Radio frequency identification antenna apparatus

Embodiments of an RFID tag antenna apparatus can include a ground plane, a first patch, and a second patch. The first and second patches can be positioned to define a radiating slot that is located between the first and second patches. The radiating slot can be configured to receive an RFID chip for attachment of the RFID chip to the antenna apparatus such that the chip is positioned in the slot between the first and second patches and the ground plane. Embodiments of the RFID tag apparatus may be included in a communication system that utilizes one or more RFID antenna apparatuses and/or a RFID device utilizing one or more RFID antenna apparatuses.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present innovation relates to antennas, such as, for example, antenna apparatuses that may be included or attached to radio frequency identification devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a methodology that can be employed for tracking of goods in supply chains. Some RFID systems are configured as a passive system. Others may be configured as an active system. Passive RFID systems are preferred for a number of applications because such systems tend to have a lower cost as compared to active RFID systems. For passive RFID systems, a RFID tag that is to be read by a reader often has an antenna that has a small electrical size. Single resonance RFID antennas have a resonance near the center of the operating band. In particular, this operating band is either the 868 MHz band, or the 915 MHz band, or both of these bands. For many RFID tag antenna designs, this small size and frequency range is desired due to design criteria that requires the tag antenna's input impedance to be a conjugate match to that of the chip to which it is connected, and the chip typically has a small resistance and a moderate capacitive reactance.

Such impedance matching can be a difficult design problem for an RFID tag antenna that is to be used in a system in which the RFID tag may be worn by, attached to, or on a human body or other animal body. The difficulty with such impedance matching can contribute to a small read range for readers of such RFID tags that may be worn by or, attached to, or on an animal (e.g. a human, a dog, a farm animal, etc.).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An RFID antenna apparatus, communication system that utilizes one or more RFID antenna apparatuses, and a RFID device utilizing one or more RFID antenna apparatuses are provided. Embodiments of the RFID tag antenna apparatus can include a ground plane, a first patch, and a second patch. The first and second patches can be positioned to define a radiating slot that is located between the first and second patches. In some embodiments, metal sidewalls may extend from opposite sides of the ground plane. A first metal sidewall may extend from the ground plane to adjacent an outer perimeter edge of the first patch and a second sidewall may extend from the ground plane to adjacent an outer perimeter edge of the second patch. The radiating slot can be defined between an inner edge of the first patch and an inner edge of the second path. The inner edge of the first patch can be opposite the outer perimeter edge of the first patch and the inner edge of the second patch can be opposite the outer perimeter edge of the second patch. The defined radiating slot can be configured to receive an RFID chip for connection to the antenna apparatus so that the antenna apparatus is able to transmit data from at least one device to the RFID chip and transmit data from the RFID chip to at least one device. For instance, the RFID chip can be positioned in the radiating slot between the first and second patches and the ground plane and be electrically connected to the first patch and/or the second patch and/or the ground plane for receiving data and transmitting data via the antenna apparatus.

Embodiments of communication systems can include at least one RFID reader device that may transmit data to the RFID chip via an antenna apparatus connected to that chip and/or receive data from the RFID chip via the antenna apparatus connected to that chip. Each RFID reader may be communicatively connected to at least one computer device having at least one transceiver unit, non-transitory memory and at least one processor connected to that memory and/or the transceiver unit. The computer device may be configured to receive data from the RFID chip via the RFID reader and utilize that data via at least one application stored in its memory that is run by its processor. The communication system may be configured as a network in some embodiments. The network may also include other network elements such as network nodes (e.g. other computer devices, switch devices, border control elements, gateways, etc.).

An RFID device can include a chip connected to the RFID antenna apparatus. In some embodiments, the RFID device may be configured as an RFID tag. The RFID device may have a body that is loading the RFID antenna that is configured to be worn by an animal such as a human, a dog, a farm animal, or other type of animal. The body may be, for example, a band, an annular structure, a bracelet, a clip-on badge, a headband, an arm band, a wrist band, a ring, a type of wearable garment, or other type of body that is wearable by a human or other type of animal.

