Apparatus, system and method for extending the field area of a device equipped with a high-frequency reader

• US 9,239,942 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2012
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casillashernandez, Omar
• Application Number:
  US13/552,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20130021140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/3.51, 340/4.5, 340/4.51, 340/5.61, 340/7.21, 340/505, 340/572.1, 340/870.28, 235375-386, 342 42- 51, 455/41.1, 455/106
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07794 the record carrier comprising a booster or auxiliary antenna in addition to the antenna connected directly to the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/14 by lifting or attempted removal of hand-portable articles

Abstract

A structure for extending the field area of a device equipped with an RF tag reader. The structure can include at least one reader coupling area for inductively coupling with an RF tag reader, and at least one tag coupling area for inductively coupling with an RF tag, wherein the tag coupling area is disposed outside the field area of the RF tag reader, and the reader coupling area is conductively coupled to the tag coupling area such that a signal induced in the reader coupling area by the RF reader creates a signal in the tag coupling area, thereby inducing a signal in the tag, and allowing the RF reader to communicate with the tag.

Claims

1. A structure for extending a field area of a device equipped with an RF tag reader, comprising:

at least one reader coupling area for inductively coupling with the RF tag reader in which the at least one reader coupling area is a coil of conductive material; and

at least one tag coupling area for coupling with an RF tag, the at least one tag coupling area including a coil of conductive material of the RF tag;

wherein the tag coupling area is disposed outside the field area of the RF tag reader;

a negative resistance conductively coupled to and disposed in series with the at least one reader coupling area and the at least one tag coupling area such that the negative resistance has a capacitance which resonates with a total inductance of the structure; and

the reader coupling area is conductively coupled to the tag coupling area such that a signal induced in the reader coupling area by the RF reader creates a signal in the tag coupling area, thereby inducing a signal in the tag, and allowing the RF reader to communicate with the tag further.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the tag coupling area is a coil.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the tag coupling area is a transmission line.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the negative resistance further comprises:

a transistor;

a direct current block;

at least one feedback capacitor;

a power source; and

at least one resistor.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the negative resistance is set so as to prevent oscillation of the signal in the structure.

6. A system for extending a field area of a device equipped with an RF tag reader, comprising:

a surface; and

at least one structure for extending the field area of a device equipped with the RF tag reader, the structure comprising at least one reader coupling area for coupling with an RF tag reader, the at least one reader coupling area being conductively coupled to at least one tag coupling area for inductively coupling with an RF tag wherein the at least one reader coupling area is not a part of the RF tag;

a negative resistance conductively coupled to and disposed in series with the at least one reader coupling area and the at least one tag coupling area such that the negative resistance has a capacitance which resonates with a total inductance of the structure; and

wherein the structure is disposed within the surface.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one structure is oriented such that the at least one reader coupling area is disposed proximate a reader-accessible location.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one structure is oriented such that the at least one tag coupling area is disposed outside the field area of the RF tag reader.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the surface is a shelf of a product storage or display unit.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the surface is a wall of a product storage or display unit.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the surface is a mat.

12. A method for reading an RF tag disposed outside a field area of a device equipped with an RF tag reader, comprising:

providing at least one RF tag reader coupling area;

providing at least one RF tag coupling area conductively coupled to the at least one reader coupling area in which the tag coupling area is a coil and the least one tag coupling area is not a part of the RF tag;

providing a negative resistance conductively coupled to and disposed in series with the at least one reader coupling area and the at least one tag coupling area such that the negative resistance has a capacitance which resonates with a total inductance of the structure;

inducing a signal in the at least one RF reader coupling area by the RF tag reader;

creating the signal in the at least one RF tag coupling area; and

inducing the signal in the RF tag.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the tag coupling area is a transmission line.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein a negative resistance is conductively coupled to and disposed in series with the at least one reader coupling area and the at least one tag coupling area.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one RF tag reader coupling area and the at least one RF tag coupling area are disposed within a surface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the surface is a member of a product storage or display area.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the surface is a mat.