Antenna system for signal-attenuating containers

Abstract

A system can include a container that includes a cabinet capable of attenuating or blocking wireless signals, an AED located within the cabinet, an internal patch antenna removably mounted to an internal surface of the cabinet, an external patch antenna removably mounted to an external surface of the cabinet, and an electrical connection between the internal patch antenna and the external patch antenna. The internal and external patch antennas can be configured to transmit wireless signals at a particular frequency and to receive wireless signals at the particular frequency. The system can be configured such that the internal patch antenna is operative to receive a first wireless signal from the AED, a first electrical signal based on the first wireless signal is provided via the electrical connection to the external patch antenna, and a second wireless signal based on the first electrical signal is radiated by the external patch antenna.

1 . A system comprising:
 a container;   a medical device located within the container, the medical device configured to communicate wireless signals at one or more particular frequencies;   an internal antenna mounted to an internal surface of the container, the internal antenna configured to transmit wireless signals at the one or more particular frequencies and to receive wireless signals at the one or more particular frequencies;   an external antenna mounted to an external surface of the container, the external antenna configured to transmit wireless signals at the one or more particular frequencies and to receive wireless signals at the one or more particular frequencies; and   an electrical connection between the internal antenna and the external antenna;   wherein the system is configured such that the internal antenna is operative to receive a first wireless signal from the medical device, a first electrical signal based on the first wireless signal is provided via the electrical connection to the external antenna, and a second wireless signal based on the first electrical signal is radiated by the external antenna.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is further configured such that the external antenna is operative to receive a third wireless signal, a second electrical signal based on the third wireless signal is provided via the electrical connection to the internal antenna, and a fourth wireless signal based on the second electrical signal is radiated from the internal antenna. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more frequencies comprise at least one of a cellular network frequency, a Wi-Fi frequency, or an RFID tag frequency. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more frequencies comprise a plurality of frequencies. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is configured to communicate wireless signals at the one or more particular frequencies by transmitting an RFID signal from an RFID tag. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises at least one of a cabinet, a storage room, a vehicle trunk, a vehicle compartment, an elevator, a subway compartment, a train compartment, an aircraft compartment, or a vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container is constructed of a material that is capable of attenuating or blocking wireless signal transmission. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first antenna configured to transmit wireless signals at one or more particular frequencies and to receive wireless signals at the one or more particular frequencies;   a second antenna configured to transmit wireless signals at the one or more particular frequencies and to receive wireless signals at the one or more particular frequencies; and   an electrical connection between the first antenna and the second antenna;   wherein each of the first antenna and the second antenna comprises:
 a ground plane, 
 a spacer disposed on the ground plane, wherein the spacer comprises a magnetic material, and 
 a conductive surface disposed on the spacer. 
   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first patch antenna and the second patch antenna further comprises a housing surrounding the ground plane, the spacer, and the conductive surface. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first antenna and the second antenna further comprises a protective layer disposed on portions of the ground plane, the spacer, and the conductive surface. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the ground plane of each of the first antenna and the second antenna comprises a metal foil. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the metal foil of each of the first antenna and the second antenna is disposed on a substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of the first antenna and the second antenna further comprises a connector. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical connection is configured to be coupled to the connector of the first antenna and to the connector of the second antenna. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a container constructed of a material capable of attenuating or blocking wireless signal transmission, wherein the first antenna is disposed inside the container and the second antenna is disposed outside the container. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first antenna comprises a patch antenna. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second antenna comprises a patch antenna. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a hole in the container, wherein the electrical connection between the first antenna and the second antenna is routed through the hole. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first antenna is configured to wirelessly communicate with an automatic external defibrillator (AED) located inside the container, and the second antenna is configured to wirelessly communicate with a transceiver located outside the container. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the internal antenna is removably mounted to the internal surface. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the external antenna is removably mounted to the external surface. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device comprises a defibrillator. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the medical device is an automatic external defibrillator (AED). 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the internal and external antennas are configured to passively transmit or receive wireless signals.