Remote sensor, device and method for activating selected remote sensor components

• US 20060202802A1
• Filed: 05/11/2004
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 65 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Seppä, Heikki
• Granted Patent: US 7,671,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.300
• 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 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions

Abstract

This publication discloses a remote identifier, a reader, and a method for activating a desired remote identifier. The remote identifier (2) includes a microcircuit (7), in which there is a memory and means for processing a radio-frequency signal, an antenna (6) connected to the microcircuit (7), by means of which both the signal and also electric power for the operating voltage of the microcircuit (7) can be received. According to the invention, a component (3), the electrical properties of which change due to the effect of infrared, or visible light, is electrically connected to the microcircuit (7) of the remote identifier and in the microcircuit (7) there are means, by which the combined effect of a change in the radio-frequency signal and the electrical component (3) can be expressed by a correlation method for the signals, in order to activate the remote identifier (2) for two-way data transmission.

Claims

1. A remote identifier (2) that can be attached to products, which includes

a microcircuit (7), in which there is a memory and means for processing a radio-frequency signal and

an antenna (6) connected to the microcircuit (7), by means of which both the signal and also electric power for the operating voltage of the microcircuit (7) can be received,

characterized in that

a component (3), the electrical properties of which change due to the effect of infrared, or visible light, is electrically connected to the microcircuit (7) of the remote identifier and

there are means in the microcircuit (7), by which the combined effect of a change in the radio-frequency signal and the electrical component (3) can be expressed by a correlation method for the signals, in order to activate the remote identifier (2) for two-way data transmission.

2. A remote identifier (2) according to the above claim, characterized in that the component (3) that changes electrically due to the effect of radiation is a photosensitive polymer resistance.

3. A reader for reading the remote identifier (2), which reader includes

means for transmitting and receiving a radio-frequency signal to and from the remote identifier (2),

characterized in that

the reader (1) includes a light source (10), and

control means (11) for a light source (10), by means of which the signal of the light source can be synchronized with a radio-frequency signal.

4. A reader (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that it is integrated in a mobile station (1).

5. A method in a reader (1) of remote identifiers, in which reader information is sent to the remote identifier (2) and information is received from the remote identifier (2), characterized in that a signal in the infrared or visible light range, which is synchronized with the radio-frequency signal, is sent to the remote identifier simultaneously with the radio-frequency signal.

6. A remote-identifier system, which includes

a reader (1), in which there are means for radio-frequency transmission and reception,

a remote identifier (2), in which there are means for radio-frequency two-way communication with the reader (1) and means for exploiting the energy radiated by the reader as its own operating voltage,

characterized in that

the reader (1) includes a light source (10) operating in the infrared or visible light range and control means (11) for controlling the light source in synchronization with a radio-frequency signal, and

the remote identifier (2) includes means (3) for detecting the simultaneous presence of a light signal and a radio-frequency signal.

7. A remote-identifier method, in which

radio-frequency information and electrical power is sent to the remote identifier, with the aid of the reader (1),

the remote identifier (2) is used to receive and transmit radio-frequency information using a radio-frequency signal as operating energy,

characterized in that

the reader (1) is used to transmit radiation in the infrared or visible-light ranges, in synchronization with the radio frequency, and

the remote identifier (2) is used to detect the simultaneous presence of a light signal and a radio-frequency signal.

8. A method in a remote-identifier reader (1), in which reader information is transmitted to the remote identifier (2) and information is received from the remote identifier (2), characterized in that the transmission power of the reader (1) is reduced to such a level that the reader (1) is able to read only in the immediate vicinity of a remote identifier (2).