Power control loop and LO generation method

• US 7,546,137 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neology Incorporated (OEP Technologie BV)
• Original Assignee: Sirit Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: D'Hont, Loek J., Barink, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dao; Minh D
• Application Number:
  US11/362,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20070066223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 455/522, 455/114.2, 455/114.3, 455/115.1, 455/127.1, 455/13.4, 375/296, 375/254, 375/278, 375/284, 370/282
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0715 the arrangement including means to regulate power transfer to the integrated circuit
• 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

A method for use in a RFID reader, the method comprising providing an output signal from an amplifier of a transmitter, attenuating the output signal via a step attenuator, detecting and comparing the attenuated output signal to a reference value, and adjusting power to the amplifier until the attenuated output signal is substantially equal to the reference value. The attenuated output signal drives a local oscillator signal of a receiver thereby canceling noise generated by the transmitter in the receiver.

Claims

1. A method for use in an RFID reader, the method comprising:

providing an output signal from an amplifier of a transmitter;

attenuating the output signal via a step attenuator;

comparing the attenuated output signal to a reference value; and

adjusting power to the amplifier until the attenuated output signal is substantially equal to the reference value;

wherein the attenuated output signal drives a local oscillator signal of a receiver thereby canceling noise generated by the transmitter in the receiver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the output signal of the transmitter and the local oscillator signal of the receiver are derived from a common frequency source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the output signal is a continuous wave during reception.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the output signal is a modulated signal during transmission of data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the modulated signal is generated by changing a power supply voltage of the amplifier.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step attenuator is programmable for accurate dB steps.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the reference value is determined one time during calibration and corresponds to an output power level of the transmitter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the output power level follows each dB step of the step attenuator without having to recalibrate the reference value.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the amplifier is a Class-C power amplifier.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing and adjusting power to the amplifier is performed by a controller.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing the reference value that was determined during calibration in the controller;

using a stored power setting DAC value during start-up to improve start-up behavior of the RFID reader; and

using an operating temperature measurement during start-up to improve start-up behavior of the RFID reader, wherein the controller compensates power to the amplifier according to known power-temperature dependencies.

12. An apparatus for use in an RFID reader, the apparatus comprising:

a power amplifier of a transmitter having an output signal;

a programmable step attenuator attenuating the output signal; and

a controller comparing the attenuated output signal with a reference signal, wherein the controller adjusts power to the amplifier until the attenuated output signal is substantially equal to the reference signal;

wherein the attenuated output signal is operable to drive a local oscillator signal of a receiver thereby canceling noise generated by the transmitter in the receiver.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the reference signal is determined one time during calibration of the RFID reader and wherein, after calibration, the output signal accurately follows each step of the programmable step attenuator.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the output signal of the transmitter and the local oscillator signal of the receiver are derived from a common frequency source.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the output signal is a continuous wave during reception.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the output signal is a modulated signal during transmission of data.

17. A system, comprising:

a transmitter having a power amplifier with an output signal;

a programmable step attenuator attenuating the output signal;

a controller that compares the attenuated output signal with a reference value, wherein the controller adjusts power to the amplifier until the attenuated output signal is substantially equal to the reference signal;

a receiver having a local oscillator signal that is driven by the attenuated output signal, wherein the output signal of the transmitter and the local oscillator signal of the receiver are derived from a common frequency source thereby canceling noise generated by the transmitter in the receiver.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a memory for storing the reference value, wherein the reference signal is determined one time during calibration of the RFID reader.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein, after calibration, the output signal accurately follows each step of the programmable step attenuator.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the output signal is a continuous wave during reception.