Method And System For Identifying Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tag Location Using A Switchable Coil

• US 20080090519A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza, Shameli, Amin
• Granted Patent: US 8,165,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for identifying a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag location using a switchable coil are presented. Aspects of the systems may include one or more processors that enable selection of an inductor coil from a plurality of inductor coils. The selection of the inductor coil may be based on a change in an electromagnetic field, with respect to an initial electromagnetic field, as detected by the selected inductor coil. The processors may enable transmission of a signal, having a transmitter frequency in the UHF frequency band, via the selected inductor coil.

Claims

1. A method for communicating information in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

selecting an inductor coil from a plurality of inductor coils based on a change in an electromagnetic field, with respect to an initial electromagnetic field, detected by said selected inductor coil; and

transmitting a signal, having a transmitter frequency in a UHF frequency band, via said selected inductor coil.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter frequency is about 900 MHz.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating said initial electromagnetic field via said selected inductor coil.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising detecting at least one of:

a magnitude and a direction, for said electromagnetic field, and detecting at least one of;

a magnitude and a direction for said initial electromagnetic field.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising detecting said at least one of:

said magnitude and said direction for said initial electromagnetic field when an impedance measured from said selected inductor coil is approximately equal to an impedance of a wireless communications medium in an immediate vicinity of said selected inductor coil.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising configuring at least one transistor to select said selected inductor coil.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising transmitting said transmitted signal via an electromagnetic field generated by said selected inductor coil.

8. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for communicating information in a wireless communication system, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

selecting an inductor coil from a plurality of inductor coils based on a change in an electromagnetic field, with respect to an initial electromagnetic field, detected by said selected inductor coil; and

transmitting a signal, having a transmitter frequency in a UHF frequency band, via said selected inductor coil.

9. The machine-readable storage according to claim 8, wherein said transmitter frequency is about 900 MHz.

10. The machine-readable storage according to claim 8, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for generating said initial electromagnetic field via said selected inductor coil.

11. The machine-readable storage according to claim 8, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for detecting at least one of:

a magnitude and a direction, for said electromagnetic field, and detecting at least one of;

a magnitude and a direction, for said initial electromagnetic field.

12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 11, comprising detecting said at least one of:

said magnitude and said direction for said initial electromagnetic field when an impedance measured from said selected inductor coil is approximately equal to an impedance of a wireless communications medium in an immediate vicinity of said selected inductor coil.

13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 8, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for configuring at least one transistor to select said selected inductor coil.

14. The machine-readable code according to claim 8, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for transmitting said transmitted signal via an electromagnetic field generated by said selected inductor coil.

15. A system for communicating information in a wireless communication system, the system comprising:

at least one processor that enables selection of an inductor coil from a plurality of inductor coils based on a change in an electromagnetic field, with respect to an initial electromagnetic field, detected by said selected inductor coil; and

said at least one processor enables transmission of a signal, having a transmitter frequency in a UHF frequency band, via said selected inductor coil.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said transmitter frequency is about 900 MHz.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one processor enables generation of said initial electromagnetic field via said selected inductor coil.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one processor enables detection of at least one of:

a magnitude and a direction for said electromagnetic field, and detection of at least one of;

a magnitude and a direction for said initial electromagnetic field.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said at least one processor enables detection of said at least one of:

said magnitude and said direction for said initial electromagnetic field when an impedance measured from said selected inductor coil is approximately equal to an impedance of a wireless communications medium in an immediate vicinity of said selected inductor coil.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one processor enables configuration of at least one transistor to select said selected inductor coil.

21. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one processor enables transmission of said transmitted signal via an electromagnetic field generated by said selected inductor coil.