# US 11,037,041 B2 · Identification sensor for works buried at great depth

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- Number: US 11,037,041 B2
- Document ID: US11037041B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/335,293
- Filed: 2017-09-22
- Published: 2020-08-20
- Granted: 2021-06-15
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-23
- Assignees: Elydan
- Applicants: Elydan
- Inventors: Ludovic Le Bastard; Thierry Nivon; Marc Palomares
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11037041B2

## CPC

- G06K 19/0772: {Physical layout of the record carrier}
- G06K 19/07771: {the record carrier comprising means for minimising adverse effects on the data communication capability of the record carrier, e.g. minimising Eddy currents induced in a proximate metal or otherwise electromagnetically interfering object}
- G01V 3/12: operating with electromagnetic waves {(operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005)}
- G06K 19/0726: {the arrangement including a circuit for tuning the resonance frequency of an antenna on the record carrier}
- G06K 19/07773: {Antenna details (antennas for wireless devices, e.g. RFID tags, in general H01Q1/22)}
- H01Q 1/04: Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use
- 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}
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02)
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)

## Abstract

A transponder for a RFID-type wireless communication and contactless identification system configured to be affixed to (or close to) structure intended to be buried, said transponder comprising: a set of antenna segments consisting of electrical wires constituting at least a first and a second antenna element (203-1, 203-2), a circuit board comprising a RFID chip and at least one tuning capacitance (202x) as well as coupling means (281) allowing the electrical coupling of said antenna segments; characterized in that said antenna segments are arranged close to each other, at a distance of less than 3 mm and preferably less than 1 mm, so as to allow the appearance of coupling capacities (280) capable of widening the band of tolerance on the RFID resonance frequency.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A transponder for a RFID-type wireless communication and contactless identification system configured to be affixed to a structure intended to be buried, said transponder comprising:
a set of antenna segments consisting of electrical wires constituting at least a first and a second antenna element (203-1, 203-2),
a connector (281) comprising a RFID chip and at least one tuning capacitance (202x) as well as coupling means allowing the electrical coupling of said antenna segments, wherein the connector further includes:
a first (284-1), second (284-2) and third input electrodes (284-3) for connecting a first end of a first (701), second (702) and third (703) antenna segments, respectively;
a fourth (285-1), fifth (285-2) and sixth (285-3) output electrode for connecting a second end of said first (701), said second (702) and said third (703) antenna segment;
a first circuit (286-3) for connecting the first input electrode (284-1) to the sixth output electrode (285-3) via an RFID chip;
a second circuit (286-1) for connecting the second input electrode (284-2) to the fourth output electrode (285-1); and
a third circuit (286-2) for connecting the third input electrode (284-3) to the fifth output electrode (285-2) via a capacitance (202x);
wherein said antenna segments are arranged close to each other, at a distance of less than 3 mm and preferably less than 1 mm, so as to allow the appearance of coupling capacities capable of widening the band of tolerance on the RFID resonance frequency.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The transponder according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna segments are arranged in a same plane, concentrically, and electrically connected to said connector (281), wherein two immediately adjacent antenna segments are arranged at a distance less than 3 mm, and preferably 1 mm, so as to allow the appearance of coupling capacitors capable of widening the tolerance band on the RFID resonance frequency.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The transponder according to claim 1, characterized in that the antenna segments have planes superimposed on each other, in which two immediately adjacent antenna segments are situated at a distance of less than 3 mm and preferably less than 1 mm allowing the appearance of coupling capacitors capable of widening the tolerance band on the RFID resonance frequency.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The transponder according to claim 1 characterized in that the antenna segments are arranged in order to form a twist (282) allowing the appearance of coupling capabilities that can expand the tolerance band on the RFID resonance frequency.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The transponder according to claim 1 characterized in that said antenna segments are grouped by two or more within the same conductor cable with two or more conductors, in order to show a linear capacitance between each of the antenna segments between 50 and 75 pF/m.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The transponder according to claim 1, characterized in that said first, second and third antenna segments (701, 702, 703) are integrated within the same tri-wire cable making it possible to generate a capacitance distributed between said segments of antenna.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The transponder according to claim 1 one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means of communication of the identity, as well as the characteristics of the buried work (date of burial, nature of the work, material, etc.).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The transponder according to claim 1 one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is configured to allow the identification of a fluid distribution line (e.g., drinking water) or gas, electrical cable protection or fiber cable optical.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The transponder according to claim 1 one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is adapted to be arranged in an autonomous housing fixed to the tube by clipping, welding or clamping.

### Claim 10

A transponder for a RFID-type wireless communication and contactless identification system configured to be affixed to a structure intended to be buried, said transponder comprising:
a set of antenna segments consisting of electrical wires constituting at least a first and a second antenna element (203-1, 203-2),
a connector (281) comprising a RFID chip and at least one tuning capacitance (202x) as well as coupling means allowing the electrical coupling of six antenna segments (801-806), the connector further includes:
a first (284-1), a second (284-2), a third (284-3), a fourth (284-4), a fifth (284-5) and a sixth input electrode (284-6) for connecting a first end of a first (801), a second (802), a third (803), a fourth (804), a fifth (805)) and a sixth (806) antenna segment, respectively;
a seventh (285-1), an eighth (285-2), a ninth (285-3), a tenth (285-4), an eleventh (285-5) and a twelfth (285-6) electrode of an output for connecting a second end of said first (801), second (802), third (803), fourth (804), fifth (805) and sixth (806) antenna segments, respectively;
wherein said integrated circuit comprises:
a first circuit (286-7) for connecting the first input electrode (284-1) to the twelfth output electrode (285-6) via an RFID chip;
a second circuit (286-1) for connecting the second input electrode (284-2) to the seventh output electrode (285-1);
a third circuit (286-2) for connecting the third input electrode (284-3) to the eighth output electrode (285-2) via a capacitor (202x);
a fourth circuit (286-3) for connecting the fourth input electrode (284-4) to the ninth output electrode (285-3);
a fifth circuit (286-4) for connecting the fifth input electrode (284-5) to the tenth output electrode (285-4); and
a sixth circuit (286-5) for connecting the sixth input electrode (284-6) to the eleventh output electrode (285-5);
wherein said antenna segments are arranged close to each other, at a distance of less than 3 mm and preferably less than 1 mm, so as to allow the appearance of coupling capacities capable of widening the band of tolerance on the RFID resonance frequency.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The transponder according to claim 10, characterized in that said first, second and third antenna segments (801, 802, 803) are integrated within a first three-wire electrical cable and in that said fourth, fifth and sixth Antenna segments (804, 805, 806) are integrated within a second three-wire electrical cable.