RFID tag with enhanced readability

1. An RFID system comprising:

an RFID device embodied in a label or tag; and

an electrically-conductive material that is not a part of the label or tag, that cooperates with the RFID device to enhance performance of the RFID device;

wherein the RFID device has a wavelength of energy most preferentially received;

wherein at least part of an antenna structure of the RFID device is within one-quarter of the wavelength, of the conductive material; and

wherein the antenna structure is not in contact with the conductive material.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a largest dimension of the antenna structure of the RFID device is one-eighth of the wavelength or less.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID device is at a non-zero angle to the conductive material.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the RFID device is substantially perpendicular to the conductive material.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein a parallel overlap between the RFID device and the conductive material is 0.5 or less; and

wherein the parallel overlap is a fraction of area of the antenna structure and a slot of the RFID device that is projected onto the electrically-conductive material, when projection is in a direction perpendicular to the electrically-conductive material.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive material partially overlaps the RFID device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein object is attached to the RFID device.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the RFID device includes a protrusion that maintains the antenna structure at a non-zero angle relative to the conductive material.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID device is in close proximity to at least one additional RFID device that is also included in the system.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the close proximity of the RFID devices enhances performance of the RFID devices.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID device includes:

the antenna structure having antenna-structure electrically conductive material on both sides of an aperture; and

a wireless communication device having a pair of contacts electrically coupled to respective parts of the antenna-structure conductive material; and

wherein the parts of conductive material are electrically coupled together at an end of the aperture distal from the wireless communication device.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the parts of the conductive material include arms of conductive material.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the aperture has a substantially rectangular shape.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the aperture has a pair of borders substantially parallel to one another.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein one end of the aperture is short-circuited between the parts, and the other end of the aperture is not short-circuited between the parts.

16. The system of claim 11 ,

wherein the wireless communication device is an RFID chip that is part of an RFID interposer; and

wherein the RFID interposer includes a pair of conductive leads electrically coupled to the parts of the electrically conductive material.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the wireless communication device and the antenna structure form an antenna with at least two modes of operation.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the RFID device has an overall size of 2.5 cm ×2.5 cm or less.

19. An RFID system comprising:

an RFID device; and

an electrically-conductive material that cooperates with the RFID device to enhance performance of the RFID device;

wherein the conductive material is part of an object that the RFID device is attached to;

wherein the RFID device includes a protrusion that maintains an antenna structure at a non-zero angle relative to the conductive material; and

wherein the protrusion has a triangular shape.

20. A method of enhancing performance of an RFID device, the method comprising:

providing the RFID device embodied in a label or tag; and

placing at least part of an antenna structure of the RFID device less than a quarter of a wavelength of energy preferentially received by the RFID device away from an electrically-conductive material that is at least part of an object that is not a part of the label or tag, so as to enhance performance of the RFID device;

wherein the placing includes placing the RFID device such that the antenna structure is not in contact with the conductive material.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the placing includes placing at least part of the RFID device within a distance to the electrically-conductive conductive material of one-eighth of a wavelength of energy preferentially received by the RFID device.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the providing includes providing an RFID device that has the antenna structure with no dimension greater than one-eighth of the wavelength.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the placing include placing the RFID device at a non-zero angle relative to the conductive material.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the placing includes placing the RFID device substantially perpendicular to the conductive material.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the placing includes attaching the RFID device to an object that includes the conductive material.

26. The method of claim 20 , wherein the enhancing performance includes enhancing read range of the RFID device.

27. The method of claim 20 , wherein the providing includes providing an RFID device that includes:

the antenna structure having electrically conductive material on both sides of an aperture; and

a wireless communication device having a pair of contacts electrically coupled to respective parts of the conductive material; and

wherein the parts of conductive material are electrically coupled together at an end of the aperture distal from the wireless communication device.

28. The method of claim 20 , wherein the RFID device has an overall size of 2.5 cm ×2.5 cm or less.