RFID transponder having active backscatter amplifier for re-transmitting a received signal
First Claim
1. An RFID transponder, comprising:
- an antenna;
an amplifier operatively coupled to said antenna and adapted to amplify a signal impinging upon said antenna;
a memory containing stored data;
a modulator connected to said memory and adapted to selectively modulate said stored data onto said signal; and
means for maintaining separation between said antenna, said amplifier and said modulator, wherein said amplified signal is returned to said antenna for retransmission therefrom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An RFID transponder is provided with an active backscatter amplifier that amplifies and re-transmits a received signal. The RFID transponder comprises an antenna and a circulator having a first port connected to the antenna. A modulator is connected to a second port of the circulator. An amplifier is connected to a third port of the circulator, with the amplifier connected to the modulator. An RF signal impinging upon the antenna passes through the circulator, the amplifier, and the modulator, and returns to the antenna through the circulator. The modulator further comprises an input coupled to the second port of the circulator and an output coupled to an input of the amplifier. The amplifier has an output coupled to the third port of the circulator. The modulator is adapted to modulate the RF signal using on-off keying.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An RFID transponder, comprising:
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an antenna;
an amplifier operatively coupled to said antenna and adapted to amplify a signal impinging upon said antenna;
a memory containing stored data;
a modulator connected to said memory and adapted to selectively modulate said stored data onto said signal; and
means for maintaining separation between said antenna, said amplifier and said modulator, wherein said amplified signal is returned to said antenna for retransmission therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An RFID transponder, comprising:
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an antenna;
an amplifier operatively coupled to said antenna and adapted to amplify a signal impinging upon said antenna and reflect said amplified signal back to said antenna;
a memory containing stored data; and
means for selectively modulating said amplified signal with;
said stored data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An RFID transponder, comprising:
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an antenna;
an amplifier operatively coupled to said antenna and adapted to amplify a signal impinging upon said antenna and reflect said amplified signal back to said antenna;
a memory containing stored data; and
means for selectively modulating said amplified signal with said stored data, wherein said amplifier further comprises a field effect transistor having a feedback loop provided between the source and gate terminals thereof.
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15. A method for communicating an RF signal transmitted by a base station within a wireless network, comprising:
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disposing a reflecting node in proximity to said base station such that said RF signal will impinge thereon;
selectively modulating data onto said RF signal, said data being stored in a memory of said reflecting node;
amplifying said selectively modulated RF signal; and
reradiating said amplified and selectively modulated RF signal from said reflecting node;
wherein said reflecting node further comprises an antenna adapted to permit said RF signal to impinge thereon, an amplifier operatively coupled to said antenna and adapted to amplify said RF signal and reflect said amplified signal back to said antenna, and means for selectively modulating said amplified signal with said stored data. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for communicating an RF signal transmitted by a base station within a wireless network, comprising:
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disposing a reflecting node in proximity to said base station such that said RF signal will impinge thereon;
selectively modulating data onto said RF signal, said data being stored in a memory of said reflecting node;
amplifying said selectively modulated RF signal;
reradiating said amplified and selectively modulated RF signal from said reflecting node; and
down-converting said RF signal to an intermediate frequency signal.
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Specification