Synchronization and adaptive timing method for multiple RFID reader system
First Claim
1. A method of synchronizing a plurality of electronic identification interrogators comprising:
- designating one of the plurality of interrogators as a master interrogator and designating at least one other interrogator as a slave interrogator;
sending a synchronization signal from the master interrogator;
receiving the synchronization signal in the slave interrogator;
activating the slave interrogator in accordance with the synchronization signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a system comprising multiple electronic (radio frequency) identification interrogator devices, which are used to activate and to receive identification code information from one or more passive transponder devices, activation signals are synchronized and adaptively timed by a master interrogator. The master interrogator generates a synchronization signal containing frequency, phase, and cadence information, and uses this synchronization signal to generate its own activation signal. The master interrogator also conveys this synchronization signal to slave interrogators, where it is used to generate each slave'"'"'s activation signal. Each slave interrogator conveys to the master interrogator its transponder detection status information, and the master interrogator modifies the synchronization signal'"'"'s cadence in compliance with timing requirements of ISO Standard 11785. A universal interrogator architecture is employed, whereby each interrogator is configured by software to be either the master interrogator or a slave interrogator. Fail-safe operation of the system is possible by virtue of a slave interrogator'"'"'s ability to reconfigure itself as the master interrogator in the event of loss of the primary master interrogator'"'"'s synchronization signal.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of synchronizing a plurality of electronic identification interrogators comprising:
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designating one of the plurality of interrogators as a master interrogator and designating at least one other interrogator as a slave interrogator;
sending a synchronization signal from the master interrogator;
receiving the synchronization signal in the slave interrogator;
activating the slave interrogator in accordance with the synchronization signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electronic identification interrogation system comprising:
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a master interrogator;
at least one slave interrogator;
a synchronization signal generator controlled by the master interrogator for sending a synchronization signal;
a receiver in the slave interrogator for receiving the synchronization signal;
an adaptive control circuit in the slave interrogator coupled to the receiver for activating the slave interrogator in accordance with the synchronization signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A universal interrogator for an electronic identification interrogation system having one interrogator operating as a master interrogator and at least one slave interrogator, the universal interrogator comprising:
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a synchronization signal generator;
a synchronization signal receiver;
a transponder status detector;
configuration control logic for configuring the universal interrogator as a master interrogator or a slave interrogator in response to an input from the synchronization signal receiver.
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Specification