Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving RFID coverage using an antenna array having an adaptive antenna beam. The apparatus includes an RFID reader including an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements. Subsets of the plurality of antenna elements are selectively activating in order to direct an antenna beam to communicate with at least one RFID tag. The method includes transmitting an interrogation signal from an antenna array by activating one or more subsets of a plurality of antenna elements forming the antenna array. In this way, the interrogation signal is directed thereby improving antenna coverage.

Abstract: A method of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag bearing estimation comprises: at an RFID tag reader having a plurality of antenna elements, emitting a primary transmit beam; receiving a response signal from an RFID tag via the antenna elements; generating a first set of signal measurements corresponding to a first set of receive beam characteristics, based on a first partition of the response signal; generating a second set of signal measurements corresponding to a second set of receive beam characteristics, based on a second partition of the response signal; and combining the first and second sets of signal measurements, for selection of an estimated tag bearing for the RFID tag from the first and second receive beam characteristics.

Abstract: An RFID tag reading system and method accurately and rapidly determine true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area. An RFID reader has an array of antenna elements and a plurality of RF transceivers. A controller controls the transceivers by steering a primary transmit beam over the controlled area to each tag, by steering a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle from each tag, by steering a plurality of secondary receive beams at different secondary steering angles that are offset from the primary steering angle by receiving secondary receive signals from each tag, and by processing the secondary receive signals to determine a true bearing for each tag. Bidirectional communication between the reader and a tag is conducted over a single inventory round in which the tag is read a plurality of times by the primary and the secondary receive beams.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving RFID coverage using an antenna array having an adaptive antenna beam. The apparatus includes an RFID reader including an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements. Subsets of the plurality of antenna elements are selectively activating in order to direct an antenna beam to communicate with at least one RFID tag. The method includes transmitting an interrogation signal from an antenna array by activating one or more subsets of a plurality of antenna elements forming the antenna array. In this way, the interrogation signal is directed thereby improving antenna coverage.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reading system and method accurately and rapidly determine, in real-time, true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area. Primary transmit and receive beams are steered over the area, and multiple secondary receive beams are substantially simultaneously steered to a plurality of bearings in the area. The highest signal strength of secondary receive signals from the secondary receive beams determines an approximate tag bearing of each tag. Two secondary receive beams at opposite sides of the approximate tag bearing in elevation are selected to obtain a pair of elevation offset signals, and two secondary receive beams at opposite sides of the approximate tag bearing in azimuth are selected to obtain a pair of azimuth offset signals. The elevation offset signals and the azimuth offset signals are processed to determine a true bearing for each tag in real-time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving RFID coverage using an antenna array having an adaptive antenna beam. The apparatus includes an RFID reader including an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements. Subsets of the plurality of antenna elements are selectively activating in order to direct an antenna beam to communicate with at least one RFID tag. The method includes transmitting an interrogation signal from an antenna array by activating one or more subsets of a plurality of antenna elements forming the antenna array. In this way, the interrogation signal is directed thereby improving antenna coverage.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reading system and method read RFID tags in a controlled area in real time with an enhanced performance. An RFID reader reads a mixed tag population of interesting RFID tags and of uninteresting RFID tags in the controlled area at a read rate. A controller dynamically and continuously monitors the read rate in real time, dynamically selects the interesting RFID tags, or deselects the uninteresting RFID tags, in real time when the read rate is below a reading threshold, and dynamically controls the RFID reader in real time to only read the interesting RFID tags when the read rate is below the reading threshold.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reading system and method accurately and rapidly determine, in real-time, true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area. Primary transmit and receive beams are steered over the area, and multiple secondary receive beams are substantially simultaneously steered to a plurality of bearings in the area. The highest signal strength of secondary receive signals from the secondary receive beams determines an approximate tag bearing of each tag. Two secondary receive beams at opposite sides of the approximate tag bearing in elevation are selected to obtain a pair of elevation offset signals, and two secondary receive beams at opposite sides of the approximate tag bearing in azimuth are selected to obtain a pair of azimuth offset signals. The elevation offset signals and the azimuth offset signals are processed to determine a true bearing for each tag in real-time.

Abstract: An RFID reader is provided that includes an antenna array comprising multiple antenna elements circumferentially distributed around a longitudinal axis of the antenna array. Each antenna element includes multiple patch elements disposed above one or more underlying substrates, wherein the patch elements of each antenna element are disposed on an outer side of the antenna element. Further, one or more of the antenna elements is an asymmetric antenna element, wherein a first end of the asymmetric antenna element is wider than a second, opposite end of the asymmetric antenna element, wherein a first patch element disposed proximate to the first end of the asymmetric antenna element is larger than a second patch element disposed proximate to the second end of the asymmetric antenna element, and wherein a resonant frequency associated with the first patch element is approximately the same as a resonant frequency associated with the second patch element.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) tag reading system and method accurately determine true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area. An RFID reader has an array of antenna elements and a plurality of RF transceivers. A controller controls the transceivers by steering a primary transmit beam over the controlled area by transmitting a primary transmit signal to each tag, and steering a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle by receiving a primary receive signal from each tag. The controller thereupon steers a plurality of secondary receive offset beams at different secondary steering angles that are offset from the primary steering angle by receiving secondary receive offset signals from each tag, and by processing the offset signals to determine a true bearing for each tag.

