Active RFID tag utilizing a secondary communication mode

• US 20050206503A1
• Filed: 03/17/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edgy Communications LLC
• Original Assignee: Edgy Communications LLC
• Inventors: Corrado, Anthony P., Logan, Rex
• Granted Patent: US 7,295,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.500
• 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 19/0724 the arrangement being a circuit for communicating at a plurality of frequencies, e.g. for managing time multiplexed communication over at least two antennas of different types
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0728 the arrangement being an optical or sound-based communication interface
• 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 19/145 at least one of the further markings being adapted for galvanic or wireless sensing, e.g. an RFID tag with both a wireless and an optical interface or memory, or a contact type smart card with ISO 7816 contacts and an optical interface or memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for radio frequency identification. According to one embodiment, a radio frequency identification system comprises a radio frequency identification tag. The tag comprises a radio frequency transmitter and an optical receiver. A reader is communicatively coupled with the tag and is adapted to receive information from the radio frequency identification tag via the radio frequency transmitter of the radio frequency identification tag. The system also includes a trigger communicatively coupled with the tag. The trigger is adapted to send information to the radio frequency identification tag via the optical receiver of the radio frequency identification tag.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification system comprising:

a radio frequency identification tag comprising a radio frequency transmitter and an optical receiver;

a reader communicatively coupled with and adapted to receive information from the radio frequency identification tag via the radio frequency transmitter of the radio frequency identification tag; and

a trigger communicatively coupled with and adapted to send information to the radio frequency identification tag via the optical receiver of the radio frequency identification tag.

2. The radio frequency identification system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag further comprises an optical transmitter and the trigger further comprises an optical receiver coupled with and adapted to receive information from the radio frequency identification tag via the optical transmitter of the radio frequency identification tag.

3. The radio frequency identification system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is adapted to transmit data to the reader via the radio frequency transmitter in response to receiving a signal from the trigger via the optical receiver.

4. The radio frequency identification system of claim 2, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is adapted to transmit data to the trigger via the optical transmitter in response to receiving a signal from the trigger via the optical receiver.

5. The radio frequency identification system of claim 3, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is adapted to transmit tag identification information to the reader via the radio frequency transmitter in response to receiving a command from the trigger.

6. The radio frequency identification system of claim 3, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is adapted to transmit a periodic beacon to the reader via the radio frequency transmitter in response to receiving a command from the trigger.

7. The radio frequency identification system of claim 3, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is adapted to transmit sensor data to the reader via the radio frequency transmitter in response to receiving a command from the trigger.

8. The radio frequency identification system of claim 4, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is adapted to transmit tag identification information to the reader via the optical transmitter in response to receiving a command from the trigger.

9. The radio frequency identification system of claim 4, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is adapted to transmit a periodic beacon to the reader via the optical transmitter in response to receiving a command from the trigger.

10. The radio frequency identification system of claim 4, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is adapted to transmit sensor data to the reader via the optical transmitter in response to receiving a command from the trigger.

11. A radio frequency identification tag comprising:

a radio frequency transmitter adapted to transmit information to a radio frequency reader of a radio frequency identification system; and

an optical receiver adapted to receive information from an optical trigger of a radio frequency identification system.

12. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 11, wherein the radio frequency identification tag further comprises an optical transmitter adapted to send information to the reader of the radio frequency identification system.

13. The radio frequency identification tag of claim 11, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is adapted to transmit data to the reader via the radio frequency transmitter in response to receiving a signal from the trigger via the optical receiver.

14. The radio frequency identification system of claim 12, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is adapted to transmit data to the trigger via the optical transmitter in response to receiving a signal from the trigger via the optical receiver.

15. A method of communicating with a radio frequency identification tag in a radio identification system, the method comprising:

transmitting a trigger signal to the radio frequency identification tag from a trigger of the radio identification system via a secondary, optical or ultrasonic mode of communication; and

receiving data from the radio frequency identification tag in response to the trigger signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving data from the radio frequency identification tag comprises receiving data from the radio frequency identification tag via a radio frequency mode of communication.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving data from the radio frequency identification tag comprises receiving data from the radio frequency identification tag via the secondary, optical or ultrasonic mode of communication.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the information from the radio frequency identification tag comprises tag identification information.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the information from the radio frequency identification tag comprises sensor data.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting, prior to the trigger signal, a pre-cursor set of signal pulses to the radio frequency identification tag from the trigger of the radio identification system via a secondary, optical or ultrasonic mode of communication;

measuring the timing of the pre-cursor set of signal pulses to determine temperature an amount of drift in the radio frequency identification tag; and

applying the timing of the pre-cursor set of signals to subsequent signals to and from the radio frequency identification tag.