Abstract:
A electrical structure and associated method for collimating a wireless signal between a RFID transceiver and a RFID tag. The electrical structure comprises a RFID tag and an enclosure structure. The enclosure structure comprises a radio frequency opaque material. The RFID tag is located within the enclosure structure. The enclosure structure is adapted to collimate, a first radio frequency signal from the RFID transceiver to the RFID tag.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Technical Field  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an apparatus and associated method to collimate at least one wireless signal between a transceiver and a receiver.  
         [0003]     2. Related Art  
         [0004]     Providing a directional signal between electrical devices is typically difficult and costly. Therefore there is a need to efficiently and inexpensively provide a directional signal between electrical devices.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides an electrical structure comprising:  
         [0006]     a RFID tag; and  
         [0007]     an enclosure structure comprising a radio frequency opaque material, wherein the RFID tag is located within the enclosure structure, and wherein the enclosure structure is adapted to collimate, a first radio frequency signal from a first RFID transceiver to the RFID tag.  
         [0008]     The present invention provides an electrical structure comprising:  
         [0009]     a first RFID transceiver; and  
         [0010]     an enclosure structure comprising a radio frequency opaque material, wherein the RFID transceiver is located within the enclosure structure, and wherein the enclosure structure is adapted to collimate, a first radio frequency signal from the first RFID transceiver to a first RFID tag.  
         [0011]     The present invention provides a system comprising:  
         [0012]     a RFID tag;  
         [0013]     a first RFID transceiver within a first enclosure structure, wherein the first enclosure structure comprises a first radio frequency opaque material; and  
         [0014]     a second RFID transceiver within a second enclosure structure, wherein the second enclosure structure comprises a second radio frequency opaque material, wherein the first enclosure structure is adapted to collimate a first radio frequency signal comprising a first frequency from the first RFID transceiver to the RFID tag, and wherein the second enclosure structure is adapted to collimate a second radio frequency signal comprising a second frequency from the RFID tag to the second RFID transceiver in response to the first radio frequency signal.  
         [0015]     The present invention provides a method comprising:  
         [0016]     providing a first RFID tag, a first RFID transceiver, and an enclosure structure, wherein the enclosure structure comprises a radio frequency opaque material;  
         [0017]     placing the first RFID tag or the first RFID transceiver in the enclosure structure; and  
         [0018]     collimating by the enclosure structure, a first radio frequency signal between the first RFID tag and the first RFID transceiver.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a block diagram of a system for collimating signals between a radio frequency identification tag (RFID) and a RFID transceiver, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a top view of the enclosure structure of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a first alternative to  FIG. 1 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates a second alternative to  FIG. 1 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative to  FIG. 2 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative to  FIG. 3 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative to  FIG. 5 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a block diagram of a system  2  for collimating a signal  12  and a signal  14  between a radio frequency identification tag  4  (RFID tag  4 ) and a RFID transceiver  8 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. A RFID tag (e.g., RFID tag  4 ) is a wireless device for receiving and responding (e.g., responding with an ID code) to RF queries. The queries are transmitted from a RFID transceiver (e.g., RFID transceiver  8 ). The system  2  comprising the RFID tag  4  and the RFID transceiver  8  may be used to identify and/or track items by placing the RFID tag  4  in the item and using the RFID transceiver  8  to query the RFID tag  4 . The RFID  4  tag in response transmits data to the RFID transceiver  8 . For example, the system  2  may be used for, inter alia, product price scanning, airline baggage tracking, electronic toll collection, spacial measurements, spacial measurements with time differential, etc. The RFID transceiver  8  transmits a signal  14  to the RFID tag  4  and in response the RFID tag  4  transmits a signal  12  (e.g., comprising data) back to the RFID transceiver  8 . The signal  12  and the signal  14  may each comprise a different frequency. Each of the signals  12  and  14  may independently comprise any frequency or frequency range including, inter alia, 124-134 kilohertz, 13.56 megahertz, 868-956 megahertz, 2.45 gigahertz, etc. The RFID tag in  FIG. 1  is placed in an enclosure structure  6  comprising a radio frequency opaque material and an opening  10  (see  FIG. 1B  for top view of enclosure structure  6 ). The enclosure structure  6  