Wireless communication systems, radio frequency identification devices, methods of enhancing a communications range of a radio frequency identification device, and wireless communication methods

• US 20040070500A1
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Inventors: Pratt, Richard M., Thompson, Steven B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,914,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs

Abstract

Wireless communication systems, radio frequency identification devices, methods of enhancing a communications range of a radio frequency identification device, and wireless communication methods are described. According to one aspect, a wireless communication system includes a reader configured to output a first wireless communication signal and to receive a second wireless communication signal comprising a backscatter signal and a remote communication device configured to receive the first wireless communication signal and to communicate the second wireless communication signal comprising the backscatter signal, wherein the remote communication device includes an antenna configured to provide electrical energy, communication circuitry configured to process the received first wireless communication signal and to generate a modulation signal to communicate the backscafter signal and a plurality of power conditioning circuits coupled in series intermediate the antenna and the communication circuitry and individually configured to enhance at least one electrical characteristic of the electrical energy from the antenna.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising:

a reader configured to output a first wireless communication signal and to receive a second wireless communication signal comprising a backscatter signal; and

a remote communication device configured to receive the first wireless communication signal and to communicate the second wireless communication signal comprising the backscatter signal;

wherein the remote communication device comprises;

an antenna configured to provide electrical energy;

communication circuitry configured to process the received first wireless communication signal and to generate a modulation signal to communicate the backscatter signal; and

a plurality of power conditioning circuits coupled in series intermediate the antenna and the communication circuitry and individually configured to enhance at least one electrical characteristic of the electrical energy from the antenna.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the power conditioning circuits are individually configured to increase a voltage of the electrical energy.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the power conditioning circuits individually comprise a voltage doubler circuit.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote communication device comprises a radio frequency identification device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a signaling antenna configured to provide the electrical energy corresponding to electromagnetic energy of the first wireless communication signal.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises a power antenna.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote communication device further comprises an energy source configured to provide operational energy to the communication circuitry using electromagnetic energy received within the remote communication device, and wherein the energy source comprises a plurality of power conditioning circuits individually configured to enhance at least one electrical characteristic of the operational energy derived from the electromagnetic energy.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the antenna comprises a signaling antenna, and Wherein the energy source comprises a power antenna configured to provide the operational energy derived from the electromagnetic energy.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a battery configured to provide operational energy to the communication circuitry.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the reader is configured to output the first wireless communication signal using on/off key modulation.

11. A radio frequency identification device comprising:

an antenna configured to provide electrical energy corresponding to received electromagnetic energy comprising a first wireless communication signal from a reader;

a plurality of voltage doubler circuits individually configured to increase a voltage of the electrical energy from the antenna; and

communication circuitry coupled with the voltage doubler circuits and configured to receive the electrical energy of the increased voltage from the voltage doubler circuits;

wherein the communication circuitry is configured to process the electrical energy of the increased voltage to process the first wireless communication signal.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to control the antenna to backscafter modulate a second wireless communication signal for communication to the reader.

13. The device of claim 11 further comprising an energy source configured to provide operational energy to the communication circuitry using additional electromagnetic energy, and wherein the energy source comprises a plurality of voltage doubler circuits individually configured to increase a voltage of the operational energy.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the energy source comprises a power antenna configured to receive the additional electromagnetic energy.

15. The device of claim 11 further comprising a battery configured to provide operational energy to the communication circuitry.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein the antenna is configured to provide electrical energy corresponding to the received electromagnetic energy comprising the first wireless communication signal communicated using on/off key modulation.

17. A method of enhancing a communications range of a radio frequency identification device comprising:

providing a radio frequency identification device including a first voltage doubler circuit and a second voltage doubler circuit;

receiving electromagnetic energy using an antenna of the radio frequency identification device;

providing electrical energy of a first voltage using the antenna of the radio frequency identification device and responsive to the received electromagnetic energy;

increasing a voltage of the electrical energy to a second voltage greater than the first voltage using the first voltage doubler circuit;

increasing the voltage of the electrical energy to a third voltage greater than the second voltage using the second voltage doubler circuit coupled in series with the first voltage doubler circuit; and

implementing radio frequency identification device communications using the radio frequency identification device and the electrical energy of the third voltage.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the implementing comprises processing the electrical energy of the third voltage corresponding to a wireless communication signal communicated using a reader.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the implementing comprises providing operational energy comprising the electrical energy of the third voltage to communication circuitry of the radio frequency identification device.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the implementing radio frequency identification device communications comprises backscatter modulating electromagnetic energy.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the providing the radio frequency identification device comprises providing the device including a battery configured to provide operational energy.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the receiving comprises receiving electromagnetic energy of an on/off key modulated signal.

23. A wireless communication method comprising:

providing a first device and a second device individually configured to communicate wireless communication signals;

outputting a first wireless communication signal using the first device;

first increasing an electrical characteristic of the first wireless communication signal using a first power conditioning circuit of the second device;

second increasing the electrical characteristic of the first wireless communication signal using a second power conditioning circuit of the second device after the first increasing;

processing the first wireless communication signal using the second device after the first and second increasings; and

backscatter modulating radio frequency energy using the second device responsive to the processing and to communicate a second wireless communication signal to the first device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the increasings individually comprise increasing the electrical characteristic comprising a voltage of the first wireless communication signal.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the first and second increasings individually comprise increasing using the respective one of the first power conditioning circuit and the second power conditioning circuit comprising a voltage doubler circuit.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising outputting a continuous wave signal using the first device, and wherein the backscatter modulating comprises backscatter modulating the continuous wave signal using the second device.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

receiving electromagnetic energy within the second device;

providing electrical energy corresponding to the electromagnetic energy using the second device;

third increasing an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy using a third power conditioning circuit of the second device; and

fourth increasing the electrical characteristic of the electrical energy using a fourth power conditioning circuit of the second device after the third increasing to provide operational energy;

wherein the processing comprises processing using the operational energy.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising providing a battery configured to supply operational energy, and wherein the processing comprises processing using the operational energy.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein the first device comprises a reader and the second device comprises a radio frequency identification device.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein the outputting comprises outputting the first wireless communication signal using on/off key modulation.