Patent Application
20080136733
The present invention relates to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, and specifically to a modular antenna panel for an RFID system.
The purpose of an RFID system is to enable data to be transmitted by a mobile device, called a tag, which is read by an RFID reader and processed according to the needs of a particular application. The data transmitted by the tag may provide identification or location information, or specifics about the product tagged, such as price, color, date of purchase, etc.
In a typical RFID system, individual objects are equipped with a small, inexpensive tag. The tag contains a transponder with a digital memory chip that may be given a unique electronic product code. The interrogator, an antenna packaged with a transceiver and decoder, emits a signal activating the RFID tag so it can read and perhaps write data to it. When an RFID tag passes in proximity to the antenna, it detects the reader's activation signal. The reader decodes the data encoded in the RFID tag's chip and the data is passed to the host computer. The application software on the host computer processes the data, and may perform various filtering operations to reduce the numerous often redundant reads of the same tag to a smaller and more useful data set.
Depending on the application, the antenna may be configured to fit entryways, dock doors, bay doors, or perhaps constructed as stand-alone cubes. Currently, each application requires a custom designed, built, and installed antenna to fit the particular entryway, dock door, etc. The custom nature of the antenna makes the build and install processes time consuming and costly. What is needed is a solution that reduces the customization of the antenna based on the application, which in turn reduces lead time and cost associated with design, build, and installation of the antenna.
Embodiments of the invention solve one or more of the aforementioned challenges through a modular antenna panel comprising an antenna wire disposed in a panel substrate. The modular antenna panel includes one or more electrical connectors disposed at one or more edges of the modular antenna panel, the electrical connectors configured for electrical connectivity with adjacent modular antenna panels. To enable mechanical connection to adjacent modular antenna panels, the modular antenna panel includes one or more mechanical connectors disposed at one or more edges of the modular antenna panel configured to enable mechanical connections with adjacent modular antenna panels.
Other embodiments of the invention provide two or more modular antenna panels arranged to form an antenna assembly for a radio frequency identification system. Adjacent modular antenna panels are electrically connected to one another by engaging one or more of the electrical connectors disposed at one or more edges of the adjacent modular antenna panels. Adjacent modular antenna panels are also mechanically connected to one another by engaging one or more of the mechanical connectors disposed at one or more edges of the adjacent modular antenna panels.
These and other advantages and features will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention that is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Each modular antenna panel 10 also includes one or more hinge assemblies 18 (
As shown in
In one embodiment shown in
Another example of a modular antenna panel assembly 30 is shown in
Modular antenna panels 10 can be interconnected in the manner described to create a modular antenna panel assembly 30 of any size, reducing the need for a custom-designed antenna for each application. Additionally, since the panels are interconnected by simple hinge assemblies 18 and electrical connectors 14, installation time can be reduced, and even those unfamiliar with the technology can install the antenna panel assembly 30 thereby reducing installation time and cost.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
