Method of remote powering and detecting multiple UWB passive tags in an RFID system

• US 20080252422A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Dallum, Gregory E., Spiridon, Alex, Dowla, Farid U., Nekoogar, Faranak, Benzel, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,188,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• 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 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10306 ultra wide band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71635 Transmitter aspects H04B1/7174 takes precedence

Abstract

A new Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), tracking, powering apparatus/system and method using coded Ultra-wideband (UWB) signaling is introduced. The proposed hardware and techniques disclosed herein utilize a plurality of passive UWB transponders in a field of an RFID-radar system. The radar system itself enables multiple passive tags to be remotely powered (activated) at about the same time frame via predetermined frequency UWB pulsed formats. Once such tags are in an activated state, an UWB radar transmits specific “interrogating codes” to put predetermined tags in an awakened status. Such predetermined tags can then communicate by a unique “response code” so as to be detected by an UWB system using radar methods.

Claims

1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) method, comprising:

remotely powering one or more tags using an ultra-wideband format so as to activate said one or more tags,

transmitting one or more uniquely coded ultra-wideband interrogation signals so as to configure such tags to be on an awakened status to generate a respective response code within each of said alerted one or more tags; and

receiving modulated ultra-wideband radar signals indicative of said response codes so that said one or more tags are detected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said powering step comprises low duty cycle high-peak power ultra-wideband pulses.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said high-peak power ultra-wideband pulses comprises one or more pulses having amplitudes of up to about 1 KV.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said powering and said receiving steps further comprise ranges of up to about 20 meters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitted uniquely coded ultra-wideband interrogation signals comprise orthogonal codes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said respective response codes are configured to switch an antenna within in each said tag to a reflective or a non-reflective state so as to result in said modulated radar signals.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each said response code is produced by a serial number generator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said powering, said transmitting and said receiving steps further comprise using ultra-wideband pulses having pulse widths of less than about 5 ns.

9. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ultra-wideband system, comprising:

one or more passively configured tags,

an ultra-wideband transceiver configured to generate high-peak power ultra-wideband pulses so as to remotely activate said one or more tags, said transceiver being further configured to initiate a unique response code within said one or more activated tags upon subsequent interrogation using ultra-wideband pulsed formats; and

means configured within said activated one or more tags to radar modulate predetermined ultra-wideband pulsed formats directed from said transceiver.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said one or more tags are configured at a range of up to about 20 meters.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said means comprises an ultra-wideband radar antenna.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said means comprises a switching circuitry within in each said tag configured to switch said antenna to a radar reflective or a radar non-reflective state based on said unique response codes so as to result in said modulated ultra-wideband interrogation pulses.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said high-peak power ultra-wideband pulses comprise pulses having amplitudes of up to about 1 KV.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said subsequent interrogation using ultra-wideband pulsed formats comprise orthogonal codes.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein said ultra-wideband pulses and said ultra-wideband pulsed formats comprise pulses of less than about 5 ns.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein said one or more tags comprise a rectifying diode as part of a rectifying circuitry.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein each said tag comprises a serial number generator to produce said unique response code.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said unique response code is identical to said interrogating code.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said unique response code is different to said interrogating code.

20. An ultra-wideband (UWB) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, comprising:

one or more tags configured in a passive state,

an ultra-wideband high peak power burst generator configured to activate said one or more tags using ultra-wideband high peak power pulses,

an ultra-wideband transmitter adapted to interrogate said activated one or more tags using ultra-wideband pulsed formats so as to awaken predetermined one or more tags and initiate a unique response code,

one or more ultra-wideband receivers configured to receive modulated interrogation ultra-wideband signals resulting from said initiated unique response codes directed from said awakened tags; and

processing means coupled to said ultra-wideband receiver for correlation, range determination, and for distinguishing said modulated interrogation ultra-wideband signals received from said awakened one or more tags.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said one or more tags can be activated and detected at a range of up to about 20 meters.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said one or more tags comprise a rectifying diode for powering purposes.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein a circuitry within in each said one or more tags is configured to switch an antenna to a reflective or a non-reflective state based on said unique response codes so as to produce said modulated ultra-wideband interrogation signals.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein said ultra-wideband high peak power pulses and said ultra-wideband pulsed formats comprise pulses of less than about 5 ns.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein said interrogation ultra-wideband pulsed formats comprise orthogonal codes.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein each respective said receiver is configured to detect a different frequency indicative of a predetermined tags said unique response code.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein said interrogating ultra-wideband pulsed formats is identical to said unique response code embedded in a predetermined tag.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein said interrogating ultra-wideband pulsed formats is different to said unique response code embedded in a predetermined tag.