Abstract: An RFID reader is provided that includes an antenna array comprising multiple antenna elements circumferentially distributed around a longitudinal axis of the antenna array. Each antenna element includes multiple patch elements disposed above one or more underlying substrates, wherein the patch elements of each antenna element are disposed on an outer side of the antenna element. Further, one or more of the antenna elements is an asymmetric antenna element, wherein a first end of the asymmetric antenna element is wider than a second, opposite end of the asymmetric antenna element, wherein a first patch element disposed proximate to the first end of the asymmetric antenna element is larger than a second patch element disposed proximate to the second end of the asymmetric antenna element, and wherein a resonant frequency associated with the first patch element is approximately the same as a resonant frequency associated with the second patch element.

Abstract: An RFID reader is provided that includes an antenna array comprising multiple antenna elements circumferentially distributed around a longitudinal axis of the antenna array. Each antenna element includes multiple patch elements disposed above one or more underlying substrates, wherein the patch elements of each antenna element are disposed on an outer side of the antenna element. Further, one or more of the antenna elements is an asymmetric antenna element, wherein a first end of the asymmetric antenna element is wider than a second, opposite end of the asymmetric antenna element, wherein a first patch element disposed proximate to the first end of the asymmetric antenna element is larger than a second patch element disposed proximate to the second end of the asymmetric antenna element, and wherein a resonant frequency associated with the first patch element is approximately the same as a resonant frequency associated with the second patch element.

Abstract: An RFID tag reading system and method accurately and rapidly determine true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area. An RFID reader has an array of antenna elements and a plurality of RF transceivers. A controller controls the transceivers by steering a primary transmit beam over the controlled area to each tag, by steering a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle from each tag, by steering a plurality of secondary receive beams at different secondary steering angles that are offset from the primary steering angle by receiving secondary receive signals from each tag, and by processing the secondary receive signals to determine a true bearing for each tag. Bidirectional communication between the reader and a tag is conducted over a single inventory round in which the tag is read a plurality of times by the primary and the secondary receive beams.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reading system having a phased antenna array accurately locates RFID tags in a controlled area, by steering an interrogating beam over the controlled area to interrogate the tags and generate return modulated RF signals. A primary receiver steers a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle that is fixed during each tag interrogation. A primary demodulator demodulates and reconstructs the received return modulated signals. A secondary receiver, independently of the primary receiver, steers a secondary receive beam at a plurality of secondary steering angles. A secondary correlator/demodulator demodulates the combined return modulated signals, and utilizes the reconstructed signal reconstructed by the primary demodulator at each of the secondary steering angles. Both the primary and the secondary receivers cooperate to accurately locate the same tag.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) tag reading system and method accurately determine true bearings of RFID tags associated with items in a controlled area. An RFID reader has an array of antenna elements and a plurality of RF transceivers. A controller controls the transceivers by steering a primary transmit beam over the controlled area by transmitting a primary transmit signal to each tag, and steering a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle by receiving a primary receive signal from each tag. The controller thereupon steers a plurality of secondary receive offset beams at different secondary steering angles that are offset from the primary steering angle by receiving secondary receive offset signals from each tag, and by processing the offset signals to determine a true bearing for each tag.

Abstract: An RFID reader is provided that includes an antenna array comprising multiple antenna elements circumferentially distributed around a longitudinal axis of the antenna array. Each antenna element includes multiple patch elements disposed above one or more underlying substrates, wherein the patch elements of each antenna element are disposed on an outer side of the antenna element. Further, one or more of the antenna elements is an asymmetric antenna element, wherein a first end of the asymmetric antenna element is wider than a second, opposite end of the asymmetric antenna element, wherein a first patch element disposed proximate to the first end of the asymmetric antenna element is larger than a second patch element disposed proximate to the second end of the asymmetric antenna element, and wherein a resonant frequency associated with the first patch element is approximately the same as a resonant frequency associated with the second patch element.

Abstract: A jack housing (110) for a plug and jack connector system (120, 110) comprises a plurality of integrated cable retention hooks (114) about which to wrap a cable (124) of a cabled accessory (120). The integrated retention hooks (114) retain the cable (124) so as to avoid inadvertent disconnect of the plug (122) from the jack (116). The integrated retention hooks (114) can accommodate a variety of different diameter cables or multiple cables.

Abstract: A jack housing (110) for a plug and jack connector system (120, 110) comprises a plurality of integrated cable retention hooks (114) about which to wrap a cable (124) of a cabled accessory (120). The integrated retention hooks (114) retain the cable (124) so as to avoid inadvertent disconnect of the plug (122) from the jack (116). The integrated retention hooks (114) can accommodate a variety of different diameter cables or multiple cables.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reading system having a phased antenna array accurately locates RFID tags in a controlled area, by steering an interrogating beam over the controlled area to interrogate the tags and generate return modulated RF signals. A primary receiver steers a primary receive beam at a primary steering angle that is fixed during each tag interrogation. A primary demodulator demodulates and reconstructs the received return modulated signals. A secondary receiver, independently of the primary receiver, steers a secondary receive beam at a plurality of secondary steering angles. A secondary correlator/demodulator demodulates the combined return modulated signals, and utilizes the reconstructed signal reconstructed by the primary demodulator at each of the secondary steering angles. Both the primary and the secondary receivers cooperate to accurately locate the same tag.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an RFID scanner is provided herein. During operation, an RFID scanner will utilize beamforming techniques to appropriately beamform an interrogation signal. A first beamforming scheme will be used for a first task (e.g., EAS, inventory management, point-of-sale mode scanning of a first area, . . . , etc.) and a second beamforming scheme will be used for a second task.