In some embodiments, an antenna apparatus is provided that includes a ground plane, a first patch spaced apart from the ground plane, and a second patch spaced apart from the ground plan. The first and second patches can be spaced apart from each other to define a slot between the first and second patches that is spaced apart from the ground plane.

In some embodiments, the slot is open ended. For instance, the slot may be configured to space an entirety of the first patch from the entirety of the second patch.

The first and second patches and the ground plane can define a chamber therebetween. A dielectric substrate can be positioned in the chamber. The slot may be in communication with the chamber at a top of the chamber.

The antenna apparatus can also include sidewalls, such as a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The sidewalls may be uniform metal structures, elongated members that extend along a substantial portion or entirety of an edge of the ground plane, or may be structure as a fence like structure that may have a plurality of gaps defined between spaced apart vias. For instance, in some embodiments the first sidewall can be comprised of a plurality of spaced apart vias extending between the first edge of the ground plane and the first outer edge of the first patch and the second sidewall is comprised of a plurality of spaced apart vias extending between the second edge of the ground plane and the first outer edge of the second patch. In other embodiments, the first sidewall may define a continuous wall that extends along an entirety of the first edge of the ground plane without any holes or apertures defined therein between the ground plane and the first outer edge of the first patch and the second sidewall may define a continuous wall that extends along an entirety of the second edge of the ground plane without any holes or apertures defined therein between the ground plane and the first outer edge of the second patch. In yet other embodiments, the first sidewall can extend from adjacent a first edge of the ground plane to adjacent a first outer edge of the first patch and the second sidewall can extend from adjacent a second edge of the ground plane to adjacent a first outer edge of the second patch. It should be understood that the first edge of the ground plane may be opposite the second edge of the ground plane

The slot can be defined by a gap between a second inner edge of the first patch and a second inner edge of the second patch. The second inner edge of the first patch can be opposite the first outer edge of the first patch and the second inner edge of the second patch can be opposite the first outer edge of the second patch. The first outer edge of the second patch may be connected to the second sidewall and the first outer edge of the first patch can be connected to the second sidewall. The gap may have a uniform distance throughout the length of the slot such that the slot has a rectangular type shape which may have open ends that are in communication with the chamber and/or air surrounding the slot at the ends of the slot.

In some embodiments, the first sidewall can be comprised of a conductive material member, the second sidewall can be comprised of a conductive material member, and the ground plane can be comprised of a conductive material member. The first patch can be comprised of a conductive material member and the second patch can be comprised of a conductive material member. A dielectric material may be connected between the first path, second path, first and second sidewalls, and the ground plane. In some embodiments, the first patch and the second patch are a top of the antenna apparatus and the first sidewall extends along a portion of the first edge of the ground plane that is less than an entirety of the first edge of the ground plane and the second sidewall extends along a portion of the second edge of the ground plane that is less than an entirety of the second edge of the ground plane.

The first patch can have a first side extending between the first outer edge of the first patch and the second inner edge of the first patch and the first patch can also have a second side extending between the first outer edge of the first patch and the second inner edge of the first patch. The first side of the first patch can be opposite the second side of the first patch. The second patch can also have a first side extending between the first outer edge of the second patch and the second inner edge of the second patch and a second side extending between the first outer edge of the second patch and the second inner edge of the second patch. The first side of the second patch can be opposite the second side of the second patch. The first side of the first patch can define a cutout region, the second side of the first patch can define a cutout region, the first side of the second patch can define a cutout region and the second side of the second patch can define a cutout region. The cutout regions may define a polygonal shaped opening or recess. For instance, each cutout region can be defined such that the cutout region has a generally U shaped opening, a generally V shaped opening, a generally rectangular shaped opening, or a curved shaped opening may (e.g. a “C” shaped opening).

The slot defined between the first and second patches can be at a center of a top of the antenna apparatus. In some embodiments, the slot may have a uniform width, length, and thickness. In other embodiments, the width or length of the slot may vary at different sections of the slot. A radio frequency identification chip can be positioned in a center of the slot between a middle portion of the second inner edge of the first patch and a middle portion of the second inner edge of the second patch. In other embodiments, a different type of chip can be positioned in the slot. That chip may be positioned in a central portion of the slot or at another location within the slot.

