Sensormatic Electronics Corporation

Vue Technology, Inc.

William Joseph Carpenter

Richard John Campero

Paul B Rasband

Donald George Bauer

Edward Raymond Buiel

Richard Eric Nordgren

Ronald A Marino

Steven Paul Metzler

Mark Albert Taylor

Howard E Wood, Jr

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, an antenna structure is provided having one or more antennae arranged so as to read all possible orientations of a randomly placed tag. Also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, is a method of configuring one or more antennae composed of the steps of: identifying the 'dead zones' of each discrete antennae used, and orienting each antennae such that there are no 'dead zones' common to all antennae. The unique antenna structure (and corresponding method) has particular application in tag reader antenna systems for use in RFID (radio frequency identification) applications (13.56 MHz) and the like. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, multiple RF (radio frequency) antennae are utilized as part of an intelligent station to track items tagged with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.

Apparatus for and method of using a diversity antenna

An inventory control system and method that tracks inventories of items with RFID tags, includes a reader unit and an intelligent station that tracks RFID tags to determine item information of items to be inventoried. The reader unit transmits and receives RF signals. The intelligent station includes a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch, and one or more additional RF antennae connected to the reader unit by the same first transmission cable through additional switches. An inventory control processing unit receives item information from the intelligent stations to update inventory information regarding the items to be inventoried.

Intelligent station using multiple RF antennae and inventory control system and method incorporating same

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Sykesville, MD, United States of America

William Joseph Carpenter