Patent Description:
RFID tags may be read using a single multi-patch array antenna. These are relatively low cost and compact but cannot provide acceptable performance when reading large numbers of tags disposed in a variety of orientations. <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>show a range of patch antenna topologies.

RFID tag reading tunnels are currently the most reliable RFID reader systems for reading large numbers of tags disposed in a variety of orientations. Such tunnel systems typically employ multiple circularly polarised antennas in different planes (e.g. top, bottom and sides) with items transported through the tunnel on a moving belt. These are large, complex and very expensive. <CIT> and <CIT> show example point of sale RFID readers.

There is a need for a low cost and compact RFID tag reading system that is capable of reliably reading a large number of RFID tags disposed in a variety of orientations.

It is desirable for any new design to be simple, compact, inexpensive, reliable and easy to use.

The present disclosure provides examples of an enclosure for an RFID reader comprising: a base including an RFID antenna comprising an array of radiating elements having phase delays between radiating elements and a plurality of feeds to the antenna array configured such that, when driven, the antenna produces tilted beams of different polarisation; and a hood having a surface that is reflective to RF radiation that is movable between: a first position in which the hood and the base enclose a volume to be scanned; and a second position in which the volume is accessible from a plurality of sides to facilitate placement or removal of items to be scanned from the volume.

In some configurations the same radiating elements can be configured to produce two beams.

In some configurations the array of radiating elements is a regular array.

In some configurations phase delays can be provided by feed elements between adjacent radiating elements.

In some configurations phase delays can be provided between uppermost and lowermost radiating elements to produce vertical beam polarisation.

In some configurations phase delays can be provided between leftmost and rightmost radiating elements to produce horizontal beam polarisation.

In some configurations four radiating elements can be provided in a regular square array.

In some configurations the radiating elements can be patch antennas.

In some configurations the volume can be accessible from three or more sides.

In some configurations the volume can be accessible from the front, left and right sides.

In some configurations the hood can rotate between the first and second positions.

In some configurations the hood can lift as it rotates between the first and second positions.

In some configurations the hood can include a hinge that retains the hood in the second position.

In some configurations an actuator can be provided for moving the hood between the first and second positions.

In some configurations a base reflective sheet that is reflective to RF radiation can be provided.

In some configurations the antenna extends upwardly from the reflective base sheet.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure are described with reference to the drawings of certain embodiments, which are intended to schematically illustrate certain embodiments and not to limit the disclosure.

Where reference is made to RFID tag reading it is to be appreciated that this encompasses RFID tag writing too. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure herein disclosed should not be limited by any particular embodiments described below but only by the appended claims.

<FIG> shows an exemplary RFID tag reading station including an enclosure <NUM> comprising a reflective base sheet <NUM> connected to an antenna <NUM> with a hood <NUM> pivotally mounted to the antenna <NUM> by hinges <NUM>. The hood <NUM> may be formed conductive or non-conductive sheets reflective to RF radiation produced by antenna <NUM>. Conductive metal sheets, metal mesh or metal foils, such as aluminum, copper, tin, brass, steel, etc. may be used. Alternatively, or additionally non-conductive but RF reflective sheets such as mylar, metallized plastics, etc. may be used. Both conductive and non-conductive sheets can be attached to a protective fabric or plastic or foam can be used to enhance the hood's durability. The distance between sides of the hood may preferably be between one to three wavelengths (at the frequency of operation of the antenna <NUM>) and more preferably about two wavelengths for reasons described below.

In use a box <NUM> containing items having associated RFID tags may be placed on base <NUM> and the hood <NUM> rotated about hinges <NUM> to close enclose the (as shown in <FIG>). A reader <NUM> may then drive antenna <NUM> so that the tags may be read and supply the read tag data to a computing or storage device, shown by an exemplary computer <NUM> in this case. Whilst only reading is referred to in this example it is to be appreciated that the tags may also be written to. The reader <NUM> may be incorporated into antenna <NUM>. Reader <NUM> may require a sensor to indicate that the enclosure is closed before the antenna <NUM> is driven.

The enclosure design allows easy placement and removal of items to be read (in the open <FIG> configuration) as access is provided from a plurality of sides, in this case three, unlike designs allowing access from only one side. The hinges <NUM> may include a locking mechanism or be sprung so that the hood remains supported in the elevated position when raised.

