RFID device, system and method of operation including a hybrid backscatter-based RFID tag protocol compatible with RFID, bluetooth and/or IEEE 802.11x infrastructure
First Claim
1. An RFID communications device comprising:
- a) a substrate;
b) a first antenna disposed on the substrate and coupled to a low power communication transceiver responsive to low power communication protocols;
c) an RFID transceiver coupled to a second antenna and implementing ASK demodulation of signals received at the antenna;
d) a processor coupled to the low power transceiver and the RFID transceiver; and
e) switching apparatus which switches the device between a backscatter mode of operation and a low power communication mode of operation in response to an input signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An RFID system includes a hybrid backscatter-based RFID tag protocol-compatible with existing 802.11x/Bluetooth Standards as well as RFID standards. The tag is linked to a multi-protocol Interrogator via a generated RF Continuous Wave (CW) field. The tag includes an antenna coupled to an RFID and a Bluetooth/802.11x transceiver section. A Protocol Processor services RFID and transceiver sections and is coupled to the antenna via a backscatter switch. The Interrogator can switch the tag to an RFID backscatter radiation mode where the processor switches the antenna impedance to reflect the CW signal. For transceiver operation the processor switches antenna impedance in synchronization with a frame organized bit stream. For reception, the RFID section utilizes demodulation techniques, typically Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK), and provides a wake up mode within a predetermined distance of the Interrogator. The transceiver may operate in a backscatter or regular mode as directed by an Access Point.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An RFID communications device comprising:
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a) a substrate;
b) a first antenna disposed on the substrate and coupled to a low power communication transceiver responsive to low power communication protocols;
c) an RFID transceiver coupled to a second antenna and implementing ASK demodulation of signals received at the antenna;
d) a processor coupled to the low power transceiver and the RFID transceiver; and
e) switching apparatus which switches the device between a backscatter mode of operation and a low power communication mode of operation in response to an input signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An RFID communication system comprising:
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a) a multi-protocol interrogator generating an RF continuous wave (CW) field;
b) an RFID tag linked to the interrogator by the CW field; and
c) means included in the RFID tag responsive to the interrogator for switching between backscatter modulation using amplitude shift keying and Bluetooth and/or 802.11x transceiver operation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An RFID communication system having wide area network capability, comprising:
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a) an RFID transceiver coupled to a first antenna and a processor in an RFID tag;
b) a low power communication system in the RFID tag separated from the RFID receiver, the system coupled to a low power communication antenna and to the processor;
c) a memory coupled to the processor for storing network element of the RFID receiver and low power communication sections; and
d) means to activate the RFID transceiver, retrieve an IP address of the RFID tag and transfer data to the RFID tag from a wide area network or vice versa.
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17. An RFID communication system having low power characteristics, comprising
a) an RFID transceiver coupled to an antenna and a processor in an RFID tag, the RFID transceiver adapted for sleep mode operation; -
b) a low power communication system in the RFID tag separated from the RFID transceiver, the low power communication system coupled to a low power communication antenna and to the processor;
c) a memory coupled to the processor for storing timer information of the low power communication system; and
d) means for powering down the low power communication section and utilizing the sleep mode condition of the RFID receiver, when awakened, to trigger the low power communication system for operation.
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18. A method of communication in an RFID communication system, comprising:
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a) generating an RF continuous wave (CW) field by a multi-protocol interrogator;
b) coupling a hybrid backscatter based RFID tag to the interrogator by the CW field, the tag including RFID signaling and low power communication;
c) switching the RFID tag between the RFID signaling and the low power communication; and
d) selecting backscatter radiation for the RFID signaling or the low power communication. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An RFID communication system, comprising:
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a) an RFID tag including an RFID transceiver and a low power communication transceiver;
b) a processor coupled to the transceivers;
c) a multi-protocol interrogator linked to the RFID tag;
d) switching means responsive to the RFID transceiver to enable operation of the RFID transceiver in passive and semi-passive modes. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of operating an RFID communication system, comprising:
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a) receiving an RF signal from a multi-protocol interrogator in an RFID tag;
b) examining the signal to determine RFID or low power communication for the RFID tag;
c) initiating operation of the RFID tag in a backscatter radiation mode if RFID operation is identified in the signal;
d) initiating operation of the RFID tag in a low power communication mode if identified in the signal;
e) activating an inquiry mode for a transceiver when the tag is in the low power communication mode;
f) conducting a paging operation for the transceiver to connect with an access point; and
transferring data from the RFID tag to the access point for delivery to the interrogator. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. In an RFID tag including an RF transceiver and a low power communication transceiver coupled to a processor, a method of low power operation, comprising:
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a) operating the tag in a sleep state with the RF transceiver, low power communication transceiver and the processor in a powered down state;
b) receiving an RF signal and storing RF energy in a storage device;
c) providing a threshold based wake-up signal to the processor when sufficient energy is stored in the storage device;
d) triggering the processor to wake up in response to the threshold based wakeup signal;
e) examining the RF signal to determine tag operation whether in an RF transceiver or a low power communication transceiver mode of operation;
f) enabling the RF transceiver and the low power communication transceiver to respond to a determined mode of operation; and
g) powering down the RF transceiver, the low power communication transceiver and the processor after completion of the determined mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification