Gas cylinder and RFID transponder assemblies and related methods having fixed transponder orientations

An assembly for fixed orientation of an RFID (radio frequency identification) transponder with respect to a gas cylinder, comprising:

• a gas cylinder configured to store a gas, the gas cylinder having a central opening on its top surface and having a valve assembly coupled within the central opening;
• a metal protection mechanism coupled to the gas cylinder to provide for valve assembly protection and a carrying facility;
• a metal plate having a bottom surface coupled to the metal protection mechanism, the metal plate having a recess formed within the bottom surface and configured to house an RFID transponder and to fix an orientation of the RFID transponder with respect to the valve assembly;
• and
• an RFID transponder located within the recess of the metal plate, the RFID transponder having an elongated ferrite core antenna including a wire wrapped around a ferrite core and further having a volume of about 100 cubic millimeters or less;
• wherein the RFID transponder is configured to communicate with an external reader using phase shift keying (PSK) modulation;
• and
• wherein the elongated ferrite core antenna of the RFID transponder within the recess has a fixed orientation such that a line passing through a center of the elongated ferrite core antenna is offset by 40 degrees or less from a line passing vertically through a center axis of the central opening of the gas cylinder when these lines are considered to be in a same plane.

An method for fixing an orientation of an RFID (radio frequency identification) transponder with respect to a gas cylinder, comprising:

• providing a gas cylinder configured to store a gas, the gas cylinder having a central opening on its top surface and having a valve flange coupled within the central opening, the valve flange having a primary valve opening;
• providing a metal plate having a recess formed within a bottom surface, the recess being configured to house an RFID transponder and to fix an orientation of the RFID transponder;
• inserting an RFID transponder within the recess of the metal plate, the RFID transponder having an elongated ferrite core antenna including a wire wrapped around a ferrite core and further having a volume of about 100 cubic millimeters or less;
• and
• coupling the bottom surface of the metal plate to the gas cylinder so as to house the RFID transponder and to fix an orientation of the RFID transponder;
• wherein the RFID transponder is configured to communicate with an external reader using phase shift keying (PSK) modulation;
• and
• wherein the elongated ferrite core antenna of the RFID transponder within the recess has a fixed orientation such that a line passing through a center of the elongated ferrite core antenna is offset by 40 degrees or less from a line passing through a center axis of the valve flange and the RFID transponder.