Whilst this is a very effective design there are a range of alternative designs that could be employed. One alternative enclosure design would allow hood <NUM> to be vertically raised and lowered, for example on vertical guide rails. Another possible arrangement could allow hood <NUM> to rotate about a vertical axis, for example a semi-cylindrical hood rotating with respect to base <NUM> and antenna <NUM>. These designs could all be automated, for example using a geared motor to move the hood between open and closed configurations. The hood could be any of a range of shapes including a partial cuboid, other partial polyhedron, partial ellipsoid or partial tetrahedral.

<FIG> shows an example antenna <NUM> suitable for use in the above example RFID tag reading station but also in other applications. Whilst an example patch antenna configuration is shown in <FIG> it will be apparent from the description below that other configurations may be employed using all or part of the design.

An antenna is said to be vertically polarised (linear) when its electric field (antenna beam) is perpendicular to the Earth's surface. Horizontally polarised (linear) antennas have their electric field (antenna beam) parallel to the Earth's surface. Antenna beams at other angles are referred to as having slant polarisation (i.e. between vertical and horizontal). Where an antenna has multiple radiating elements, such as a patch antenna array, near field radiation may have different polarisations to far field radiation where all components have combined. Antenna beams may also be tilted within a plane of polarisation at an angle to a normal direction of propagation (i.e. perpendicular to a panel antenna).

The example antenna shown in <FIG> includes sixteen radiating elements in the form of patches 10a to 10p arranged in a rectangular array. This is a non-limiting example and other numbers and arrangements of radiating elements may be employed. Four feeds are provided in this example which are arranged to drive the antenna so as to produce beams having different polarisations but other numbers of feeds can be employed. Beam tilt can be achieved by adjusting delay lines between antennas in a driven group. It will be appreciated that the number of beam polarisations employed and the tilt of each beam may be selected for a particular application. It will also be appreciated that different feed network topologies may be employed using different serial or parallel feed configurations.

A first feed <NUM> drives the bases of patches 10j and <NUM> with delay lines <NUM> and <NUM> feeding patches 10f and <NUM> so as to drive these patches with vertical polarisation as illustrated by the arrows in <FIG>.

A second feed <NUM> drives the sides of patches 10f and 10j with delay lines <NUM> and <NUM> feeding patches <NUM> and <NUM> so as to drive these patches with horizontal polarisation as illustrated by the arrows in <FIG>.

A third feed <NUM> drives the left side of patch <NUM> which in turn drives patches 10i and 10e via delay lines <NUM> and <NUM> so as to drive these patches with horizontal polarisation as illustrated by the arrows in <FIG>. Third feed <NUM> also drives the right side of patch 10c which in turn drives patches 10b and 10a via delay lines <NUM> and <NUM> so as to drive these patches with horizontal polarisation as illustrated by the arrows in <FIG>. Third feed <NUM> also drives the lower side of patch 10n which in turn drives patches 10o and 10p via delay lines <NUM> and <NUM> so as to drive these patches with vertical polarisation as illustrated by the arrows in <FIG>. Third feed <NUM> also drives the upper side of patch 10d which in turn drives patches <NUM> and <NUM> via delay lines <NUM> and <NUM> so as to drive these patches with vertical polarisation as illustrated by the arrows in <FIG>.

A fourth feed <NUM> drives the bottom of patch <NUM> which in turn drives patches 10i and 10e via delay lines <NUM> and <NUM> so as to drive these patches with vertical polarisation as illustrated by the arrows in <FIG>. Fourth feed <NUM> also drives the top side of patch 10c which in turn drives patches 10b and 10a via delay lines <NUM> and <NUM> so as to drive these patches with vertical polarisation as illustrated by the arrows in <FIG>. Fourth feed <NUM> also drives the left side of patch 10n which in turn drives patches 10o and 10p via delay lines <NUM> and <NUM> so as to drive these patches with horizontal polarisation as illustrated by the arrows in <FIG>. Fourth feed <NUM> also drives the right side of patch 10d which in turn drives patches <NUM> and <NUM> via delay lines <NUM> and <NUM> so as to drive these patches with vertical polarisation as illustrated by the arrows in <FIG>.

