Lprf device wake up using wireless tag

• US 20050215280A1
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeraHop Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Twitchell, Robert W. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/553.100
• 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: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless transceiver (5008) includes a low power radio frequency (LPRF) component (5010) that powers down to conserve energy and powers up in response to a signal; and a second receiver (5014) that provides the signal via line (5018) in response to receipt of a radio frequency broadcast. The broadcast is targeted to activate particular transceivers by including in the broadcast identifications such as class designations, in which case the transceivers power up and form networks. A transceiver may include one or more identifications and may include a unique identification of the transceiver itself. The LPRF component may be a Bluetooth radio, but the overall transceiver itself only draws about 10 to 15 μA while actively awaiting and screening for a targeted broadcast.

Claims

1. A wireless transceiver, comprising:

a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications device capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up for receiving and transmitting, the LPRF communications device including a transmitter and a first receiver; and

a second receiver different from the first receiver that powers up the LPRF communications device in response to a radio frequency broadcast.

2. The wireless transceiver of claim 1, wherein the second receiver is physically connected to the LPRF communications device.

3. The wireless transceiver of claim 1, wherein the LPRF communications device includes an energy source for both transmitting and receiving.

4. The wireless transceiver of claim 1, wherein the LPRF communications device powers down to an off state when no longer receiving or transmitting data, the LPRF communications device drawing approximately no current when powered down to off.

5. The wireless transceiver of claim 1, wherein the second receiver when awaiting for and receiving a transmission draws current that is at least one magnitude of order less than the current that the LPRF communications device draws when awaiting for and receiving a transmission.

6. The wireless transceiver of claim 1, further including a reader for reading one or more wireless tags disposed externally to and in proximity of the wireless transceiver, the reader being physically connected to the LPRF communications device for data exchange therebetween.

7. The wireless transceiver of claim 1, wherein the LPRF communications device comprises a Bluetooth radio.

8. The wireless transceiver of claim 1, wherein the second receiver includes a battery.

9. The wireless transceiver of claim 8, wherein the LPRF communications device includes a battery different from that of the second receiver.

10. The wireless transceiver of claim 1, wherein one of the group of a modified FSK radio, PM radio, and AM radio comprises the second receiver.

11. The wireless transceiver of claim 1, wherein the second receiver draws on the order of approximately 10 to 15 μ

A of electric current when awaiting for and receiving a transmission.

12. The wireless transceiver of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency broadcast, to which the second receiver responds by powering up the LPRF communications device, includes an identification that is stored within the wireless transceiver.

13. The wireless transceiver of claim 12, wherein the identification is permanently stored within the second receiver and uniquely identifies the wireless transceiver.

14. The wireless transceiver of claim 12, wherein the second receiver responds to a radio frequency broadcast by powering up the LPRF communications device only if the radio frequency broadcast includes the identification.

15. The wireless transceiver of claim 12, wherein the identification uniquely identifies the wireless transceiver.

16-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A wireless transceiver used to read one or more wireless tags (WTs) that are disposed externally to and in proximity thereof in response to a radio frequency broadcast, wherein the wireless transceiver (WRT) draws on the order of approximately 10 to 15 μ

A of electric current when awaiting for and receiving the radio frequency broadcast.

19. The WRT of claim 18, wherein the WRT comprises:

(a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal; and

(b) a second receiver providing, in response to receipt by the second receiver of a radio frequency broadcast the electronic signal in order to power up the LPRF communications component.

20. The WRT of claim 19, wherein the WRT further comprises a reader component for reading the WTs, the reader component physically connected to the LPRF communications component for data exchange therebetween.

21. The WRT of claim 19, wherein the LPRF communications component comprises a Bluetooth radio.

22. The WRT of claim 19, wherein the second receiver comprises one of the group of a modified FSK radio, PM radio, and AM radio.

23-73. -73. (canceled)

74. A wireless transceiver that may be used to read one or more wireless tags (WTs) that are disposed externally to and in proximity thereof, the wireless transceiver (WRT) comprising:

a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and

a second receiver providing, in response to receipt by the second receiver of a radio frequency broadcast, the electronic signal in order to power up the LPRF communications component.