comprises a radio frequency opaque material that is opaque to a plurality of frequencies including a frequency of the signal  12  and a frequency of the signal  14  so that the signal  12  and the signal  14  are directed through the opening  10  thereby collimating the signal  12  and the signal  14  between the RFID tag  4  and the RFID transceiver  8 . The enclosure structure  6  ensures that signal  12  and the signal  14  are directed between the RFID tag  4  and the RFID transceiver  8 . The collimation property of the enclosure structure  6  prevents the signal  12  from the RFID tag  4  from interfering with any external signals that may be in an area surrounding the enclosure structure  6  as the signal  12  is directed through the opening  10  by the radio frequency opaque material of the enclosure structure  6 . Additionally, the enclosure structure  6  blocks any external signals (e.g., a signal from another RFID transceiver) from transmitting to the RFID tag  4  except through the opening  10 . The opening  10  forces the signals  12  and  14  in a direction  11  and opposite to the direction  11 , respectively. The radio frequency opaque material may comprise any radio frequency opaque material including, inter alia, metal (solid or stranded), plastic, liquid, gas, etc. The enclosure structure  6  in  FIG. 1  is cylindrical in shape but may alternatively comprise any shape including, inter alia, cubical, triangular, rectangular, polygon, spherical, etc.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a top view of the enclosure structure  6  of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Additionally,  FIG. 1B  illustrates a top view of the RFID tag  14  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates a first alternative to  FIG. 1A  showing a block diagram of a system  7  for collimating a signal  12  and a signal  14  between an RFID tag  4  and a RFID transceiver  8 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The system  7  comprising the RFID tag  4  and the RFID transceiver  8  may be used to identify and/or track items by placing the RFID tag  4  in the item and using the RFID transceiver  8  to query the RFID tag  4 . In response, the RFID tag  4  transmits data to the RFID transceiver  8 . For example, the system  7  may be used for, inter alia, product price scanning, airline baggage tracking, electronic toll collection, spacial measurements, spacial measurements with time differential, etc. In contrast to  FIG. 1 , the RFID transceiver  8  in  FIG. 2  is placed in the enclosure structure  6  comprising a radio frequency opaque material and an opening  10 . The enclosure structure  6  comprises a radio frequency opaque material that is opaque to a plurality of frequencies including a frequency of the signal  12  and a frequency of the signal  14  so that the signal  12  and the signal  14  are directed through the opening  10  thereby collimating the signal  12  and the signal  14  between the RFID tag  4  and the RFID transceiver  8 . The collimation property of the enclosure structure  6  ensures that signal  12  and the signal  14  are directed between the RFID tag  4  and the RFID transceiver  8 . The enclosure structure  6  prevents the signal  14  from the RFID transceiver  8  from interfering with any external signals that may be in an area surrounding the enclosure structure  6  as the signal  14  is directed through the opening  10  by the radio frequency opaque material of the enclosure structure  6 . Additionally, the enclosure structure  6  blocks any external signals (e.g., a signal from another RFID tag) from transmitting to the RFID transceiver  8  except through the opening  10 . The opening  10  forces the signals  12  and  14  in a direction  11  and opposite to the direction  11 , respectively. The radio frequency opaque material may comprise any radio frequency opaque material including, inter alia, metal (solid or stranded), plastic, liquid, gas, etc. The enclosure structure  6  in  FIG. 2  is cylindrical in shape but may alternatively comprise any shape including, inter alia, cubical, triangular, rectangular, polygon, spherical, etc.  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates a second alternative to  FIG. 1  showing a block diagram of a system  17  for collimating a plurality of signals between a RFID tag  4  and RFID transceivers  8  and  15 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The system  17  comprising the RFID tag  4  and the RFID transceivers  8  and  15  may be used to identify and/or track items by placing the RFID tag  4  in the item and using the RFID transceivers  8  and  15  to query the RFID tag  4 . In response the RFID tag  4  transmits data to the RFID transceiver  8 . For example, the system  17  may be used for, inter alia, product price scanning, airline baggage tracking, electronic toll collection, spacial measurements, spacial measurements with time differential, etc. In contrast to  FIG. 1 , the system  17  of  FIG. 3  comprises two RFID transceivers  8  and  15 . The enclosure structure  6  comprises an opening  10  and an opening  18 . The RFID tag  4  in  FIG. 3  is placed in the enclosure structure  6  comprising a radio frequency opaque material and openings  10  and  18 . The enclosure structure  6  comprises a radio frequency opaque material that is opaque to a plurality of frequencies including a frequency of the signal  12 , a frequency of the signal  14 , and a frequency of the signal  19  so that the signals  12  and  14  are directed through the opening  10  and the signal  19  is directed through the opening  18 . Therefore the enclosure structure  6  collimates the signal  12  and the signal  14  between the RFID tag  4  and the RFID transceiver  8  and the signal  19  from the RFID tag  4  to the RFID transciever  15 . Based on the configuration of  FIG. 3 , the RFID transceiver  8  may send out a query (i.e., signal  14 ) to the RFID tag  4 . In response, the RFID tag  4  may send a response (i.e., signals  12  and  19 ) to both the and both the RFID transceiver  8  and the RFID transceiver  15 . The collimation property of the enclosure structure  6  prevents the signas  12  and  19  from the RFID tag  4  from interfering with any external signals that may be in an area surrounding the enclosure structure  6  as the signal  12  is directed through the opening  10  and the signal  19  is directed through the opening  18  by the radio frequency opaque material of the enclosure structure  6 . Additionally, the enclosure structure  6  blocks any external signals (e.g., a signal from another RFID transceiver) from transmitting to the RFID tag  4  except through the openings  10  and  18 . The opening  10  forces the signals  12  and  14  in a direction  11  and opposite to the direction  11 , respectively. The opening  18  forces the signal  19  in a direction  24 . The radio frequency opaque material may comprise any radio frequency opaque material including, inter alia, metal (solid or stranded), plastic, liquid, gas, etc. The enclosure structure  6  in  FIG. 3  is cylindrical in shape but may alternatively comprise any shape including, inter alia, cubical, triangular, rectangular, polygon, spherical, etc.  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative to  FIG. 2  showing a block diagram of a system  29  for collimating a signal  12  and a signal  14  between an RFID transceiver  8  and a RFID tag  4  and a signal  20  and a signal  19  between the RFID transceiver  8  and a RFID tag  14 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The system  29  comprising the RFID tags  4  and  14  and the RFID transceiver  8  may be used to identify and/or track items by placing the RFID tags  4  and  14  in the item and using the RFID transceiver  8  to query the RFID tags  4  and  14 . For example, the system  29  may be used for, inter alia, product price scanning, airline baggage tracking, electronic toll collection, spacial measurements, spacial measurements with time differential, etc. In contrast to  FIG. 2 , the enclosure structure  6  in  FIG. 4  comprises two openings  10  and  18 . The RFID transceiver  8  in  FIG. 4  is placed in the enclosure structure  6  comprising a radio frequency opaque material and openings  10  and  18 . The enclosure structure  6  comprises a radio frequency opaque material that is opaque to a plurality of frequencies including a frequency of the signal  12 , a frequency of the signal  14 , a frequency of the signal  19 , and a frequency of the signal  20  so that the signals  12  and  14  are directed through the opening  10  and signals  19  and  20  are directed through the opening  18 . Therefore the enclosure structure  6  collimates the signals  12  and  14  between the RFID tag  4  and the RFID transceiver  8  and the signals  19  and  20  between the RFID tag  14  to the RFID transceiver  8 . Based on the configuration of  FIG. 4 , the RFID transceiver  8  may send out a query (i.e., signals  14  and  20 ) to the RFID tags  4  and  14 . In response, the RFID tags  4  and  14  may each send a response (i.e., signals  12  and  19 ) to the RFID transceiver  8 . The collimation property of the enclosure structure  6  prevents the signals  14  and  20  from the RFID transceiver  8  from interfering with any external signals that may be in an area surrounding the enclosure structure  6  as the signal  14  is directed through the opening  10  and the signal  20  is directed through the opening  18  by the radio frequency opaque material of the enclosure structure  6 . Additionally, the collimation property of the enclosure structure  6  blocks any external signals (e.g., a signal from another RFID tag) from transmitting to the RFID transceiver  8  except through the openings  10  and  18 . The opening  10  forces the signals  12  and  14  in a direction  11  and opposite to the direction  11 , respectively. The opening  18  forces the signals  19  and  20  in a direction  25  and opposite to the direction  25 , respectively. The radio frequency opaque material may comprise any radio frequency opaque material including, inter alia, metal (solid or stranded), plastic, liquid, gas, etc. The enclosure structure  6  in  FIG. 4  is cylindrical in shape but may alternatively comprise any shape including, inter alia, cubical, triangular, rectangular, polygon, spherical, etc.  