| US 7,518,513 B2 | ||
| RFID conveyor system | ||
| Zhong-Min Liu, Doylestown, Pa. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Accu-Sort Systems, Inc., Telford, Pa. (US) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 23, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/387,667. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/666938, filed on Mar. 29, 2005. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/773634, filed on Feb. 15, 2006. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0244609 A1, Nov. 02, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. G08B 13/14 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 340—572.1 [340/676; 198/618] | 55 Claims |
| 1. A conveyor system for processing items on which radio frequency identification tags are disposed, said system comprising:
a frame;
a conveyor that is disposed movably on the frame and that conveys items through a path of travel, each item having at least
one respective radio frequency identification tag disposed thereon;
an antenna disposed on the frame with respect to the path of travel so that the antenna radiates radio frequency signals into
a first area through which the items pass,
wherein the antenna comprises a substrate and a plurality of patch elements disposed on the substrate in respective positions
that are sequential with respect to a direction transverse to the path of travel,
wherein electric current at each said patch element drives radiation of the radio frequency signals and defines a rotating
electric current pattern, and
wherein respective rotational directions of the electric current pattern at two said patch elements are opposite to each other;
and
a radio frequency transmitter that drives the antenna to emit the radio frequency signals into the first area.
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