Wireless Communication Systems, Interrogators and Methods of Communicating Within a Wireless Communication System

• US 20070290813A1
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Greeff, Roy, Ovard, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,969,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.4
• 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

Abstract

A wireless communication system includes an interrogator including a housing including circuitry configured to generate a forward link communication signal; communication circuitry configured to communicate the forward link communication signal; and a communication station remotely located with respect to the housing and configured to receive the forward link communication signal from the communication circuitry and to radiate a forward link wireless signal corresponding to the forward link communication signal; and at least one remote communication device configured to receive the forward link wireless signal. A method of communicating within a wireless communication system includes providing an interrogator and at least one remote communication device; generating a forward link communication signal using circuitry within a housing of the interrogator; communicating the forward link communication signal from the housing using communication circuitry; receiving the forward link communication signal from the communication circuitry within a communication station of the interrogator remotely located from the housing; radiating a forward link wireless signal corresponding to the forward link communication signal using the communication station; and receiving the forward link wireless signal within the at least one remote communication device.

Claims

1-42. -42. (canceled)

43. An interrogator system comprising:

a plurality of communication stations;

an interrogator housing coupled to the plurality of communication stations via communication circuitry;

the interrogator housing comprising circuitry for providing packets in a proper format for forward link communications to remote communication devices and for demodulating return link communications from the remote communication devices; and

the communication stations having transmit and receive circuitry for communicating with the remote communication devices, wherein the transmit circuitry comprises first adjustment circuitry for adjusting one or more characteristics of forward link signals.

44. The interrogator system of claim 43, wherein the one or more characteristics of the forward link signals include a power level.

45. The interrogator system of claim 44, wherein the first adjustment circuitry includes automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry.

46. The interrogator system of claim 45, wherein the AGC circuitry includes a loop filter that compares a voltage associated with the forward link signals to a reference voltage, and that provides a control signal to a variable gain amplifier.

47. The interrogator system of claim 43, further comprising:

second adjustment circuitry in the interrogator housing for adjusting one or more characteristics of return link signals.

48. The interrogator system of claim 47, wherein the one or more characteristics of the return link signals include a power level.

49. The interrogator system of claim 47, wherein the second adjustment circuitry includes automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry.

50. The interrogator system of claim 49, wherein the AGC circuitry includes a loop filter that compares a voltage associated with the return link signals to a reference voltage, and that provides a control signal to a variable gain amplifier.

51. The interrogator system of claim 49, wherein the AGC circuitry is operable to limit the return link signals to a power level that will prevent saturation of components in the interrogator housing.

52. A method of communicating with a plurality of remote communication devices comprising:

providing an interrogator housing coupled to a plurality of communication stations via communication circuitry;

providing, in the interrogator housing, packets having a proper format for forward link communications to the remote communication devices;

demodulating, in the interrogator housing, return link communications from the remote communication devices;

adjusting at least one electrical characteristic of forward link signals using first automatic gain control circuitry; and

adjusting at least one electrical characteristic of reverse link signals using second automatic gain control circuitry.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the adjusting at least one electrical characteristic of the forward link signals is adjusting a power level.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the adjusting at least one electrical characteristic of the reverse link signals is adjusting a power level.

55. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

comparing a voltage associated with the forward link signals to a reference voltage; and

providing a control signal to a variable gain amplifier.

56. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

comparing a voltage associated with the reverse link signals to a reference voltage; and

providing a control signal to a variable gain amplifier.

57. A transmit circuit for communicating with remote devices comprising:

a variable gain amplifier coupled to communication circuitry for receiving forward link signals and for providing amplified forward link signals to a power amplifier;

a detector for generating a forward link voltage signal based upon an output of the variable gain amplifier; and

a loop filter for comparing the forward link voltage signal to a reference voltage signal and for controlling a gain of the variable gain amplifier, wherein the gain of the variable gain amplifier is controlled to maintain the amplified forward link signals within a predefined power range.

58. A receive circuit for processing reverse link signals received from remote devices comprising:

a variable gain amplifier coupled to communication circuitry for receiving the reverse link signals and for providing power-adjusted reverse link signals to a receiver;

a detector for generating a reverse link voltage signal based upon an output of the variable gain amplifier; and

a loop filter for comparing the reverse link voltage signal to a reference voltage signal and for controlling a gain of the variable gain amplifier, wherein the gain of the variable gain amplifier is controlled to maintain the power-adjusted reverse link signals within a predefined power range.

59. The receive circuit of claim 58, wherein the predefined power range is selected to prevent saturation of the receiver.

60. The receiver circuit of claim 58, wherein the receiver performs a down-conversion operation on the reverse link signals.

61. The receiver circuit of claim 58, wherein the receiver generates in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals.