RFID tag uncoupling one of its antenna ports and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device comprising:
- a semiconductor substrate having formed therein an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a first antenna port and a second antenna port; and
a first antenna formed integrally with the semiconductor substrate and electrically coupled to the first port,wherein at least one of the first antenna and a second antenna that is coupled to the second port and is not formed integrally with the semiconductor substrate is capable of operating together with the IC as an RFID tag.
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Abstract
RFID tags have an on-chip antenna and an off-chip antenna. One of the antennas can become uncoupled if the proper signal is received, while the other antenna may still operate. The uncoupled antenna can be the larger one, for example the off-chip antenna. Then the tag can then be read only by the smaller antenna, which effectively reduces the range of the RFID tag, but without disabling it entirely.
169 Citations
55 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a semiconductor substrate having formed therein an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a first antenna port and a second antenna port; and a first antenna formed integrally with the semiconductor substrate and electrically coupled to the first port, wherein at least one of the first antenna and a second antenna that is coupled to the second port and is not formed integrally with the semiconductor substrate is capable of operating together with the IC as an RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An article comprising:
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a storage medium, the storage medium having instructions stored thereon, in which when the instructions are executed by at least one device, they result in; channeling to a controller of a chip of an RFID tag a first signal that is received from at least one of a first antenna port and a second antenna port; and uncoupling the first port from the controller in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for a chip of an RFID tag comprising:
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channeling to a controller of the chip a first signal that is received from at least one of a first antenna port and a second antenna port; and uncoupling the first port from the controller in response thereto.
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39. The method of 38, wherein
uncoupling is such that the first port becomes incapable of performing the same function set as prior to uncoupling.
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40. The method of 38, wherein
uncoupling is such that the first port becomes incapable of performing the same function set as the second port.
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41. The method of 38, wherein
uncoupling is such that the second port remains coupled to the controller.
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42. The method of 38, wherein
the first port is coupled to an antenna that is integrally formed with the chip, and the second port is coupled to an antenna that is not integrally formed with the chip.
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43. The method of 38, wherein
the first port is coupled to an antenna that is not integrally formed with the chip, and the second port is coupled to an antenna that is integrally formed with the chip.
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44. The method of 38, wherein
uncoupling prevents channeling to the controller a wirelessly received signal via the first port.
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45. The method of 38, wherein
uncoupling prevents channeling from the controller to the first port a signal to be transmitted wirelessly.
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46. The method of 38, further comprising:
generating power from a subsequent signal received via the uncoupled port.
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47. The method of 38, wherein
uncoupling is performed by setting a disable switch.
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48. The method of 38, further comprising:
recoupling the uncoupled first port to the controller to reverse the uncoupling.
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49. The method of 48, wherein
recoupling is performed a preset amount of time after uncoupling.
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50. The method of 49, wherein
the preset amount of time is stored in a memory.
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51. The method of 49, further comprising:
decoding the preset amount of time from the first signal.
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52. The method of 48, further comprising:
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receiving a second wireless signal, and wherein recoupling is performed responsive to receiving the second signal.
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53. The method of 52, wherein
recoupling is performed a preset amount of time after being receiving the second signal.
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54. The method of 53, wherein
the preset amount of time is stored in a memory.
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55. The method of 53, further comprising:
decoding the preset amount of time from the second signal.
Specification