US 8,078,103 B2Granted

Multi-element RFID coupler

AssigneeZIH Corp.

InventorsYevgeniy Borisov, Karl Torchalski, Daniel F. Donato

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Abstract

An RFID communication system comprising a near field coupler that is capable of selectively communicating with a targeted transponder positioned among a group of multiple adjacent transponders. The coupler is configured to receive communication signals from a transceiver and transmit the signals to a targeted transponder in a transponder operating region. The coupler includes a number of radiating elements spaced apart and a switching element. The switching element selectively couples one or more of the radiating elements to the transceiver. The coupled elements transmit the signals into the transponder operating region by emanating a near field effect. The pattern of the near field effect may be adjusted by changing the combination of the coupled radiating elements.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A near field coupler comprising:

a dielectric substrate having a first surface, a second surface, a first end and a second end;
a terminating resistor disposed on the dielectric substrate adjacent the second end;
a ground plane adjacent to the second surface of the dielectric substrate,
a plurality of radiating elements extending proximately from the first end to the second end of the dielectric substrate along the first surface, wherein each of the plurality of radiating elements has a length of one-half wavelength or integer multiple thereof and is connected to the ground plane through the terminating resistor such that each of the plurality of radiating elements and the ground plane together form a one-half wavelength or integer multiple thereof transmission line, the terminating resistor is selected such that the near field coupler operates as one or more unmatched transmission lines;
and
a switching element electrically connected to the plurality of radiating elements adjacent to the first end of the dielectric substrate, wherein the switching element is provided in electrical communication with the transceiver and configured to selectively deactivate one or more radiating elements among the plurality of radiating elements by decoupling from the one or more radiating elements such that a near field effect is produced by the near field coupler in an operating region, the near field effect moving within the operating region and following the advancement of a targeted transponder.

3 more elements

A near field coupler system adapted to provide selective communication between a transceiver and a targeted transponder disposed among multiple adjacent transponders, the near field coupler system comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit communication signals;
a near field coupler structured to receive the communication signals from the transceiver and further configured to broadcast electromagnetic signals as a near field effect into at least a portion of a transponder operating region, the near field coupler comprising:
a plurality of radiating elements, and
a switching element electrically connected to the plurality of radiating elements and the transceiver, wherein the switching element is configured to selectively deactivate one or more of the radiating elements among the plurality of radiating elements, by decoupling from the one or more of the radiating elements, to adjust a pattern of the near field effect in the transponder operating region;
a transponder conveyance configured to advance at least one transponder on a path through the transponder operating region;
and
a controller configured to control the near field coupler such that the pattern of the near field effect follows the advancement of the at least one transponder within the transponder operating region by operating the switching element based on at least one of an orientation and a location of the transponder within the transponder operating region.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/263,093Filed 31 Oct 2005
Published: US 2007/0099566 A13 May 2007
Granted: 13 Dec 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

H04B 5/77
Specially adapted for specific purposes: for interrogation
G06K 7/0008
Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns: general problems related to the reading of electronic memory…
G06K 7/10316
Sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves: using at least one antenna particularly designed for…
H01Q 1/22
Supports; Mounting means: by structural association with other equipment or articles