RFID Interrogator With Adjustable Signal Characteristics

• US 20090273449A1
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Keystone Technology Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Tuttle, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,179,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.400
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator housed in a portable platform that includes at least one antenna, a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal through the antenna, and a controller in communication with the transceiver for adjusting power and direction of the transmitted RF signal. The controller can be configured to adjust the antenna orientation, and can also selectively activate and deactivate one or more antennas.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator comprising:

a portable platform;

at least one antenna coupled to the platform;

a transceiver coupled to the platform for transmitting and receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal through the antenna; and

a controller coupled to the platform and in communication with the transceiver for adjusting power and direction of the transmitted RF signal.

2. The RFID interrogator of claim 1, further comprising a trigger coupled to the platform and signaling the transceiver to transmit the RF signal.

3. The RFID interrogator of claim 2, wherein the trigger signals the transceiver to receive an RF signal emanating from a RFID device.

4. The RFID interrogator of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust polarization of the antenna by changing an antenna orientation.

5. The RFID interrogator of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate and deactivate one or more antennas.

6. The RFID interrogator of claim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to the platform and in communication with the transceiver for processing and retrieving information from a received RF signal.

7. The RFID interrogator of claim 6, further comprising a user interface (UI) coupled to the platform and in communication with the processor for presenting the information to a user.

8. The RFID interrogator of claim 7, wherein the presented information includes an indication of distance between the interrogator and an item of interest.

9. The RFID interrogator of claim 7, wherein the presented information includes an indication having any one of an audio indication, visual indication, and physical indication.

10. The RFID interrogator of claim 1, further comprising a transducer coupled to the platform for presenting an alert to a user.

11. The RFID interrogator of claim 10, wherein the alert includes any one of an audio indication, visual indication, and physical indication.

12. A radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal; and

a controller in communication with the transceiver for adjusting characteristics of the RF signal.

13. The RFID interrogator of claim 12, wherein the characteristics include power of the transmitted RF signal.

14. The RFID interrogator of claim 12, wherein the characteristics include direction of the transmitted RF signal.

15. The RFID interrogator of claim 12, further comprising an antenna in communication with the transceiver.

16. The RFID interrogator of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to adjust polarization of the antenna by changing an antenna orientation.

17. The RFID interrogator of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate and deactivate one or more antennas.

18. The RFID interrogator of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to select a direction from which the RFID interrogator receives return signals from RFID devices.

19. The RFID interrogator of claim 12, further comprising a processor in communication with the transceiver for processing and retrieving information from the received RF signal.

20. The RFID interrogator of claim 19, further comprising a user interface in communication with the processor for presenting the information to a user.

21. The RFID interrogator of claim 20, wherein the presented information includes an indication of distance between the interrogator and an item of interest.

22. The RFID interrogator of claim 20, wherein the presented information includes an indication having any one of an audio indication, visual indication, and physical indication.

23. The RFID interrogator of claim 12, further comprising a transducer for presenting an alert to a user.

24. The RFID interrogator of claim 23, wherein the alert includes any one of an audio indication, visual indication, and physical indication.

25. The RFID interrogator of claim 12, further comprising an aiming device for indicating a direction targeted by the interrogator.