Systems and methods for controlling antennas
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a plurality of antenna modules commonly connected to a communication line, each antenna module comprising;
a radio-frequency (RF) antenna configured to read one or more RFID tags;
an input configured to receive a control signal from an RFID reader via the communication line;
a switch configured to;
(1) in a connected state, allow communications between the RFID reader and a RFID tag in response to receiving the control signal, and (2) in a through state, communicate the control signal to a next switch;
wherein the RFID reader is configured to transmit the control signal to the plurality of antenna modules along the communication line.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for a distributed antenna network are provided. One system includes a plurality of antenna modules coupled via a communication line, with each antenna module configured to be switched between a through state and a connected state using radio-frequency identification (RFID) control signals. The system further includes a plurality of antennas, with each antenna connected to a corresponding antenna module. A controller is coupled to the communication line and configured to transmit RFID control signals to the plurality of antenna modules to selectively activate one of the antenna modules by switching the antenna module to the connected state to thereby activate an antenna connected to the antenna module in the connected state.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a plurality of antenna modules commonly connected to a communication line, each antenna module comprising; a radio-frequency (RF) antenna configured to read one or more RFID tags; an input configured to receive a control signal from an RFID reader via the communication line; a switch configured to;
(1) in a connected state, allow communications between the RFID reader and a RFID tag in response to receiving the control signal, and (2) in a through state, communicate the control signal to a next switch;wherein the RFID reader is configured to transmit the control signal to the plurality of antenna modules along the communication line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for communicating in a distributed antenna system, the method comprising:
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sending, via a common communication line, a control signal from an RFID reader to a plurality of antenna modules that are connected on the common communication line with the RFID reader; comparing, at a first antenna module, an address in the control signal with an address stored in memory of the first antenna module; switching, via a switch, the first antenna module to connect to an RF antenna in response to determining that the address in the control signal matches the address stored in memory of the first antenna module; and sending an interrogation signal, over the common communication line, to an RFID tag via the RF antenna of the first antenna module and receiving a response from the first antenna module, over the common communication line, wherein the switch is configured to be switched using the control signal between a through state and a connected state, wherein the antenna switch, in the connected state, is configured to connect the RFID reader to the RF antenna, and herein the antenna switch, in the through state, is configured to communicate the RFID control signal to a next switch. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for communicating in a distributed antenna system, the method comprising:
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sending, via a common communication line, a control signal from an RFID reader to a first antenna module of a plurality of antenna modules that are connected on the common communication line with the RFID reader; in response to the control signal causing the first antenna module to switch to a connected state, allowing communications between an RF antenna and the RFID reader; and in response to the first antenna module being in the through state, communicating the RFID control signal to a next switch. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification