Multi-interrogator, datacom and transponder arrangement

• US 5,455,575 A
• Filed: 09/23/1994
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland Gesellschaft Mit Beschrã¤Nkter Haftung (Texas Instruments, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schuermann, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US08/311,827
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 342/42, 342/44, 342/50, 342/51
• US Class Current: 342/42
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas

Abstract

A multi-interrogator transponder arrangement is disclosed. The transponder arrangement comprises a first interrogation unit (10) comprising a first wireless datacom transceiver (19) which transmits at least one RF interrogation signal. The arrangement also comprises a second interrogation unit (16) comprising a second wireless datacom transceiver which is in wireless communication with the first wireless datacom transceiver 19. The arrangement still further comprises a responder unit (12) which upon receipt of the RF interrogation signal transmits data stored therein back to the first interrogation unit 10 in the form of a responsive RF communication, the responder unit (12) comprising a responder unit energy accumulator (136) which stores energy contained in the RF interrogation signal. Other devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A multi-interrogator transponder arrangement comprising:

a) a first interrogation unit which transmits at least one RF interrogation signal and comprises

i) a first microprocessor,

ii) a first carrier wave generator whose oscillation may be initiated by said first microprocessor,

iii) a first modulator for modulating said oscillations of said first carrier wave generator, said first modulator being controlled by said first microprocessor,

iv) a first antenna which receives at a signal input the output of said first modulator and generates a first wireless data communication into a transmitting medium and further receives a second wireless data communication from said transmitting medium and makes a first received signal available at its output, and

v) a first demodulator for demodulating said first received signal and making a first demodulated bit stream available at its output to be received by said first microprocessor;

b) a second interrogation unit comprising

i) a second microprocessor,

ii) a second carrier wave generator whose oscillation may be initiated by said second microprocessor,

iii) a second modulator for modulating said oscillations of said second carrier wave generator, said second modulator being controlled by said second microprocessor,

iv) a second antenna which receives at a signal input the output of said second modulator and generates said second wireless data communication into said transmitting medium and further receives said first wireless data communication from said transmitting medium and makes a second received signal available at its output,

v) a second demodulator for demodulating said second received signal and making a second demodulated bit stream available at its output to be received by said second microprocessor; and

c) a responder unit which upon receipt of said RF interrogation signal transmits data stored therein back to said first interrogation unit in the form of a modulated RF carrier, said responder unit comprising

i) a responder unit energy accumulator which stores energy contained in said RF interrogation signal, and

ii) a responder unit RF carrier wave generator.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said first interrogation unit further comprises a first output amplifier for amplifying the output of said first carrier wave generator for reception thereof by said first modulator.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said first interrogation unit further comprises a first input amplifier which receives said first received signal from said output of said first antenna and produces a first amplified received signal at its output for reception thereof by said first demodulator.

4. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein said second interrogation unit further comprises an a second output amplifier for amplifying the output of said second carrier wave generator for reception thereof by said second modulator.

5. The arrangement of claim 4 wherein said second interrogation unit further comprises a second input amplifier which receives said second received signal from said output of said second antenna and produces a second amplified received signal at its output for reception thereof by said second demodulator.

6. A method of communicating between interrogators in a multi-interrogator transponder arrangement, said method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting a first RF interrogation signal from a first interrogator, said first RF interrogation signal for interrogating a transponder within said first interrogator'"'"'s reading range;

b) receiving in said first interrogator an RF response from said transponder;

c) transmitting a second RF interrogation signal from a second interrogator, said second RF interrogation signal for interrogating another transponder within said second interrogator'"'"'s reading range;

d) receiving in said second interrogator an RF response from said another transponder;

e) transmitting a wireless inquiry from said first interrogator to said second interrogator;

f) transmitting a wireless response from said second interrogator, said wireless response comprising information gathered from said another transponder in response to said second RF interrogation signal; and

e) transmitting a summary message from said first interrogator to a host computer, said summary message comprising information from said first and second RF responses from said transponders.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said wireless inquiry is made by amplitude shift keying of said first RF interrogation signal.

12. The method of claim 6 and further comprising the step of providing status information to a user of said first interrogator by means of a visual display.

8. A wireless paging system comprising:

a. a first interrogator which transmits a first RF interrogation signal, said first interrogator comprising

i. a first microprocessor,

ii. a first wireless datacom transceiver operating under the control of said first microprocessor, said transceiver for transmitting and receiving wireless communications,

iii. a first presentation means operating under the control of said first microprocessor, said first presentation means for notifying an operator of statuses of said first set of wireless communications;

b. a second interrogator which transmits a second RF interrogation, said second interrogator comprising

i. a second microprocessor,

ii. a second wireless datacom transceiver operating under the control of said first microprocessor, said transceiver in wireless electrical communication with said first wireless datacom transceiver for transmitting and receiving said wireless communications, the received wireless communications being the same wireless communications as were transmitted by the first wireless datacom transceiver, and the transmitted wireless communications being the same wireless communications as were received by said first wireless datacom transceiver,

iii. a second presentation means operating under the control of said first microprocessor, said first presentation means for notifying an operator of statuses of said second set of wireless communications;

c. a paging control unit, said paging control unit comprising

i. a wireless datacom transceiver in wireless communication with said first and second wireless datacom transceivers, and

ii. an operator interface by which a paging system operator may receive notifications from said interrogators; and

d. a responder which upon receipt of one of said RF interrogation signal transmits data stored therein back to the interrogator that transmitted said received RF interrogation, said data being transmitted by a wireless communication in the form of a responsive RF communication, said responder comprising a responder energy accumulator which stores energy contained in said received RF interrogation signal.

9. The wireless paging system of claim 8 wherein said presentation means is a display device.

10. The wireless paging system of claim 8 wherein said presentation means is an audio speaker.

11. The wireless paging system of claim 8 wherein said paging control unit further comprises a host interface for communicating with a host computer.