Antenna arrangement for RFID smart tags

• US 6,703,935 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avante International Technology
• Original Assignee: Amerasia International Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Liu, Shuiwang, Chung, Kevin Kwong-Tai
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/246,990
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.7, 340/572.1, 340/745, 340/748, 343/893, 343/894, 343/866, 343/867
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 13/00 Voting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2471 Antenna signal processing by receiver or emitter
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2474 Antenna or antenna activator geometry, arrangement or layout loop antennae H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2477 Antenna or antenna activator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2482 EAS methods, e.g. description of flow chart of the detection procedure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1221 onto a wall
• 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: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/12 Applying verification of the received information cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for data integrity or data verification H04L9/32

Abstract

An antenna arrangement comprises at least two antenna loops disposed in two intersecting planes disposed at an angle to define a detection region in which the antenna loops transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals and through which an object may pass. Each antenna loop includes a portion disposed in each of the two planes, and the antenna loops overlap at least in part in each of the two planes. The antenna arrangement may be coupled to a processor and/or utilization system for cooperating therewith for performing a desired function.

Claims

1. An antenna arrangement as for detecting a wireless article comprising:

at least two antenna loops disposed in each of first and second intersecting planes intersecting at an angle to define a detection region therebetween in which said at least two antenna loops transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals with a component of an associated electromagnetic field in each of three mutually orthogonal directions and through which an object may pass, wherein each of said at least two antenna loops includes a portion disposed in each of the first and second intersecting planes, and wherein the at least two antenna loops overlap at least in part in each of the first and second intersecting planes;

a processor for processing at least received signals as for detecting the wireless article; and

means for coupling at least the received signals between said at least two antenna loops and said processor.

2. The antenna arrangement of claim 1 wherein the angle at which the first and second intersecting planes intersect is between about 80°

and about 100°

.

3. The antenna arrangement of claim 1 wherein said means for coupling includes at least one of a tuning circuit, a filter and a switch for selectively connecting said at least two antenna loops and said processor.

4. The antenna arrangement of claim 1 in combination with a wireless article including a loop antenna and an electronic device including a memory, wherein said processor processes received signals of a type adapted to be produced by the electronic device.

5. The antenna arrangement of claim 1 in combination with:

an additional antenna loop disposed in the first intersecting plane, wherein at least part of said additional antenna loop overlaps at least part of each of said at least two antenna loops to further define the detection region in which said two antenna loops and said additional antenna loop transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals; and

means coupling said additional antenna loop and said processor for coupling at least the received signals therebetween.

6. The antenna arrangement of claim 1 in combination with:

at least two additional antenna loops each disposed in the first intersecting plane and in a third plane intersecting therewith at a second angle to define a detection region therebetween in which said at least two antenna loops transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals with a component of an associated electromagnetic field in each of three mutually orthogonal directions and through which an object may pass, wherein each of said at least two additional antenna loops includes a portion disposed in each of the first intersecting plane and the third plane, and wherein the at least two antenna loops overlap at least in part in each of the first intersecting plane and the third plane; and

means coupling said at least two additional antenna loops and said processor for coupling at least the received signals therebetween.

7. The antenna arrangement of claim 6 in combination with:

a planar antenna loop disposed in the first intersecting plane, wherein at least part of said planar antenna loop overlaps at least part of each of said at least two antenna loops to further define the detection region in which said two antenna loops, said two additional antenna loops and said planar antenna loop transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals; and

means coupling said planar antenna loop and said processor for coupling at least the received signals therebetween.

8. The antenna arrangement of claim 1 wherein said processor processes transmitted signals and said received signals, wherein said transmitted signals are coupled to said at least two antenna loops to be transmitted thereby.

9. The antenna arrangement of claim 8 in combination with a wireless article including a loop antenna and an electronic device including a memory, wherein said processor processes transmitted signals of a type adapted to be received by the electronic device via the loop antenna and processes received signals of a type adapted to be produced by the electronic device.

10. The antenna arrangement of claim 9 wherein the signals received by the electronic device activate, operate, and/or control the electronic device and cause storing of information in the memory or reading of information from the memory.

11. The antenna arrangement of claim 8 in combination with a utilization system operable in conjunction with the transmitted signals and the received signals.

12. The antenna arrangement of claim 11 wherein said utilization system includes toll collection, object identification, stolen object identification, theft prevention, object tracking, package tracking, baggage tracking, medication dispensing and/or usage, medical device dispensing and/or usage, retailing, inventory tracking, factory and/or warehouse inventory, security identification, and/or access control.

