Semi-passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with active beacon
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A radio frequency beacon device for use with a backscatter interrogator, comprising:
- a processor;
a receiver coupled to the processor;
a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor; and
an active transmitter coupled to the processor, the active transmitter being configured to transmit an RF signal, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A radio frequency beacon device for use with a backscatter interrogator includes a processor; a receiver coupled to the processor; a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor; and an active transmitter coupled to the processor, the active transmitter being configured to transmit an RF signal, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator. Other methods and apparatus are provided.
-
Citations
51 Claims
-
1. A radio frequency beacon device for use with a backscatter interrogator, comprising:
-
a processor;
a receiver coupled to the processor;
a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor; and
an active transmitter coupled to the processor, the active transmitter being configured to transmit an RF signal, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A radio frequency beacon device in accordance with claim and configured to provide an attention signal to the interrogator and have the interrogator thereafter contact the beacon device via backscatter communications.
-
7. A radio frequency beacon device for use with a backscatter interrogator, comprising:
-
a processor;
a receiver coupled to the processor;
a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor;
an active transmitter coupled to the processor, the active transmitter being configured to transmit an RF signal to the interrogator, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator; and
a sensor coupled to the processor, the trigger signal being generated in response to a condition sensed by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A radio frequency communications device, for use with a backscatter interrogator, comprising:
-
a battery;
a semi-passive radio frequency device, coupled to the battery, for use with a backscatter interrogator, including components configured to be supplied with power from the battery, wherein range is greater than for a passive backscatter radio frequency device, the semi-passive radio frequency device including;
a processor;
a receiver coupled to the processor; and
a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor; and
an active transmitter coupled to the processor and to the battery, the active transmitter being configured to transmit, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A radio frequency communications device, for use with a backscatter interrogator, comprising:
-
a battery;
a semi-passive radio frequency device, coupled to the battery, for use with a backscatter interrogator, including components configured to be supplied with power from the battery, wherein range is greater than for a passive backscatter radio frequency device, the semi-passive radio frequency device including;
a processor;
a receiver coupled to the processor; and
a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor; and
an active transmitter coupled to the processor and to the battery, the active transmitter being configured to transmit, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator; and
a sensor coupled to the processor, the trigger signal being generated in response to a condition sensed by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. A method of manufacturing a radio frequency beacon device for use with a backscatter interrogator, the method comprising:
-
coupling a receiver to a processor, coupling a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor, and coupling an active transmitter to the processor; and
arranging the active transmitter to transmit an RF signal, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
-
43. A method of manufacturing a radio frequency beacon device for use with a backscatter interrogator, the method comprising:
-
coupling a receiver to a processor, coupling a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor, and coupling an active transmitter to the processor;
arranging the active transmitter to transmit an RF signal, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator; and
coupling a sensor to the processor, the trigger signal being generated in response to a condition sensed by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (44)
-
-
45. A method of manufacturing a radio frequency communications device, for use with a backscatter interrogator, the method comprising:
-
providing a battery;
coupling a semi-passive radio frequency device to the battery, the device being for use with a backscatter interrogator and including components configured to be supplied with power from the battery, wherein range is greater than for a passive backscatter radio frequency device, the semi-passive radio frequency device including;
a processor;
a receiver coupled to the processor; and
a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor; and
coupling an active transmitter to the processor of the semi-passive tag and to the battery, and configuring the active transmitter to transmit, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
-
-
50. A method of manufacturing a radio frequency communications device, for use with a backscatter interrogator, the method comprising:
-
providing a battery;
coupling a semi-passive radio frequency device to the battery, the device being for use with a backscatter interrogator and including components configured to be supplied with power from the battery, wherein range is greater than for a passive backscatter radio frequency device, the semi-passive radio frequency device including;
a processor;
a receiver coupled to the processor; and
a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor; and
coupling an active transmitter to the processor of the semi-passive tag and to the battery, and configuring the active transmitter to transmit, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator; and
coupling a sensor to the processor of the semi-passive tag, the trigger signal being generated in response to a condition sensed by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (51)
-
Specification