F0RM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10; rule 13)
1. Title of the invention: AN INTEGRATED ANTENNA KEYPAD UNIT


2. Applicant(s):
(a) NAME :
(b) NATIONALITY
(c) ADDRESS:
LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED
An Indian Company
L & T House, Ballard House, Mumbai 400 001, State of Maharashtra, India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a membrane keypad unit. More particularly, the invention relates to integrating of antenna circuit and membrane keypad on different layers of a PBC (Printed circuit board) for RF reader.
BACKGROUND AND THE PRIOR ART
Present day fuel dispenser has keypad with membrane keys, which is used for Programming and Presetting the value for dispensing. The keypad is assembled within top box, which is protected, from environmental conditions.
Separate RF reader is assembled externally on the top box, which is exposed, to environmental conditions and hazards. Before dispensing, the tag is authorized by RF reader and the data is communicated to the system. Due to exposure to environmental hazards, cards were getting damaged due to rain, moisture and the like.
The field issues such as breaking of the RF reader enclosure was noticed which needed to be eliminated.
Further fuel dispenser consists of electronics cards for various operations in the pump. Electronics cards include Keypad and RF reader. Keypad consists of PCA & Membrane keys, which together are used for programming
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different parameters and for giving preset during fuel dispensing. This keypad is assembled in an IP54 box and hence protected from environmental conditions. RF readers are used for authenticating the dispensing, which consists of Antenna and receiver card. RF reader card with antenna is enclosed in the box and assembled externally on the top box.
US 6850773 disclose a wrist-mounted communication device comprising a cellular phone mechanism configured to transmit and receive communication signals. The device includes an antenna system so as to transmit and receive signals. The antenna system further comprises at least one antenna extendable away from the horizontal plane of the communication device.
US 6133833 disclose a wireless keyboard or keypad (22) is powered remotely by a radio frequency exciter/receiver (20) and used in a radio frequency identification system (10). The wireless keyboard and the exciter/receiver communicate without wires via electrostatic or electromagnetic radiation. No power source is integrated with the wireless keypad. Thus, the wireless keypad is readily added to, or retrofits into, an existing radio frequency identification system. The keyboard has a plurality of keys (24) or control members that are manually actuated. Depression of a key or button, or other actuation of a control member, causes a predetermined response signal associated with that key to be generated. The response signal relates to an operation
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for a device of system associated with the exciter/receiver.
The disadvantage of the above-mentioned prior art is that the antenna circuit/receiver is placed separately from the keypad. Hence it takes a lot of unnecessary space, the assembly is complicated, involves high making cost and hard to maintain the system. Further we find number of field issues and manufacturing issues like the breaking of the RF enclosure, power supply failure, entry of water due to humidity and rain, which causes the failure of electronics, and unable to source the material used for the enclosure.
Thus there is a need to provide for an improved unit, which would eliminate the field and manufacturing issues, would be cost effective, would provide reduction of space and would be capable of easy maintenance by combining both the functionality i.e. the membrane keypad with the antenna circuit and RF reader with the antenna in one hardware.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The basic object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
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One of the objects of the invention is to have an improved keypad unit, which has integrated antenna circuit built within it.
Another object of the invention is integrating of antenna circuit and membrane keys on different layers of PBC (Printed circuit board).
Yet another object of the invention is to combine both the functionality i.e the membrane key with the antenna circuit and the RF tag reader with the antenna receiver and the keypad controller in one hardware assembled within the topbox.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an integrated antenna keypad unit for use with a RF reader eliminating field issues, said unit comprising:
printed circuit board comprising plurality of layers which includes first, second, third and fourth layers;
wherein said first layer consists membrane keys, said second layer consists antenna circuit; said third layer consists of a ground layer and fourth layer consisting of circuit passive components;
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wherein said first layer comprises tracks for key operation laid such that operation of said antenna does not affect key performance.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Integrated Antenna keypad unit of the present invention includes the Membrane keypad operation and antenna circuit. Single PCA (Printed circuit assembly) can be used for both key operations and for antenna operation, which is assembled within the top box.
The components and the track width of circuit are designed considering the sensitivity of the antenna circuit.
First layer of the card consists of membrane keys in which the tracks for the key operation are laid in such a way that antenna operation doesn't affect the key performance. Second layer is an antenna track, which receives the signal from the Tag. Third layer is a ground layer, which eliminates unwanted signal. Fourth layer consists of passive components. These components are included to improve the performance of the antenna circuit for the Tag input.
Purpose: Integrated Antenna keypad is used for following purpose:
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The primary aim of this invention is to eliminate the field issue and provide single solution for both the functionality i.e. the membrane key with the antenna circuit and the RF tag reader with the antenna receiver and the keypad controller through which cost reduction can be achieved.
It is a new product and can be used as a retrofit solution by software modifications to the dispensers supplied to the field.
Benefits:
1. Eliminate Field issue those areas follows
(a) Breaking of the RF reader enclosure,
(b) Power supply failure,
(c) Entry of water due to humidity and rain,
which causes the failure of the electronics.
