RFID near-field antenna and associated systems
First Claim
1. A RFID system for selectively communicating with a targeted transponder from among a group of multiple adjacent transponders, the RFID system comprising:
- a transponder conveyance system configured to transport at least one targeted transponder from a group of multiple adjacent transponders through a transponder encoding area along a feeding path; and
an antenna configured to transmit an electromagnetic wave to the transponder encoding area for communicating with the targeted transponder, and the antenna includes at least a first ground plane, a second ground plane, a dielectric substrate, and a conductive strip,wherein the first ground plane and the second ground plane extend along the dielectric substrate and the conductive strip extends between the first ground plane and the second ground plane, such that first ground plane and the conductive strip define a first slot extending between the first ground plane and the conductive strip and such that the second ground plane and the conductive strip define a second slot extending between the second ground plane and the conductive strip,wherein the first ground plane, the second ground plane, and the conductive strip are substantially coplanar,wherein the antenna is configured to operate within a band of frequencies and the conductive strip defines an electrical a length substantially equal to a multiple of one-half of a wavelength of a center frequency of the band of frequencies, andwherein the first slot defines a distance between the conductive strip and the first ground plane, the distance varying along the length.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A near-field antenna based on a coplanar waveguide is provided. The antenna is configured to communicate with a targeted transponder from among a group of multiple adjacent transponders. The antenna may include a first ground plane, a second ground plane, a dielectric substrate, and a conductive strip. The first ground plane and the second ground plane extend along the dielectric substrate and the conductive strip extends between the first ground plane and the second ground plane such that first ground plane and the conductive strip define a first slot extending between the first ground plane and the conductive strip and the second ground plane define a second slot extending between the second conductive strip and the conductive strip. The first ground plane, the second ground plane, and the conductive strip are substantially coplanar. In other embodiments, a novel assembly of a ribbon guide and a near-field antenna is provided.
95 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A RFID system for selectively communicating with a targeted transponder from among a group of multiple adjacent transponders, the RFID system comprising:
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a transponder conveyance system configured to transport at least one targeted transponder from a group of multiple adjacent transponders through a transponder encoding area along a feeding path; and an antenna configured to transmit an electromagnetic wave to the transponder encoding area for communicating with the targeted transponder, and the antenna includes at least a first ground plane, a second ground plane, a dielectric substrate, and a conductive strip, wherein the first ground plane and the second ground plane extend along the dielectric substrate and the conductive strip extends between the first ground plane and the second ground plane, such that first ground plane and the conductive strip define a first slot extending between the first ground plane and the conductive strip and such that the second ground plane and the conductive strip define a second slot extending between the second ground plane and the conductive strip, wherein the first ground plane, the second ground plane, and the conductive strip are substantially coplanar, wherein the antenna is configured to operate within a band of frequencies and the conductive strip defines an electrical a length substantially equal to a multiple of one-half of a wavelength of a center frequency of the band of frequencies, and wherein the first slot defines a distance between the conductive strip and the first ground plane, the distance varying along the length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A printer-encoder for printing and encoding a series of media units wherein at least one media unit includes at least one transponder, the printer encoder comprising:
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a printhead for printing indicia onto the media units; a conveyance system configured to transport a series of media units including the at least one transponder to the printhead and a transponder encoding area along a feed path in a feed direction; a reader configured to process one or more communication signals; and an antenna configured to direct the communication signals to and from the reader and the antenna is configured to communicate with the at least one transponder in the transponder encoding area and includes at least a first ground plane, a second ground plane, a dielectric substrate, and a conductive strip, wherein the first ground plane and the second ground plane extend along the dielectric substrate and the conductive strip extends between the first ground plane and the second ground plane such that first ground plane and the conductive strip define a first slot extending between the first ground plane and the conductive strip and such that the second ground plane and the conductive strip define a second slot extending between the second ground plane and the conductive strip, wherein the first ground plane, the second ground plane, and the conductive strip are substantially coplanar, the conductive strip defining a length, and wherein the first slot defines a distance between the conductive strip and the first ground plane, the distance varying along the length. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A printer-encoder for printing and encoding at least one media unit that includes a transponder, the printer encoder comprising:
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a printhead for printing indicia onto the media units; a platen roller; a ribbon guide configured to direct a portion of a thermal ribbon between the printhead and the platen roller and the printhead is configured to provide heat and press the portion of the thermal ribbon against the platen roller such that indicia is formed on the least one media unit positioned between the platen roller and the printhead; and
wherein the ribbon guide defines a recessed portion; andan antenna positioned within the recessed portion and configured to transmit an electromagnetic wave for communicating with the transponder of the at least one media unit. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method comprising:
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providing an antenna that includes at least a first ground plane, a second ground plane, a dielectric substrate, and a conductive strip, wherein the first ground plane and the second ground plane extend along the dielectric substrate and the conductive strip extends between the first ground plane and the second ground plan;
such that first ground plane and the conductive strip define a first slot extending between the first ground plane and the conductive strip and such that the second ground plane and the conductive strip define a second slot extending between the second ground plane and the conductive strip, andwherein the first ground plane, the second ground plane, and the conductive strip are substantially coplanar; transporting a targeted transponder of the plurality of transponders along the feed path into the transponder encoding area; and sending one or more electrical signals to the antenna such that the conductive strip and the first slot and the second slot emit an electromagnetic wave into the transponder encoding area for communicating with the targeted transponder in the transponder encoding area, wherein the conductive strip defines a length, and wherein the first slot defines a distance between the conductive strip and the first ground plane, the distance varying along the length. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification