Transponder systems for automatic identification purposes
First Claim
1. A dual-datalink transponder system, said system comprising:
- a. an interrogator, said interrogator havingi. a UHF modulator operable to modulate UHF uplink data upon a UHF carrier thereby generating a UHF uplink signal thereupon,ii. a UHF antenna for receiving said UHF uplink signal and for transmitting said UHF uplink signal as a UHF wireless uplink message, said UHF antenna further for receiving a UHF wireless downlink message and for generating a UHF downlink signal,iii. a UHF demodulator which receives said UHF downlink signal and extracts UHF downlink data therefrom,iv. an LF modulator which modulates LF uplink data upon an LF carrier to generate an LF uplink signal,v. an LF antenna for receiving said LF uplink signal and for transmitting said LF uplink signal as an LF wireless uplink message, andvi. a controller operable to receive said UHF downlink data, to supply said UHF uplink modulator with said UHF uplink data, and to supply said LF uplink data to said LF uplink modulator; and
b. a transponder, said transponder comprisingi. an LF antenna for receiving said LF wireless uplink message,ii. an LF demodulator which demodulates said LF uplink data from said LF wireless uplink message,iii. a UHF antenna operable to receive said UHF wireless uplink message, to derive a transponder UHF uplink signal therefrom, to receive a transponder UHF downlink signal comprising UHF downlink data impressed thereon, and to transmit a wireless downlink message containing said UHF downlink data,iv. a UHF modulator that impresses said UHF downlink data upon said UHF antenna to form a transponder UHF downlink signal,v. a UHF demodulator operable to receive said transponder UHF uplink signal and to demodulate said UHF uplink data therefrom, andvi, a controller for receiving said transponder LF uplink data and said transponder UHF uplink data, said controller further providing said UHF downlink data to said UHF modulator.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of communicating between an interrogator (10) and at least a first and second transponder (12). The transponders (12)are separately located within a first and a second vehicle (20) travelling within a first and a second traffic lane, respectively. The method has the steps of providing a first and a second LF antenna (16) associated with and proximity to a first and a second traffic lane, respectively. From each of the first and second LF antennas (16) a continuous LF subcarrier is transmitted to serve as a clock signal for each antenna'"'"'s associated transponder (12). Initially, a wake-up signal is sent by each of the LF antennas (16) to its associated transponder (12). Following the wake-up signal, a unique lane code is sent by each of the LF antennas (16) to its associated transponder (12). The transponder (12) stores its unique lane code in its memory (70). The transponder then sends a UHF response in a pre-determined time period depending on the unique lane code stored in each of the transponders (12). The time period in which the transponder (12) sends its UHF response is unique to that transponder (12) so that interference between responding transponders (12) is avoided. Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.
208 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A dual-datalink transponder system, said system comprising:
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a. an interrogator, said interrogator having i. a UHF modulator operable to modulate UHF uplink data upon a UHF carrier thereby generating a UHF uplink signal thereupon, ii. a UHF antenna for receiving said UHF uplink signal and for transmitting said UHF uplink signal as a UHF wireless uplink message, said UHF antenna further for receiving a UHF wireless downlink message and for generating a UHF downlink signal, iii. a UHF demodulator which receives said UHF downlink signal and extracts UHF downlink data therefrom, iv. an LF modulator which modulates LF uplink data upon an LF carrier to generate an LF uplink signal, v. an LF antenna for receiving said LF uplink signal and for transmitting said LF uplink signal as an LF wireless uplink message, and vi. a controller operable to receive said UHF downlink data, to supply said UHF uplink modulator with said UHF uplink data, and to supply said LF uplink data to said LF uplink modulator; and b. a transponder, said transponder comprising i. an LF antenna for receiving said LF wireless uplink message, ii. an LF demodulator which demodulates said LF uplink data from said LF wireless uplink message, iii. a UHF antenna operable to receive said UHF wireless uplink message, to derive a transponder UHF uplink signal therefrom, to receive a transponder UHF downlink signal comprising UHF downlink data impressed thereon, and to transmit a wireless downlink message containing said UHF downlink data, iv. a UHF modulator that impresses said UHF downlink data upon said UHF antenna to form a transponder UHF downlink signal, v. a UHF demodulator operable to receive said transponder UHF uplink signal and to demodulate said UHF uplink data therefrom, and vi, a controller for receiving said transponder LF uplink data and said transponder UHF uplink data, said controller further providing said UHF downlink data to said UHF modulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An interrogator for a dual-datalink transponder system, said interrogator comprising:
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a. a UHF uplink modulator operable to modulate UHF uplink data upon a UHF carrier thereby generating a UHF uplink signal; b. a UHF antenna for receiving said UHF uplink signal from said UHF uplink modulator and for transmitting said UHF uplink signal as a UHF wireless uplink message, said UHF antenna further for receiving a UHF wireless downlink message and for generating a UHF downlink signal; c. a UHF downlink demodulator which receives said UHF downlink signal and extracts UHF downlink data therefrom; d. an LF uplink modulator which modulates LF uplink data upon an LF carrier to generate an LF uplink signal; e. an LF antenna for receiving said LF uplink signal from said LF uplink modulator and for transmitting said LF uplink signal as an LF wireless uplink message; and f. an interrogator controller operable to receive said UHF downlink data from said UHF downlink demodulator, to supply said UHF uplink modulator with said UHF uplink data for modulation upon said UHF uplink signal, and to supply said LF uplink data to said LF uplink modulator for modulation upon said LF uplink signal.
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14. A transponder for a dual-datalink transponder system, said transponder comprising:
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a. an LF antenna for receiving an LF wireless uplink message modulated upon an LF carrier, b. an LF demodulator which demodulates LF uplink data from said LF wireless uplink message, c. a UHF antenna operable to receive a UHF wireless uplink message modulated upon a UHF carrier, to derive a transponder UHF uplink signal therefrom, to receive a transponder UHF downlink signal comprising UHF downlink data impressed thereon, and to transmit a wireless downlink message containing said UHF downlink data, d. a UHF modulator that impresses said UHF downlink data upon said UHF antenna to form said transponder UHF downlink signal, e. a UHF demodulator operable to receive said transponder UHF uplink signal and to demodulate said UHF uplink data therefrom, and f. a controller for receiving said LF uplink data and said transponder UHF uplink data, said controller further providing said UHF downlink data to said UHF modulator. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification