Powering RFID tags using multiple RFID readers
First Claim
1. A method for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader to inventory an RFID integrated circuit (IC) coupled to an antenna, the method comprising:
- indicating, to a network, a target location, wherein the indicating causes a first beam to be directed to the target location;
generating a second beam directed to the target location;
transmitting, on the second beam, a first inventory command, while a first cooperative-powering RF signal is transmitted to the target location via the first beam;
receiving, responsive to the first inventory command, a reply from the IC; and
transmitting, on the first beam, a first acknowledgment signal responsive to the IC reply.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Synthesized-beam RFID readers may be used to locate RFID tags. In one embodiment, a tag'"'"'s response rates on different beams can be used, along with the target locations of those beams, to estimate the tag'"'"'s location. The estimated tag location is within a region where beams with nonzero tag response rates overlap, and the distances of the estimated tag location from any two different beam target locations may correspond to a ratio of tag response rates on the two different beams. In another embodiment, a tag'"'"'s response rates on different beam pairs configured to cooperatively power RFID tags can be used, along with the target locations of those beam pairs, to estimate the tag'"'"'s location.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader to inventory an RFID integrated circuit (IC) coupled to an antenna, the method comprising:
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indicating, to a network, a target location, wherein the indicating causes a first beam to be directed to the target location; generating a second beam directed to the target location; transmitting, on the second beam, a first inventory command, while a first cooperative-powering RF signal is transmitted to the target location via the first beam; receiving, responsive to the first inventory command, a reply from the IC; and transmitting, on the first beam, a first acknowledgment signal responsive to the IC reply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader coupled to a network to assist in inventorying an RFID integrated circuit (IC) coupled to an antenna, the method comprising:
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receiving, via the network, a target location; generating a first beam directed to the target location; transmitting, on the first beam, a first cooperative-powering RF signal, while a first inventory command is transmitted to the target location via a second beam; and transmitting, on the first beam, a second cooperative-powering RF signal, while a first acknowledgment signal is transmitted to the target location via the second beam, wherein the first acknowledgement signal is responsive to an IC reply to the first inventory command. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader to assist in synchronized inventorying of an RFID tag, the method comprising:
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generating a first beam directed to a target location; transmitting, on the first beam, a first inventory command, while a second inventory command is transmitted to the target location via a second beam, wherein the first and second inventory commands are identical and the transmission of the first and second inventory commands are synchronized in time; receiving, responsive to the first and second inventory commands, a tag reply; and transmitting, on the first beam, a first acknowledgment signal responsive to the tag reply, while a second acknowledgement signal is transmitted to the target location via the second beam, wherein the first and second acknowledgment signals are identical and the transmission of the first and second acknowledgment signals are synchronized in time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification