Multi-band wireless communication device and method

• US 20060160513A1
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mineral Lassen LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Forster, Ian J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/272
• 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 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/45 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/12 Frequency diversity

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, such as a transponder, that has a plurality of antennas for multi-frequency usage. The wireless communication device comprises a control system, communication electronics, memory, and the aforementioned antennas. A wireless communication device having a pole antenna may be used with one or more loop conductor antennas to achieve the desired operating frequencies. A wireless communication device having a dipole antenna may be coupled across a loop conductor antenna to provide different loop conductor configurations depending on the frequency.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A method of testing output from a wireless communication device comprising at least two sets of wireless communication electronics, said method comprising:

interrogating the wireless communication device at a first frequency to query one of said at least two sets of wireless communication electronics;

interrogating the wireless communication device at a second frequency to query a second one of said at least two sets of wireless communication electronics; and

comparing outputs received from said wireless communication device at said first and second frequencies.

38. The method claim 37 further comprising synchronizing said outputs.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein synchronizing said outputs comprises sending instructions to one of said wireless communication electronics to update information stored in memory associated herewith.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising archiving both outputs.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising comparing date stamps associated with each of said both outputs.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein sending instructions to one of said wireless communication electronics to update information stored in memory associated therewith comprises sending the output having the later date stamp to the wireless communication electronics whose output comprises the earlier date stamp.