RFID tag having antenna with co-planar radiation pattern

1. An radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the tag comprising:

a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the substrate defining a plane of the tag;

a conductive element disposed on the first surface of the substrate;

an RFID integrated circuit disposed on the second surface of the substrate; and

an antenna having an antenna pattern, the antenna disposed on the second surface of the substrate and in electrical communication with the RFID integrated circuit, the antenna having a first clockwise dipole element forming a first spiral and a second counterclockwise dipole element forming a second spiral, the antenna and the conductive element arranged to generate a radiation pattern having a maximum gain along an axis that is substantially coplanar with the plane of the tag that is greater than a maximum gain along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the tag, the radiation pattern exhibiting a null substantially orthogonal to the plane of the tag.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1 , wherein the first clockwise dipole element and the second counterclockwise dipole element are asymmetric with respect to each other.

3. The RFID tag of claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge opposite the third edge, the third and fourth edges are longer than the first and second edges; and

the first clockwise dipole element and second counterclockwise dipole element each include a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments of the second counterclockwise dipole element extending substantially from the first edge of the substrate to the second edge of the substrate, the at least one of the plurality of segments being substantially parallel to the third edge of the substrate.

4. The RFID tag of claim 3 , wherein the RFID integrated circuit is positioned proximate the midpoint of the fourth edge of the substrate.

5. The RFID tag of claim 4 , wherein the RFID integrated circuit is approximately 1 to 5 mm from the midpoint of the fourth edge of the substrate.

6. The RFID tag of claim 1 , wherein the

first clockwise dipole element encompasses a first half portion of the surface of the substrate; and

the second counterclockwise dipole element encompasses a second half portion of the surface of the substrate, the first clockwise dipole element being located only in the first half portion, and the second counterclockwise dipole element being located only in the second half portion.

7. A RFID system, the system comprising:

a radio frequency identification reader generating interrogation signals; and

a security tag to receive the interrogation signal and transmit a response signal, the security tag comprising:

a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the substrate defining a plane of the tag;

a conductive element disposed on the first surface of the substrate;

an RFID integrated circuit disposed on the second surface of the substrate; and

an antenna having an antenna pattern, the antenna disposed on the second surface of the substrate and in electrical communication with the RFID integrated circuit, the antenna having a first clockwise dipole element forming a first spiral and a second counterclockwise dipole element forming a second spiral, the antenna and the conductive element arranged to generate a radiation pattern having a maximum gain along an axis that is substantially coplanar with the plane of the tag that is greater than a maximum gain along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the tag, the radiation pattern exhibiting a null substantially orthogonal to the plane of the tag.

8. The RFID system of claim 7 , wherein the first clockwise dipole element at least partially encloses the second counterclockwise dipole element.

9. The RFID system of claim 8 , wherein the substrate has a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge opposite the third edge, the third and fourth edges are longer than the first and second edges; and

the first clockwise dipole element and the second counterclockwise dipole element each include a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments of the second counterclockwise dipole element extending substantially from the first edge of the substrate to the second edge of the substrate, the at least one of the plurality of segments being substantially parallel to the third edge of the substrate.

10. The RFID system of claim 9 , wherein the RFID integrated circuit is positioned proximate the midpoint of the fourth edge of the substrate.

11. The RFID system of claim 9 , wherein the RFID integrated circuit is approximately 1 to 5 mm from the fourth edge of the substrate.

12. The RFID system of claim 7 , wherein the

first clockwise dipole element encompasses a first half portion of the surface of the substrate; and

the second counterclockwise dipole element encompasses a second half portion of the surface of the substrate, the first clockwise dipole element being located only in the first half portion, and the second counterclockwise dipole element being located only in the second half portion.

13. An radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the tag comprising:

a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the substrate defining a plane of the tag;

a conductive element disposed on the first surface of the substrate;

an RFID integrated circuit disposed on the second surface of the substrate; and

an antenna having an antenna pattern, the antenna disposed on the second surface of the substrate and in electrical communication with the RFID integrated circuit, the antenna having a first clockwise dipole element forming a first spiral and a second counterclockwise dipole element forming a second spiral, the combined antenna and conductive element generating a radiation pattern having a maximum gain along an axis that is substantially coplanar with the plane of the tag that is greater than a maximum gain along an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the tag, the radiation pattern exhibiting a null substantially orthogonal to the plane of the tag.

14. The RFID tag of claim 13 , wherein the substrate has a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge opposite the third edge, the third and fourth edges are longer than the first and second edges; and

the first clockwise dipole element and the second counterclockwise dipole element each include a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments of the second counterclockwise dipole element extending substantially from the first edge of the substrate to the second edge of the substrate, the at least one of the plurality of segments being substantially parallel to the third edge of the substrate.

15. The RFID tag of claim 14 , wherein the RFID integrated circuit is positioned proximate the midpoint of the fourth edge of the substrate.

16. The RFID tag of claim 13 , wherein

first clockwise dipole element encompasses a first half portion of the surface of the substrate; and

the second counterclockwise dipole element encompasses a second half portion of the surface of the substrate, the first clockwise dipole element being located only in the first half portion, and the second counterclockwise dipole element being located only in the second half portion.