Remote sensor, device and method for activating selected remote sensor components

• US 7,671,721 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2004
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
• Inventors: Seppa, Heikki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilson, Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/555,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20060202802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,121 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.3
• US Class Current: 340/10.34
• 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 19/07345 by activating or deactivating at least a part of the circuit on the record carrier, e.g. ON/OFF switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions

Abstract

This publication discloses a remote identifier, a reader, and a method for activating a desired remote identifier. The remote identifier (2) includes a microcircuit (7), in which there is a memory and means for processing a radio-frequency signal, an antenna (6) connected to the microcircuit (7), by means of which both the signal and also electric power for the operating voltage of the microcircuit (7) can be received. According to the invention, a component (3), the electrical properties of which change due to the effect of infrared, or visible light, is electrically connected to the microcircuit (7) of the remote identifier and in the microcircuit (7) there are means, by which the combined effect of a change in the radio-frequency signal and the electrical component (3) can be expressed by a correlation method for the signals, in order to activate the remote identifier (2) for two-way data transmission.

Claims

1. A remote identifier that can be attached to products, which includes

a microcircuit, in which there is a memory and a unit for processing a radio-frequency signal and

an antenna connected to the microcircuit, for receiving both the signal and also electric power for the operating voltage of the microcircuit,

an electrical component, whose electrical properties change due to the effect of infrared, or visible light, is electrically connected to the microcircuit of the remote identifier and

the microcircuit includes a system which calculates, when the remote identifier is active, the combined effect of a change in the radio-frequency signal and a signal associated with the electrical component by a correlation method, and, if a correlation is detected, the remote identifier is selected for two-way data transmission.

2. A remote identifier according to claim 1, wherein the electrical component that changes electrically due to the effect of radiation is a photosensitive polymer resistance.

3. A reader for reading a remote identifier, which reader includes

a unit for transmitting and receiving a radio-frequency signal to and from the remote identifier,

wherein

the reader includes a light source, and

a control unit for the light source, with which a signal of the light source is synchronized with the radio-frequency signal so that parts of the signal of the light source and parts of the radio-frequency signal occur at the same time;

wherein the remote identifier is selected for two-way communication with the reader responsive to a detected correlation of the two signals by the remote identifier.

4. A reader according to claim 3, wherein the reader is integrated in a mobile station.

5. A method in a reader of remote identifiers, said method comprising:

sending reader information to a remote identifier;

receiving information from the remote identifier,

sending a signal in the infrared or visible light range to the remote identifier simultaneously with a radio frequency signal, wherein the signal in the infrared or visible light range is synchronized with the radio-frequency signal so that parts of the signal in the infrared or visible light range and parts of the radio-frequency signal occur at the same time,

wherein the remote identifier is selected for two-way communication with the reader responsive to a detected correlation of the two signals by the remote identifier.

6. A remote-identifier system, which includes

a reader, capable to perform radio-frequency transmission and reception,

a remote identifier, capable to perform radio-frequency two-way communication with the reader and capable to exploit the energy radiated by the reader as its own operating voltage,

wherein

the reader includes a light source operating in the infrared or visible light range and a control unit for controlling the light source in synchronization with a radio-frequency signal, and

the remote identifier includes

a unit for detecting the simultaneous presence of a light signal and a radio-frequency signal, and

a microcircuit which determines, when the remote identifier is active, the combined effect of a change in the radio-frequency signal and a signal related to the light signal by a correlation method for the signals, and if a correlation is detected between the signals, the remote identifier is selected for two-way data transmission.

7. A remote-identifier method, the method comprising:

sending to the remote identifier a radio frequency signal containing radio-frequency information and electrical power, with the aid of a reader,

using the remote identifier, receiving and transmitting radio-frequency information using the radio-frequency signal as operating energy,

transmitting a radiation signal in the infrared or visible-light ranges, in synchronization with the radio frequency signal, using the reader, and

detecting the simultaneous presence of the light signal and the radio-frequency signal using the remote identifier, and determining, when the remote identifier is active, the combined effect of a change in the radio-frequency signal and a signal related to the light signal by a correlation method for the signals, and, if a correlation is detected between the signals, selecting the remote identifier for two-way data transmission.