Transponder networks and transponder systems employing a touch probe reader device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A transponder network, comprising:
- a plurality of RFID straps, each of said RFID straps including a substrate, first and second leads provided on said substrate, and a chip having a memory and one or more contacts provided on said substrate, each of said first and second leads being electrically coupled to a respective one or more of said one or more contacts, wherein the first leads of each of said RFID straps are electrically coupled to one another by a first conductor and the second leads of each of said RFID straps are electrically coupled to one another by a second conductor, wherein the first conductor is not electrically coupled to the second conductor, and wherein each of said RFID straps is provided with a unique identifier to enable the memory thereof to be selectively accessed.
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Abstract
Transponder networks and transponder systems are provided which help to overcome the issues presented to transponders systems by FCC power limitations. One embodiment provides a transponder network that includes a plurality of RFID straps in order to increase the amount of memory that is practically available in the network. Other embodiments provide transponder systems employing a touch probe RFID reader device that enable information to be communicated to and from a transponder or a transponder network by establishing physical contact with the reader device rather than through an air interface.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A transponder network, comprising:
a plurality of RFID straps, each of said RFID straps including a substrate, first and second leads provided on said substrate, and a chip having a memory and one or more contacts provided on said substrate, each of said first and second leads being electrically coupled to a respective one or more of said one or more contacts, wherein the first leads of each of said RFID straps are electrically coupled to one another by a first conductor and the second leads of each of said RFID straps are electrically coupled to one another by a second conductor, wherein the first conductor is not electrically coupled to the second conductor, and wherein each of said RFID straps is provided with a unique identifier to enable the memory thereof to be selectively accessed.
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2. A transponder network, comprising:
a plurality of RFID straps, each of said RFID straps including a substrate, first and second leads provided on said substrate, and a chip having a memory and one or more contacts provided on said substrate, each of said first and second leads being electrically coupled to a respective one or more of said one or more contacts, wherein the first leads of each of said RFID straps are electrically coupled to one another by a first conductor, wherein the second leads of each of said RFID straps are electrically coupled to one another by a second conductor, wherein said first conductor and said second conductor are operatively coupled to an antenna for receiving and transmitting RF signals, and wherein each of said RFID straps is provided with a unique identifier to enable the memory thereof to be selectively accessed. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A transponder network, comprising:
a plurality of RFID straps, each of said RFID straps including a substrate, first and second leads provided on said substrate, and a chip having a memory and one or more contacts provided on said substrate, each of said first and second leads being electrically coupled to a respective one or more of said one or more contacts, wherein the first leads of each of said RFID straps are electrically coupled to one another and the second leads of each of said RFID straps are electrically coupled to one another, wherein each of said RFID straps is provided with a unique identifier to enable the memory thereof to be selectively accessed, wherein each of said RFID straps is passive and is powered by one or more RF signals received by the transponder network, wherein the chip of each of said RFID straps includes energy harvesting circuitry, wherein at least a portion of said one or more RF signals is received in said energy harvesting circuitry, wherein said energy harvesting circuitry converts the at least a portion of said one or more RF signals into DC energy, and wherein said DC energy provides power to chip. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A transponder system, comprising:
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at least one transponder, said at least one transponder including a substrate, one or more leads provided on said substrate, and a chip having one or more contacts provided on said substrate, each of said one or more leads being electrically coupled to a respective one or more of said one or more contacts, said at least one transponder having an antenna having a first terminal and a second terminal wherein said first terminal is connected to one of said one or more leads; and a reader device, said reader device including a control system, a radio module and a touch probe having a probe contact operatively coupled to said radio module, said radio module being adapted to generate one or more RF signals under the control of said control system, said probe contact being operatively coupled to said radio module for receiving said one or more RF signals and being structured to be temporarily brought into electrical contact with at least one of said antenna and said one of said one or more leads of said at least one transponder; wherein when said probe contact receives said one or more RF signals and is brought into electrical contact with at least one of said antenna and said one of said one or more leads of said at least one transponder, said one or more RF signals are communicated to said at least one transponder. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of communicating with a transponder apparatus, said transponder apparatus including a substrate, one or more leads provided on said substrate, a chip having one or more contacts provided on said substrate, each of said one or more leads being electrically coupled to a respective one or more of said one or more contacts, and an antenna having a first terminal and a second terminal wherein said first terminal is connected to one of said one or more leads, the method comprising:
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providing a reader device having a touch probe having a single probe contact; generating one or more RF signals in said reader device and providing said one or more RF signals to said single probe contact; and bringing at least one of said antenna and said one of said one or more leads of said transponder apparatus into electrical contact with said single probe contact to allow said one or more RF signals to be communicated to said transponder apparatus or to allow one or more transponder signals to be communicated from said transponder apparatus to said reader device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An RF reader device, comprising:
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a control system; a radio module adapted to generate one or more RF signals under the control of said control system; and a touch probe having a single probe contact operatively coupled to said radio module, said single probe contact being structured to receive said one or more RF signals; wherein said single probe contact is adapted to be temporarily brought into electrical contact with at least one of an antenna and one of one or more leads of a transponder apparatus to allow at least said one or more RF signals to be communicated to said transponder apparatus or to allow one or more transponder signals to be communicated from said transponder apparatus to said RF reader device.
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18. A transponder system, comprising:
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at least one transponder network, said at least one transponder network including a plurality of RFID straps, each of said RFID straps including a substrate, first and second leads provided on said substrate, and a chip having a memory and one or more contacts provided on said substrate, each of said first and second leads being electrically coupled to a respective one or more of said one or more contacts, wherein the first leads of each of said RFID straps are electrically coupled to one another by a first conductor and the second leads of each of said RFID straps are electrically coupled to one another by a second conductor; and a reader device, said reader device including a control system, a radio module and a touch probe having one or more probe contacts operatively coupled to said radio module, said radio module being adapted to generate one or more RF signals under the control of said control system, said one or more probe contacts being operatively coupled to said radio module for receiving said one or more RF signals and being structured to be temporarily brought into electrical contact with at least a portion of said at least one transponder network; wherein when said one or more probe contacts receive said one or more RF signals and are brought into electrical contact with said at least a portion of said at least one transponder network, said one or more RF signals are communicated to each of said chips of said at least one transponder network. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of communicating with a transponder network, said transponder network including a plurality of RFID straps, each of said RFID straps including a substrate, first and second leads provided on said substrate, and a chip having a memory and one or more contacts provided on said substrate, each of said first and second leads being electrically coupled to a respective one or more of said one or more contacts, wherein the first leads of each of said RFID straps are electrically coupled to one another by a first conductor and the second leads of each of said RFID straps are electrically coupled to one another by a second conductor, the method comprising:
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providing a reader device having a touch probe having a one or more probe contacts; generating one or more RF signals in said reader device and providing said one or more RF signals to said one or more probe contacts; and bringing said one or more probe contacts into electrical contact with at least a portion of said transponder network to allow said one or more RF signals to be communicated to each of said chips of said transponder network or to allow one or more transponder signals to be communicated from said transponder network to said reader device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification