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US 2015/0084744 A1Published application
Directional antenna for rfid tag finder
AssigneeHand Held Products, Inc.
InventorWilliam H. HAVENS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system may include a mobile device comprising an antenna system. The antenna system may include a first antenna to determine a presence of a transponder within an area and a second antenna comprising a directional radiation pattern and that is configured to sweep the area to determine a direction of the transponder. The first antenna may be separate from the second antenna.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- activating a first antenna,
- determining, by the first antenna, the general presence of a transponder in an area based on a signal received at the first antenna from the transponder;
- activating a second antenna designed to have a null or minimum in a first direction and a radiation pattern in all directions other than the first direction;
- and
- identifying, by the second antenna, a location of the transponder within the area in response to a lack of response to the second antenna when the null or minimum is directed toward the transponder.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a mobile device comprising an antenna system;
- wherein the antenna system comprises:
- a first antenna to determine a presence of a transponder within an area;
- and
- a second antenna comprising a directional radiation pattern and that is configured to sweep the area to determine a direction of the transponder, wherein the first antenna is separate from the second antenna.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a RFID reader comprising a nulling antenna;
- wherein the nulling antenna outputs a null or minimum extending only in one direction so that when the null is directed toward a transponder, the RFID reader is prevented from receiving signals from the transponder, and
- wherein the nulling antenna continuously sweeps about an axis to determine:
- (1) the presence based on receipt of the signal when a maximum of the antenna is directed toward the transponder and (2) a direction of the transponder based on a lack of signal from the transponder when the null or minimum is pointed toward the transponder.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.