Methods and systems for testing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags having multiple antennas

• US 20070244657A1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Hockey, Theodore, White, Joseph, Sun, Ming-Hao, Drago, Randall
• Application Number:
  US11/401,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20070244657A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for testing antenna(s) of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag are described. A reader transmits a test command signal to a RFID tag having a plurality of antennas. Each antenna of the plurality of antennas is coupled to a respective antenna port. The tag processes the test command signal to determine which one or more of the plurality of antennas is to be tested. The tag couples an information signal to the antenna port(s) corresponding with the antenna(s) to be tested. For example, the tag may include enabling elements that selectively couple the information signal to respective antenna ports based on respective test control signals. The RFID tag generates the test control signals based on the test command signal. The reader awaits receipt of the information signal from the RFID tag.

Claims

1. A method of testing antenna(s) of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag having a first antenna coupled to a first antenna port and a second antenna coupled to a second antenna port, comprising:

(a) receiving a test command signal from a reader;

(b) generating first and second test control signals based on the test command signal;

(c) selectively coupling an information signal to the first antenna port based on the first test control signal; and

(d) selectively coupling the information signal to the second antenna port based on the second test control signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) includes receiving a custom command in accordance with Gen2.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises receiving in the test command signal an indication to test a characteristic of the first antenna.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step (c) includes coupling the information signal to the first antenna port, and wherein step (d) includes decoupling the information signal from the second antenna port.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein lack of transmission of the information signal at the first antenna indicates tampering with an object to which the first antenna is affixed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a connection between the first antenna port and the first antenna is configured to be broken when interaction with the object occurs.

7. A method of testing antenna(s) of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag having an integrated circuit, a first antenna, and a second antenna, comprising:

transmitting a test command signal to the radio frequency identification (RFID) tag; and

awaiting receipt of an information signal in response to said transmitting the test command signal;

wherein receipt of the information signal indicates that the information signal is coupled to the first antenna; and

wherein lack of receipt of the information signal indicates that the information signal is not coupled to the first antenna.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting the test command signal includes transmitting a custom command in accordance with an EPC Gen2 communication protocol.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining whether the RFID tag supports the test command, wherein the transmitting step is performed if the RFID tag is determined to support the test command.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining step is performed based on an identification number associated with the RFID tag.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

enabling the integrated circuit to decouple the information signal from a second antenna port that is coupled to the second antenna.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

enabling the integrated circuit to couple the information signal to a first antenna port that is coupled to the first antenna.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein lack of receipt of the information signal indicates tampering with an object to which the first antenna is affixed.

14. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader configured to test antennas of an RFID tag having a first antenna port coupled to a first antenna and a second antenna port coupled to a second antenna, comprising:

means for generating a test command signal including a parameter, wherein the parameter indicates which one of the first antenna or the second antenna is to be tested;

means for transmitting the test command signal to the RFID tag; and

means for receiving an information signal from the RFID tag in response to the transmitted test command signal.

15. The RFID tag reader of claim 14, wherein the test command signal is a custom command signal in accordance with an EPC Gen2 communication protocol.

16. The RFID tag reader of claim 14, further comprising:

means for determining whether the RFID tag supports the test command signal.

17. The RFID tag reader of claim 16, wherein the means for determining is configured to determine whether the RFID tag supports the test command signal based on an identification number associated with the RFID tag.

18. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

a first antenna port coupled to a first antenna;

a second antenna port coupled to a second antenna;

a first enabling element configured to selectively couple an information signal to the first antenna port based on a first test control signal;

a second enabling element configured to selectively couple the information signal to the second antenna port based on a second test control signal;

wherein the first and second test control signals are based on a test command signal received from a tag reader.

19. The RFID tag of claim 18, wherein the first enabling element is a first buffer, and wherein the second enabling element is a second buffer.

20. The RFID tag of claim 18, wherein the test command signal is a custom command signal in accordance with an EPC Gen2 communication protocol.

21. The RFID tag of claim 18, further comprising:

a state machine to generate the first test control signal and the second test control signal based on the custom command.

22. The RFID tag of claim 18, wherein the first antenna is coupled to an object, and wherein a connection between the first antenna port and the first antenna is configured to be broken when tampering with the object occurs.

23. A method of testing antennas of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag having a first antenna coupled to a first antenna port and a second antenna coupled to a second antenna port, comprising:

receiving first and second test control signals and an information signal;

coupling the information signal to the first antenna port based on the first test control signal; and

coupling the information signal to the second antenna port based on the second test control signal.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

generating the first and second test control signals based on an EPC Gen2 custom command signal received from a reader.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein lack of transmission of the information signal at the first antenna indicates tampering with an object to which the first antenna is affixed.