Isolating RFID Reader

• US 20110090060A1
• Filed: 10/16/2009
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Milind M. Tavshikar
• Original Assignee: Milind M. Tavshikar
• Inventors: Tavshikar, Milind M.
• Application Number:
  US12/580,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20110090060A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0728 the arrangement being an optical or sound-based communication interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0004 Hybrid readers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10316 using at least one antenna particularly designed for interrogating the wireless record carriers antennas in general H01Q1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication

Abstract

Systems and methods for using a multimodal handheld reader are described. The reader can be used to read non electronic labels, passive RFID tags using backscatter modulation techniques and battery based active RFID tags using a single handheld. The reader deploys a multiplexed antenna design and thereby contains a method to read a group of passive RFID tags and at the same time the reader can isolate a single passive RFID tag from amongst a group of passive RFID tags within close proximity. All such passive RFID tags use backscatter modulation techniques and are in the readers own RF zone.

Claims

1. An apparatus for interrogating a population of wireless identification tags, the apparatus comprising:

a radio frequency module for broadcasting radio frequency signals to and receiving backscatter modulated radio-frequency signals from the tags; and

an antenna assembly comprising at least one dipole antenna and at least one loop antenna configured to shield radio energy from all tags in the population of tags except a particular tag of interest.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an optical reader module for identifying barcodes.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller module configured to multiplex and demux optical signals and radio frequency signals simultaneously.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) module for determining a physical location of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the antenna operates within a ultra-high frequency band.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the controller module is further configured to alternate between a single-tag read mode and a multi-tag read mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the population of identification tags comprise one or more of barcode tags, active RFID tags, and passive RFID tags.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a communication module for collecting information received from the identification tags and transmitting the collected information to one or more external systems.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the controller module is further configured to adjust attenuation levels and power levels of the antenna by altering the respective gain levels associated with antenna.