Symbol Technologies, LLC

Zebra Technologies Corporation

Mark William Duron

Richard T Knadle

Thomas E Wulff

Raj Bridgelall

Sean A Connolly

Rehan K Jaffri

Martin J Strzelczyk

Timothy B Austin

David E Bellows

Daniella Strat

Russell Calvarese

Hal Charych

Robert I Sandler

Jimmy Chabra

David P Goren

Christopher Warren Brock

James R Giebel

Amit Asthana

Avi Nudelman

Alpaslan Demir

Miklos Stern

Michael J Koch

Mohammad Soleimani

Shane E MacGregor

Nicole Daphne Tricoukes

Ian D Chamberlin

Henry Grossfeld

Michael Knox

Carl Degiovine

Victor Hugo Molina

Brian Viscount

Jens Arnold

Mark E Wheeler

Danielle N Strat

James Joseph Bender

Justin Hotard

Darrell Pinson

Ron Boschini

LuoSheng Chen

Daniella N Strat

Jr Richard T Knadle

Techniques for improving energy efficiency of a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) reader are described herein. A power control algorithm controlling a power amplifier of the RFID reader adjusts a bias setting of the power amplifier at different time periods during operation of the RFID reader. Particularly, in aspects, the power control algorithm biases the power amplifier at a first bias setting during a first time period when the RFID reader transmits a modulated continuous waveform conveying information to RFID tags in an environment, and biases the power amplifier at a second, different bias setting during a second time period when the RFID reader transmits an unmodulated continuous waveform. By adjusting to the second bias setting, the power control algorithm improves energy/power efficiency of the RFID reader during the second time period, thereby extending the single-charge lifetime of the RFID reader when implemented as a battery powered unit.

Adaptive biasing procedure to increase PA efficiency in RFID readers

Systems and methods to co-locate RFID readers with in-band sensor networks, such as LoRa sensor networks, are disclosed herein. An example arrangement is a co-located device that includes a dual-mode transceiver configured to communicate with targets operating in a first protocol (e.g., RFID) and other targets operating in a second protocol (e.g., LoRa). The example arrangement includes a dual-mode controller that operates the dual-mode transceiver to communicate via the first protocol during a first time period while disabling communication via the second protocol and to communicate via the second protocol in a second time period while disabling communication via the first protocol.

Systems and methods to co-locate RFID reader networks with in-band sensor networks

A barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation and having a housing with a window. A multi-axis radio-frequency identification antenna assembly is positioned within the housing of the barcode reader and includes first, second, and third antennas. The first antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a first direction, the second antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a second direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction, and the third antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a third direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

System and method for accurately reading radio-frequency identification tags at a barcode reader

An apparatus includes a shelf having a front edge, a solar cell circuit disposed at the front edge, a display screen, and a controller operatively coupled to the solar cell circuit and the display screen. The controller monitors the period of a waveform of a charging voltage of a storage capacitor of the solar cell circuit, displays an image on the display screen in response to a change in the waveform timing. A system includes a plurality of shelves each having a front edge, a solar cell circuit disposed at the front edge of each of the plurality of shelves, and a controller operatively coupled to the solar cell circuits. The controller monitors the frequency at which a power transfer of each solar cell circuit occurs, and signals a device in response to a change in the frequency at which the power transfer occurs.

Shelf with solar cell event trigger

A system includes: an edge computing device disposed in an indoor facility having at least one light source; an energy storage subsystem configured to generate electrical power from light emitted by the at least one light source, and to supply the electrical power to the edge computing device, the energy storage subsystem including: a collector; an auxiliary energy storage device configured to receive energy collected by the collector, the auxiliary energy storage device having a first storage capacity; a main energy storage device having a second storage capacity greater than the first storage capacity; a controller configured to supply energy from the main energy storage device to the edge computing device; and a selector configured to selectively discharge energy from the auxiliary energy storage device to the main energy storage device.

Two-stage energy storage for light harvesting systems

A bioptic barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation and having a lower housing comprising a platter having a generally horizontal window and a tower portion extending generally perpendicular to the lower housing and having a generally vertical window. A multi-axis radio-frequency identification antenna assembly is positioned within the tower portion of the bioptic barcode reader and includes first, second, and third antennas. The first antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a first direction, the second antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a second direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction, and the third antenna is configured to emit a radiation pattern oriented in a third direction, substantially orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

System and method for accurately reading radio-frequency identification tags at a bioptic barcode reader

A bioptic barcode reader configured to be supported by a workstation and having a lower housing with a platter having a generally horizontal window and a tower extending generally perpendicular to the lower housing and having a generally vertical window. A radio-frequency identification radio is positioned within the lower housing and is communicatively coupled to a feed patch positioned within the lower housing and proximate, but spaced apart from, the platter such that the feed patch is capacitively coupled to the platter and configured to energize the platter such that the platter is operative as a radio-frequency identification reader antenna.

