Frequency-hopping RFID system
First Claim
1. A radio-frequency identification interrogator for use with a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the interrogator comprising:
- a frequency-hopping source configured to sequentially generate radio-frequency signals at pseudo-randomly selected frequencies;
a transmitter coupled to the frequency-hopping source and to an antenna circuit and configured to transmit the generated radio-frequency signals on the antenna circuit;
a heterodyne receiver coupled to the antenna circuit and configured to receive on the antenna circuit reflected radio-frequency signals from the RFID tag; and
a signal processor coupled to the antenna circuit and to the heterodyne receiver, wherein the signal processor is configured to receive the reflected radio-frequency signals and to extract data contained within the reflected radio-frequency signals that correspond to the frequency of the transmitted radio-frequency signals.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A radio-frequency identification (RFID) interrogator is provided that generates pseudo-randomly selected radio frequency interrogation signals for transmission on a first antenna and receives the reflected modulated radio-frequency signals via continuous-wave backscatter from a RFID tag device through a second antenna coupled to a heterodyne receiver where data is extracted. The RFID tag device can be configured to write data as well as have data read therefrom by the interrogator. The frequency-hopping transmission in combination with the heterodyne reception provides higher power levels with substantially reduced interference, as well as the ability to link with bounced signals at certain frequencies, increasing the level of communication in the RFID system.
50 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A radio-frequency identification interrogator for use with a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, the interrogator comprising:
-
a frequency-hopping source configured to sequentially generate radio-frequency signals at pseudo-randomly selected frequencies;
a transmitter coupled to the frequency-hopping source and to an antenna circuit and configured to transmit the generated radio-frequency signals on the antenna circuit;
a heterodyne receiver coupled to the antenna circuit and configured to receive on the antenna circuit reflected radio-frequency signals from the RFID tag; and
a signal processor coupled to the antenna circuit and to the heterodyne receiver, wherein the signal processor is configured to receive the reflected radio-frequency signals and to extract data contained within the reflected radio-frequency signals that correspond to the frequency of the transmitted radio-frequency signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A remote communication method for use with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system having an RFID interrogator and a non-active RFID tag device, the method comprising:
-
sequentially generating radio-frequency signals at pseudo-randomly selected frequencies using a frequency-hopping source in the RFID interrogator;
transmitting the radio-frequency signals from the RFID interrogator;
reflecting the transmitted radio-frequency signals at the RFID tag device;
receiving reflected radio-frequency signals from the RFID tag device using a heterodyne reception technique; and
extracting data contained within the reflected radio-frequency signals that correspond to the frequency of the transmitted radio-frequency signals. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
14. A device for communicating with a remote, non-active radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:
-
means for sequentially generating radio-frequency signals at pseudo-randomly selected frequencies using a frequency-hopping source of an RFID interrogator;
means for transmitting the radio-frequency signals from the RFID interrogator;
a heterodyne receiver configured to receive the radio-frequency signals that are reflected from the RFID tag; and
means for extracting data contained within the reflected radio-frequency signals, the extracting means configured to receive the transmitted radio frequencies and to process data from the reflected radio-frequency signals that correspond to the frequency of the transmitted radio-frequency signals.
-
-
18. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) system, comprising:
-
an RFID device configured to reflect radio-frequency signals via continuous-wave backscatter; and
an RFID interrogator configured to generate and transmit pseudo-randomly selected radio-frequency signals over time and to receive, using a heterodyne reception technique, modulated radio-frequency signals reflected from the RFID.
-
Specification