plane; and

a spacer intermediate the ground plane and the communication device.

7. The wireless communication package of claim 6 wherein the ground plane has an outer periphery greater than an outer periphery of the spacer.

8. The wireless communication package of claim 6 wherein the spacer spaces the ground plane from the communication device by a distance approximately equal to a quarter wavelength of the wireless signals.

9. The wireless communication package of claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to output and to receive wireless signals.

10. The wireless communication package of claim 1 wherein the communication device comprises a radio frequency identification device.

11. A wireless communication package comprising:

a communication device comprising communication circuitry configured to communicate wireless signals; and

an appendage coupled with an external surface of the communication device and configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the communication circuitry, wherein the appendage comprises a ground plane, and a spacer intermediate the ground plane and the communication device.

12. The wireless communication package of claim 11 wherein the appendage is coupled with an entire surface of the communication device.

13. The wireless communication package of claim 11 wherein the appendage has an outer periphery greater than an outer periphery of a surface of the communication device coupled with appendage.

14. The wireless communication package of claim 11 wherein the ground plane has an outer periphery greater than an outer periphery of the spacer.

15. The wireless communication package of claim 11 wherein the spacer spaces the ground plane from the communication device by a distance approximately equal to a quarter wavelength of the wireless signals.

16. The wireless communication package of claim 11 wherein the appendage is coupled directly to the external surface of the communication device.

17. The wireless communication package of claim 11 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to output and to receive wireless signals.

18. The wireless communication package of claim 11 wherein the communication device comprises a radio frequency identification device.

19. A radio frequency identification device communication package comprising:

a radio frequency identification device comprising;

a housing; and

communication circuitry coupled with the housing and configured to communicate wireless identification signals responsive to reception of wireless interrogation signals; and

an appendage coupled with the housing and configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the communication circuitry, wherein the appendage comprises a ground plane, and a spacer intermediate the ground plane and the housing.

20. An appendage configured to enhance wireless communications of an associated communication device, the appendage comprising:

a layer configured to reflect radio frequency energy of a frequency band utilized by the associated communication device to implement wireless communications; and

a spacer having a first surface coupled with the layer and a second surface adapted to be coupled with the associated communication device, the spacer being substantially transparent to radio frequency energy of the frequency band to pass the radio frequency energy of the frequency band without substantial absorption and without substantial reflection of the radio frequency energy of the frequency band.

21. The appendage of claim 20 wherein the first surface of the spacer is coupled directly with the layer.

22. The appendage of claim 20 wherein the second surface of the spacer is adapted to be coupled directly with the associated communication device.

23. The appendage of claim 20 wherein the layer comprises a ground plane.

24. The appendage of claim 20 wherein the layer has an outer periphery greater than an outer periphery of the spacer.

25. A method of communicating comprising:

providing a wireless communication device configured to communicate wireless signals;

coupling an appendage with the wireless communication device to form a wireless communication package, the appendage being configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the wireless communication device, and the appendage comprising a conductive layer immovably affixed to and spaced from the wireless communication device; and

communicating wireless signals using the wireless communication package after the coupling.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the providing comprises providing the wireless communication device including a housing and the coupling comprises coupling the appendage with an entire surface of the housing.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the appendage with an external surface of the wireless communication device.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the appendage comprising a ground Lane and a spacer.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the communicating comprises outputting and receiving wireless signals.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the providing comprises providing a radio frequency identification device.

31. A method of forming a wireless communication package comprising:

providing wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate wireless signals;

providing a housing configured to house at least a portion of the wireless communication circuitry;

providing an appendage configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the wireless communication circuitry, the appendage comprising a ground plane and a spacer; and

coupling the appendage with the housing.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the appendage with an entire surface of the housing.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the appendage with an external surface of the housing.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the providing the appendage comprises providing the appendage including an outer periphery greater than an outer periphery of the external surface of the housing.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the coupling comprises coupling the appendage directly with the housing.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein the providing wireless communication circuitry comprises providing radio frequency identification device communication circuitry.

37. A wireless communication package comprising:

a communication device comprising;

a housing; and

communication circuitry coupled with the housing and configured to communicate wireless signals;

an appendage coupled with the housing and configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the communication circuitry; and

wherein the appendage is coupled with an entire surface of the housing.

38. A wireless communication package comprising:

a communication device comprising;

a housing; and

communication circuitry coupled with the housing and configured to communicate wireless signals;

an appendage coupled with the housing and configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the communication circuitry; and

wherein the appendage has an outer periphery greater than an outer periphery of a surface of the housing coupled with the communication device.

39. A wireless communication package comprising:

a communication device comprising;

a housing; and

communication circuitry coupled with the housing and configured to communicate wireless signals;

an appendage coupled with the housing and configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the communication circuitry wherein the appendage comprises a ground plane, and a spacer intermediate the ground plane and the communication device.

40. The wireless communication package of claim 39 wherein the ground plane has an outer periphery greater than an outer periphery of the spacer.

41. The wireless communication package of claim 39 wherein the spacer spaces the ground plane from the communication device by a distance approximately equal to a quarter wavelength of the wireless signals.

42. A wireless communication package comprising:

a communication device comprising communication circuitry configured to communicate wireless signals;

an appendage coupled with an external surface of the communication device and configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the communication circuitry; and

wherein the appendage is coupled with an entire surface of the communication device.

43. A wireless communication package comprising:

a communication device comprising communication circuitry configured to communicate wireless signals;

an appendage coupled with an external surface of the communication device and configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the communication circuitry; and

wherein the appendage has an outer periphery greater than an outer periphery of a surface of the communication device coupled with appendage.

44. A method of communicating comprising:

providing a wireless communication device comprising a housing and configured to communicate wireless signals;

coupling an appendage with the wireless communication device to an entire surface of the housing to form a wireless communication package, the appendage being configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the wireless communication device; and

communicating wireless signals using the wireless communication package after the coupling.

45. A method of communicating comprising:

providing a wireless communication device configured to communicate wireless signals;

coupling an appendage comprising a ground plane and a spacer with the wireless communication device to form a wireless communication package, the appendage being configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the wireless communication device; and

communicating wireless signals using the wireless communication package after the coupling.

46. A method of forming a wireless communication package comprising:

providing wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate wireless signals;

providing a housing configured to house at least a portion of the wireless communication circuitry;

providing an appendage configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the wireless communication circuitry; and

coupling the appendage with an entire surface of the housing.

47. A method of forming a wireless communication package comprising:

providing wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate wireless signals;

providing a housing configured to house at least a portion of the wireless communication circuitry;

providing an appendage configured to enhance communication of the wireless signals using the wireless communication circuitry; and

coupling the appendage with an external surface of the housing, wherein the appendage includes an outer periphery greater than an outer periphery of the external surface of the housing.