# US 7,743,997 B2 · Handheld combination bar code and RFID reader with integrated electronics and antenna > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,997 B2 - Document ID: US7743997B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/124,557 - Filed: 2008-05-21 - Published: 2009-11-26 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2008-05-21 - Assignees: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation - Inventors: Richard L. Copeland; Steven V. Leone; Larry K. Canipe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743997B2 ## CPC - G06K 7/0004: {Hybrid readers} - G06K 7/10316: {using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers (antennas in general H01Q1/22)} - G06K 7/10346: {the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract A handheld barcode/RFID reader includes a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side includes at least a portion of barcode/RFID electronic circuitry affixed thereto. The second side contains a ground plane for the electronic circuitry. The handheld barcode/RFID reader further includes a patch antenna, electrically coupled to the circuitry, and mounted on the second side of the printed circuit board such that the ground plane of the printed circuit board also provides a ground for the patch antenna. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A handheld barcode/RFID (“radio frequency identification”) reader, comprising: a printed circuit board, including: a first side having at least a portion of barcode/RFID electronic circuitry affixed thereto; and a second side opposite the first side, the second side having a ground plane electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry; and a patch antenna affixed to the second side of the printed circuit board, the patch antenna being electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry and the ground plane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The handheld barcode/RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the patch antenna includes: a dielectric material; and a square shaped metal patch etched on one side of the dielectric material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The handheld barcode/RFID reader of claim 2, wherein an area of the ground plane is at least four times greater than an area of the metal patch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The handheld barcode/RFID reader of claim 2, further comprising an RFID antenna module, the RFID module having: a first housing cover; and a second housing cover opposite the first housing cover, the second housing cover affixable to the first housing cover to define an internal cavity, wherein the printed circuit board and the patch antenna are encapsulated within the internal cavity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The handheld barcode/RFID reader of claim 4, further comprising a housing base, the housing base defining at least one aperture, wherein the RFID antenna module is mounted to the housing base within the aperture. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The handheld barcode/RFID reader of claim 2, wherein the patch antenna further includes a single feedpoint located approximately halfway between a geometric center of the patch and an edge of the patch antenna. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The handheld barcode/RFID reader of claim 2, wherein the metal patch includes a pair of truncated corners, the truncated corners being aligned along a diagonal of either corner of the metal patch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The handheld barcode/RFID reader of claim 2, wherein the dielectric material is at least one of ceramic, and a combination of ceramic and Teflon, the dielectric material having a relative dielectric constant of 10 or higher and a dielectric loss factor of 0.01 or less. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The handheld barcode/RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the second side of the printed circuit board further has at least some electronic circuitry affixed thereto. ### Claim 10 An RFID (“radio frequency identification”) antenna module, comprising: a printed circuit board, including: a first side having at least a portion of electronic RFID circuitry affixed thereto; and a second side opposite the first side, the second side having a ground plane electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry; and a patch antenna affixed to the second side of the printed circuit board, the patch antenna being electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry and the ground plane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The RFID antenna module of claim 10, wherein the patch antenna includes: a dielectric material; and a square shaped metal patch etched on one side of the dielectric material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The RFID antenna module of claim 11, wherein an area of the ground plane is at least four times greater than an area of the metal patch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The RFID antenna module of claim 11, wherein the metal patch includes a pair of truncated corners, the truncated corners being aligned along a diagonal of either corner of the metal patch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The RFID antenna module of claim 11, wherein the patch antenna further includes a single feedpoint located approximately halfway between a geometric center of the patch and an edge of the patch antenna. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The RFID antenna module of claim 11, wherein the metal patch includes notches on all four corners of the square shaped metal patch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The RFID antenna module of claim 11, wherein the dielectric material is at least one of ceramic, and a combination of ceramic and Teflon, the dielectric material having a relative dielectric constant of 10 or higher and a dielectric loss factor of 0.01 or less. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The RFID antenna module of claim 11, further comprising: a first housing cover; and a second housing cover opposite the first housing cover, the second housing cover being affixable to the first housing cover to define an internal cavity, wherein the printed circuit board and the patch antenna are encapsulated within the internal cavity. ### Claim 18 A method for manufacturing an RFID(“radio frequency identification”) antenna module having a printed circuit board with a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the second side having a ground plane for electronic RFID circuitry, the method comprising: affixing at least a portion of the electronic RFID circuitry to the first side; electrically connecting the electronic RFID circuit to the ground plane; mounting a patch antenna to the second side of the printed circuit board, the patch antenna being in electrical communication with the RFID circuitry on the first side and the ground plane on the second side. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the patch antenna includes: a dielectric material; and a square shaped metal patch etched on one side of the dielectric material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein an area of the ground plane is at least four times greater than an area of the metal patch.