Abstract: A method for effecting a near field communication, including the steps of positioning a first device at a close proximity to a second device, wherein the close proximity is suitable for the near field communication; and sending a first effectively carrierless signal from the first device to the second device.

Abstract: Disclosed are antennas for printed circuit boards (PCB) including a printed circuit board having antenna conductors, ground plane, an insulating substrate and a feed structure. The antenna is at least partially formed by an array of two similarly sized and shaped antenna elements. Each antenna element is oriented substantially orthogonal to the other and similarly positioned relative to the ground plane. The two antenna elements are coupled to the feed structure and are connectable to a transceiver such that when the two like antenna elements are fed differentially the far fields of each antenna are substantially similar and substantially orthogonal to each other so as to provide substantial omni-directionality.

Abstract: A method for effecting a near field communication, including the steps of positioning a first device at a close proximity to a second device, wherein the close proximity is suitable for the near field communication; and sending a first effectively carrierless signal from the first device to the second device.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of producing an RFID tag assembly including an associated antenna and attachment means suitable for attaching the tag assembly to a material. The material may be flexible such as fabric or relatively rigid such as cardboard. The method includes forming the associated antenna and the attachment means as a unitary conductive frame. An RFID tag assembly produced by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A combined EAS/RFID tag including an EAS circuit and a first RFID circuit is disclosed. The EAS circuit has at least one capacitor and the RFID circuit has a main antenna wherein at least a part of the capacitor of the EAS circuit provides at least a part of the main antenna of the RFID circuit. The EAS circuit may include two capacitors and each capacitor may include first and second plates on first and second sides of a substrate wherein one plate of each capacitor forms part of the main antenna of the RFID circuit.

Abstract: An RFID tag is disclosed adapted to be read by an interrogator including a reader antenna having a carrier frequency. The tag includes a first circuit including a first inductor and a first capacitor, wherein the first circuit is tuned to a frequency above the carrier frequency to compensate for detuning in the presence of a plurality of tags. The RFID tag includes a second circuit including a second inductor and a second capacitor wherein the first and second inductors are arranged to be coupled electromagnetically with a coupling factor less than unity and the second circuit is tuned to increase coupling between the first circuit and the reader antenna. A method of reading an RFID tag in the presence of a plurality of tags is also disclosed.

Abstract: A combined EAS/RFID tag including an EAS circuit and a first RFID circuit is disclosed. The EAS circuit has at least one capacitor and the RFID circuit has a main antenna wherein at least a part of the capacitor of the EAS circuit provides at least a part of the main antenna of the RFID circuit. The EAS circuit may include two capacitors and each capacitor may include first and second plates on first and second sides of a substrate wherein one plate of each capacitor forms part of the main antenna of the RFID circuit.

Abstract: An RFID tag is disclosed adapted to be read by an interrogator including a reader antenna having a carrier frequency. The tag includes a first circuit including a first inductor and a first capacitor, wherein the first circuit is tuned to a frequency above the carrier frequency to compensate for detuning in the presence of a plurality of tags. The RFID tag includes a second circuit including a second inductor and a second capacitor wherein the first and second inductors are arranged to be coupled electromagnetically with a coupling factor less than unity and the second circuit is tuned to increase coupling between the first circuit and the reader antenna. A method of reading an RFID tag in the presence of a plurality of tags is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic label reading system includes an interrogator including a transmitter and a receiver. The system also has a transmitter antenna connected to the transmitter for generating an interrogation electromagnetic field through which objects possessing code responding labels may pass. The code responding labels include label receiving antennas for receiving from the interrogation field a label interrogation signal, and generate label reply signals, and, from the label reply signals, reply electromagnetic fields. The system also has a receiver antenna connected to the receiver for receiving the reply signals from the label reply fields. The interrogation field and label reply fields provide a communication channel from the labels to the interrogator, and the interrogator signals to the labels condition information indicative of the condition of the communication channel.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for interrogating one or more electronic labels attached to objects, the system including an interrogation device capable of radiating an electromagnetic interrogation signal which contains information in the form of a plurality of symbols, each symbol being represented by a respective time interval between consecutive dips in amplitude of the interrogation signal. The one or more of the electronic labels are capable of detecting and decoding the interrogation signal to recover the symbols, and in response to recovering the symbols generate a reply signal. The reply signal is able to be detected and decoded by the interrogation device. It is envisaged that the invention will find particular use in identifying, sorting, controlling and/or auditing objects having information bearing electronically coded labels.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for interrogating one or more electronic labels attached to objects, the system including an interrogation device capable of radiating an electromagnetic interrogation signal which contains information in the form of a plurality,of symbols, each symbol being represented by a respective time interval between consecutive dips in amplitude of the interrogation signal. The one or more of the electronic labels are capable of detecting and decoding the interrogation signal to recover the symbols, and in response to recovering the symbols generate a reply signal. The reply signal is able to be detected and decoded by the interrogation device. It is envisaged that the invention will find particular use in identifying, sorting, controlling and/or auditing objects having information bearing electronically coded labels.

Abstract: An electronic label reading system is disclosed having an interrogator including a transmitter for generating an interrogation signal and a receiver for detecting and decoding a reply signal. The system also has an interrogation field creation means including a transmitter antenna connected to the transmitter for generating from the interrogation signal an interrogation electromagnetic field through which objects possessing code responding labels may pass. The code responding labels include label receiving antennas for receiving from the interrogation field a label interrogation signal, means for generating label reply signals, and means for generating from the label reply signals, reply electromagnetic fields. The system also has a receiver antenna connected to the receiver for receiving the reply signals from the label reply fields.