75. The WRT of claim 74, wherein the WRT further includes a reader component for reading the WTs, the reader component physically connected to the LPRF communications component for data exchange therebetween.

76. The WRT of claim 74, wherein the LPRF communications component draws on the order of approximately 40 mAh of electric charge when powered up and receiving transmissions.

77. The WRT of claim 74, wherein the LPRF communications component draws on the order of approximately 10 mA of electric current when powered down to a standby mode.

78. The WRT of claim 74, wherein the LPRF communications component draws approximately no electric current when powered down to an off state.

79. The WRT of claim 74, wherein the second receiver draws on the order of 10 to 15 μ

A of electric current when awaiting for and receiving the radio frequency broadcast.

80. The WRT of claim 79, wherein one of the group of a modified FSK radio, PM radio, and AM radio comprises the second receiver.

81. The WRT of claim 74, wherein the LPRF communications component, reader component, and second receiver are hardwired within a housing of the WRT.

82. The WRT of claim 74, wherein the second receiver generates the electronic signal by providing power to voltage regulators that supply power to the LPRF communications component.

83. The WRT of claim 74, wherein the LPRF communications component is programmed to power down to an off state when no longer actively transmitting or receiving.

84. The WRT of claim 74, wherein a wireless tag comprises the second receiver, the wireless tag including:

(a) a radio frequency detector component,

(b) a memory component, and

(c) an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) component.

85. The WRT of claim 84, wherein the memory component stores an identification in read/write memory or in read only memory.

86. The WRT of claim 84, wherein the ASIC component permanently stores an identification.

87. The WRT of claim 74, wherein the radio frequency broadcast, to which the second receiver responds by providing the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component, includes therein an identification that is stored within the WRT.

88. The WRT of claim 87, wherein the identification is permanently stored within the WRT and uniquely identifies the WRT.

89. The WRT of claim 87, wherein the second receiver responds to a radio frequency broadcast by providing the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component only if the radio frequency broadcast includes the identification.

90. The WRT of claim 87, wherein the identification represents a WRT class.

91. The WRT of claim 87, wherein the identification represents a WT class.

92. The WRT of claim 87, wherein the identification uniquely identifies the WRT.

93. The WRT of claim 87, wherein the identification represents a selected plurality of WRTs.

94. The WRT of claim 74, further comprising a sensor component physically connected to the LPRF communications component for data exchange therebetween.

95. The WRT of claim 94, wherein the sensor component includes a motion detector.

96. The WRT of claim 94, wherein the sensor component includes a digital camera.

97. The WRT of claim 94, wherein the sensor component includes a microphone.

98. The WRT of claim 94, wherein the sensor component includes a thermometer.

99. The WRT of claim 94, wherein the sensor component includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

100. The WRT of claim 74, further comprising an external network communications component physically connected to the LPRF communications component for data exchange therebetween.

101. The WRT of claim 100, wherein the external network communications component comprises a satellite transceiver.

102. The WRT of claim 100, wherein the external network communications component comprises a cellular transceiver.

103. The WRT of claim 74, wherein the second receiver includes an antenna.

104. The WRT of claim 103, wherein the LPRF communications component includes an antenna.

105. The WRT of claim 104, wherein the antenna of the LPRF communications component is different from that of the second receiver.

106. The WRT of claim 104, wherein the antenna of the LPRF communications component is the same as that of the second receiver.

107. The WRT of claim 74, wherein the second receiver includes an energy source.

108. The WRT of claim 107, wherein the LPRF communications component includes an energy source.

109. The WRT of claim 108, wherein the energy source of the LPRF communications component is different from that of the second receiver.

110. The WRT of claim 108, wherein the energy source of the LPRF communications component is the same as that of the second receiver.

111. The WRT of claim 74, wherein a transceiver comprises the second receiver.

112. The WRT of claims 74, wherein the WTs that are read by the reader component are associated with assets to be tracked.

113. The WRT of claim 74, wherein the WTs that are read by the reader component each comprises a radio-frequency transponder.

114. The WRT of claim 74, wherein the radio frequency of the broadcast is approximately 2.4 GHz.