A communication system is also provided. The communication system can include a computer device having non-transitory memory and a processor connected to the memory, a reader device communicatively connected to the computer device, and an identification device having an embodiment of our antenna apparatus.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) device is also provided. The RFID device can include an embodiment of our antenna apparatus.

In some embodiments of the RFID device, the first and second patches, the first and second sidewalls, and the ground plane can define a chamber therebetween. A dielectric substrate can be positioned in the chamber between the first and second patches, first and second sidewalls, and the ground plane.

In some embodiments, the RFID device can be configured so that the first patch has a first side extending between the first outer perimeter edge of the first patch and the second inner edge of the first patch and the first patch has a second side extending between the first outer perimeter edge of the first patch and the second inner edge of the first patch where the first side of the first patch is opposite the second side of the first patch. The second patch can also have a first side extending between the first outer perimeter edge of the second patch and the second inner edge of the second patch and a second side extending between the first outer perimeter edge of the second patch and the second inner edge of the second patch where the first side of the second patch being opposite the second side of the second patch. The first side of the first patch can have a cutout region, the second side of the first patch can have a cutout region, the first side of the second patch can have a cutout region and the second side of the second patch can have a cutout region. The slot can be at a center of a top of the antenna apparatus and the radio frequency identification chip can be at a center of the slot (e.g. in the slot between the middle or center of the inner second side of the first path and the middle or center of the inner second side of the second patch).

Other details, objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of certain exemplary embodiments thereof and certain exemplary methods of practicing the same proceeds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 9, an antenna apparatus1can include a ground plane3, a first patch5, and a second patch7. A first sidewall11may extend from adjacent a first edge of the ground plane3to adjacent a first outer perimeter edge5aof the first patch5. A second sidewall13may extend from adjacent a second edge of the ground plane3to adjacent a first outer perimeter edge7aof the second patch7. In some embodiments, the first and second edges of the ground plane3from which the first and second sidewalls11and13extend may be on opposite sides of the ground plane3. The first and second sidewalls11and13may each be unitary wall structures composed of an electrically conductive material (e.g. metal, graphene, a conductive polymeric material, etc.) that extend linearly from the ground plane3to the patch to which they extend to and are attached to.

In other embodiments, the first sidewall11and second sidewall13can each be a plurality of vias12that are spaced apart from each other and extend between the ground plane3and the patch to which that sidewall is attached, as shown in broken line inFIG. 1. Such an alternative sidewall may have gaps or holes defined between immediately adjacent spaced apart vias.

The first patch5may have a second inner edge5bthat is on a side of the first patch5that is opposite the side having the first outer perimeter edge5a. The second patch7may also have a second inner edge7bthat is on a side of the second patch7that is opposite the side having the first outer perimeter edge7a. The second inner edges5band7bof the first and second patches5and7may be spaced apart from each other by a gap to define an elongated gap or other type of slot15between the first and second patches5and7that is also spaced apart from the ground plane3. The second inner edges5band7bof the first and second patches5and7may each be linearly extending edges. The second inner edge5aof the first patch may be spaced apart from the second inner edge of the second patch7by a distance g and be uniformly spaced by distance g along the entirety of the slot15that extends between the second inner edges5band7b. In some embodiments, distance g may be between 1% and 12% of the length Lxof the ground plane3, between 3% and 10% of the length Lxof the ground plane3, or between 5% and 8% of the length Lxof the ground plane3.

The first and second patches5and7may also be spaced apart from the ground plane3via the first and second sidewalls11and13to define a chamber19that is between the first and second patches5and7and the ground plane3. The depth of the chamber19may be defined by the space between the inner faces of the first and second patches5and7and the inner face of the ground plane3. A substrate21composed of dielectric material can be positioned in the chamber19. The first and second patches5and7, the first and second sidewalls11and13, and the ground plane can all be positioned on a surface of the substrate positioned in the chamber19such that all of these conductive elements reside on a surface of the substrate. For example, inner faces of the ground plane3, first and second sidewalls11and13, first patch5, and second patch7can each define the chamber19and be positioned on and/or in contact with a surface of a dielectric substrate positioned in the chamber19.

