HYBRID ULTRASONIC AND RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090278661A1
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: HARRINGTON, NATHAN JOHN
• Granted Patent: US 8,138,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/75 by polling or interrogating the sub-stations
• 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 system and method includes a tag reader and radio frequency identification tag. The tag reader includes an ultrasonic transducer capable of transmitting tones at selected ultrasonic frequencies and a radio transmitter capable of transmitting signals at selected radio frequencies. The tag reader includes a radio receiver capable of receiving signals at selected radio frequencies. The tag reader determines if a received radio frequency signal is modulated at a selected ultrasonic frequency. The radio frequency identification tag includes an array of combination resonator/reflectors. Each combination resonator/reflector of the array includes an ultrasonic resonator coupled to a radio reflector. Each resonator/reflector of the array is tuned to a unique pair of selected ultrasonic frequencies and selected radio frequencies.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification system, which comprises:

a tag reader, including;

an ultrasonic transducer capable of transmitting tones at selected ultrasonic frequencies;

a radio transmitter capable of transmitting signals at selected radio frequencies;

a radio receiver capable of receiving signals at selected radio frequencies; and

,

means for determining if a received radio frequency signal is modulated at a selected ultrasonic frequency; and

,

a radio frequency identification tag, including;

an array of combination resonator/reflectors, each combination resonator/reflector of said array including an ultrasonic resonator coupled to a radio reflector, wherein each resonator/reflector of said array is tuned to a unique pair of selected ultrasonic frequencies and selected radio frequencies.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tag reader further includes:

means for means stepping said radio transmitter through a plurality of selected radio frequencies.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tag reader further includes:

means for stepping said radio receiver through said plurality of selected radio frequencies.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tag reader further includes:

means for stepping said ultrasonic transducer through a plurality of selected tones at each of said selected radio frequencies.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said selected radio frequencies range from about 300 GHz to about 470 GHz.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said selected ultrasonic frequencies range from about 45 KHz to about 130 KHz.

7. A radio frequency identification tag, which comprises:

an array of combination resonator/reflectors, each combination resonator/reflector of said array including an ultrasonic resonator coupled to a radio reflector, wherein each resonator/reflector of said array is tuned to a unique pair of selected ultrasonic frequencies and selected radio frequencies.

8. The radio frequency identification tag as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said selected radio frequencies range from about 300 GHz to about 470 GHz.

9. The radio frequency identification tag as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said selected ultrasonic frequencies range from about 45 KHz to about 130 KHz.

10. A method of identifying an article, which comprises:

associating with said article a radio frequency identification tag, said radio frequency identification tag including at least one combination resonator/reflector, said at least one combination resonator/reflector including an ultrasonic resonator coupled to a radio reflector, wherein said at least one resonator/reflector is tuned to a unique pair of selected ultrasonic frequencies and selected radio frequencies.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

directing a tone having a first ultrasonic frequency at said radio frequency identification tag;

directing a radio signal having a first radio frequency at said radio frequency identification tag; and

,

determining if a radio signal having said first radio frequency is reflected from said radio frequency identification tag and if said reflected signal is modulated at said first ultrasonic frequency.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said radio frequency identification tag comprises:

an array of combination resonator/reflectors, each combination resonator/reflector of said array including an ultrasonic resonator coupled to a radio reflector, wherein each resonator/reflector of said array is tuned to a unique pair of selected ultrasonic frequencies and selected radio frequencies.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

directing a radio signal having a first radio frequency at said radio frequency identification tag;

simultaneously directing a tone having a first ultrasonic frequency at said radio frequency identification tag; and

,

determining if a radio signal having said first radio frequency is reflected from said radio frequency identification tag and if said reflected signal is modulated at said first ultrasonic frequency.