13. The antenna arrangement of claim 1 wherein said detection region includes a portal, a passage, a passageway, a doorway, an access, an egress, a security gate, a toll gate, an electronic gate, a retail check-out station, a hospital, a medical facility, a pharmacy, a location at which medication and/or a medical device is dispensed and/or used, a corridor, a tunnel, a conveyor, a trough, a baggage cart, an enclosure, a storage space, a container, a shipping container, a pallet, a cargo bay, a truck, a trailer, a loading area, and/or a warehouse.

14. An antenna arrangement as for detecting a wireless article comprising:

at least two loop antenna disposed in each of first and second intersecting planes intersecting at an angle to define a detection region therebetween in which said at least two loop antenna transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals with a component of an associated electromagnetic field in each of three mutually orthogonal directions and through which an object may pass, wherein each of said at least two loop antenna includes a portion disposed in each of the first and second intersecting planes, and wherein said at least two loop antenna overlap at least in part in each of the first and second intersecting planes; and

means for coupling said at least two loop antenna in circuit.

15. The antenna arrangement of claim 14 in combination with:

an additional loop antenna disposed in the first intersecting plane, wherein at least part of said additional loop antenna overlaps at least part of each of said at least two loop antenna to further define the detection region in which said two loop antenna and said additional loop antenna transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals; and

means for coupling said additional loop antenna and said at least two loop antenna in circuit.

16. The antenna arrangement of claim 14 in combination with:

at least two additional loop antenna each disposed in the first intersecting plane and in a third plane intersecting therewith at a second angle to define a detection region therebetween in which said at least two loop antenna transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals with a component of an associated electromagnetic field in each of three mutually orthogonal directions and through which an object may pass, wherein each of said at least two additional loop antenna includes a portion disposed in each of the first intersecting plane and the third plane, and wherein said at least two loop antenna overlap at least in part in each of the first intersecting plane and the third plane; and

means for coupling said at least two additional loop antenna in circuit with said at least two loop antenna.

17. The antenna arrangement of claim 16 in combination with:

a planar loop antenna disposed in the first intersecting plane, wherein at least part of said planar loop antenna overlaps at least part of each of said at least two loop antenna to further define the detection region in which said two loop antenna, said two additional loop antenna and said planar loop antenna transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals; and

means for coupling said planar loop antenna in circuit with said at least two loop antenna.

18. An antenna arrangement defining a detection region for electromagnetic signals, wherein the detection region is bounded by first and second substantially parallel spaced-apart planes and a third plane intersecting both of the first and second planes, said antenna arrangement comprising:

first and second loop antenna disposed in each of the first and third planes, wherein each of said first and second loop antenna includes a portion disposed in each of the first and third planes, and wherein said first and second loop antenna overlap at least in part in each of the first and third planes;

third and fourth loop antenna each disposed in the second and third planes, wherein each of said third and fourth loop antenna includes a portion disposed in each of the second and third planes, and wherein said third and fourth loop antenna overlap at least in part in each of the second and third planes;

a fifth loop antenna disposed in the third plane, wherein at least part of said third loop antenna overlaps at least part of each of said third and fourth loop antenna in the third plane; and

means for coupling said first, second, third, fourth and fifth loop antenna in circuit.

19. The antenna arrangement of claim 18 wherein each of the first and second planes is at an angle of between about 80°

and about 100°

with respect to the third plane.

20. The antenna arrangement of claim 18 in combination with a wireless article adapted to be associated with an object, said wireless article including a loop antenna and an electronic device including a memory, wherein said first, second, third, fourth and/or fifth loop antenna transmit and/or receive signals of a type adapted to be received and/or transmitted by the electronic device via the loop antenna of said wireless article.

21. The antenna arrangement of claim 20 wherein the signals received by the electronic device one of activate, operate, or control the electronic device and cause storing of information in the memory or reading of information from the memory.

22. The antenna arrangement of claim 20 in combination with a utilization system coupled to said means for coupling said first, second, third, fourth and fifth loop antenna in circuit for operation in conjunction with the transmitted signals and the received signals.

23. The antenna arrangement of claim 22 wherein said utilization system includes toll collection, object identification, stolen object identification, theft prevention, object tracking, package tracking, baggage tracking, medication dispensing and/or usage, medical device dispensing and/or usage, retailing, inventory tracking, factory and/or warehouse inventory, security identification, and/or access control.

24. The antenna arrangement of claim 18 wherein said detection region includes a portal, a passage, a passageway, a doorway, an access, an egress, a security gate, a toll gate, an electronic gate, a retail check-out station, a hospital, a medical facility, a pharmacy, a location at which medication and/or a medical device is dispensed and/or used, a corridor, a tunnel, a conveyor, a trough, a baggage cart, an enclosure, a storage space, a container, a shipping container, a pallet, a cargo bay, a truck, a trailer, a loading area, and/or a warehouse.

25. A method for detecting wireless articles in a detection region comprising:

providing at least two loop antenna;

disposing the at least two loop antenna in each of first and second intersecting planes intersecting at an angle to define the detection region therebetween, wherein each of said at least two loop antenna includes a portion disposed in each of the first and second intersecting planes, and wherein said at least two loop antenna overlap at least in part in each of the first and second intersecting planes;

causing the at least two loop antenna to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals having a component of an associated electromagnetic field in each of three mutually orthogonal directions for signaling with the wireless article in the detection region;

providing a processor;

coupling the at least two loop antenna and the processor for receiving signals from the wireless article and/or for transmitting signals to the wireless article; and

processing the received and/or transmitted signals.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said coupling includes tuning, filtering and/or selectively connecting the plurality of antenna loops.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said selectively connecting includes one of sequentially connecting ones of the plurality of antenna loops and the processor and alternatingly connecting ones of the plurality of antenna loops and the processor.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising coupling signals related to the transmitted and/or received signals to a utilization system.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

providing at least one wireless article including a loop antenna and an electronic device including a memory,

wherein said processing includes processing transmitted signals of a type adapted to be received by the electronic device via the loop antenna of the wireless article and processing received signals of a type adapted to be produced by the electronic device.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the detection region includes a portal, a passage, a passageway, a doorway, an access, an egress, a security gate, a toll gate, an electronic gate, a retail check-out station, a hospital, a medical facility, a pharmacy, a location at which medication and/or a medical device is dispensed and/or used, a corridor, a tunnel, a conveyor, a trough, a baggage cart, an enclosure, a storage space, a container, a shipping container, a pallet, a cargo bay, a truck, a trailer, a loading area, and/or a warehouse.

31. An antenna as for detecting a wireless article comprising:

a loop antenna having at least two loops disposed in each of first and second intersecting surfaces intersecting at an angle to define a detection region therebetween in which said loop antenna transmits and/or receives electromagnetic signals with a component of an associated electromagnetic field in each of three mutually orthogonal directions and through which an object may pass, wherein the two loops of said loop antenna include a portion crossing over itself at least twice on the first surface and a wavy portion defining at least two waves on the second surface;

a processor for processing at least received signals as for detecting the wireless article; and

means coupling said at least two antenna loops and said processor for coupling at least the received signals therebetween.

32. The antenna of claim 31 wherein the angle at which the first and second surfaces intersect is between about 80°

and about 100°

.

33. The antenna of claim 31 wherein said means for coupling includes at least one of a tuning circuit, a filter and a switch for selectively connecting said at least two antenna loops and said processor.

34. The antenna of claim 31 in combination with a wireless article including a loop antenna and an electronic device including a memory, wherein said processor processes received signals of a type adapted to be produced by the electronic device.

35. An antenna as for detecting a wireless article comprising:

a loop antenna formed of a loop conductor,

said loop antenna having a first portion of the loop conductor disposed in a first plane and crossing over itself at least twice in the first plane,

said loop antenna having a second portion of the loop conductor adjacent one side of the first plane, the second portion of said loop conductor being wavy for defining at least two waves in the loop conductor relative to distance from the first plane; and

means for coupling said loop antenna to an external processor as for detecting the wireless article.

36. The antenna of claim 35 wherein the wavy second portion of said loop antenna defines one of a circular, oval, elliptical, rectangular and square shape extending from the first plane.

37. The antenna of claim 35 wherein said means for coupling includes at least one of a tuning circuit, a filter and a switch for selectively connecting said loop antenna to the external processor.

38. A method providing an antenna for detecting wireless articles in a detection region comprising:

providing a loop antenna formed of a loop conductor, wherein a first portion of the loop conductor is disposed in a first plane and crosses over itself at least twice in the first plane, and wherein a second portion of the loop conductor is disposed adjacent one side of the first plane, the second portion of said loop antenna being wavy for defining at least two waves in the loop conductor relative to distance from the first plane,

wherein the first and second portions of the loop conductor define a loop antenna having a detection region;

causing the loop antenna to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals having a component of an associated electromagnetic field in each of three mutually orthogonal directions for signaling with the wireless article in the detection region;

providing a processor;

coupling the loop antenna and the processor for receiving signals from the wireless article and/or for transmitting signals to the wireless article; and

processing the received and/or transmitted signals.

39. An antenna as for detecting a wireless article comprising:

a loop conductor having a first portion disposed in a first plane and a second portion disposed adjacent the first plane,

wherein the first portion of the loop conductor disposed in the first plane crosses over itself at least at three locations, thereby to define a pretzel-like shape in the first plane, and

wherein the second portion of the loop conductor disposed adjacent the first plane is proximal the first plane at four first locations and is distal the first plane at three second locations interposed between the four first locations,

thereby defining at least three waves in said loop conductor in a direction extending from the first plane; and

a tuning circuit coupling said loop conductor to an external processor as for detecting the wireless article.