The depth d of the antenna apparatus can be defined by the depth of the chamber19and thickness of the first and second patches5and7and thickness of the ground plane3. The depth d of the antenna apparatus may be a linear distance extending between an exterior face of the first patch5or second patch7and the exterior face of the ground plane3. The depth d may be perpendicular to the length Lxand width Lyof the ground plane3, which may also define the length and width of the antenna apparatus1.

A chip17, such as an RFID chip, can be attached to at least one of the first patch5, second patch7, and ground plane3so that the chip17is positioned in the slot15. The chip17can be positioned in the center of the slot15between the inner edges5b,7bof the first and second patches5and7. For instance, the chip17can be in the slot17between a center portion, or middle portion of the inner edge5bof the first patch and the center portion or middle portion of the inner edge7bof the second patch. At least a portion of the chip17and/or a connector element that extends from the chip17to connect the chip17to the first patch5, second patch7, and/or ground plane3, may also be in the chamber19when positioned in the slot15. For example, in some embodiments, the chip17may be positioned in the slot17and be electrically connected to the first patch5and the second patch7. The chip17may also be positioned on or otherwise connected to the substrate located in the chamber19.

The ground plane3can be a conductive material member such as, for example, a metallic member that is generally planar or flat in shape, a conductive polymeric material member that is generally planar, or a member composed of graphene that is generally planer in shape or flat in shape. For instance, the ground plane3may be a metallic rectangular shaped plate or a conductive polymeric material member rectangular shaped plate. The ground plane3could be structured as a member having another type of shape or structure. For instance, in other embodiments, the ground plane may be a polygonal shaped plate composed of an electrically conductive material or a circular shaped plate composed of an electrically conductive material.

The first and second patches5and7may also be members that are generally planar or flat in shape that are composed of an electrically conductive material (e.g. metal, graphene, a conductive polymeric material, etc.). For instance, the first and second patches5and7may each be generally rectangular shaped metallic members or be generally polygonal shaped metallic structures. In other embodiments, the first and second patches5and7could be circular or oblong shaped members composed of electrically conductive material.

In some embodiments, the ground plane3can have a length Lxand a width Ly. The width Lycan extend from the first edge of the ground plane3to which the first sidewall11can be attached to the second edge of the ground plane3to which the second sidewall13can be attached. The length Lxcan extend linearly along the first edge. The length Lxcan be uniform throughout the width Lyof the ground plane3so that the first and second edges may each have the same length Lx. The width Lyof the ground plane3may also be uniform so that the width Lyis the same throughout the entire length Lxof the ground plane3.

The first and second sidewalls11and13can each extend along the width Lyof a respective edge of the ground plane3. The first and second sidewalls11and13may each extend over less than the full width Ly. For instance, the first sidewall11may extend along a portion v of the width Lyof the first edge of the ground plane and the second sidewall13may extend along a portion v of the width Lyof the second edge of the ground plane. Portion v of width Lymay be 6/7 of the full width Lyof the edges of the ground plane3. In other embodiments, portion v may be a distance that is between 50% and 95% of the full width Lyor may be between 80% and 90% of the full width Lyof the ground plane. In embodiments of the sidewalls in which the sidewalls are defined by a plurality of spaced apart vias12, the vias12may be aligned next to each other so that the terminal ends of each sidewall defined by the spaced apart vias12are spaced apart from each other by a distance that is equal to a portion v of the width Lyof the ground plane3(e.g. is a distance that may be between 50% and 95% of the full width Ly, or between 80% and 90% of the full width Ly, etc.).

The first and second patches5and7can also have first sides5c,7cand second sides5d,7dthat extend between the inner edges5b,7band outer perimeter edges5a,7aof the patches. The first sides5c,7cof the first and second patches5and7are opposite the second sides5d,7dof the first and second patches5and7. The first side5cand second side5dof the first patch5may each have a channel, slot, or other type of recess defined therein that extends linearly along a middle portion of those sides to define a cutout region5ein the middle region of the first and second sides5cand5d. The cutout regions5eformed in the first and second sides5cand5dmay be rectangular shaped recess cutouts having a length axand a width ay. In some other embodiments, the cutout regions5eof the first patch5may have different shapes (e.g. other polygonal shape, etc.).

The second patch7may also include cutout regions7ein corresponding locations to the cutout regions5ein the first and second sides5cand5dof the first patch5in the first and second sides7cand7dof the second patch7. For instance, the first side7cand second side7dof the second patch7may each have a channel, slot, or other type of recess defined therein that extends linearly along a middle portion of those sides to define a cutout region7ein the middle region of the first and second sides7cand7d. Each of the cutout regions7eformed in the first and second sides7cand7dof the second patch7may be a rectangular shaped recess having a length axand a width ay. In some other embodiments, the cutout regions7eof the second patch7may have different shapes (e.g. other polygonal shapes, etc.).

In some embodiments, lengths axof the cutout regions5eand7eof the first and second patches5and7may be between 10% and 45% of the length Lxof the ground plane3, between 20% and 30% of the length Lxof the ground plane3, or between 23% and 28% of the length Lxof the ground plane3. The width ayof the cutout regions5eand7eof the first and second patches5and7may be between 1% and 10% of the width Lyof the ground plane3, between 3% and 8% of the width Lyof the ground plane3, or between 5% and 6% of the width Lyof the ground plane3in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the length and width axand ayof these cutout regions5eand7eof the first and second patches5and7could be other dimensions outside of such ranges.

In some embodiments, the first and second patches5and7and slot15can be the top of the antenna apparatus and the ground plane3can be the bottom of the antenna apparatus. The top slot15may be configured as a radiating slot that is at a center of the top layer of the antenna apparatus1defined by the first and second patches5and7. The first and second sidewalls11and13may define exterior sides of the antenna apparatus1and the chamber19may be within the antenna apparatus between its top, bottom, and exterior sides.

The size of the slot15and the distance g between the second inner edges5band7bof the first and second patches5and7can provide for, define, or help define, the capacitance of the antenna apparatus. The capacitance (also referred to as “C”), when combined together with the inductance (also referred to as “L”) that can be provided by the connected metal components of the antenna apparatus, which includes the first and second patches5and7, the first and second sidewalls11and13, and the ground plane3, can form a LC resonating circuit. For such embodiments, the radiating slot15located between the first and second patches5and7at the top layer can provide radiation resistance (which can also be referred to as “Rrad”). For such embodiments, it is contemplated that the shape of the top layer can be any of a number of different shapes and that the first and second sidewalls11and13may be vertically extending metal sidewalls or may be defined by a plurality of spaced apart vias12. For such embodiments, it should be understood that the capacitance and inductance of the entire structure of the antenna apparatus1may have to be tuned to account for different geometries and other variables for providing a desired antenna functionality that can meet a particular set of design criteria (e.g. lengths, widths, depths, and size of slot15, first and second patches5and7and ground plane3may be varied and the dimension of chamber19can be varied, etc.).

An RFID chip17may be placed in the gap between the second inner edges5band7bof the first and second patches5and7and attached to at least one of the first patch5, second patch7, and ground plane3. For some embodiments, the input impedance of the antenna apparatus can be in the 900-928 Mega Hertz (MHz) U.S. RFID band. In other embodiments, a different range of input impedance can be utilized.

FIGS. 2 and 3illustrate input impedance (real (“real”) and imaginary (“imag”) parts), directivity (“Dir”), gain (“Gain”), and read rang (“RR”) of an exemplary embodiment of an antenna apparatus1in free space that had a particular shape and geometry in which ground plane3has a length Lxof 35 millimeters (mm), and a width Lyis 35 mm, cutout regions5eand7ehad cutout region length axof 9.25 mm, and cutout region widths ayof 2 mm. This embodiment of the antenna apparatus1had a depth d of 5 mm, and the distance of portion v along which the first and second sidewalls11and13extend was 30 mm. Distance g for the slot15was 2.5 mm. For this particular embodiment, a substrate to which the ground plane3was attached was Arlon 100, which had an ∈rof 10 and a δtanof 0.0025 (other embodiments can utilize other types of substrate materials, including, for example, rigid substrate members, flexible substrate members, or other types of substrates). As can be seen fromFIGS. 2 and 3, the RFID device having the antenna apparatus embodiment was determined to have an input impedance in the 900-928 MHz U.S. RFID band, had a small resistance of around 1.6 Ohms and an inductive reactance of about j118.8 Ohms, which cancelled out the capacitive reactance of the RFID chip17. This embodiment of the antenna apparatus1was determined to have a gain of around 0 decibels relative to isotropic (“dBi”) throughout the 900-928 MHz US RFID band with a maximum read range of 7.6 meters (m).