2. Manufacturing issues those are
(a) Unable to source the material used for the enclosure.
3. Cost reduction
4. Space reduction
5. Easier assembly
6. Ease of maintenance
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The diagram of the keypad with antenna is shown in figure. Basically this keypad is used for Preset operation and also for programming parameters, which is used in petrol pump and all kind of RF receiver and keypad functionality.
Here diagram shows keypad with antenna facility. Presently integrated Antenna keypad in out pump are used. But the same can be used on other application, which uses keypad with antenna application.
Integrated Antenna keypad is connected to electronic which consists of RF reader circuit and controller for programming the pump.
Integrated Keypad controller & antenna receiver is combined the functionalities of both antenna and the pump operation. For changing the pump parameters or for giving preset to the pump the keys on the Integrated Antenna Keypad is pressed which is communicated to the Integrated keypad controller. This controller stores the data in its RAM if the parameter is changed else will in turn communicate to the pump controller the preset value if it is preset operation. The pump will now wait for the attender at the outlet to show the Tag which the Integrated Antenna keypad will receive and communicate the same to the Integrated Keypad controller & antenna receiver. The reader connected to the receiver will read
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the Tag ID and then decide whether the pump needs to be
allowed for dispensing or not.
Similarly Pump controller communicates certain error
parameters which need to be displayed on the keypad
display.
General Working:
Fuel dispensers & pump are used to dispense different fuels either manually or by Presetting. In either case the nozzle needs to be authorized through the RF reader before dispensing. During Manual dispense, delivery person will lift the nozzle and show the tag which has an ID programmed in the tag. The reader will check the ID for authenticity and authorize the pump for dispensing. The RF reader will record and communicate the amount dispense against the ID. When it is a Preset dispensing, pump is given preset through keypad and delivery person will lift the nozzle by showing the tag for authorization. The nozzle is authorized for dispensing and RF reader will record and communicate the amount dispensed. Pump will stop dispensing at the preset value.
Integrated Antenna keypad consists of membrane keys and antenna circuit, which is designed on the 4-layer printed circuit board. The components and the track width of circuit are designed considering the sensitivity of the antenna circuit. First layer of the card consists of membrane keys. Second & the third layer consist of the antenna circuit. Fourth layer consists of components.
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Integrated Antenna keypad is connected to electronics which consists of RF reader circuit and keypad controller for programming the pump. The parameter which needs to be communicated to the pump controller is done through Keypad which has a controller which sends the data or receives the data from the pump controller.
In the present invention both the functionalities are combined in one hardware, which reduces the space and also reduces the price. Mainly by this invention the field issues such as breaking of the RF reader enclosure will be eliminated.
Hence with the same keypad and membrane with modification on the PCB we are able to integrate the RFID features.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates an integrated antenna keypad.
Figure 2 illustrates an integrated antenna keypad showing the four different layers.
Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of the connectivity of the integrated antenna keypad with the antenna of the RF reader circuit and controller.
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Figure 4 illustrates how the keypad and RF reader are enclosed into one hardware.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Referring to figures 1 and 2, the integrated antenna key pad of the present invention comprises first layer (1) consisting membrane keys (5), second layer (2) consisting antenna circuit, third layer (3) consisting ground layer and fourth layer (4) consisting circuit passive components (13).
Referring to figure 3, the same illustrates the block representation of the integrated antenna keypad of the present invention. The first block (6) comprises membrane keypad (7) and antenna (8). The first block is operatively connected to second block (9) comprising the keypad controller (10) and antenna receiver (11), which is connected to third block, which is a pump controller (12) .
The invention has been described in a preferred form only and many variations may be made in the invention which will still be comprised within its spirit. The invention is not limited to the details cited above. The structure thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all the details may furthermore be
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WE CLAIM
1. An integrated antenna keypad unit for use with a RF
reader eliminating field issues, said unit
comprising:
printed circuit board comprising plurality of layers which includes first, second, third and fourth layers;
wherein said first layer consists membrane keys, said second layer consists antenna circuit; said third layer consists of a ground layer and fourth layer.consisting of circuit passive components;
wherein said first layer comprises tracks for key operation laid such that operation of said antenna does not affect key performance.
2. A unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second layer is adapted to receive signals from tag inputs.
3. A unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ground layer is adapted to eliminate unwanted signals.
4. A unit as claimed in claim 1 further comprises keypad controller adapted to store data in its RAM if the pump parameter is changed else in turn
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communicates to the pump controller the preset value if it is preset operation.
5. A unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said passive component is adapted to improve the performance of the antenna circuit for the RF reader input.
6. An integrated antenna keypad unit for use with a RF reader eliminating field issues as claimed in claims 1 to 4 adapted to be used for fuel dispenser, fuel pumps and the like.
7. An integrated antenna keypad unit for use with a RF reader eliminating field issues as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures.

Abhishek Sen Of S. Majumdar & Co. Applicant's Agent