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative to  FIG. 3  showing a block diagram of a system  30  for collimating signals  12  and  20  between a RFID tag  4  and RFID transceivers  8  and  15 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The system  17  comprising the RFID tag  4  and the RFID transceivers  8  and  15  may be used to identify and/or track items by placing the RFID tag  4  in the item and using the RFID transceiver  8  to query the RFID tag  4 . For example, the system  30  may be used for, inter alia, product price scanning, airline baggage tracking, electronic toll collection, spacial measurements, spacial measurements with time differential, etc. In contrast to  FIG. 3 , the enclosure structure  50  of  FIG. 5  comprises an RF opaque material that is opaque to a frequency of the signal  12  but transparent to a frequency of the signal  20  (the signal  12  and the signal  20  each comprise a different frequency). The RFID tag  4  in  FIG. 5  is placed in the enclosure structure  50  comprising a radio frequency opaque material and opening  10 . The RFID transceiver  8  transmits the signal  20  in a direction  40  through the enclosure structure  50  (i.e., material of the enclosure structure  12  is transparent to the frequency of the signal  20 ) to the RFID tag  4 . In response, the RFID tag  4  transmits a response signal  12  to the RFID transceiver  15  through the opening  10 . The signal  12  may not transmit back to the RFID transceiver  8  because the material of the enclosure structure  50  is transparent to the frequency of the signal  20  but opaque to the frequency of the signal  12 . Therefore the enclosure structure  50  collimates the signal  20  in a direction  40  to the RFID tag  4  and (in response) the signal  12  in a direction  41  from the RFID tag  4  to the RFID transceiver  15 . Based on the configuration of  FIG. 5 , the RFID transceiver  8  may send out a query (i.e., signal  20 ) to the RFID tag  4 . In response, the RFID tag  4  sends a response (i.e., signal  12 ) to the RFID transceiver  15 . The collimation property of the enclosure structure  50  prevents the signal  12  from the RFID tag  4  from interfering with any external signals that may be in an area surrounding the enclosure structure  12  as the signal  12  is directed through the opening  10  by the radio frequency opaque material (i.e., opaque to the frequency of the signal  12 ) of the enclosure structure  50 . Additionally, the enclosure structure  50  blocks any external signals (e.g., a signal from another RFID transceiver) from transmitting to the RFID tag  4  except through the opening  10  or if an external signal comprises a frequency of which the material of the enclosure structure  50  is opaque. The radio frequency opaque material may comprise any radio frequency opaque material including, inter alia, metal (solid or stranded), plastic, liquid, gas, etc. The enclosure structure  50  in  FIG. 5  is cylindrical in shape but may alternatively comprise any shape including, inter alia, cubical, triangular, rectangular, polygon, spherical, etc.  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative to  FIG. 5  showing a block diagram of a system  31  for collimating signals  12  and  20  between a RFID tag  4  and RFID transceivers  8  and  15 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The system  31  comprising the RFID tag  4  and the RFID transceivers  8  and  15  may be used to identify track items by placing the RFID tag  4  in the item and using the RFID transceiver  8  to query the RFID tag  4 . For example, the system  31  may be used for, inter alia, product price scanning, airline baggage tracking, electronic toll collection, spacial measurements, spacial measurements with time differential, etc. In contrast to  FIG. 5 , the RFID transceiver  8  is placed in a first enclosure structure  21  and the RFID transceiver  15  is placed in a second enclosure structure  23 . The enclosure structure  21  and the enclosure structure  23  do not comprise any openings. The enclosure structure  21  comprises an RF opaque material that is opaque to a frequency of the signal  12  but transparent to a frequency of the signal  20  (the signal  12  and the signal  20  each comprise a different frequency). The enclosure structure  23  comprises an RF opaque material that is opaque to a frequency of the signal  20  but transparent to a frequency of the signal  12 . The RFID transceiver  8  transmits the signal  20  in a direction  41  through the enclosure structure  21  (i.e., material of the enclosure structure  21  is transparent to the frequency of the signal  20 ) to the RFID tag  4 . In response, the RFID tag  4  transmits a response signal  12  in the direction  41  to the RFID transceiver  15  through the enclosure structure  23  (i.e., material of the enclosure structure  23  is transparent to the frequency of the signal  12 ). The signal  12  may not transmit back to the RFID transceiver  8  because the material of the enclosure structure  21  opaque to the frequency of the signal  12 . Therefore the enclosure structure  21  collimates the signal  20  in the direction  41  to the RFID tag  4  and (in response) the signal  12  in the direction  41  from the RFID tag  4  to the RFID transceiver  15 . Based on the configuration of  FIG. 6 , the RFID transceiver  8  may send out a query (i.e., signal  20 ) to the RFID tag  4 . In response, the RFID tag  4  sends a response (i.e., signal  12 ) to the RFID transceiver  15 . The radio frequency opaque material of the enclosure structure  21  and the enclosure structure  23  may comprise any radio frequency opaque material including, inter alia, metal (solid or stranded), plastic, liquid, gas, etc. The enclosure structures  21  and  23  in  FIG. 6  are each cylindrical in shape but may alternatively comprise any shape including, inter alia, cubical, triangular, rectangular, polygon, spherical, etc.  
         [0033]     While embodiments of the present invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.