Power consumption management for an RFID reader

• US 20070001816A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Farpointe Data Incorporated (dormakaba Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Farpointe Data Incorporated (dormakaba Holding AG)
• Inventors: Lindley, Scott, Geiszler, Theodore, Bierach, Kirk
• Granted Patent: US 8,830,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.340
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10128 the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device

Abstract

Power consumption management for a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system. The RF system includes an RFID device and a host. The RFID reader includes an RFID controller, an excitation signal transmitter, a response signal receiver, an optional RFID device detector, a host interface input/output, and a user interface. The method includes establishing a first power consumption level for the RFID reader, establishing a second power consumption level that is different from the first, and changing between the first level and the second level. The difference between the first level and the second level is derived from at least one technique for power consumption management. A plurality of techniques are presented. Among the potential benefits to reduced power consumption are increased energy efficiency and reduced radiated emissions. The option of choosing between power consumption levels presents unique opportunities in system design, implementation, and operation.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader comprising:

an RFID controller;

an excitation signal transmitter coupled to the RFID controller;

a response signal receiver coupled to the RFID controller;

a host interface input/output coupled to the RFID controller and coupled to the host; and

a user interface coupled to the RFID controller,

wherein the RFID reader is enabled to utilize at least one technique for power consumption management to change between a first power consumption level and a second power consumption level different from the first.

2. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to sleep the RFID controller.

3. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to change between a first voltage level and a second voltage level at which the excitation signal transmitter is pulsed.

4. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the response signal receiver is powered on.

5. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the excitation signal transmitter is powered on and coordinate the powering of the response signal receiver to that of the excitation signal transmitter.

6. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

an RFID device detector coupled to the RFID controller,

wherein the RFID device detector ascertains the presence of the RFID device by sampling a receive signal and determining whether a sufficient number of successive receive clocks are present in a row at a select frequency and

wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to place the RFID reader in a detection sleep state until the RFID device is detected to be in proximity to the RFID reader.

7. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the host interface input/output is powered on.

8. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the response signal receiver is powered on and coordinate the powering of the host interface input/output to that of the response signal receiver.

9. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the user interface is powered on.

10. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is peak versus off-peak time wherein the first power consumption level is used during peak times and the second power consumption level is used during off-peak times.

11. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is high versus low demand frequency wherein the first power consumption level is used during high demand frequency times and the second power consumption level is used during low demand frequency times.

12. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is a power outage emergency wherein the first power consumption level is used during normal power times and the second power consumption level is used during power outage times.

13. The RFID reader as defined in claim 12, wherein the second power consumption level for the RFID reader is such that power can be supplied to the RFID reader at least in part by the host.

14. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is an emergency wherein the first power consumption level is used during normal times and the second power consumption level is used during emergency times.

15. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management includes a condition that is sensed by the RFID reader.

16. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management includes a condition that is sensed by an external device and communicated to the RFID reader.

17. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management includes a dynamic condition that is customized by the RFID reader based on empirical data.

18. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein a present power consumption level of the RFID reader is made known to one or more elements of the RF system.

19. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein a change in power consumption level of the RFID reader is made known to one or more elements of the RF system.

20. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein a change in the power consumption level of the RFID reader is accomplished through the use of at least one of a switch, a push button, a rotary dial, a control card, and a control key.

21. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein a change in the power consumption level of the RFID reader is accomplished at least in part through a command from the host to the RFID reader.

22. A method of power consumption management for a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader including an RFID controller, an excitation signal transmitter, a response signal receiver, a host interface input/output, and a user interface, the method comprising:

establishing a first power consumption level for the RFID reader; and

establishing a second power consumption level for the RFID reader that is different from the first power consumption level,

wherein the difference between the first power consumption level and the second power consumption level is derived from at least one technique for power consumption management.

23. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to sleep the RFID controller.

24. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to change between a first voltage level and a second voltage level at which the excitation signal transmitter is pulsed.

25. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the response signal receiver is powered on.

26. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the excitation signal transmitter is powered on and coordinate the powering of the response signal receiver to that of the excitation signal transmitter.

27. The method as defined in claim 22,

wherein the RFID reader further comprises an RFID device detector,

wherein the RFID device detector ascertains the presence of the RFID device by sampling a receive signal and determining whether a sufficient number of successive receive clocks are present in a row at a select frequency, and

wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to place the RFID reader in a detection sleep state until the RFID device is detected to be in proximity to the RFID reader.

28. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the host interface input/output is powered on.

29. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the response signal receiver is powered on and coordinate the powering of the host interface input/output to that of the response signal receiver.

30. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the user interface is powered on.

31. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is peak versus off-peak time wherein the first power consumption level is used during peak times and the second power consumption level is used during off-peak times.

32. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is high versus low demand frequency wherein the first power consumption level is used during high demand frequency times and the second power consumption level is used during low demand frequency times.

33. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is a power outage emergency wherein the first power consumption level is used during normal power times and the second power consumption level is used during power outage times.

34. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the second power consumption level for the RFID reader is such that power can be supplied to the RFID reader at least in part by the host.

35. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management is an emergency wherein the first power consumption level is used during normal times and the second power consumption level is used during emergency times.

36. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management includes a condition that is sensed by the RFID reader.

37. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management includes a condition that is sensed by an external device and communicated to the RFID reader.

38. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the at least one technique for power consumption management includes a dynamic condition that is customized by the RFID reader based on empirical data.

39. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein a present power consumption level of the RFID reader is made known to one or more elements of the RF system.

40. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein a change in power consumption level of the RFID reader is made known to one or more elements of the RF system.

41. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the change in the power consumption level is accomplished through the use of at least one of a switch, a push button, a rotary dial, a control card, and a control key.

42. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the change in the power consumption level is accomplished at least in part through a command from the host to the RFID reader.

43. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader comprising:

means for establishing a first power consumption level for the RFID reader;

means for establishing a second power consumption level for the RFID reader that is different from the first power consumption level,

wherein the difference between the first power consumption level and the second power consumption level is derived from at least one technique for power consumption management.