System and method for supporting multiple reader-tag configurations using multi-mode radio frequency tag

• US 20040263319A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Huomo, Heikki
• Granted Patent: US 7,446,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• 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 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2448 Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method for supporting multiple reader-tag configurations and reader-tag distances using a single multi-mode tag. A multi-mode radio frequency (RF) transponder is provided, which includes operational tag circuitry configured to provide information in response to being activated by a reader device(s). Multiple antenna circuits are coupled to the operational tag circuitry, where each of the antenna circuits is configured to operate at a different reader-tag distance. At least one disabling circuit is coupled to the operational tag circuitry and to at least one of the antenna circuits, where the disabling circuit is configured to disable operation of at least one of the antenna circuits to which it is coupled.

Claims

1. A multi-mode radio frequency (RF) transponder, comprising:

operational tag circuitry configured to provide information in response to being activated by one or more reader devices;

a plurality of antenna circuits coupled to the operational tag circuitry, wherein each of the plurality of antenna circuits is configured to operate at a different reader-tag distance; and

at least one disabling circuit coupled to the operational tag circuitry and to at least one of the plurality of antenna circuits, wherein the at least one disabling circuit is configured to disable operation of at least one of the antenna circuits to which it is coupled.

2. The multi-mode RF transponder as in claim 1, wherein the at least one disabling circuit comprises a permanent disabling circuit adapted to permanently disable operation of the at least one of the antenna circuits to which it is coupled.

3. The multi-mode RF transponder as in claim 2, wherein the permanent disabling circuit comprises one or more of a mechanical switch, electronic switch, and a fuse.

4. The multi-mode RF transponder as in claim 1, wherein the at least one disabling circuit comprises a temporary disabling circuit adapted to temporarily disable operation of the at least one of the antenna circuits to which it is coupled.

5. The multi-mode RF transponder as in claim 4, wherein the temporary disabling circuit comprises one or more of a mechanical switch and an electronic switch.

6. The multi-mode RF transponder as in claim 1, wherein the disabling circuit comprises means for open-circuiting a connection between the operational tag circuitry and one or more of the antenna circuits.

7. The multi-mode RF transponder as in claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of antenna circuits are configured to operate at different frequency bands.

8. The multi-mode RF transponder as in claim 1, wherein a first of the plurality of antenna circuits is configured to induce a voltage to power the operational tag circuitry in response to a received signal having a frequency in approximately a 13.56 MHz frequency band, and wherein a second of the plurality of antenna circuits is configured to induce a voltage to power the operational tag circuitry in response to a received signal having a frequency in approximately a 900/2400 MHz frequency band.

9. The multi-mode RF transponder as in claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of antenna circuits are configured with different physical characteristics affecting the reader-tag distance of the respective antenna circuit.

10. The multi-mode RF transponder as in claim 1, wherein the operational tag circuitry comprises a shared operational tag circuit coupled to each of the plurality of antenna circuits.

11. The multi-mode RF transponder as in claim 1, wherein the operational tag circuitry comprises two or more separate operational tag circuits coupled to respective ones of the plurality of antenna circuits.

12. A multi-mode Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a first tag circuit comprising a first antenna coil to receive a first reader signal, a first memory to store first information, and a first processing circuit to provide the first information in response to the first reader signal;

a disable circuit coupled between the first antenna coil and the first processing device to disable operation of the first tag circuit; and

a second tag circuit comprising a second antenna coil to receive a second reader signal, a second memory to store second information, and a second processing circuit to provide the second information in response to the second reader signal.

13. The multi-mode RFID tag as in claim 12, wherein the first and second reader signals exhibit substantially the same frequency.

14. The multi-mode RFID tag as in claim 12, wherein the first and second reader signals exhibit substantially different frequencies.

15. The multi-mode RFID tag as in claim 12, further comprising one or more additional tag circuits each comprising a respective antenna coil, memory, and processing circuit, wherein each of the additional tag circuits provides its respective information in response to a different frequency signal.

16. The multi-mode RFID tag as in claim 12, wherein the disable circuit comprises means for permanently disabling operation of the first tag circuit.

17. The multi-mode RFID tag as in claim 12, wherein the disable circuit comprises means for temporarily disabling operation of the first tag circuit.

18. The multi-mode RFID tag as in claim 12, wherein the disable circuit comprises at least one of a mechanical switch, electronic switch, and a fuse.

19. The multi-mode RFID tag as in claim 12, wherein the first processing circuit and the second processing circuit are commonly implemented in a single processing circuit.

20. The multi-mode RFID tag as in claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second memories respectively associated with the first and second tag circuits comprises a writable memory capable of dynamic information modification of the first and second information respectively.

21. A method for obtaining information concerning an item, comprising:

associating an RFID tag with the item, wherein the RFID tag includes a plurality of antenna circuits each operable at a different reader-tag distance;

communicating first information from a first of the plurality of antenna circuits to one or more first reader devices operable at a first reader-tag distance;

disabling the first antenna circuit; and

communicating second information from a second of the plurality of antenna circuits to one or more second reader devices operable at a second reader-tag distance.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein disabling the first antenna circuit comprises permanently disabling the first antenna circuit.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein disabling the first antenna circuit comprises temporarily disabling the first antenna circuit.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising re-enabling the first antenna circuit to reestablish communication between the first antenna circuit to the one or more first reader devices operable at the first frequency band.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising disabling the second antenna circuit in connection with re-enabling the first antenna circuit.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein disabling the first antenna circuit comprises open-circuiting a connection between tag circuitry and an antenna coil on the first antenna circuit.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising disabling the second antenna circuit, and communicating third information from a third of the plurality of antenna circuits to one or more third reader devices operable at a third reader tag distance.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of antenna circuits comprise N antenna circuits, and further comprising disabling N−

1 of the antenna circuits, and communicating information from a remaining enabled one of the plurality of antenna circuits to one or more reader devices operable at a corresponding reader-tag distance.

29. A method for obtaining information concerning an item, comprising:

associating an RFID tag with the item, wherein the RFID tag includes a plurality of antenna circuits each operable at a different frequency band;

communicating first information from a first of the plurality of antenna circuits to one or more first reader devices operable at a first frequency band;

disabling the first antenna circuit; and

communicating second information from a second of the plurality of antenna circuits to one or more second reader devices operable at a second frequency band.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein communicating first information comprises communicating the first information from the first antenna circuit to the first reader devices at a first reader-tag distance, and wherein communicating second information comprises communicating the second information from the second antenna circuit to the second reader devices at a second reader-tag distance.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the plurality of antenna circuits comprise N antenna circuits, and further comprising disabling N−

1 of the antenna circuits, and communicating information from a remaining enabled one of the plurality of antenna circuits to one or more reader devices operable at a corresponding frequency band.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the first frequency band substantially comprises a 900/2400 MHz frequency band, and the second frequency band substantially comprises a 13.56 MHz frequency band.

33. A method for providing information associated with an item via a radio frequency (RF) transponder, comprising:

receiving a first RF signal at the RF transponder from a first reader device, and inducing a first voltage on a first antenna loop in response to receiving the first RF signal;

generating a direct current (DC) voltage from the induced first voltage to energize transponder logic;

retrieving first information via the transponder logic and transmitting the first information to the first reader device;

disabling the first antenna loop in response to a disable signal;

receiving a second RF signal at the RF transponder from a second reader device, and inducing a second voltage on a second antenna loop in response to receiving the second RF signal;

generating a direct current (DC) voltage from the induced second voltage to energize the transponder logic; and

retrieving second information via the transponder logic and transmitting the second information to the second reader device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein:

retrieving first information comprises the transponder logic retrieving the first information logic from a first memory; and

retrieving second information comprises the transponder logic retrieving the second information logic from a second memory.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein disabling the first antenna loop comprises open-circuiting a connection between the first antenna loop and the transponder logic.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein disabling the first antenna loop comprises irreversibly disabling the first antenna loop.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein disabling the first antenna loop comprises reversibly disabling the first antenna loop.

38. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

receiving an Nth RF signal at the RF transponder from a reader device, and inducing an Nth voltage on an Nth antenna loop in response to receiving the Nth RF signal;

generating a direct current (DC) voltage from the induced Nth voltage to energize the transponder logic; and

retrieving Nth information via the transponder logic and transmitting the Nth information to the reader device.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the RF transponder comprises a passive RF transponder, and wherein transmitting the first and second information to the first and second reader devices respectively comprises transmitting the first and second information via backscatter modulation.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the RF transponder comprises an active RF transponder, and wherein transmitting the first and second information respectively to the first and second reader devices comprises transmitting at least one of the first and second information via repeated transfers by the active RF transponder of the at least one of the first and second information.

41. The method of claim 33, further comprising modifying one or more of the first and second information by writing to respective dynamically-writable memories storing the first and second information.

42. A system for obtaining information relating to items, comprising:

at least one first RFID reader capable of emitting a first RF signal;

at least one mobile terminal including a second RFID reader capable of emitting a second RF signal;

a multi-mode RFID tag associated with at least one of the items, the multi-mode RFID tag comprising;

a first antenna circuit to receive the first RF signal, a first memory to store first information, and a first processing circuit to modulate the first information onto a backscattered RF signal to the first RFID reader in response to the first RF signal;

a disable circuit coupled to the first antenna circuit to disable operation of the first antenna circuit; and

a second antenna circuit to receive the second RF signal, a second memory to store second information, and a second processing circuit to modulate the second information onto a backscattered RF signal to the second RFID reader in response to the second RF signal.

43. The system as in claim 42, wherein the mobile terminal comprises at least one of a mobile phone, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), portable computing device, or an RFID reader device.

44. The system as in claim 42, wherein the at least one first RFID reader comprises one or more RFID readers used in connection with one or more of a manufacturing stage and a logistics stage of a supply chain.

45. The system as in claim 42, wherein the at least one mobile terminal comprises one or more RFID readers used in connection with a consumer use stage of a supply chain.

46. The system as in claim 42, wherein the at least one first RFID reader comprises one or more RFID readers operating at a store to monitor for item theft, and wherein the disable circuit is configured to disable operation of the first antenna circuit in connection with sale of the item.

47. The system as in claim 42, wherein at least one of the multi-mode RFID tags is associated with each of the items in which information is to be obtained by the first RFID reader and the second RFID reader.

48. A multi-mode radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

means for inducing a first voltage on a first antenna loop in response to receiving a first RF signal from a first reader device;

means for generating a direct current (DC) voltage from the induced first voltage to energize a tag processing circuit;

means for retrieving first information via the tag processing circuit and for transmitting the first information to the first reader device;

means for disabling the first antenna loop in response to a disable signal;

means for inducing a second voltage on a second antenna loop in response to receiving a second RF signal from a second reader device;

means for generating a DC voltage from the induced second voltage to energize the tag processing circuit; and

means for retrieving second information via the tag processing circuit and transmitting the second information to the second reader device.