DUAL USE RFID/EAS DEVICE
First Claim
1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising:
- an antenna; and
a chip operatively coupled to the antenna;
wherein the chip includes circuitry to selectively operate the RFID device two modes;
a relatively low sensitivity RFID mode used for communicating with RFID readers/detectors; and
a relatively high sensitivity electronic article surveillance (EAS) mode for communicating as EAS readers/detectors.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A radio frequency identification (RFID) device has multiple modes of operation. One of the modes of operation is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) mode, which is used to allow use of the RFID device as an EAS device. Another mode of operation is an RFID mode, which allows normal function of the RFID device in RFID communications. The EAS mode has greater sensitivity than the RFID mode, requires less power than the RFID mode to operate the device, and requires less current and/or voltage for operation. The EAS mode may achieve these different characteristics by one or more of: switching off some digital blocks in the circuitry of the RFID device; reducing power storage required to respond to incoming signals; reducing the length of response to incoming signals; reducing modulation required for a response; changing chip input impedance; and having multiple chip ports with different impedances.
87 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising:
-
an antenna; and a chip operatively coupled to the antenna; wherein the chip includes circuitry to selectively operate the RFID device two modes; a relatively low sensitivity RFID mode used for communicating with RFID readers/detectors; and a relatively high sensitivity electronic article surveillance (EAS) mode for communicating as EAS readers/detectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of utilizing an RFID device for use as an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device, the method comprising:
-
entering an improved sensitivity mode of operation that improves sensitivity over that of a normal mode of operation that is used for RFID communication; and while in the improved sensitivity mode, communicating with an EAS reader/detector. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:
-
a chip; and an antenna operatively coupled to the chip; wherein the chip including circuitry for operation between a first mode and a second mode; and wherein each of the first and second modes operate at a different sensitivity. - View Dependent Claims (21)
-
-
22. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:
-
a chip; and an antenna operatively coupled to the chip; wherein the chip includes circuitry for operating at a normal mode and at least a second mode, and wherein the chip selectively operates between the normal mode and the second mode; and wherein the chip deactivates one of the normal mode and second mode on receipt of a signal.
-
Specification