Method of remote powering and detecting multiple UWB passive tags in an RFID system

• US 8,188,841 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Dowla, Farid U., Nekoogar, Faranak, Benzel, David M., Dallum, Gregory E., Spiridon, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHRAVAR, PETER CYRUS
• Application Number:
  US11/897,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20080252422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.33, 340/10.34, 324/314, 342/450, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/133
• US Class Current: 340/10.34
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• 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: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10306 ultra wide band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/71635 Transmitter aspects H04B1/7174 takes precedence

Abstract

A new Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), tracking, powering apparatus/system and method using coded Ultra-wideband (UWB) signaling is introduced. The proposed hardware and techniques disclosed herein utilize a plurality of passive UWB transponders in a field of an RFID-radar system. The radar system itself enables multiple passive tags to be remotely powered (activated) at about the same time frame via predetermined frequency UWB pulsed formats. Once such tags are in an activated state, an UWB radar transmits specific “interrogating codes” to put predetermined tags in an awakened status. Such predetermined tags can then communicate by a unique “response code” so as to be detected by an UWB system using radar methods.

Claims

1. An ultra-wideband (UWB) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, comprising:

one or more tags configured in a passive state;

an ultra-wideband high peak power burst generator configured to activate said one or more tags using ultra-wideband high peak power pulses;

an ultra-wideband transmitter adapted to interrogate said activated one or more tags using uniquely coded tag specific ultra-wideband pulsed formats so as to awaken predetermined one or more tags and initiate a unique response code;

one or more ultra-wideband receivers configured to receive modulated interrogation ultra-wideband signals resulting from said initiated unique response codes directed from said awakened tags; and

processing means coupled to each said ultra-wideband receiver for correlation, range determination, and for distinguishing said modulated interrogation ultra-wideband signals received from said awakened one or more tags.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more tags can be activated and detected at a range of up to about 20 meters.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more tags comprise a rectifying diode for powering purposes.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a circuitry within in each said one or more tags is configured to switch an antenna to a reflective or a non-reflective state based on said unique response codes so as to produce said modulated ultra-wideband interrogation signals.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said ultra-wideband high peak power pulses and said ultra-wideband pulsed formats comprise pulses of less than about 5 ns.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said interrogation ultra-wideband pulsed formats comprise orthogonal codes.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each respective said receiver is configured to detect a different frequency indicative of a predetermined tags said unique response code.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said interrogating ultra-wideband pulsed formats is identical to said unique response code embedded in a predetermined tag.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said interrogating ultra-wideband pulsed formats is different to said unique response code embedded in a predetermined tag.