Metal compensated radio frequency identification reader

• US 6,377,176 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Applied Wireless Identifications Group Incorporated (AWID)
• Original Assignee: Applied Wireless Identifications Group Incorporated (AWID)
• Inventors: Lee, Donny V.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US09/846,563
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 343/702, 343/741, 343/742, 343/788, 343/866, 343/867, 343/895, 235/381, 340/572.1, 340/572.2, 340/572.6, 340/825.54, 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• 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: G08B 13/2408 using ferromagnetic tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2477 Antenna or antenna activator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal

Abstract

The present invention features an improved radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader which operates with a low power consumption and which may tolerate a wide fluctuation in input voltages. The RFID reader is housed so that the influence of its physical surroundings, especially metallic objects, on system performance is minimized. A pre-compensation metal plate is used to stabilize the self-resonant frequency of the reader, even in the presence of large metal masses. The pre-compensation plate may be formed from aluminum or another non-ferrous material or, for long-range RFID readers, from ferrite or another similar, high magnetically permeable material. In addition, the RFID reader features improved sensitivity so that the effective operating distance is maximized. Also, the operating frequency is dynamically controlled in discrete steps of 10 Hz or less so that the effects of component parameter drift, temperature change, or other external factors are minimized. The RFID reader also automatically adapts itself to the requirements of an external access control system to which it is attached.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system, comprising:

a) an RFID reader generating an electromagnetic field at a predetermined frequency, said RFID reader having sensing means that interfaces with an external access control system for sensing a data polarity requirement of said external access control system, and to configure an output of said RFID system to conform to said polarity requirement, said RFID reader further comprising pre-compensation means for substantially eliminating changes to an RF field caused by influences of metal proximate said RFID reader; and

b) an RFID transponder that interacts with said electromagnetic field of said RFID reader, said RFID transponder containing an ID code associated therewith, and wherein said RFID transponder has means for disrupting said electromagnetic field of said RFID reader, whereby said ID code is transmitted to said RFID reader as a data stream comprising a preamble of imbedded data and at least two data bit groups, each of which has a parity bit.

2. The radio frequency identification (RFID) system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said data bit groups comprises three data bits.

3. The radio frequency identification (RFID) system as recited in claim 1, wherein said data stream is dynamically alterable to a length of between approximately 26 and 52 data bits.

4. The radio frequency identification (RFID) system as recited in claim 1, wherein said RFID reader comprises automatic configuration means to sense at least a data polarity requirement of said access control system, and to configure an output of said RFID system to conform to said requirement.

5. The radio frequency identification (RFID) system as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined frequency is dynamically alterable in response to at least one condition from the group:

changing a parameter of a component within said RFID, changing temperature, changing an external metallic mass.

6. The radio frequency identification (RFID) system as recited in claim 5, wherein said predetermined frequency is dynamically alterable in discrete steps.

7. The radio frequency identification (RFID) system as recited in claim 6, wherein said discrete steps are less than approximately 10 Hz.