Detecting Passive RF Components Using Radio Frequency Identification Tags

• US 20130201006A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Outdoor Wireless Networks LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kummetz, Thomas, Eisenwinter, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 9,590,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10019 resolving collision on the communication channels between simultaneously or concurrently interrogated record carriers. collision between the communication channels used by wireless communication devices, where the solution is not particularly adapted for RFIDs or the like, H04W74/08
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10267 the arrangement comprising a circuit inside of the interrogation device
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/68 using passive jamming, e.g. by shielding or reflection shielding of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic field H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/138 using RFID

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for automatically detecting passive components in communications systems using radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tags. A coupling circuit is provided in a system between a communications network and an RFID tag. The RFID tag is associated with a passive element of a distributed antenna system (“DAS”). The coupling circuit can allow an RFID signal received from an RFID transmitter over the communications network to be transported to the RFID tag. The coupling circuit can substantially prevent mobile communication signals on the communications network from being transported to the RFID tag.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a coupling circuit between a communications network and an RFID tag associated with a passive element of a distributed antenna system, the coupling circuit being configured for allowing an RFID signal received from an RFID transmitter over the communications network to be transported to the RFID tag and for substantially preventing mobile communication signals on the communications network from being transported to the RFID tag.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the RFID transmitter in a fixed location in the distributed antenna system, the fixed location being remote to the passive element; and

the passive element, the passive element being a non-powered element.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications network comprises a coaxial cable.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupling circuit comprises a physical coupling between the RFID tag and the communications network.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the physical coupling comprises a resonant coupling circuit, the resonant coupling circuit configured with a resonant frequency allowing the RFID signal received from the RFID transmitter over the communications network to be transported to the RFID tag and for substantially preventing the mobile communication signals on the communications network from being transported to the RFID tag.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the physical coupling comprises at least one of a directional coupler or a non-directional coupler.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupling circuit comprises an air coupling between the RFID tag and the communications network.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the air coupling comprises an RFID antenna communicatively coupled to the RFID tag and configured to receive the RFID signal from an antenna of the distributed antenna system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupling circuit comprises:

a physical coupling between the RFID tag and the communications network; and

an air coupling between the RFID tag and the communications network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the coupling circuit further comprises a power divider between the RFID tag and each of the physical coupling and the air coupling.

11. A distributed antenna system comprising:

a communications network;

a RFID transmitter positioned in a remote antenna unit;

an RFID tag associated with a passive element remote from a position of the RFID transmitter over the communications network;

a coupling circuit configured for providing a physical coupling between the RFID tag and the communications network.

12. The distributed antenna system of claim 11, wherein the coupling circuit is configured to allow RFID signals through the coupling circuit and substantially prevent non-RFID signals from passing through the coupling circuit.

13. The distributed antenna system of claim 11, wherein the communications network comprises a coaxial cable.

14. The distributed antenna system of claim 11, wherein the coupling circuit comprises a resonant coupling circuit, the resonant coupling circuit configured with a resonant frequency allowing an RFID signal received from the RFID transmitter over the communications network to be transported to the RFID tag and for substantially preventing mobile communication signals on the communications network from being transported to the RFID tag.

15. The distributed antenna system of claim 11, further comprising an air coupling between the RFID tag and the communications network.

16. The distributed antenna system of claim 15, wherein the air coupling comprises an RFID antenna communicatively coupled to the RFID tag and configured to receive an RFID signal from an antenna of the distributed antenna system, the RFID signal transmitted by the RFID transmitter.

17. A method comprising:

providing a coupling circuit between a communications network and an RFID tag associated with a passive element of a distributed antenna system; and

transmitting an RFID signal received from an RFID transmitter to the RFID tag via the communications network and the coupling circuit,

wherein the coupling circuit substantially prevents mobile communication signals on the communications network from being communicated to the RFID tag.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing the RFID transmitter in a fixed location in the distributed antenna system, wherein the fixed location is remote to the passive element.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the communications network comprises a coaxial cable.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein providing the coupling circuit comprises a providing a resonant coupling circuit allowing the RFID signal received from the RFID transmitter over the communications network to be transported to the RFID tag and for substantially preventing the mobile communication signals on the communications network from being transported to the RFID tag.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the coupling circuit comprises an air coupling between the RFID tag and the communications network.

22. The method of claim 21,

wherein providing the coupling circuit that includes the air coupling comprises providing an RFID antenna communicatively coupled to the RFID tag;

and

further comprising receiving the RFID signal from an antenna of the distributed antenna system.