RFID system for allowing access to remotely positioned RFID tags

• US 7,606,530 B1
• Filed: 03/11/2006
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Siniff, Alan E., Anderson, Eric N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Safaipour; Bobbak
• Application Number:
  US11/372,652
• Time in Patent Office: 1,319 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 455/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for allowing access to at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag. The RFID system includes an RFID repeater receiver located outside of the operable range of a target RFID tag; and, at least one RFID repeater positionable within an operable range of the target RFID tag. The RFID repeater retransmits an original inquiry from the RFID repeater receiver to the target RFID tag and retransmits a response from the target RFID tag to the RFID repeater receiver.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for allowing access to at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag, comprising:

a) an RFID repeater receiver located outside of the operable range of a target RFID tag; and

,

b) at least one RFID repeater positionable within an operable range of the target RFID tag, said RFID repeater for retransmitting an original inquiry from said RFID repeater receiver to the target RFID tag and for retransmitting a response from the target RFID tag to said RFID repeater receiver,

wherein said at least one RFID repeater, comprises;

a) at least one repeater receiver side repeater, comprising

i) a repeater receiver side paired transmit/receive antenna (RRSPTA);

ii) a repeater receiver side converter for receiving an original inquiry from said RRSPTA and converting said original inquiry to a digital signal; and

,

iii) a repeater receiver side controller in operative association with said repeater receiver side converter for managing and organizing said original inquiry, subsequent inquiries and responses; and

,

b) at least one tag side repeater, comprising;

i) a tag side paired transmit/receive antenna (TSPTA);

ii) a tag side converter for receiving said original converted digital signal and converting it to an original converted analog signal for transmission by said TSPTA; and

,

iii) a tag side controller in operative association with said tag side converter for managing and organizing said original inquiry, subsequent inquiries and responses,

wherein said tag side converter converts responses received from said TSPTA and provides a digital signal for transmission by said RRSPTA.

2. The RFID system of claim 1, wherein said at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag comprises a plurality of remotely positioned target RFID tags positioned on avionics equipment.

3. The RFID system of claim 1, wherein said at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag comprises a plurality of remotely positioned target RFID tags positioned on individual items within an air vehicle.

4. The RFID system of claim 1, wherein said at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag comprises a plurality of remotely positioned target RFID tags positioned on individual items located within containers, said repeaters being mounted on the exterior of the container or a vehicle containing the individual items.

5. The RFID system of claim 1, wherein said at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag comprises a plurality of remotely positioned target RFID tags positioned on avionics equipment.

6. The RFID system of claim 1, wherein said at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag comprises a plurality of remotely positioned target RFID tags positioned within sealed shipping containers.

7. A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for allowing access to a plurality of remotely positioned target RFID tags, comprising:

a) an RFID repeater receiver located outside of the operable range of a plurality of target RFID tags;

b) at least one repeater receiver side repeater, comprising;

i) a repeater receiver side paired transmit/receive antenna (RRSPTA);

ii) a repeater receiver side converter for receiving an original inquiry from said RRSPTA and converting said original inquiry to a digital signal; and

,

iii) a repeater receiver side controller in operative association with said repeater receiver side converter for managing and organizing said original inquiry, subsequent inquiries and responses;

c) a plurality of tag side repeaters positionable within an operable range of the target RFID tags, each tag side repeater, comprising;

i) a tag side paired transmit/receive antenna (TSPTA);

ii) a tag side converter for receiving said original converted digital signal and converting it to an original converted analog signal for transmission by said TSPTA; and

,

iii) a tag side controller in operative association with said tag side converter for managing and organizing said original inquiry, subsequent inquiries and responses,

wherein said tag side converter converts responses received from said TSPTA and provides a digital signal for transmission by said RRSPTA.

8. The RFID system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of remotely positioned target RFID tags comprises a plurality of remotely positioned target RFID tags positioned in aircraft electronic equipment bays.

9. The RFID system of claim 7, wherein said at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag comprises a plurality of remotely positioned target RFID tags positioned within sealed shipping containers.

10. A method for allowing access to at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag, comprising the steps of:

a) positioning at least one RFID repeater receiver outside of the operable range of a target RFID tag; and

,

b) positioning at least one RFID repeater within an operable range of the target RFID tag for retransmitting an original inquiry from said RFID repeater receiver to the target RFID tag and for retransmitting a response from the target RFID tag to said RFID repeater receiver,

wherein,

a) said step of positioning at least one RFID repeater receiver outside of the operable range of a target RFID tag, comprises positioning at least one repeater receiver side repeater outside of the operable range of a target RFID tag, said at least one repeater receiver side repeater, comprising;

i) a repeater receiver side paired transmit/receive antenna (RRSPTA);

ii) a repeater receiver side converter for receiving an original inquiry from said RRSPTA and converting said original inquiry to a digital signal; and

,

iii) a repeater receiver side controller in operative association with said repeater receiver side converter for managing and organizing said original inquiry, subsequent inquiries and responses; and

,

b) said step of positioning at least one RFID repeater within an operable range of the target RFID tag, comprises positioning at least one tag side repeater within an operable range of the target RFID tag, said at least one tag side repeater, comprising;

i) a tag side paired transmit/receive antenna (TSPTA);

ii) a tag side converter for receiving said original converted digital signal and converting it to an original converted analog signal for transmission by said TSPTA; and

,

iii) a tag side controller in operative association with said tag side converter for managing and organizing said original inquiry, subsequent inquiries and responses,

wherein said tag side converter converts responses received from said TSPTA and provides a digital signal for transmission by said RRSPTA.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag comprises a plurality of remotely positioned target RFID tags positioned on avionics equipment.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag comprises a plurality of remotely positioned target RFID tags positioned on aircraft equipment, said repeaters being mounted on the aircraft exterior.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag comprises a plurality of remotely positioned target RFID tags positioned on avionics equipment.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag comprises a plurality of remotely positioned target RFID tags positioned within sealed shipping containers.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of positioning at least one RFID repeater within an operable range of the target RFID tag, comprises positioning at least one RFID repeater within an operable range of at least one remotely positioned target RFID tag located on avionics equipment.