Bioptic barcode reader with capacitively coupled radio-frequency antenna

An RFID echo cancellation assembly includes: a circulator defining a transmission path from a transmit module to an antenna module, and a reception path from the antenna module to a receive module; a combiner on the reception path between the circulator and the receive module; a variable reflector for applying a cancellation signal to the combiner; a controller for setting an operational parameter at the variable reflector according to an attribute of a transmitted signal from the transmit module; and a coupler defining a segment of the transmission path between the transmit module and the circulator, and a cancellation path between the variable reflector and the combiner. The coupler couples a portion of the transmitted signal to the variable reflector, whereupon the variable reflector generates the cancellation signal based on the operational parameter, for transmission to the combiner via the cancellation signal path.

Method, system and apparatus for radio-frequency echo cancellation

A radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) reader is mounted in a venue in proximity to a portal that is openable and closable by a door. The portal reader reads RFID object tags associated with objects that approach the portal. An electrical conductor is associated, and jointly movable, with the door. A portal RFID tag is mounted at the portal. The portal tag is overlain by the electrical conductor in a closed door position and is remote from the electrical conductor in an open door position. The portal tag is readable by the portal reader in either the open or the closed door position. A controller identifies any objects that have passed through the portal based on whether the object tags have been read, as well as whether the portal tag has been read in either the open or the closed door position.

Arrangement for, and method of, detecting passage of objects associated with radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) object tags through a portal

A method and system for adaptive operation of a power amplifier of an RFID reader device enables more efficient power management of the reader device. The method includes transmitting an RF interrogation signal from an antenna of the RFID reader device (step). A reflected signal is then received as a partial reflection of the interrogation signal (step). A return loss value is then estimated by comparing at least one parameter of the interrogation signal and at least one parameter of the reflected signal (step). Finally, an operating point of the power amplifier is adjusted in response to the return loss value (step).

Method and system for adaptive operation of a power amplifier of a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader device

A reader antenna for a radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) reader operative for scanning RFID item tags that are oriented at different orientations and that are associated with items contained in a controlled area, includes a pair of mutually orthogonal dipoles for radiating electromagnetic waves with mutually orthogonal polarizations, an electrically energizable RF switch for switching between the dipoles, and an RFID antenna tag mounted adjacent the dipoles, and operative for receiving the radiated wave from either dipole, for locally generating electrical power to supply power to the RF switch, and for energizing the RF switch to switch between the dipoles.

Locally-powered, polarization-insensitive antenna for RFID reader, and RFID system for, and method of, scanning item tags with one or more such antennas

Defining a radio frequency identification read area includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader operable to read RFID tags within a specified read area. An RFID transmitter is coupled with the RFID reader and is operable to radiating a modulated carrier in an area adjacent to the specified read area. The RFID reader controls the RFID transmitter to transmit the modulated carrier during a preamble transmission of the RFID reader to prevent any RFID tags in the adjacent area from recognizing an interrogation signal from the RFID reader.

Defining a radio frequency identification read area

A method and apparatus for mounting electronic components on an antenna structure includes at least one conductive antenna element, an insulating layerdisposed on the antenna element, at least one electronic componentdisposed on the insulating layer, and at least one electrical tracedisposed on the insulating layerand connecting to the at least one electronic component. The trace follows contours of the antenna structure, such that the trace and component are electrically isolated from the antenna element.

Mounting electronic components on an antenna structure

A distributed comb tapped multiband antenna structure includes a PIFA-like antenna radiator having tap structures, and a counterpoise to the antenna radiator, wherein the tap structures include shunt connections to the counterpoise. A second antenna radiator is collinear and opposing the antenna radiator while sharing the counterpoise in common with the antenna radiator, such that the antenna structure is configured as a balanced dipole. The antenna structure can be contained internally within a single device housing and can operate over multiple frequency bands. The antenna provides high performance over a considerable bandwidth within each of the multiple frequency bands of operation, even where the frequency bands are not harmonically related.

Distributed comb tapped multiband antenna

Growing community of inventors

East Patchogue, NY, United States of America

Mark William Duron