RFID tag capable of modifying internal operations for a sensed environment

• US 8,115,632 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Impinj, Inc.
• Inventors: Rahimi, Kambiz, Diorio, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US12/370,503
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10198 setting parameters for the interrogator, e.g. programming parameters and operating modes

Abstract

A semiconductor chip for an RFID tag is described. The semiconductor chip including wireless transceiver and processing block circuitry to receive and put into effect a wirelessly received instruction encoded in a TUNE command. The instruction commanding the semiconductor chip to perform at least one specific act. The semiconductor chip having circuitry to perform the at least one specific act. The circuitry being coupled to the processing block. The circuitry and its corresponding specific act identified by at least one of the following: enablement circuitry to turn a sub-circuit within the semiconductor chip on; disablement circuitry to turn a sub-circuit within the semiconductor chip off; current bias circuitry to alter a bias current within a sub-circuit of the semiconductor chip; voltage bias circuitry to alter a bias voltage within a sub-circuit of the semiconductor chip; threshold adjustment circuitry to adjust a threshold within a sub-circuit of the semiconductor chip.

Claims

1. A semiconductor chip for an RFID tag, comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

at least one sub-circuit comprising one of a random number generator, a demodulator receive path, a nonvolatile memory bank, a modulator, an encryptor, a decryptor, an oscillator, a sense amplifier, a rectifier, and a charge pump; and

a processing block circuitry configured to;

receive, from a reader, an instruction encoded in a TUNE command, the instruction associated with an aspect of an environment sensed by the reader, and

execute the instruction causing circuitry coupled to a power management unit to perform at least one of;

turn the at least one sub-circuit on,

turn the at least one sub-circuit off,

alter a bias current within the at least one sub-circuit,

alter a bias voltage within the at least one sub-circuit, and

adjust a threshold within the at least one sub-circuit.

2. The semiconductor chip of claim 1, wherein the sub-circuit includes the sense amplifier within a memory bank read circuit.

3. The semiconductor chip of claim 1, wherein the sub-circuit includes the charge pump within a non-volatile memory bank write circuit.

4. The semiconductor chip of claim 1, wherein the sub-circuit includes the rectifier circuit within the power management unit.

5. The semiconductor chip of claim 1, wherein the sub-circuit includes the demodulator receive path with two demodulators and the circuitry is configured to cause the demodulators to enter a dual demodulation mode.

17. The semiconductor chip of claim 1, wherein the aspect of the environment includes at least one of:

electromagnetic noise, presence of at least one other reader, a number of other readers, humidity, temperature, and electromagnetic reflection properties in the environment.

6. A method, comprising

receiving, at an RFID tag semiconductor chip from a reader, an instruction encoded in a Tune command, the instruction associated with an aspect of an environment sensed by the reader said instruction to perform at least one specific act, wherein the semiconductor chip includes at least one sub-circuit comprising one of a random number generator, a demodulator receive path, a nonvolatile memory bank, a modulator, an encryptor, a decryptor, an oscillator, a sense amplifier, a rectifier, and a charge pump;

executing the instruction causing circuitry coupled to a power management unit to perform at least one of;

turn the at least one sub-circuit on,

turn the at least one sub-circuit off,

alter a bias current within the at least one sub-circuit,

alter a bias voltage within the at least one sub-circuit, and

adjust a threshold within the at least one sub-circuit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sub-circuit includes the sense amplifier and the circuitry is further configured to alter the sense amplifier'"'"'s gain.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the sub-circuit includes the charge pump and the circuitry is further configured to alter the charge pump'"'"'s gain.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the sub-circuit includes the rectifier and the circuitry is further configured to alter the semiconductor chip'"'"'s electromagnetic/electrical power conversion efficiency.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the sub-circuit includes the oscillator and the circuitry is further configured to alter the oscillator'"'"'s oscillation frequency.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the sub-circuit includes the demodulator receive path with two demodulators, and wherein the circuitry is further configured to cause the demodulators to enter a dual demodulation mode.

18. The method of claim 6, wherein the aspect of the environment includes at least one of:

electromagnetic noise, presence of at least one other reader, a number of other readers, humidity, temperature, and electromagnetic reflection properties in the environment.

12. An RFID tag, comprising:

an antenna; and

,

a semiconductor chip, the semiconductor chip comprising;

a wireless transceiver;

at least one sub-circuit comprising one of a random number generator, a demodulator receive path, a nonvolatile memory bank, a modulator, an encryptor, a decryptor, an oscillator, a sense amplifier, a rectifier, and a charge pump; and

a processing block circuitry configured to;

receive, from a reader, an instruction encoded in a TUNE command, the instruction associated with an aspect of an environment sensed by the reader, and

execute the instruction causing circuitry coupled to a power management unit to perform at least one of;

turn the at least one sub-circuit on,

turn the at least one sub-circuit off,

alter a bias current within the at least one sub-circuit,

alter a bias voltage within the at least one sub-circuit, and

adjust a threshold within the at least one sub-circuit.

13. The RFID tag of claim 12, wherein the sub circuit includes the sense amplifier within a memory bank read circuit.

14. The RFID tag of claim 12, wherein the sub circuit includes the charge pump within a non-volatile memory bank write circuitry.

15. The RFID tag of claim 12, wherein the sub circuit includes the rectifier within the power management unit.

16. The RFID tag of claim 12, wherein the sub circuit includes the demodulator receive path and said demodulator receive path with two demodulators and the circuitry is configured to cause the demodulators to enter a dual demodulation mode.

19. The RFID tag of claim 12, wherein the aspect of the environment includes at least one of:

electromagnetic noise, presence of at least one other reader, a number of other readers, humidity, temperature, and electromagnetic reflection properties in the environment.