SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING RFID READERS UTILIZING RF OR MODULATION SIGNALS

• US 20140218175A1
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amtech Systems LLC (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amtech Systems LLC (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Melville, Michael George, Gravelle, Kelly, Gonzales, Michael Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,396,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/016 Synchronisation of sensing process
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10039 interrogator driven, i.e. synchronous
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10475 arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for synchronizing two RFID readers. The system includes a modulation detector to detect a modulated signal produced by a first of the two reader and produces a synchronization signal. The second of the two readers initiates transmission of a signal in response to the synchronization signal.

Claims

1. A method for synchronizing a first and second RFID reader comprising

transmitting a first signal from the first RFID reader, said signal having a modulation pattern;

detecting said first modulation pattern;

producing a synchronization signal in response to said detecting;

transmitting a second signal from the second RFID reader in response to said synchronization signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second RFID reader delays transmitting said second signal after said synchronization signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said second RFID reader immediately transmits said second signal after said synchronization signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said second signal is at a different frequency than said first signal.

5. A system for communicating with RFID transponders comprising:

a first RFID reader;

a second RFID reader in relative proximity to said first RFID reader;

said second RFID reader comprising a modulation detection circuit for detecting a modulated signal from said first RFID reader, wherein

said modulation detection circuit produces a trigger signal after which said second RFID reader transmits a signal.

6. A system for communicating with RFID transponders comprising

a first sub-system a RFID reader;

a second subsystem a RFID reader in relative proximity to said first sub-system a RFID reader;

said second subsystem a RFID reader comprising a subsystem a modulation detection circuit for detecting a modulated signal from said first subsystem a RFID reader,

a first sub-system b RFID reader;

a second subsystem b RFID reader in relative proximity to said first sub-system b RFID reader said first subsystem a RFID reader and said second subsystem a RFID reader;

said second subsystem b RFID reader comprising a modulation detection circuit for detecting a modulated signal from said first subsystem b RFID reader,

wherein

said subsystem a modulation detection circuit produces a trigger signal after which said second subsystem a RFID reader transmits a signal and

said subsystem b modulation detection circuit produces a trigger signal after which said second subsystem b RFID reader transmits a signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said second subsystem a RFID reader and said second subsystem b RFID reader operate at different frequencies.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said first subsystem a RFID reader and said first subsystem b RFID reader operate in different time slots.