Circuits for RFID tags with multiple non-independently driven RF ports

• US 7,528,728 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
• Inventors: Oliver, Ronald A., Diorio, Christopher J., Humes, Todd E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu; Julie Bichngoc
• Application Number:
  US11/213,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20060055620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/785 having a channel with a horizontal current flow in a vertical sidewall of a semiconductor body, e.g. FinFET, MuGFET

Abstract

A circuit for an RFID tag has at least two RF ports for driving points of the antenna that may correspond to different RF polarizations. The RF ports may be driven by a common modulating signal, or by separate modulating signals. Further, the ports may be coupled and uncoupled together, responsive to a control signal. The control signal may be the same as one or both of the modulating signals.

Claims

1. A circuit for use in an RFID tag connectible to first and second antennas, comprising:

a first RF port configured for connection to the first antenna;

a first modulating switch configured to selectively couple and uncouple the first RF port to a first refererence voltage responsive to a modulating signal;

a second RF port configured for connection to the second antenna; and

a second modulating switch configured to selectively couple and uncouple the second RF port to a second reference voltage responsive to the modulating signal.

3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein

the first reference voltage is equivalent to the second reference voltage.

2. A circuit for use in an RFID tag, comprising:

a first RF port;

a first modulating switch configured to selectively couple and uncouple the first RF port to a first reference voltage responsive,to a modulating signal;

a second RF port; and

a second modulating switch configured to selectively couple and uncouple the second RF port to a second reference voltage responsive to the modulating sigpal, wherein;

the RFID tag has an antenna system adapted to receive RF signals of diverse polarizations,

the first RF port is adapted to receive an RF signal of a first polarization, and the second RF port is adapted to receive an RF signal of a second polarization.

4. A circuit for use in an RFID tag, comprising:

a first RF port;

a first modulating switch configured to selectively couple and uncouple the first RF port to a first reference voltage responsive to a modulating signal;

a second RF port;

a second modulating switch configured to selectively couple and uncouple the second RF port to a second reference voltage responsive to the modulating signal; and

a connecting switch configured to selectively couple and uncouple the first RF port and the second RF port responsive to a control signal.

5. The circuit of claim 4, wherein

the control signal is the modulating signal.

6. The circuit of claim 4, wherein

the connecting switch includes a transistor.

7. The circuit of claim 6, wherein

the transistor is one of a MOSFET, a jFET, a BJT, a MESFET, a FinFET, an HBT, an IGFET, and a TFT.

8. A device for use in an RFID tag having first and second antennas, comprising:

means for generating a modulating signal in response to a first signal received at a first RF port configured for connection to the fist antenna;

means for coupling and uncoupling the first RF port to a first reference voltage responsive to the modulating signal; and

means for coupling and uncoupling a second reference voltage to a second RF port responsive to the modulating signal, the second RF port connection for coupling to the second antenna.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein

the first reference voltage is equivalent to the second reference voltage.

10. A device for use in an RFID tag, comprising:

means for generating a modulating signal in response to a first signal received at a first RF port;

means for coupling and uncoupling the first RF port to a first reference voltage responsive to the modulating signal;

means for coupling and uncoupling a second reference voltage to a second RF port responsive to the modulating signal; and

means for coupling and uncoupling the first RF port to the second RF port responsive to a control signal.

11. A device for use in an RFID tag, comprising:

means for generating a modulating signal in response to a first signal received at a first RF port;

means for coupling and uncoupling the first RF port to a first reference voltage responsive to the modulating signal;

means for coupling and uncoupling a second reference voltage to a second RF port responsive to the modulating signal; and

means for coupling and uncoupling the first RF port to the second RF port responsive to a control signal, wherein the control signal is the modulating signal.

12. A device for use in an RFID tag, comprising:

means for generating a modulating signal in response to a first signal received at a first RF port;

means for coupling and uncoupling the first RF port to a first reference voltage responsive to the modulating signal; and

means for coupling and uncoupling a second reference voltage to a second RF port responsive to the modulating signal, wherein the means for coupling and uncoupling the first RF port to the second RF port includes a transistor.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein

the transistor is one of a MOSFET, a jFET, a BJT, a MESFET, a FinFET, an HBT, an IGFET, and a TFT.

