RFID READER FOR SMART PHONE BY MAGNETIC CONNECTION

Abstract

A RFID reader magnetically attachable to a smart phone includes a circuitry adaptor and a RFID access device. The circuitry adaptor is plugged into a USB connector of the smart phone. The RFID access device is magnetically and detachably connected to the circuitry adaptor, so that electricity and signals from the smart phone are transmitted to the RFID access device, and RFID tag signals picked up by the RFID access device are transmitted to the smart phone. When the RFID access device undergoes external impact, the circuitry adaptor and the RFID access device are detached from each other without damaging the USB connectors.

Claims

1. A RFID reader for a smart phone by magnetic connection, comprising a circuitry adaptor and a RFID access device, wherein the circuitry adaptor is for connection to the smart phone; the RFID access device is magnetically and detachably connected to the circuit adaptor; the circuit adaptor comprises a plurality of contacts and the RFID access device correspondingly comprises a plurality of pogo pins for establishing electrical connection with the contacts; and electricity and signals from the smart phone are transmitted to the RFID access device, and RFID tag signals picked up by the RFID access device are transmitted to the smart phone, both through the pogo pins and the contacts.

2. The RFID reader according to claim 1, wherein the circuit adaptor further comprises a magnet and a USB male connector for connecting to a USB female connector of the smart phone; the contacts are configured on a side of the circuit adaptor opposite to the USB male connector and electrically connected to the USB male connector; the RFID access device further comprises a magnetic part for magnetically and detachably attached to the circuitry adaptor; and the pogo pins are housed in the magnetic part.

3. The RFID reader according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic part has a plurality of chambers respectively housing an equal number of the pogo pins; the pogo pins have their tips extruding out of a front side of the magnetic part; and the pogo pins are electrically connected to a circuit of the RFID access device.

4. The RFID reader according to claim 1, wherein a front part of the RFID access device is separated into an independent second circuitry adaptor; the second circuitry adaptor has a USB female connector on a back side; and the RFID access device further comprises a USB male connector for plugging into the USB female connector of the second circuitry adaptor, thereby forming the RFID access device as claimed in claim 1.

5. The RFID reader according to claim 2, wherein the magnet of the circuitry adaptor has a polarity opposite to that of the magnetic part of the RFID access device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing a conventional RFID reader.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram showing another conventional RFID reader.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective breakdown diagram showing a RFID reader according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram showing the RFID reader of FIG. 3.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view diagram showing the RFID reader of FIG. 3.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective diagram showing how a smart phone is charged through a circuitry adaptor of the RFID reader of FIG. 3.

[0026] FIG. 7 is a perspective breakdown diagram showing a RFID reader according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, a RFID reader according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a circuitry adaptor 1 and a RFID access device 2. The circuitry adaptor 1 includes a USB male connector 11, and a number of contacts 12 configured on a side of the circuitry adaptor 1 opposite to the USB male connector 11. The USB male connector 11 is electrically connected to the contacts 12. In the present embodiment, the circuitry adaptor 1 includes a magnet.

[0029] The RFID access device 2 includes a RFID circuit 23 inside with control elements, antenna, etc. for accessing RFID tags. The RFID access device 2 has a magnetic part 21 on a front end, and the magnetic part 21 has a number of chambers 211 (as shown in FIG. 5) respectively housing an equal number of pogo pins 22 where the pogo pins 22 have their tips extruding out of the magnetic part 21's front side. The pogo pins 22 are electrically connected to the RFID circuit 23 inside the RFID access device 2. The magnetic part 21 is magnetized or includes a magnet with a polarity opposite to that of the magnet inside the circuitry adaptor 1. The two therefore attract each other.

[0030] To use the RFID reader, the USB male connector 11 of the circuitry adaptor 1 is first plugged into a USB female connector 31 of a smart phone 3. Then, the RFID access device 2 is placed adjacent to the circuitry adaptor 1, where the two are joined together by the mutual magnetic attraction between the circuitry adaptor 1 and the magnetic part 21. The pogo pins 22 as such are contacted with and conducted to the contacts 12. In addition, due to the elasticity of pogo pins 22, they are pressed against the contacts 12 by their elasticity, thereby securing the electrical connection. Electricity and control signals from the smart phone 3 are transmitted to the RFID access device 2 through the pogo pins 22, while RFID tag signals picked up by the RFID access device 2 are transmitted to the smart phone 3 also via the pogo pins 22. As such and as shown in FIG. 4, the smart phone 3 becomes a mobile RFID reader applicable to various scenarios. When the RFID access device 2 undergoes external impact, circuitry adaptor 1 and the magnetic part 21 are detached, without damaging the USB male connector 11 of the circuitry adaptor 1 or the USB female connector 31 of the smart phone 3. By placing the RFID access device 2 again around the circuitry adaptor 1, the RFID access device 2 restores its connection with the circuitry adaptor 1 automatically, resolving the problems suffered by conventional RFID readers.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 6, to charge the smart phone 3 equipped with the circuitry adaptor 1, a charging adaptor 4 is magnetically attached to the circuitry adaptor 1 and a cable 41 of the charging adaptor 4 is connected to a power source (not shown) so as to charge the smart phone 3. Of course, it is also possible to remove the circuitry adaptor 1 from the smart phone 3 and the smart phone 3 may be charge through conventional means.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 7, a RFID reader according to a second embodiment of the present invention further includes a second circuitry adaptor 2a. The second circuitry adaptor 2a includes the pogo pins 22 as in the previous embodiment and has a USB female connector 25 on a back side while the RFID access device 2 of the present embodiment has a USB male connector 24 on a front side. The RFID access device 2 and the second circuitry adaptor 2a are coupled together by plugging the USB male connector 24 into the USB female connector 25, thereby forming an integrated RFID access device 2 as shown in FIG. 3. The advantage of the present embodiment is that it is easier to manufacture, but the disadvantage is that more material is involved.

[0033] As described above, the gist of the present invention lies in the separation of a RFID reader into a magnetic circuitry adaptor and a RFID access device. The magnetic means coupling the RFID reader and a smart phone prevent the possible damage to their USB connectors from external impact.

[0034] While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention.