Wireless communication systems, interrogators and methods of communicating within a wireless communication system

• US 7,982,586 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Ovard, David K., Greeff, Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Nam V
• Application Number:
  US11/495,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20060267735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.4, 340/5.4, 340/10.1, 455/106, 455/73, 438/50, 438/52
• US Class Current: 340/10.4
• 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

Abstract

A wireless communication system includes an interrogator including a housing including circuitry configured to generate a forward link communication signal; communication circuitry configured to communicate the forward link communication signal; and a communication station remotely located with respect to the housing and configured to receive the forward link communication signal from the communication circuitry and to radiate a forward link wireless signal corresponding to the forward link communication signal; and at least one remote communication device configured to receive the forward link wireless signal. A method of communicating within a wireless communication system includes providing an interrogator and at least one remote communication device; generating a forward link communication signal using circuitry within a housing of the interrogator; communicating the forward link communication signal from the housing using communication circuitry; receiving the forward link communication signal from the communication circuitry within a communication station of the interrogator remotely located from the housing; radiating a forward link wireless signal corresponding to the forward link communication signal using the communication station; and receiving the forward link wireless signal within the at least one remote communication device.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising:

an interrogator including;

a housing including circuitry configured to generate a forward link communication signal;

a plurality of communication circuitry configured to communicate the forward link communication signal; and

a plurality of communication stations remotely located with respect to the housing, wherein one of the communication stations is configured to receive the forward link communication signal from a corresponding one of the communication circuitry and to radiate a forward link wireless signal corresponding to the forward link communication signal; and

a remote communication device configured to receive the forward link wireless signal.

2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 further comprising a driver amplifier coupled with the circuitry and configured to increase the power of the forward link communication signal and to apply the forward link communication signal to an input of the one of the communication circuitry.

3. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein each communication station includes adjustment circuitry configured to receive the forward link communication signal from the corresponding communication circuitry and to adjust an electrical characteristic of the forward link communication signal.

4. The wireless communication system according to claim 3 wherein the adjustment circuitry comprises automatic gain control circuitry.

5. The wireless communication system according to claim 4 wherein the automatic gain control circuitry is configured to monitor the power of the forward link communication signal and adjust the power of the forward link communication signal responsive to the monitoring.

6. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein each communication station includes a power amplifier configured to receive the forward link communication signal from the corresponding communication circuitry and to amplify the forward link communication signal.

7. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein each communication station includes an antenna configured to receive the forward link communication signal from the power amplifier and to radiate the forward link wireless signal.

8. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein the remote communication device includes a radio frequency identification device.

9. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein each communication circuitry includes a coaxial RF cable.

10. The wireless communication system according to claim 1 wherein each communication circuitry includes a plurality of transceivers individually coupled with one of the housing and the plurality of communication stations.

11. An interrogator of a wireless communication system comprising:

a housing including circuitry configured to generate a forward link communication signal;

a plurality of communication circuitry outside of the housing and coupled with the circuitry and configured to communicate the forward link communication signal; and

a plurality of communication stations remotely located with respect to the housing, wherein each communication station comprises an antenna coupled with a corresponding one of the plurality of the communication circuitry and configured to radiate a forward link wireless signal corresponding to the forward link communication signal.

12. The interrogator according to claim 11 further comprising a driver amplifier coupled with the circuitry and configured to increase the power of the forward link communication signal and to apply the forward link communication signal to an input of the corresponding communication circuitry.

13. The interrogator according to claim 11 wherein each communication station includes adjustment circuitry configured to receive the forward link communication signal from the corresponding communication circuitry and to adjust at least one electrical characteristic of the forward link communication signal.

14. The interrogator according to claim 11 wherein the adjustment circuitry comprises automatic gain control circuitry.

15. The interrogator according to claim 14 wherein the automatic gain control circuitry is configured to monitor the power of the forward link communication signal and adjust the power of the forward link communication signal responsive to the monitoring.

16. The interrogator according to claim 11 wherein each communication station includes a power amplifier configured to receive the forward link communication signal from the corresponding communication circuitry and to amplify the forward link communication signal.

17. The interrogator according to claim 11 wherein each communication station includes an antenna configured to receive the forward link communication signal from the power amplifier and to radiate the forward link wireless signal.

18. The interrogator according to claim 11 wherein the remote communication device comprises a radio frequency identification device.

19. The interrogator according to claim 11 wherein each communication circuitry includes a coaxial RF cable.

20. The wireless communication system according to claim 11 wherein each communication circuitry includes a plurality of transceivers individually coupled with one of the housing and the plurality of the communication stations.