Dual Use RFID/EAS Device
First Claim
1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising:
- a chip having a first set of contacts and a second set of contacts;
a first antenna for connection to the first set of contacts;
a second antenna for connection to the second set of contacts;
wherein the chip includes circuitry to selectively operate the RFID device two modes;
a relatively low sensitivity RFID mode used for communicating with RFID readers/detectors; and
a relatively high sensitivity electronic article surveillance (EAS) mode for communicating as EAS readers/detectors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radio frequency identification (RFID) device has multiple modes of operation. One of the modes of operation is an electronic article surveillance (EAS) mode, which is used to allow use of the RFID device as an EAS device. Another mode of operation is an RFID mode, which allows normal function of the RFID device in RFID communications. The EAS mode has greater sensitivity than the RFID mode, requires less power than the RFID mode to operate the device, and requires less current and/or voltage for operation. The EAS mode may achieve these different characteristics by one or more of: switching off some digital blocks in the circuitry of the RFID device; reducing power storage required to respond to incoming signals; reducing the length of response to incoming signals; reducing modulation required for a response; changing chip input impedance; and having multiple chip ports with different impedances.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising:
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a chip having a first set of contacts and a second set of contacts; a first antenna for connection to the first set of contacts; a second antenna for connection to the second set of contacts; wherein the chip includes circuitry to selectively operate the RFID device two modes; a relatively low sensitivity RFID mode used for communicating with RFID readers/detectors; and a relatively high sensitivity electronic article surveillance (EAS) mode for communicating as EAS readers/detectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of utilizing an RFID device for use as an electronic article surveillance (EAS) device, the method comprising:
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entering an improved sensitivity mode of operation that improves sensitivity over that of a normal mode of operation that is used for RFID communication; while in the improved sensitivity mode, communicating with an EAS mode; and wherein the RFID device includes a chip having a first set of contacts and a second set of contacts, a first antenna for connection to the first set of contacts, and a second antenna for connection to the second set of contacts. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification