RF calibration of SAW interrogators
First Claim
1. A method for calibrating a SAW interrogator, comprising the steps of:
- providing a SAW interrogator having a transmitter portion, a receiver portion, and a control portion;
providing an independent receiver;
positioning said SAW interrogator and independent receiver in a predefined spaced relationship;
transmitting a signal at a predetermined frequency and power level from the transmitter portion of the SAW interrogator;
receiving the signal transmitted from the transmitter portion of the SAW interrogator by the independent receiver;
measuring selected characteristics of the signal received by the independent receiver; and
comparing the measured characteristics of the signal received by the independent receiver to a first set of predetermined reference values, whereby the result of the step of comparing provides an indication of the operational characteristics of said interrogator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for insuring measurement accuracy and performance reliability in the operation of devices employed to interrogate SAW devices. The present subject matter relates to an arrangement and methodology that provides an interrogator paired together with a separate receiver, which may comprise a second interrogator, functioning together to perform a self-testing operation. The interrogator may be a handheld device that is temporarily paired with a separate receiver or a like device or the interrogator may correspond to more or less permanently paired set of devices physically placed in an array.
7 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for calibrating a SAW interrogator, comprising the steps of:
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providing a SAW interrogator having a transmitter portion, a receiver portion, and a control portion;
providing an independent receiver;
positioning said SAW interrogator and independent receiver in a predefined spaced relationship;
transmitting a signal at a predetermined frequency and power level from the transmitter portion of the SAW interrogator;
receiving the signal transmitted from the transmitter portion of the SAW interrogator by the independent receiver;
measuring selected characteristics of the signal received by the independent receiver; and
comparing the measured characteristics of the signal received by the independent receiver to a first set of predetermined reference values, whereby the result of the step of comparing provides an indication of the operational characteristics of said interrogator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for calibrating a drive-by interrogator, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of pairs of first and second interrogators, each interrogator having a transmitter portion and a receiver portion;
positioning each pair of interrogators in predefined spaced relationships;
transmitting a signal at a predetermined frequency and power level from the transmitter portion of a first interrogator of a first pair of said pairs of interrogators;
receiving the signal transmitted from the transmitter portion of the first interrogator by the receiver portion of the second interrogator of the first pair of said pairs of interrogators;
measuring selected characteristics of the signal received by the receiver portion of the second interrogator; and
comparing the measure characteristics of the signal received by the receiver portion of the second interrogator to a first set of predetermined reference values whereby the result of the step of comparing provides an indication of the operational characteristics of said first and second interrogators. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a drive-by interrogator lane, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of interrogators each having a transmitter portion and a receiver portion;
configuring the plurality of interrogators as an array of paired interrogators forming spaced apart columns arranged such that the tires of a multi-wheeled vehicle may pass there between;
performing at least one diagnostic test on selected of the plurality of interrogators; and
permitting passage of a vehicle through the lane based upon the result of the diagnostic test. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification