Antenna embedded inventory shelf
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRonald Eugene Huebner, Somasundaram Niranjayan, Mark Glen McKinnon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure describes the ability to efficiently track inventory using RFID tags (e.g., RFID tags). For example, an inventory shelf located within a materials handling facility may include a series of antenna elements arranged in rows embedded into the shelf that are coupled with an RFID reader. The antenna elements are configured to establish electromagnetic fields oriented along shelf rows. The fields can be used to read RFID tags included or attached to inventory items placed on the shelf row.
Claims24
An apparatus, comprising:
- an antenna embedded inventory shelf, including:
- a ground plane;
- a substrate positioned on top of and adjacent to the ground plane and formed of a material having a low dielectric constant;
- a plurality of antenna elements positioned along an upper surface of the substrate such that a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag placed near an antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements will be energized by the antenna element;
- and
- a protective cover positioned over the plurality of antenna elements, such that the plurality of antenna elements are positioned between the substrate and the protective cover.
An apparatus comprising:
- a ground plane;
- a substrate formed of a material having a low dielectric constant and positioned on top of and adjacent the ground plane, the substrate configured to support a plurality of inventory items;
- a plurality of antenna elements positioned along an upper surface of the substrate such that a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag placed near an antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements will be energized by the antenna element;
- and
- a protective cover positioned over the plurality of antenna elements, such that the plurality of antenna elements are positioned between the substrate and the protective cover.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a substrate having a low dielectric constant and configured to support an inventory item;
- an antenna element positioned along a surface of the substrate such that a tag identifier corresponding to the inventory item will be received by the antenna element when the inventory item is placed near the antenna element;
- and
- a protective cover positioned over the antenna element, such that the antenna element is positioned between the substrate and the protective cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.