Dual frequency identification system

• US 4,647,931 A
• Filed: 11/29/1984
• Issued: 03/03/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RCA Corporation (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: RCA Corporation (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Mawhinney, Daniel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tubbesing, T. H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr Earl
• Application Number:
  US06/676,094
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 343/6 A, 343/6.5 LC, 343/6.5 SS, 343/6.8 LC, 340/505, 375/67, 375/87, 375/88, 342/42-51
• US Class Current: 342/44
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/82 wherein continuous-type signals are transmitted
• 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

Abstract

An identification system comprising one or more tags and an interrogator. A tag is responsive to a radio frequency signal transmitted from the interrogator for phase modulating the signal alternately with a first frequency and a second frequency depending on a preselected code and for re-radiating the phase modulated signal back to the interrogator.

Claims

1. An identification system comprising, in combination:

an interrogator for transmitting a radio frequency signal; and

a tag including means receptive of said radio frequency signal for phase modulating said signal alternately at a first non-zero frequency and a second non-zero frequency in accordance with a preselected code and including means for re-radiating the thus modulated signal to said interrogator,

said tag further including means producing a digital code signal for identifying said tag, which code signal is said preselected code, and further including a clock source coupled to said means producing said digital code signal for causing said code signal to be produced at a rate determined by the frequency of said clock,

said interrogator further including means for demodulating the radio frequency component of the returned signal to thus produce a signal alternating between said first frequency and said second frequency and further including first and second amplitude modulated (AM) radios, each radio having a tuner adjustable over a band of frequencies, said tuners being tuned to pass said first and second frequencies respectively for passing signals indicative of said first and second frequencies, respectively, when present.

2. An identification system comprising in combination:

an interrogator for transmitting a radio frequency signal; and

a tag including means receptive of said radio frequency signal for phase modulating said signal alternately at a first non-zero frequency and a second non-zero frequency in accordance with a preselected code and including means for re-radiating the thus modulated signal to said interrogator,

said interrogator further including means for demodulating the radio frequency component of the returned signal to thus produce a signal alternating between said first frequency and said second frequency and further including first and second amplitude modulated radios, each radio having a tuner adjustable over a band of frequencies, said tuner being tuned to said first and second frequencies respectively for passing signals indicative of said first and second frequencies, respectively, when present.