RFID TAG COMMUNICATION TRIGGERED BY SENSED ENERGY
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for reading radio frequency identification (RFID) tags comprising:
- an energy source configured to generate an appropriate energy signal or an appropriate temperature level to trigger a response from one or more RFID tags within range of the energy source; and
,an RFID reader comprising;
at least one data memory component,at least one RFID radio,at least one input/output component, andat least one processor coupled among the data memory component, the RFID radio, and the input/output component, wherein the processor is configured to;
transmit an RF query to the RFID tags within a predetermined time window after the energy source generates the appropriate energy signal or the appropriate temperature level;
receive one or more responses from the RFID tags, wherein the responses provide to the RFID reader data stored within the RFID tags;
process the one or more responses from the RFID tags; and
transmit data to write to a memory in a specific RFID tag;
wherein the RFID tags are configured to respond and provide the data stored within the RFID tags when the RFID tags receive the appropriate energy signal or the appropriate temperature level from the energy source and/or to write data to memory with the RFID tag upon receiving the appropriate energy signal or the appropriate temperature level from the energy source; and
,wherein the appropriate energy signal has a minimum power level or is encoded and selected from a group consisting of;
laser light, infrared light, one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and ultrasound.
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Abstract
An RFID tag is equipped with an energy sensor for receiving an appropriate energy signal or registering an appropriate temperature/environmental level. The RFID tag only responds to a query from an RFID reader if the sensor receives the appropriate stimulation.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for reading radio frequency identification (RFID) tags comprising:
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an energy source configured to generate an appropriate energy signal or an appropriate temperature level to trigger a response from one or more RFID tags within range of the energy source; and
,an RFID reader comprising; at least one data memory component, at least one RFID radio, at least one input/output component, and at least one processor coupled among the data memory component, the RFID radio, and the input/output component, wherein the processor is configured to; transmit an RF query to the RFID tags within a predetermined time window after the energy source generates the appropriate energy signal or the appropriate temperature level; receive one or more responses from the RFID tags, wherein the responses provide to the RFID reader data stored within the RFID tags; process the one or more responses from the RFID tags; and transmit data to write to a memory in a specific RFID tag; wherein the RFID tags are configured to respond and provide the data stored within the RFID tags when the RFID tags receive the appropriate energy signal or the appropriate temperature level from the energy source and/or to write data to memory with the RFID tag upon receiving the appropriate energy signal or the appropriate temperature level from the energy source; and
,wherein the appropriate energy signal has a minimum power level or is encoded and selected from a group consisting of;
laser light, infrared light, one or more wavelengths of electromagnetic energy, and ultrasound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An RFID tag for at least receiving signals from an RFID reader, the RFID tag comprising:
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an antenna configured to receive an RF signal from the RFID reader; a memory for storing tag data; a sensor circuit for receiving a triggering signal different from the RF signal; circuitry, coupled to the antenna, the memory, and the sensor circuit, wherein the circuitry is configured to; receive the triggering signal via the sensor circuitry, and process the RF signal and transmit a response via the antenna only after first receiving the triggering signal. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An RFID tag comprising:
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an antenna configured to receive an RF signal from an RFID reader; and
,a circuitry in communication with the antenna and configured to; operate in a first mode, wherein in the first mode the circuitry processes the RF signal and transmits a response via the antenna without first receiving an appropriate signal, and operate in a second mode, wherein in the second mode the circuitry processes the RF signal and transmits a response via the antenna only after receiving the appropriate signal, wherein the circuitry toggles between the first mode and the second mode upon receiving a mode-switching signal, and the mode-switching signal is an encoded RF signal. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method of querying RFID tags, comprising:
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generating a selected energy signal or monitoring when an energy level satisfies a condition relative to an energy threshold, wherein at least one of the RFID tags is responsive to the selected energy signal or the energy level satisfies the condition relative to the energy threshold; and
,in response to the generating of the selected energy signal or the monitoring for when the energy level satisfies the condition relative to the energy threshold, transmitting an RF read or write signal to at least one of the RFID tags. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of responding to an RFID reader query, comprising:
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receiving a predetermined energy signal; receiving an RF query signal from an RFID reader; and
,responding to the RF query only if a triggering event occurs based at least in part on the receiving of the predetermined energy signal, and wherein the triggering event is not the RF query signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification