Radio frequency data communications device with adjustable receiver sensitivity and method
First Claim
1. An adjustable radio frequency identification device for use with a remote interrogator unit, the device comprising:
- a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit having integrated circuitry;
transmitter circuitry provided on the monolithic integrated circuit and forming at least part of the integrated circuitry;
an antenna electrically coupled to the transmitter circuitry and configured to communicate with the remote interrogator unit; and
at least one of the antenna and the transmitter circuitry having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune the at least one of the antenna and the transmitter circuitry for sensitivity within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce transmitter range of the device in response to a command from the remote interrogator unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device has a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit with integrated circuitry, interrogation receiving circuitry provided on the monolithic integrated circuit forming at least part of the integrated circuitry and configured to receive an interrogation signal from the interrogator unit, an antenna electrically coupled to the interrogation receiving circuitry and configured to communicate with the remote interrogator unit, a power source electrically coupled to the integrated circuitry and configured to generate operating power for the communications device, and at least one of the antenna and the interrogation receiving circuitry having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune the at least one of the antenna and the interrogation receiving circuitry within a range of tuned and detuned states to realize a desired receiver sensitivity of the communications device. Additionally, a method for tuning receiver sensitivity and/or transmitter sensitivity according to construction of the above device is disclosed.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An adjustable radio frequency identification device for use with a remote interrogator unit, the device comprising:
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a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit having integrated circuitry; transmitter circuitry provided on the monolithic integrated circuit and forming at least part of the integrated circuitry; an antenna electrically coupled to the transmitter circuitry and configured to communicate with the remote interrogator unit; and at least one of the antenna and the transmitter circuitry having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune the at least one of the antenna and the transmitter circuitry for sensitivity within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce transmitter range of the device in response to a command from the remote interrogator unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 43)
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8. An adjustable radio frequency identification device for use with a remote interrogator unit, the device comprising:
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an integrated circuit including receiver circuitry configured to receive an interrogation signal from the interrogator unit; an antenna electrically coupled to the receiver circuitry, the antenna configured to receive the interrogation signal from the interrogator unit and deliver the interrogation signal to the receiver; and at least one of the antenna and the receiver having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable, in response to a command from the interrogator unit, to selectively tune the at least one of the antenna and the receiver circuitry within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a reception range of the device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 44)
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15. A method of adapting a radio frequency identification device for use with a remote interrogator unit, the method comprising:
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providing transponder circuitry; providing an antenna electrically coupled to the transponder circuitry for communicating with a remote interrogator unit; and selectively tuning at least one of the antenna and the transponder circuitry within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce sensitivity responsive to an interrogation signal transmitted by the interrogator unit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A radio frequency identification device operating method comprising:
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providing an active transmitter electrically coupled to an antenna, the transmitter defining at least a portion of a monolithic RFID integrated circuit configured to communicate with a remote interrogator; and selectively tuning at least one of the antenna and the transmitter to a state selected from a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a transmitter range in response to a command transmitted by the interrogator unit. - View Dependent Claims (22, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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23. A radio frequency identification device fabrication method comprising:
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electrically coupling an active transmitter to an antenna, the transmitter defining at least a portion of a monolithic RFID integrated circuit configured to communicate with a remote interrogator; and wherein the transmitter is configured to be selectively tuned to a state selected from a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a transmitter range, the selectively tuning including providing a plurality of fixed matching networks and circuitry configured to selectively switch one of the fixed matching networks into electrical connection with the transmitter, in response to a command transmitted by the interrogator unit, in order to adjust impedance matching between the transmitter and the antenna.
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28. An adjustable radio frequency identification device for use with a remote interrogator unit, the device comprising:
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a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit having integrated circuitry; transmitter circuitry provided on the monolithic integrated circuit and forming at least part of the integrated circuitry; an antenna electrically coupled to the transmitter circuitry and configured to communicate with the remote interrogator unit; and the transmitter circuitry having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune at least one of the transmitter circuitry and antenna within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a transmission range of the radio frequency identification device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 45)
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31. An adjustable radio frequency identification device for use with a remote interrogator unit, the device comprising:
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a semiconductor integrated circuit having integrated circuitry; an antenna; transmitter circuitry provided on the integrated circuit and forming at least part of the integrated circuitry, the transmitter circuitry having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune at least one of the transmitter circuitry and antenna within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a transmission range of the radio frequency identification device; and receiver circuitry having electrically reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune at least one of the transmitter circuitry and antenna within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a reception range of the radio frequency data communication device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 46)
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36. An adjustable radio frequency identification device for use with a remote interrogator unit, the device comprising:
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an integrated circuit including receiver circuitry configured to receive an interrogation signal from the interrogator unit; an antenna electrically coupled to the receiver circuitry, the antenna configured to receive the interrogation signal from the interrogator unit and deliver the interrogation signal to the receiver circuitry; and the receiver circuitry having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune the at least one of the antenna and the receiver circuitry within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a reception range of the radio frequency identification device. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 47)
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Specification