Remote communication devices, radio frequency identification devices, wireless communication systems, wireless communication methods, radio frequency identification device communication methods, and methods of forming a remote communication device

• US 7,786,872 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Khatri, Dirgha, Smith, Freddie W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Application Number:
  US11/847,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.7
• US Class Current: 340/572.7
• 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 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system

Abstract

Remote communication devices, radio frequency identification devices, wireless communication systems, wireless communication methods, radio frequency identification device communication methods, and methods of forming a remote intelligent communication device are provided. According to one aspect, a remote intelligent communication device includes communication circuitry configured to at least one of receive communication signals and generate communication signals; and an antenna coupled with the communication circuitry and substantially tuned to a plurality of frequencies, the antenna being configured to communicate wireless signals corresponding to the communication signals including at least one of receiving wireless signals and outputting wireless signals. Another aspect includes a wireless communication method including providing a remote intelligent communication device having an antenna substantially tuned to a plurality of frequencies; and communicating wireless signals using the antenna including at least one of receiving wireless signals at one of the frequencies and outputting wireless signals at one of the frequencies.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

a substrate having a dipole antenna formed thereon, the dipole antenna having a first half and a second half, the first half further having a first short section and a first long section, and the second half having a second short section and a second long section;

wherein the first short section and the second short section are configured to operate at a first frequency; and

wherein the first long section and the second long section, in cooperation with the first short section and the second short section, are configured to operate at a second frequency.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising:

communication circuitry coupled to the dipole antenna by a quarter-wavelength transmission line.

3. The RFID tag of claim 2, wherein the quarter-wavelength is determined by the first frequency.

4. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency.

5. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the first and second short sections are laid out on the same first edge of the substrate, the first long section is laid out on a second edge of the substrate, and the second long section is laid out on a third edge of the substrate.

6. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising:

an impedance reduction strip adjacent to the first short section.

7. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the second frequency provides longer range communications between the RFID tag and an interrogator.

8. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising:

a receive antenna formed on the substrate.

9. The RFID tag of claim 8, wherein the receive antenna is a loop antenna.

10. A method of manufacturing a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprising:

forming a first half of a dipole antenna, the first half having a first short section and a first long section, the first short section formed along a first edge of a substrate and the first long section formed along a second edge of the substrate; and

forming a second half of a dipole antenna, the second half having a second short section and a second long section, the second short section formed along the first edge of the substrate and the second long section formed along a third edge of the substrate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second edge is opposite the third edge on the substrate.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second edge and third edge are perpendicular to the first edge of the substrate.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first half and the second half are etched copper cladding on the substrate.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

forming an impedance reduction strip adjacent to the first half.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second short sections are tuned to communicate at a first frequency, and wherein the first and second long sections in combination with the first and second short sections are tuned to communicate a second frequency.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first frequency is higher than the second frequency.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

forming a receive antenna on the substrate.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the receive antenna is a loop antenna.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

attaching communication circuitry to the substrate.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

forming a quarter-wavelength transmission line on the substrate, wherein the quarter-wavelength transmission line is used to couple the communication circuitry to the first half and the second half of the dipole antenna.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the communication circuitry is configured to selectively short or isolate the first half and the second half of the dipole antenna to provide backscatter communications.

22. A communications system comprising:

an interrogator configured to provide continuous-wave signals in a plurality of frequency bands; and

a remote communication device having an antenna adapted for use in both a first frequency band and a second frequency band separate from the first frequency band, wherein the remote communication device provides reply signals to the interrogator at a continuous-wave frequency selected by the interrogator.

23. The communications system of claim 22, wherein the interrogator selects the continuous wave frequency based upon a desired communication range.

24. The communications system of claim 22, wherein the interrogator selects the continuous wave frequency to avoid interference.

25. The communications system of claim 24, wherein the interrogator selects the continuous wave frequency based upon a desired communication range.

26. The communications system of claim 22, wherein the remote communications device generates the reply signals by selectively shorting and opening a connection between a first half and a second half of the dipole antenna.

27. The communications system of claim 22, wherein the remote communication device further comprises:

an impedance reduction element formed adjacent to the dipole antenna.