FIG. 5illustrate the input impedance (real and imaginary parts) that was determined for this particular embodiment of the antenna apparatus when on a human arm having layers of bone, muscle, fat, and skin, when the antenna apparatus was positioned to be 2 mm and 4 mm above a human body. The real impedance results inFIG. 5are identified in the key as “real, dis=2 mm” for the 2 mm distance results and “real, dis=4 mm” for the 4 mm distance results and the imaginary parts of the determined impedance at the 2 mm and 4 mm distances are labeled in the key ofFIG. 5as “imag, dis=2 mm” for the 2 mm distance results and “imag, dis—4 mm” for the 4 mm distance results.FIG. 6illustrates the directivity (“Dir.”), gain (“Gain”), and read range (“RR”) that was determined for this particular embodiment of the antenna apparatus1when worn on a human body. As can be seen fromFIGS. 5 and 6, the input impedance of this embodiment of the antenna apparatus when worn by a human body was determined to have a real part of around 4.4 Ohms and an imaginary part of j117.5 Ohms where the distance between the antenna apparatus and the human arm was 4 mm. When this distance was reduced to 2 mm, a resistance of 5 Ohms and a reactance of j117.5 Ohms were determined for this embodiment of the antenna apparatus.

In contrast to the negative impacts of the human body on the performance of conventional RFID tag antennas, the human body was determined to not significantly affect the reactance of this embodiment of the antenna apparatus. But, the human body was determined to increase the resistance, which was believed to be helpful for improving the read range of this embodiment of the antenna apparatus. For instance, as shown inFIG. 6, the gain of this embodiment of the antenna apparatus was determined to be around −1 dBi, which is slightly smaller than that of this antenna apparatus in free space. Such a value is much larger than that of other wearable RFID tag antennas that exist. Further, this particular embodiment of the antenna apparatus also provided a much smaller footprint as compared to conventional RFID tag antennas. In fact, it is contemplated that other embodiments of our antenna apparatus1may be configured to provide a small footprint and still provide a read range of around 9.5 meters even when worn on a human body.

It is also contemplated that embodiments of our antenna apparatus1can be configured to match to a 50 Ohm load using a matching network. Such a configuration would allow the antenna apparatus to operate in both an energy harvesting mode and in a communication mode.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 8, embodiments of the antenna apparatus1can be attached to a wearable body31, which is shown in broken line inFIG. 4. The wearable body31can be attached to the antenna apparatus1and be configured to position the antenna apparatus1a certain distance (e.g. a pre-selected distance or a predetermined distance) above a portion of the body41to which the antenna apparatus1is to be attached. In some embodiments, the wearable body31may be a band, bracelet, a badge, a ring, a wrist band, a head band, a clip-on badge, or other type of wearable element or garment.

Referring toFIG. 7, embodiments of the antenna apparatus may be included in communication systems that include a reader device51and at least one computer device61. The reader device51may be configured as an RFID reader that has a processor unit52that is connected to a non-transitory memory53and at least one transceiver unit54, which may include at least one receiver and at least one transmitter. The processor unit52may be a microprocessor, central processing unit, or other type of hardware processor device and the memory53may be flash memory or other type of memory.

The computer device61may include hardware. The hardware can include a processor unit62that is connected to non-transitory memory63and at least one transceiver unit64, which may include at least one receiver and at least one transmitter. The processor unit62may be a microprocessor, a central processing unit, or other type of hardware processor device. The memory63may be flash memory, a hard drive, or other type of non-transitory memory or memory storage device. The memory63can have at least one application (“App.”)65and at least one data store67stored thereon. Each data store67may be, for example, a database, a file, or other type of data store. The application may include code that defines a method that is performed by the computer device61when the processor unit62runs the application65. The computer device61may also be communicatively connected to at least one output device71, at least one input device81and/or at least one input/output device91(shown in broken line inFIG. 7). Examples of an input device81include, for example, a pointer, a keyboard, a button, a stylus or a touch screen display. Examples of an output device include, for example, a printer and a display device such as a monitor, television, display, or liquid crystal display. Examples of an input/output device include, for example, a touch screen display. These devices may be connected to the computer device61via a wired communication connection and/or a wireless communication connection (e.g. Bluetooth or wireless local area network connection). In some embodiments, the communication system can be part of a large area network, local area network, or wide area network in which other network nodes are included for facilitating communication connections between different devices (e.g. base stations, access points, internet of things, etc.).

The communication system can be configured so that the reader device51can emit a radio signal to detect the presence of any RFID device that may have an antenna apparatus1. The antenna apparatus1may responds to the signal emitted by the RFID device so that the reader device1is able to detect the antenna apparatus1. For embodiments of the antenna apparatus1that are also configured for energy harvesting, the antenna apparatus1may also be configured so that the received signals are able to power or charge a powering element of the chip17and/or antenna apparatus1(e.g. a battery, microprocessor, etc.).

The reader device51may receive a signal from the antenna apparatus1that is transmitted via the chip17to respond to the reader device's output signal. The reader device51may interpret that response to indicate it has detected an RFID device and communicate information relating to the detection of the antenna apparatus and/or chip17connected to that antenna apparatus1to the computer device61.

The computer device61may receive such information from the reader device51and store such information in a data store67in its memory63for use in tracking a location of the chip17and/or antenna apparatus1. The reader device51may include information about the location of the reader device51in such communication to the computer device61or the computer device61may be configured to correlate the location of the detected RFID device having the antenna apparatus1with the location assigned to that reader device51providing the information about the detection via a database or other data store67. The computer device61and reader device51may be communicatively connected to each other for performing such communications via a wired connection or via a wireless connection such as a network connection (e.g. a Wi-Fi connection, a wide area network connection, a cellular network connection, or other type of wireless connection such as, for example, a Bluetooth connection).

When a human or other animal is wearing the RFID device having the antenna apparatus1, the human or other animal may then be tracked based on which RFID readers within an array of spaced apart RFID readers may detect the presence of the RFID device. For instance, RFID readers spaced throughout a building or other geographical location (e.g. a building complex, a hospital, a nursing home, a prison, a city, a country, etc.) may all be configured to communicatively connect to a central computer device (e.g. a server computer device) to communicate with that central computer device for updating that device as to the presence of a detected RFID device that is associated with a particular animal so that the location of that animal may be tracked. Time information associated with the detection of the RFID device having the antenna apparatus1and location information associated with the reader device51that detected that RFID device at a particular time may be included in such information that is tracked by the computer device61for tracking the location of the animal wearing the RFID device. The computer device61can also be configured to print out or display to another device graphical indicia identifying a location of the animal associated with the RFID device and/or a history of where that animal has traveled over a certain time period via a display device or another type of computer device connected to the computer device61(e.g. a smart phone connected to the computer device61and having a graphical user interface that generates the display of such information based on communications exchanged with the computer device61).

It should be appreciated that embodiments of our antenna apparatus, RFID devices utilizing such an antenna apparatus, and embodiments of communication systems utilizing one or more such antenna apparatus may be altered to meet a particular set of design criteria. For instance the size, shape and material composition of sidewalls, the ground plane3, first patch5, and second patch7can be adjusted as needed to meet a particular design objective. As yet another example, the substrate to which the antenna apparatus may be attached can be any suitable substrate material. As yet another example, the wearable body31can be any type of wearable structure. As yet another example, the computer device61may be any type of computer device including for example, a server, a personal computer, work station, a laptop, an electronic tablet, a smart phone, or other type of computer device. Therefore, while certain exemplary embodiments of RFID antenna apparatus, exemplary embodiments of communication system arrangements utilizing such RFID antenna apparatus, and embodiments of RFID tags utilizing such RFID antenna apparatuses, and methods of making and using the same have been discussed and illustrated herein, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.