As will be seen in <FIG> when the third feed is driven a first L shaped group of patches is driven with vertical polarisation and a second L shaped group of patches is driven with horizontal polarisation. The far field beam produced by the first and second groups can be designed to have a slant of between <NUM>° to <NUM> ° with respect to vertical, preferably between <NUM>° to <NUM>° or another value in other applications. The propagated antenna beam may also be tilted by adjusting the delays between patches. In the present example the beam can be tilted down by about <NUM>° to <NUM>°, preferably about <NUM>°.

As will be seen in <FIG> when the fourth feed is driven a first L shaped group of patches is driven with vertical polarisation and a second L shaped group of patches is driven with horizontal polarisation. It will be appreciated due to the symmetry that the composite beam will have the same polarisation (although opposite) and the same down tilt as described above in relation to <FIG>.

The first and second L shaped groups in <FIG> are asymmetric and the shape may be changed to alter the degree of slant of the polarisation of the far field propagated by each group of adiating elements. It will be appreciated that different degrees of slant and down tilt may be selected depending upon the specific application.

Whilst a patch antenna has been described in the example above it will be appreciated that different type of antennas and radiating elements may be employed, for example slot antennas could be used. The patch antenna may be manufactured in a variety of ways although the method disclosed in the applicant's patent <CIT> is one preferred method.

In use a package <NUM> containing items with RFID tags attached may be placed on base <NUM>. There may be hundreds of RFID tags within package <NUM> disposed in a wide range of orientations. Hood <NUM> may then be lowered to the position shown in <FIG> so that the RF reflective material of hood <NUM> will reflect radiation generated by panel antenna <NUM>.

Reader <NUM> in this example has <NUM> ports which drive the four feeds <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. The four ports are driven sequentially so as to produce beams having vertical polarisation, horizontal polarisation and two different slant polarisations (one positive and one negative in this example). One or more beams may also be tilted (down tilt in this case, although it could be in either direction depending upon configuration and the shape of the hood).

The beams produced by the L shaped groups of radiating elements form over the near field (about one wavelength) and the transition zone (between one to two wavelengths) to form a far field beam based on the components of all radiating elements. This means that an RFID tag in the near field will experience a beam polarisation that is strongly based on the polarisation of one or more local radiating elements whereas closer to the far field the components will combine so that the composite beam reflects a polarisation due to the combination of all elements. This effectively results in beam polarisations experienced in the near field and transition zone appearing to twist from the pure polarisation of a single radiating element to composite polarisations of the combined beams. This effect has been found to enhance the efficacy of tag reading and writing.

The sequential switching on and off of the reader ports creates an antenna beam pattern that changes during energization and de-energisation phases which enhances RFID tag coupling. By providing a number of beams at varying polarisations and beam tilt a large number of RFID tags arranged with different orientations may be reliably read as at least one beam will have sufficient coupling with an RFID tag to provide a successful read. It will be appreciated that these specific polarisations need not be employed and a range of polarisations disposed at sufficient angles to each other may provide effective tag reading. For example, three polarisations Data read by antenna <NUM> and reader <NUM> may be supplied to a computer <NUM> or other data processing equipment.

The present disclosure provides examples of an RFID reading station that is simple, compact, light (about <NUM>) and inexpensive whilst providing high read accuracy at a high read rate (<NUM> tags per second has been achieved). The antenna provides an even near-field energy distribution (due to <NUM> patches in a small footprint) that can read different types of assets (liquids, metals, plastic, wood, paper, etc.). The solution is easily deployed and is directly compatible with a standard four-port RAIN RFID reader. Antenna diversity also ensures reliable RFID tag reading and writing as even if one group of radiating elements is obscured (by metal for example) others may not be. Whilst the antenna design may be used advantageously in the present application it will be appreciated that example designs and variants applying the principles described may be employed in a wide range of fields.

Claim 1:
An enclosure (<NUM>) for an RFID reader (<NUM>) comprising:
a. a base (<NUM>) including an RFID antenna (<NUM>) comprising an array of radiating elements (10a to 10p) having phase delays (<NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>, <NUM> to <NUM>) between radiating elements and a plurality of feeds (<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>) to the antenna array configured such that, when driven, the antenna produces tilted beams of different polarisation; and
b. a hood (<NUM>) having a surface that is reflective to RF radiation that is movable between:
i. a first position in which the hood (<NUM>) and the base (<NUM>) enclose a volume to be scanned; and
ii. a second position in which the volume is accessible from a plurality of sides to facilitate placement or removal of items to be scanned from the volume.