RFID SYSTEMS USING DISTRIBUTED EXCITER NETWORK
First Claim
1. An RFID system configured to manipulate RFID tags, comprising:
- an RFID receiver system configured to detect information from RFID tags within a receive coverage area; and
a plurality of exciters defining a plurality of interrogation spaces within the receive coverage area of the RFID receiver system;
wherein the RFID receiver system is configured to transmit a control signal that identifies one of the plurality of exciters and includes information indicative of an RFID tag interrogation signal;
wherein the plurality of exciters are configured to receive the control signal; and
wherein the exciter identified in the control signal is configured to illuminate an interrogation space with the RFID tag interrogation signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
RFID systems are disclosed that include at least one RFID receiver system and a distributed exciter architecture. The exciters can be connected via wired and/or wireless connections to the RFID receiver system and the RFID receiver system can control the activation of the exciters to detect the presence of RFID tags within interrogation spaces defined by the exciter topology. In several embodiments, the RFID receiver system performs location estimation to determine the interrogation space in which a specific RFID tag or collection of RFID tags is located. One embodiment of the invention includes an RFID receiver system configured to detect information from RFID tags within a receive coverage area, and a plurality of exciters defining a plurality of interrogation spaces within the receive coverage area of the RFID receiver system. In addition, the RFID receiver system is configured to transmit a control signal that identifies one of the plurality of exciters and includes information indicative of an RFID tag interrogation signal, the plurality of exciters are configured to receive the control signal, and the exciter identified in the control signal is configured to illuminate an interrogation space with the RFID tag interrogation signal.
54 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An RFID system configured to manipulate RFID tags, comprising:
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an RFID receiver system configured to detect information from RFID tags within a receive coverage area; and a plurality of exciters defining a plurality of interrogation spaces within the receive coverage area of the RFID receiver system; wherein the RFID receiver system is configured to transmit a control signal that identifies one of the plurality of exciters and includes information indicative of an RFID tag interrogation signal; wherein the plurality of exciters are configured to receive the control signal; and wherein the exciter identified in the control signal is configured to illuminate an interrogation space with the RFID tag interrogation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An exciter configured to illuminate an interrogation space, comprising:
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an input configured to receive a control signal including an exciter address and information indicative of an RFID tag interrogation signal; a transmitter configured to transmit an RFID tag interrogation signal; a decode module configured to control the transmitter to transmit the RFID tag interrogation signal indicated by a control signal, when the exciter is addressed by the exciter address in the control signal.
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42. A method of manipulating an RFID tag using a plurality of distributed exciters, comprising:
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generating a control signal including an exciter address and an RFID tag interrogation signal; transmitting the control signal to at least one of the plurality of distributed exciters; illuminating an interrogation space with the RFID tag interrogation signal using the exciter addressed by the control signal; and receiving an RFID tag information signal.
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43. A method of estimating the location of an RFID tag within a plurality of interrogation spaces, comprising:
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repeatedly illuminating each of the plurality of interrogation spaces; recording the illuminated interrogation space when the RFID tag is detected; and determining the rate at which the RFID tag is detected when each interrogation space is illuminated; and recording the rate at which the RFID tag is detected for each interrogation space and for each exciter. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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Specification