Radio frequency identification devices, backscatter communication device wake-up methods, communication device wake-up methods and a radio frequency identification device wake-up method

• US 20040198233A1
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Inventors: Pratt, Richard M., Hughes, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,019,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0707 the arrangement being capable of collecting energy from external energy sources, e.g. thermocouples, vibration, electromagnetic radiation G06K19/0702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0712 the arrangement being capable of triggering distinct operating modes or functions dependent on the strength of an energy or interrogation field in the proximity of the record carrier active means for hindering electromagnetic reading or writing G06K19/07336
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0715 the arrangement including means to regulate power transfer to the integrated circuit
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Radio frequency identification devices, backscatter communication device wake-up methods, communication device wake-up methods and a radio frequency identification device wake-up method are described. In one aspect, a wireless communication device includes a processor configured to process a plurality of received wireless signals and to control the communication of a plurality of outputted wireless signals, wherein the processor is configured to control the communication of the outputted wireless signals using backscatter modulation, circuitry coupled with the processor and configured to control operations of the processor, and wherein the processor is configured to output a reference signal responsive to detection of radio frequency energy, the circuitry is configured to analyze the reference signal and the radio frequency energy, and the processor is configured to enter a predefined mode of operation utilizing an increased amount of electrical energy responsive to the analysis of the reference signal and the radio frequency energy by the circuitry.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

a processor configured to process a plurality of received wireless signals and to control the communication of a plurality of outputted wireless signals, wherein the processor is configured to control the communication of the outputted wireless signals using backscatter modulation;

circuitry coupled with the processor and configured to control operations of the processor; and

wherein the processor is configured to output a reference signal responsive to detection of radio frequency energy, the circuitry is configured to analyze the reference signal and the radio frequency energy, and the processor is configured to enter a predefined mode of operation utilizing an increased amount of electrical energy responsive to the analysis of the reference signal and the radio frequency energy by the circuitry.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the reference signal comprises a clock signal having a frequency corresponding to a frequency of modulation of the received wireless signals.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to provide operational electrical energy to at least some of the circuitry responsive to the detection.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to process the received wireless signals in the predefined mode of operation.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the circuitry comprises:

an XOR logic device configured to receive the reference signal and a signal representative of the radio frequency energy;

a filter coupled with the XOR logic device; and

a transistor coupled with the filter and configured to provide the processor in the predefined mode of operation responsive to a signal received from the filter.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to enable a watchdog timer responsive to the detection.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device comprises no more than a single receiver.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to control the communication of the outputted wireless signals according to a radio frequency identification device communications protocol.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a battery configured to provide operational electrical energy to the processor and the circuitry.

10. A radio frequency identification device comprising:

radio frequency identification device communication circuitry and configured to receive a plurality of first wireless communication signals from a reader, to process the first wireless communication signals, and to control the communication of a plurality of second wireless communication signals to the reader responsive to the processing of the first wireless communication signals; and

wake-up circuitry configured to receive electrical energy corresponding to radio frequency energy received within the radio frequency identification device, to analyze the received electrical energy with respect to a reference signal, and to output a wake-up signal to the communication circuitry responsive to the analysis.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to output the reference signal responsive to the reception of the radio frequency energy.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the wake-up circuitry is configured to compare a frequency of the received electrical energy with a frequency of the reference signal to perform the analysis.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to provide operational electrical energy to the wake-up circuitry responsive to a reception of the radio frequency energy within the radio frequency identification device.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to enter a predefined mode of operation to process the first wireless communication signals responsive to the outputting of the wake-up signal.

15. The device of claim 10 wherein the radio frequency identification device comprises no more than a single receiver.

16. The device of claim 10 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to control the communication of the second wireless communication signals using backscatter modulation.

17. The device of claim 10 further comprising a battery configured to provide operational electrical energy to the communication circuitry and the wake-up circuitry.

18. The device of claim 10 wherein the wake-up circuitry is implemented within an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC).

19. A backscatter communication device wake-up method comprising:

providing a backscatter communication device;

detecting reception of radio frequency energy within the backscatter communication device;

generating a reference signal responsive to the detecting using the backscatter communication device;

analyzing the radio frequency energy with respect to the reference signal using the backscatter communication device; and

changing a mode of operation of the backscatter communication device responsive to the analyzing, wherein the backscatter communication device consumes an increased amount of electrical energy after the changing.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the generating comprises generating a clock signal.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the analyzing comprises comparing a modulation frequency of the radio frequency energy with a frequency of the clock signal.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising enabling a watchdog timer of the backscatter communication device responsive to the detecting.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing operational power for the backscatter communication device using a battery.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the providing comprises providing a radio frequency identification device.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the detecting comprises detecting using a processor, and further comprising providing the processor in another mode of operation using an increased amount of electrical energy responsive to the detecting.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the generating comprises generating using the processor provided in the another mode of operation.

27. A communication device wake-up method comprising:

providing a communication device comprising a processor;

providing the processor in a first mode of operation utilizing a first amount of electrical energy;

detecting the presence of radio frequency energy;

providing the processor in a second mode of operation to generate a reference signal responsive to the detecting, the processor utilizing a second amount of electrical energy greater than the first amount during the second mode of operation;

analyzing the radio frequency energy with respect to the reference signal; and

providing the processor in a third mode operation responsive to the analyzing, the processor utilizing a third amount of electrical energy greater than the second amount during the third mode of operation.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the providings of the processor individually comprise activating respective different circuitry of the processor.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising generating the reference signal comprising a clock signal using the processor during the second mode of operation.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the analyzing comprises comparing a frequency of the received radio frequency energy with a frequency of the clock signal.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising enabling a watchdog timer responsive to the detecting.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein the analyzing comprises analyzing using circuitry external to the processor, and further comprising providing electrical energy to the circuitry responsive to the detecting.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the providing the electrical energy comprises providing using the processor.

34. The method of claim 27 further comprising processing the radio frequency energy using the processing circuitry in the third mode of operation.

35. The method of claim 27 wherein the providing the communication device comprises providing a radio frequency identification device.

36. The method of claim 27 further comprising providing electrical energy to the processor using a battery.

37. The method of claim 27 wherein the providing the processor in the third mode of operation enables backscatter communications circuitry.

38. A radio frequency identification device wake-up method comprising:

providing a radio frequency identification communication device comprising a processor and wake-up circuitry, the communication device being configured to communicate with a reader;

providing the processor in a first mode of operation utilizing a first amount of electrical energy;

detecting the presence of radio frequency energy;

providing the processor in a second mode of operation responsive to the detecting including generating a clock signal having a frequency corresponding to a frequency of modulation of first wireless signals outputted from the reader, providing operational electrical energy to the wake-up circuitry, and enabling a watchdog timer, the processor utilizing a second amount of electrical energy greater than the first amount during the second mode of operation;

comparing a frequency of the radio frequency energy with a frequency of the clock signal;

generating an indication signal responsive to the comparing and indicating reception of the radio frequency energy having the frequency of modulation of the first wireless signals outputted from the reader; and

providing the processor in a third mode operation responsive to the generating including processing the first wireless signals and backscatter modulating received radio frequency energy to communicate second wireless signals to the reader, the processor utilizing a third amount of electrical energy greater than the second amount during the third mode of operation.