Enhanced coil antenna performance using flexible printed circuit

摘要

An antenna (10) is disclosed that comprises a flexible printed circuit material (12) having first and second halves (12a,12b) that are joined by a fold section (12c). A coil trace (13a) is on the first half (12a) and a coil trace (13b) is on the second half (12b). The antenna (10) further comprises a first jumper (20) between coil traces (13a,13b). The flexible printed circuit material (12) is folded along the fold section (12c) so that the first and second halves (12a,12b) are disposed back-to-back. An apparatus (30) for reading information from a transponder (35) is also disclosed that comprises a reader having an antenna (10) capable of transmitting and receiving signals from a transponder (35), with the reader using an antenna (10) according to the present invention. A media storage system (40) is also disclosed that comprises a plurality of transponders (90), each of which is disposed on a respective one of a plurality of data cartridges (42) and transmits a data signal related to its data cartridge (42). The media storage system (40) further comprises a cartridge access device (48) internal to a system housing (52) for retrieving and transporting the data cartridges (42), and a reader (86) attached to the cartridge access device (48), the reader (86) capable of receiving transmitted signals from and transmitting signals to the transponders (90). The reader (86) comprises an antenna (10) according to the present invention that is capable of receiving and transmitting signals.