Apparatus for transporting radio frequency power to energize radio frequency identification transponders

• US 6,429,775 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Sousa, Paul J., Zai, Li-Cheng R., Heinrich, Harley Kent, Martinez, Rene D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/658,953
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/693.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.34, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 342/42, 342/44, 342/51, 375/202
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• 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 apparatus, method, and system are provided for sending radio frequency (RF) power to RF transponders (RFID tags), wherein the frequency sent to the tags is changed very rapidly.

Claims

1. A method of transporting energy from a base station to a radio frequency (RF) transponder (RF tag), comprising:

a) transporting for a first time RF electromagnetic wave energy from the base station to the RF tag, the RF energy having a first frequency f₁;

then

b) transporting for a second time RF electromagnetic wave energy from the base station to the RF tag, the RF energy having a second frequency f₂, wherein the time t₀ taken to change frequency from the first to the second frequency is less than 100 microseconds.

2. The method of claim 1, where t₀ is less than 10 microseconds.

3. The method of claim 2, where t₀ is less than 1 microsecond.

4. The method of claim 3, where t₀ is less than 500 nanoseconds.

5. The method of claim 1, where the base station switches from a first RF generator generating f₁ to a second generator generating f₂.

6. The method of claim 5, where t₀ is less than 10 microseconds.

7. The method of claim 6, where t₀ is less than 1 microsecond.

8. The method of claim 7, where t₀ is less than 500 nanoseconds.

9. The method of claim 1, where the base station switches from f₁ to f₂ using a fractional phase lock apparatus.

10. The method of claim 9, where t₀ is less than 10 microseconds.

11. The method of claim 10, where t₀ is less than 1 microsecond.

12. The method of claim 11, where t₀ is less than 500 nanoseconds.

13. The method of claim 1, where the base station switches from f₁ to f₂ using a phase lock apparatus which compares multiple bits from a reference frequency counter with multiple bits from a VCO frequency counter.

14. The method of claim 13, where t₀ is less than 10 microseconds.

15. The method of claim 14, where t₀ is less than 1 microsecond.

16. The method of claim 15, where t₀ is less than 500 nanoseconds.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a base station for transporting energy to a radio frequency (RF) transponder (RF tag), the base station transporting for a first time RF electromagnetic wave energy, the RF energy having a first frequency f₁ during the first time, the base station transporting for a second time RF energy from the base station to the RF tag, the RF energy having a second frequency f₂ during the second time, wherein the time t₀ taken to change frequency from the first to the second frequency is less than 100 microseconds.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, where t₀ is less than 10 microseconds.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, where t₀ is less than 1 microsecond.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, where t₀ is less than 500 nanoseconds.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, where the base station switches from a first RF generator generating f₁ to a second generator generating f₂.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, where t₀ is less than 10 microseconds.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, where t₀ is less than 1 microsecond.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, where t₀ is less than 500 nanoseconds.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, where the base station switches from f₁ to f₂ using a fractional phase lock apparatus.

26. The apparatus of claim 25. where t₀ is less than 10 microseconds.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, where t₀ is less than 1 microsecond.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, where t₀ is less than 500 nanoseconds.

29. The apparatus of claim 17, where the base station switches from f₁ to f₂ using a phase lock apparatus which compares multiple bits from a reference frequency counter with multiple bits from a VCO frequency counter.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, where t₀ is less than 10 microseconds.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, where t₀ is less than 1 microsecond.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, where t₀ is less than 500 nanoseconds.

33. A system, comprising:

a base station for transporting energy to a radio frequency (RF) transponder (RF tag), the base station transporting for a first time RF electromagnetic wave energy, the RF energy having a first frequency f₁ during the first time, the base station transporting for a second time RF energy from the base station to the RF tag, the RF energy having a second frequency f₂ during the second time, wherein the time t₀taken to change frequency from the first to the second frequency is less than 100 microseconds;

a computer controlling the base station; and

at least one RF tag for receiving energy from the base station.

34. The system of claim 33, where t₀ is less than 10 microseconds.

35. The system of claim 34, where t₀ is less than 1 microsecond.

36. The system of claim 35, where t₀ is less than 500 nanoseconds.

37. The system of claim 33, where the base station switches from a first RF generator generating f₁ to a second generator generating f₂.

38. The system of claim 37, where t₀ is less than 10 microseconds.

39. The system of claim 38, where t₀ is less than 1 microsecond.

40. The system of claim 39, where t₀ is less than 500 nanoseconds.

41. The system of claim 33, where the base station switches from f₁ to f₂ using a fractional phase lock system.

42. The system of claim 41, where t₀ is less than 10 microseconds.

43. The system of claim 42, where t₀ is less than 1 microsecond.

44. The system of claim 43, where t₀ is less than 500 nanoseconds.

45. The system of claim 33, where the base station switches from f₁ to f₂ using a phase lock system which compares multiple bits from a reference frequency counter with multiple bits from a VCO frequency counter.

46. The system of claim 45, where t₀ is less than 10 microseconds.

47. The system of claim 46, where t₀ is less than 1 microsecond.

48. The system of claim 47, where t₀ is less than 500 nanoseconds.