Energy source communication employing slot antenna

• US 7,414,589 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Buffalo Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J., King, Patrick F., Ginn, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hoang V
• Application Number:
  US11/751,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20070216593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 343767-770, 343/702, 343/720
• US Class Current: 343/767
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• 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 1/242 specially adapted for hand-held use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/44 using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna , e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspectH01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/106 Microstrip slot antennas patch antenna elements H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/18 the slot being backed by, or formed in boundary wall of, a resonant cavity longitudinally slotted cylinder H01Q13/12 ; Open cavity antennas

Abstract

The invention relates to a wireless communication device that is coupled to an energy source, such as a battery, capacitor, or solar cell. The wireless communication device is coupled to a slot in the energy source to form a slot antenna for wireless communication. The slot antenna receives communication signals from an interrogation reader or other communication device. The wireless communication device may be attached to a device or container for purposes such as communicating information regarding identification, manufacturing, tracking, and the like. The wireless communication device may also be coupled to the energy source for power.

Claims

1. A wireless communication energy source system comprising:

an energy source comprising a body having a first and a second terminal separated by a separator forming a slot between said first and second terminals; and

a wireless communication device coupled to said slot to form a slot antenna for wireless communication;

wherein said wireless communication device is coupled to said slot using at least one feed point; and

wherein said wireless communication device is coupled to said first and second terminals using at least one feed line to provide power to the wireless communication device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is coupled to said first terminal using a first of said at least one feed line and said wireless communication device is directly coupled to said second terminal through a conductive portion of said wireless communication device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said wireless communication device comprises a pin and said wireless communication device is directly coupled to said second terminal using said pin.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is coupled to said first terminal using a first feed line and said second terminal using a second feed line.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said first feed line coupled to said first terminal comprises a conductive adhesive and said second feed line coupled to said second terminal comprises a conductive adhesive.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said first feed line further comprises a portion of non-conductive adhesive, said conductive adhesive portion of said first feed line coupled to said first terminal and said non-conductive adhesive portion of said first feed line coupled to said second terminal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is coupled to said slot using a first of said at least one feed point, said first feed point comprising a conductive adhesive.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interrogator adapted to communicate information wirelessly with said wireless communication device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said interrogator emits a signal to said wireless communication device to power said wireless communication device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said signal recharges said energy source.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said interrogator communicates to said wireless communication device to transfer information.

12. A wireless communication energy source system comprising:

an energy source comprising a body having a first and a second terminal separated by a separator forming a slot between said first and second terminals; and

a wireless communication device coupled across said slot to form a slot antenna for wireless communication.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising first and second feed points coupled to said wireless communication device, wherein said first and second feed points are coupled to said first and second terminals, respectively.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said first and second feed points are non-conductive in a region that said feed points cross said slot.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising an interrogator adapted to communication information wirelessly with said wireless communication device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said interrogator emits a signal to said wireless communication device to power said wireless communication device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said signal recharges said energy source.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said interrogator communicates to said wireless communication device to transfer information.

19. A wireless communication energy source system comprising:

an energy source comprising a body having a positive terminal and a negative terminal separated by a separator forming a slot between said positive and negative terminals;

a sleeve coupled to said body; and

a wireless communication device coupled to said slot using at least one feed point to provide a slot antenna for wireless communication.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a conductive adhesive to directly connect said wireless communication device to said positive terminal.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said wireless communication device is coupled to said slot beneath said sleeve.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said wireless communication device is coupled to said positive and negative terminals using first and second feed lines to provide power to the wireless communication device.

23. The system of claim 19, further comprising an interrogator adapted to communicate information wirelessly with said wireless communication device.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said interrogator emits a signal to said wireless communication device to power said wireless communication device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said signal recharges said energy source.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein said interrogator communicates to said wireless communication device to transfer information.

27. A method of providing a slot antenna for a wireless communication device comprising:

providing an energy source having a first and a second terminal separated by a separator and a slot created by said separator in said energy source; and

coupling the wireless communication device to said slot to form a slot antenna;

wherein coupling said wireless communication device to said slot comprises;

coupling said wireless communication device to said slot using at least one feed point; and

coupling said wireless communication device to said first and second terminals using at least one feed line to provide power to the wireless communication device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein coupling said wireless communication device to said first and second terminals comprises coupling said wireless communication device to said first terminal using a first of said at least one feed line and coupling said wireless communication device directly to said second terminal through a conductive portion of said wireless communication device.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein coupling said wireless communication device to said first and second terminals comprises coupling said wireless communication device to said first terminal using a first feed line and coupling said wireless communication device to said second terminal using a second feed line.

30. A method of providing a slot antenna for a wireless communication device comprising:

providing an energy source having a first and a second terminal separated by a separator and a slot created by said separator in said energy source; and

coupling the wireless communication device across said slot to form a slot antenna for wireless communication.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein coupling said wireless communication device across said slot comprises coupling said wireless communication device to said first terminal via a first feed point and to said second terminal via a second feed point.

32. A method of providing a slot antenna for a wireless communication device comprising:

providing an energy source having a positive and a negative terminal in a body, said positive and negative terminals separated by a separator, a sleeve coupled to said body, and a slot created by said separator in said energy source; and

coupling the wireless communication device to said slot using at least one feed point to provide a slot antenna for wireless communication.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein coupling said wireless communication device to said slot comprises coupling said wireless communication device to said slot beneath said sleeve.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising coupling said wireless communication device to said positive and negative terminals using first and second feed lines to provide power to said wireless communication device.