Method and circuit arrangement for holding a control state during inadequate power supply in an RF transponder or remote sensor
First Claim
1. A device comprising a circuit arrangement for an RF transponder, said circuit arrangement comprising:
- at least one power input adapted to have electrical operating power applied thereto;
at least one control input adapted to have at least one electrical control signal applied thereto;
a first storage arrangement that is connected to said at least one control input to receive said at least one control signal, and that is adapted to produce and store a control state of said circuit arrangement in response to and dependent on said control signal when said operating power applied to said power input is at or above an adequate level;
a second storage arrangement that is connected to a first output of said first storage arrangement to receive said control state, and that is adapted to hold said control state at least temporarily when said operating power applied to said power input is below said adequate level; and
a signal output connected to an output of said second storage arrangement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An RF transponder includes an input circuit, a read/memory circuit, and a circuit arrangement for holding a control state. The circuit arrangement includes a first storage device (e.g. a D-flip-flop) for storing the control state dependent on received control signals, and a second storage device (e.g. a capacitor and a transistor) for holding the control state during a period of inadequate energy supply to the circuit arrangement, e.g. while the transponder is in a field gap of the electromagnetic field emitted by a base station with which the transponder communicates. In an operating method, the control state is held by the second storage device during a period of inadequate energy supply. Then, when adequate energy is again supplied, the transponder resumes the control state that was held by the second storage device. The transponder continues to operate properly according to an anti-collision procedure in a system of several transponders communicating individually with a base station.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A device comprising a circuit arrangement for an RF transponder, said circuit arrangement comprising:
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at least one power input adapted to have electrical operating power applied thereto;
at least one control input adapted to have at least one electrical control signal applied thereto;
a first storage arrangement that is connected to said at least one control input to receive said at least one control signal, and that is adapted to produce and store a control state of said circuit arrangement in response to and dependent on said control signal when said operating power applied to said power input is at or above an adequate level;
a second storage arrangement that is connected to a first output of said first storage arrangement to receive said control state, and that is adapted to hold said control state at least temporarily when said operating power applied to said power input is below said adequate level; and
a signal output connected to an output of said second storage arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An RF transponder device comprising a circuit arrangement that includes;
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a flip-flop including at least one control input and a first control state output;
an energy storage arrangement including a capacitor connected at least indirectly to said control state output;
a transistor switching stage connected to said energy storage arrangement; and
a logic gate interposed between said transistor switching stage and a signal output of said circuit arrangement. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of operating at least one transponder device, comprising the steps:
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a) receiving, with said transponder device, a transmitted control signal;
b) at least intermittently providing electrical power to said transponder device;
c) in response to and dependent on said control signal, producing and storing a control state in a first storage arrangement of said transponder device when said electrical power is at or above an adequate level; and
d) holding said control state in a second storage arrangement of said transponder device during a holding time t when said electrical power is below said adequate level. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification