Synthesized-beam RFID reader system with gain compensation and unactivated antenna element coupling suppression
AssigneeImpinj, Inc.
InventorsVincent Moretti, Omer Onen, Ronald A. Oliver
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A synthesized-beam transceiver system steers a beam of a two-dimensional antenna array by activating a first subset of antenna elements to orient the beam in a first direction and subsequently activating a second subset of the antenna elements to orient the beam in a different direction. The system also electrically connects antenna elements that are inactive, not in the first subset, or not in the second subset to a reference potential of the array.
Claims16
A method for steering a beam of a two-dimensional array of antenna elements, the method comprising:
- activating a first subset of the elements to orient the beam in a first direction;
- shunting RF energy coupled to at least one element not in the first subset by electrically connecting the at least one element not in the first subset to a reference potential, wherein electrically connecting at least one element not in the first subset to the reference potential includes electrically connecting all elements adjacent to the elements in the first subset to the reference potential;
- and
- subsequently,
- activating a second subset of the elements to orient the beam in a second direction different from the first direction, and
- shunting RF energy coupled to at least one element not in the second subset by electrically connecting the at least one element not in the second subset to the reference potential.
A two-dimensional antenna array for synthesizing a steerable beam, comprising:
- a plurality of antenna elements, and
- processing circuitry configured to
- activate a first subset of the elements to orient the beam in a first direction;
- shunting RF energy coupled to at least one element not in the first subset by electrically connecting the at least one element not in the first subset to a reference potential, wherein electrically connecting at least one element not in the first subset to the reference potential includes electrically connecting all elements adjacent to the elements in the first subset to the reference potential;
- subsequently,
- activate a second subset of the elements to orient the beam in a second direction different from the first direction, and
- shunting RF energy coupled to at least one element not in the second subset by electrically connecting the at least one element not in the second subset to the reference potential.
A method for orienting a beam of a two-dimensional array of antenna elements, the method comprising:
- activating a first subset of the elements to orient the beam in a first direction;
- shunting RF energy coupled to at least one inactive element not in the first subset by electrically connecting the at least one inactive element to a reference potential, wherein electrically connecting at least one inactive element includes electrically connecting all inactive elements adjacent to the activated elements to the reference potential;
- subsequently,
- activating a second subset of the elements to orient the beam in a second direction different from the first direction, and
- shunting RF energy coupled to at least one inactive element not in the second subset by electrically connecting the at least one inactive element to the reference potential.
A two-dimensional antenna array for synthesizing a steerable beam, comprising:
- a plurality of antenna elements, and
- processing circuitry configured to
- activate a first subset of the elements to orient the beam in a first direction;
- shunting RF energy coupled to at least one inactive element not in the first subset by electrically connecting at the east one inactive element to a reference potential, wherein electrically connecting at least one inactive element to the reference potential includes electrically connecting all inactive elements adjacent to the activated elements to the reference potential;
- subsequently,
- activate a second subset of the elements to orient the beam in a second direction different from the first direction, and
- shunting RF energy coupled to at least one inactive element not in the second subset by electrically connecting the at least one inactive element to the reference potential of the antenna array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.