Automatic antenna tuner system for RFID

• US 7,916,000 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company)
• Inventors: Carroll, John T., Carroll, Gary T., Tucker, Randall L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blount; Eric M
• Application Number:
  US12/284,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20090109003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 3405721-5728, 375/238
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/40 Automatic matching of load impedance to source impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/10 Tuning of a resonator by means of digitally controlled capacitor bank

Abstract

An automatic antenna tuner system for radio frequency identification system includes a pulse width modulator, a microprocessor for controlling the generation of a source signal from the modulator, capacitors for receiving the source signal from amplifiers and transmitting it to an inductor, a gate communicating with the capacitors for transmitting a resonating signal from the inductor and capacitors as a carrier signal and means for gating the carrier signal with the source signal to produce a compared signal to produce a string of pulses and means for varying capacitance to increase or decrease the count of the string of pulses.

Claims

1. An automatic antenna tuning system comprising:

(a) a pulse width modulator;

(b) a microprocessor for controlling the generation of frequency of a source signal from said modulator;

(c) an inductor;

(d) a plurality of relay contacts and capacitors for receiving said source signal from said amplifiers and transmitting it to said inductor, said inductor and capacitor generating a resonating signal;

(e) a gate communicating with said capacitors through one or more relay contacts for transmitting said resonating signal as a carrier signal;

(f) means for gating said carrier signal with said source signal to produce a compared signal for gating with a crystal to produce a string of pulses, said microprocessor having a (i) counter for determining the count of said string of pulses and (ii) means for varying capacitance to increase or decrease the count of said string of pulses until the count is substantially 120.

2. The automatic antenna tuning system of claim 1 wherein said tuning system is connected to an antenna located in a facility and to a computer or microprocessor and further including a plurality of spaced apart RFID transponders positioned in said facility, said RFID transponders adapted to receive a signal from said computer or microprocessor and transmit such signal back to said tuned antenna.

14. The automatic tuning system of claim 1 wherein at least some of said RFID transponders are passive and said antenna delivers power to said passive RFID transponders.

15. The automatic tuning system of claim 1 wherein at least some of said RFID transponders are capable of being turned from off to on and a signal from said antenna turns on RFID transponders which are off.

3. An automatic antenna tuning system comprising:

(a) a pulse width modulator;

(b) a microprocessor for controlling the generation of frequency of a source signal from said modulator;

(c) one or more amplifiers for amplifying said source signal;

(d) an inductor;

(e) a plurality of relay contacts and capacitors for receiving said source signal from said amplifiers and transmitting it to said inductor, said inductor, and capacitor generating a resonating signal;

(f) a gate communicating with said capacitors through one or more relay contacts for transmitting said resonating signal as a carrier signal;

(g) means for gating said carrier signal with said source signal to produce a compare signal for gating with a crystal to produce a string of pulses, said microprocessor having a (i) counter for determining the count of said string of pulses and (ii) means for varying capacitance to increase or decrease the count of said string of pulses until the count is substantially 120.

4. A method for tuning an antenna for a radio frequency identification system (RFID) comprising the steps of:

(a) emitting a source signal from a pulse width modulator at a frequency;

(b) amplifying and transmitting said source signal to a plurality of capacitors and to an inductor, each capacitor having a relay contact;

(c) transmitting a signal from said inductor through one or more capacitors to form a carrier signal;

(d) gating said carrier signal with said source signal to produce a compared signal;

(e) comparing whether said carrier signal is leading or lagging in phase by 90 degrees compared to said source signal;

(f) adding or reducing capacitance to vary the count per cycle of said compared signal as needed to establish a 90 degree phase between said carrier signal and said source signal.

5. The method according to claim 4 further including the step of increasing capacitance to reduce the number of pulses per cycle or reducing capacitance to increase the number of pulses per cycle until the count is substantially 120.

6. The method according to claim 4 further including the steps of:

(a) positioning said antenna in a facility in communication with said tuning system;

(b) positioning a plurality of RFID transponders in said facility;

(c) transmitting a signal from a computer or microprocessor to one or more of said RFID transponders; and

(d) transmitting a signal from said one or more RFID transponders to said antenna and said computer;

(e) gating said compared signal through an AND gate with a crystal to produce a string of pulses defining the count per cycle; and

(f) increasing capacitance to reduce the number of pulses per cycle or reducing capacitance to increase the number of pulses per cycle until the count is substantially 120.

12. The method according to claim 6 wherein at least some of said RFID transponders are passive and further including the step of powering up said passive RFID transponders by delivering power thereto from said antenna.

13. The method according to claim 6 wherein at least some of said RFID transponders are active with the capability of being turned on and off and further including the step of delivering a signal from said antenna to turn on RFID transponders which are off.

7. A method for tuning an antenna for a radio frequency identification system comprising the steps of:

(a) delivering power by means of a source signal to an inductor at a frequency, at a phase;

(b) transmitting a resonating signal from said inductor through one or more capacitors to a gate;

(c) transmitting a carrier signal from said gate and gating said carrier signal through an AND gate to join with said source signal to produce a compared signal which is gated with a crystal to produce a string of pulses;

(d) comparing the phase of the source signal with the phase of the carrier signal;

(e) adding or reducing capacitance to the signal from said inductor if, but only if, the phase difference between the phase of the source signal and the phase of the carrier signal is greater or less than 90 degrees; and

(f) increasing capacitance to reduce the number of pulses per cycle or reducing capacitance to increase the number of pulses per cycle until the count is substantially 120.

8. The method according to claim 7 further including the step of encoding the signal from said antenna and transmitting said encoded signal to a remote receiving device.

9. A method for controlling inventory of product in a facility comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning an antenna and a plurality of RFID transponders in said facility;

(b) engaging an antenna tuning system to said antenna, said tuning system including a pulse width modulator and an inductor;

(c) transmitting a source signal from said pulse width modulator to a plurality of capacitors and to said inductor, each capacitor having a relay contact;

(d) transmitting a signal from said inductor through one or more capacitors to form a carrier signal;

(e) gating said carrier signal with said source signal to produce a compared signal;

(f) comparing whether said carrier signal is leading or lagging in phase by 90 degrees compared to said source signal;

(g) adding or reducing capacitance to vary the count per cycle of said compared signal as needed to establish a 90 degree phase between said carrier signal and said source signal;

(h) transmitting a signal from a computer or microprocessor to one or more of said RFID transponders; and

(i) transmitting a signal from said one or more RFID transponders to said antenna and said computer.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein at least some of said RFID transponders are passive and further including the step of powering up said passive RFID transponders by delivering power thereto from said antenna.

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein at least some of said RFID transponders are active with the capability of being turned on and off and further including the step of delivering a signal from said antenna to turn on RFID transponders which are off.