Handheld RFID reader and related systems and methods
View Patent ↗A handheld RFID reader may include a housing, an RF antenna carried by the housing, and an RF transceiver carried the housing and being coupled to the RF antenna. The handheld RFID reader may include a controller carried by the housing and being coupled to the RF antenna and the RF transceiver, a communication interface carried by the housing and coupled to the controller, and a mobile wireless communications device carried by the housing and coupled to the communication interface. The mobile wireless communications device may be configured to cooperate with the controller to receive data from an RFID device via the RF antenna.
1. A handheld radio frequency identification (RFID) reader comprising:
a housing;
a radio frequency (RF) antenna carried by said housing, said RF antenna comprising
a circular polarized antenna element, and
an RF absorber material under said circular polarized antenna element and configured to dampen a back lobe of a radiation pattern of said RF antenna, said housing defining a cavity directly under said RF absorber material;
an RF transceiver carried by said housing and being coupled to said RF antenna;
a controller carried by said housing and being coupled to said RF antenna and said RF transceiver;
a communication interface carried by said housing and coupled to said controller; and
a mobile wireless communications device carried by said housing and coupled to said communication interface, said mobile wireless communications device being configured to cooperate with said controller to receive data from an RFID device via said RF antenna.
2. The handheld RFID reader of claim 1 wherein said circular polarized antenna element comprises a spiral shaped antenna.
3. The handheld RFID reader of claim 1 wherein said communication interface comprises a wired communication interface.
4. The handheld RFID reader of claim 1 wherein said communication interface comprises a wireless communication interface.
5. The handheld RFID reader of claim 1 wherein said RF antenna is carried by an external surface of said housing.
6. The handheld RFID reader of claim 1 wherein said housing defines a device recess configured to receive said mobile wireless communications device.
7. The handheld RFID reader of claim 6 wherein said housing comprises a pistol style grip opposing said device recess.
8. The handheld RFID reader of claim 1 wherein said mobile wireless communications device is configured to communicate with an external database for storing the received data.
9. A communication system comprising:
a server; and
a handheld radio frequency identification (RFID) reader comprising
a housing,
a radio frequency (RF) antenna carried by said housing, said RF antenna comprising
a circular polarized antenna element, and
an RF absorber material under said circular polarized antenna element and configured to dampen a back lobe of a radiation pattern of said RF antenna, said housing defining a cavity directly under said RF absorber material,
an RF transceiver carried by said housing and being coupled to said RF antenna,
a controller carried by said housing and being coupled to said RF antenna and said RF transceiver,
a communication interface carried by said housing and coupled to said controller, and
a mobile wireless communications device carried by said housing and coupled to said communication interface, said mobile wireless communications device being configured to
cooperate with said controller to receive data from an RFID device via said RF antenna, and
communicate with an external database in said server for storing the received data.
10. The communication system of claim 9 wherein said circular polarized antenna element comprises a spiral shaped antenna.
11. The communication system of claim 9 wherein said communication interface comprises a wired communication interface.
12. The communication system of claim 9 wherein said communication interface comprises a wireless communication interface.
13. The communication system of claim 9 wherein said RF antenna is carried by an external surface of said housing.
14. The communication system of claim 9 wherein said housing defines a device recess configured to receive said mobile wireless communications device.
15. The communication system of claim 14 wherein said housing comprises a pistol style grip opposing said device recess.
16. A method of making a handheld radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, the method comprising:
forming a radio frequency (RF) antenna carried by a housing, the RF antenna comprising
a circular polarized antenna element, and
an RF absorber material under the circular polarized antenna element and configured to dampen a back lobe of a radiation pattern of the RF antenna, the housing defining a cavity directly under the RF absorber material;
coupling an RF transceiver, carried by the housing, to the RF antenna;
coupling a controller, carried by the housing, to the RF antenna and the RF transceiver;
coupling a communication interface, carried by the housing, to the controller; and
coupling a mobile wireless communications device, to be carried by the housing, to the communication interface, the mobile wireless communications device being configured to cooperate with the controller to receive data from an RFID device via the RF antenna.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the circular polarized antenna element comprises a spiral shaped antenna.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the communication interface comprises a wired communication interface.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the communication interface comprises a wireless communication interface.
20. The method of claim 16 wherein the RF antenna is carried by an external surface of the housing.