14. A method for using a circuit for an RFID tag, the circuit configured for coupling to first and second antennas, comprising:

receiving a first signal at a first RF port configured for connection to the first antenna;

generating a modulatling signal in response to the first received signal;

coupling and uncoupling the first RF port to a first reference voltage responsive to the modulating signal; and

coupling and uncoupling a second reference voltage to a second RF port responsive to the modulating signal, the second RF port configured for connection to the second antenna.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein

the first reference voltage is equivalent to the second reference voltage.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

coupling and uncoupling the first RF port to the second RF port responsive to a control signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein

the control signal is the modulating signal.

18. A circuit for use in an RFID tag, comprising:

a first RF port;

a second RF port; and

a connecting switch configured to selectively couple and uncouple the first RF port to the second RF port responsive to a control signal,

wherein the RFID tag has an antenna system adapted to receive RF signals of diverse polarizations, the first RF port is adapted to receive an RF signal of a first polarization, and the second RF port is adapted to receive an RF signal of a second polarization.

19. The circuit of claim 18, wherein

the connecting switch includes a transistor.

20. The circuit of claim 19, wherein

the transistor is one of a MOSFET, a jFET, a BJT, a MESFET, a FinFET, an HBT, an IGFET, and a TFT.

21. The circuit of claim 18,further comprising:

a first modulating switch configured to selectively couple and uncouple the first RF port to a first reference voltage responsive to a first modulating signal; and

a second modulating switch configured to selectively couple and uncouple the second RF port to a second reference voltage responsive to a second modulating signal.

22. The circuit of claim 21, wherein

the first modulating switch includes a transistor.

23. The circuit of claim 21, wherein

the first reference voltage is equivalent to the second reference voltage.

24. The circuit of claim 21 wherein

the first modulating signal is different than the second modulating signal.

25. The circuit of claim 21, wherein

the first modulating signal alternates at a different frequency than the second modulating signal.

26. The circuit of claim 21, wherein

the first modulating signal alternates at the same frequency but with a different phase than the second modulating signal.

27. The circuit of claim 21, wherein

the first modulating signal is the same as the second modulating signal.

28. The circuit of claim 21, wherein

the first modulating signal is the control signal.

29. A device for use in an RFID tag, comprising,

means for generating a control signal in response to a first signal received at a first RF port;

means for coupling and uncoupling, responsive to the control signal the first RF port to a second RF port;

means for coupling and uncoupling the first RF port to a first reference voltage responsive to a first modulating signal; and

means for coupling and uncoupling the second RF port to a second reference voltage responsive to a second modulating signal.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein

the means for coupling and uncoupling the first RF port to the second RF port includes a transistor.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein

the transistor is one of a MOSFET, a jFET, a BJT, a MESFET, a FinFET, an HBT, an IGFET, and a TFT.

32. The device of claim 29, wherein

the first reference voltage is equivalent to the second reference voltage.

33. The device of claim 29, wherein

the first modulating signal is different than the second modulating signal.

34. The device of claim 29, wherein

the first modulating signal alternates at a different frequency than the second modulating signal.

35. The device of claim 29, wherein

the first modulating signal alternates at the same frequency but with a different phase than the second modulating signal.

36. The device of claim 29, wherein

the first modulating signal is the same as the second modulating signal.

37. The device of claim 29, wherein

the first modulating signal is the control signal.

38. A method for using a circuit for an RFID tag, comprising:

receiving a first signal at a first RF port;

generating a control signal in response to the first received signal;

coupling and uncoupling, responsive to the control signal the first RF port to a second RF port

coupling and uncoupling the first RF port to a first reference voltage responsive to a first modulating signal; and

coupling and uncoupling the second RF port to a second reference voltage responsive to a second modulalting signal.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein

the first reference voltage is equivilent to the second reference voltage.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein

the first modulating signal alternates at a different frequency than the second modulating signal.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein

the first modulating signal alternates at the same frequency with at a different phase than the second modulating signal.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein

the first modulating signal is the same as the second modulating signal.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein

the first modulating signal is the control signal.