RFID tag reader

• US 8,199,004 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Crooks, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Point, Rufus
• Application Number:
  US11/536,737
• Time in Patent Office: 2,083 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.3, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.4, 340/7.37, 340/10.5, 340/572.1, 340/13.26, 340/539.11, 340/539.3, 340/539.21, 235/435, 235/449, 235/450, 235/451, 235/375, 235/376, 235/377, 235/378, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382, 235/384, 235/385, 713/300, 713/340, 455/522, 455/127.1, 455/298, 455/343.1, 455/343.5, 455/574
• US Class Current: 340/539.3
• 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 radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader. The tag reader includes a power detection circuit operable to detect power from a plurality of different power sources, and a controller for operating the radio frequency identification tag reader at a power consumption level commensurate with a detected power source.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification tag reader comprising:

a power detection circuit operable to detect power from a plurality of different power sources;

a controller for adjusting an adjustable radio frequency transceiver to transmit at a power level commensurate with a detected power source when reading an RFID tag.

2. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 1, further comprising an antenna for transmitting a signal for interrogating a radio frequently identification tag, wherein the power detection circuit detects a change from the detected power source to another of the plurality of different power sources, and the controller adjusts the power of the adjustable radio frequency transceiver thereby adjusting a transmission range for the radio frequency identification reader.

3. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 1, wherein a detected power source comprises a battery within the radio frequency identification tag reader.

4. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 1, further comprising:

a power over Ethernet interface circuit for connecting to a power over Ethernet network;

wherein a detected power source comprises a power over Ethernet network power source.

5. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 1, wherein a detected power source produces a first power level less than a second power level of an external power adapter, and wherein the controller operates the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a first power consumption level less than a second power consumption level associated with using the external power adapter.

6. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 5, wherein the controller operates at a first processor speed less than a second processor speed associated with using the external power adapter.

7. The radio frequency identification tag reader Of claim 5, wherein the controller operates the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a first duty cycle less than a second duty cycle associated with using the external power adapter.

8. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 5, wherein the controller operates the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a first radio frequency output power level less than a second radio frequency output power level associated with using the external power adapter.

9. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 5, further comprising a diagnostic light, wherein the controller operates the diagnostic light at a first brightness level less than a second brightness level associated with using the external power adapter.

10. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 5, further comprising an audible indicator, wherein the controller operates the audible indicator at a first volume level less than a second volume level associated with using the external power adapter.

11. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 5, further comprising a serial interface, wherein the controller disables the serial interface while the radio frequency identification tag reader is powered by the detected power source.

12. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 2, wherein a detected power source comprises a power adapter external to the radio frequency identification reader, and the controller operates the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a first power consumption level higher than a second power consumption level associated with a second power source.

13. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 12, wherein the controller operates at a first processor speed greater than a second processor speed associated with using the second power source.

14. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 12, wherein the controller operates the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a first duty cycle greater than a second duty cycle associated with using the second power source.

15. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 12, wherein the controller operates the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a first radio frequency output power level greater than a second radio frequency output power level associated with using the second power source.

16. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 12, further comprising a diagnostic light, wherein the controller operates the diagnostic light at a first brightness level greater than a second brightness level associated with using the second power source.

17. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 12, further comprising an audible indicator, wherein the controller operates the audible indicator at a first volume level greater than a second volume level associated with using the second power source.

18. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 12, further comprising a serial interface, wherein the controller enables the serial interface while the radio frequency identification tag reader is powered by an external power adapter.

19. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 12, wherein the second power source comprises a battery.

20. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 12, further comprising a power over Ethernet interface circuit for connecting to a power over Ethernet network, wherein the second power source comprises a power over Ethernet power source.

21. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 2, wherein a detected power source comprises a power adapter external to the radio frequency identification tag reader, and the controller begins operating the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a first power consumption level higher than a second power consumption level associated with a second power source.

22. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 21, wherein the controller receives a signal from the power detection circuit indicating removal of the power adapter, and wherein the controller operates the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a third power consumption level commensurate with a third power level received from a third power source by the controller.

23. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 21, wherein the second power source comprises a battery.

24. The radio frequency identification tag reader of claim 21, further comprising a power over Ethernet interface circuit for connecting to a power over Ethernet network, wherein the second power source comprises a power over Ethernet power source.

25. A method of operating a radio frequency identification tag reader comprising:

detecting power from a number of different power sources;

producing corresponding signals indicative of the different power sources; and

adjusting an adjustable radio frequency transceiver to transmit at a power level commensurate with a power level received from a single power source by the controller when reading an RFID tag.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the single power source comprises a power adapter external to the radio frequency identification tag reader.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the single power source comprises a battery of the radio frequency identification tag reader.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the single power source comprises a power over Ethernet power source.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the operating step includes the adjustable radio frequency transceiver using the single power source at a first power consumption level less than a second power consumption level associated with using an external power adapter.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the operating step further comprises operating the controller at a first processor speed less than a second processor speed associated with using the external power adapter.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the operating step further comprises operating the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a first duty cycle less than a second duty cycle associated with using the external power adapter.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the operating step further comprises operating the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a first radio frequency output power level less than a second radio frequency output power level associated with using the external power adapter.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the operating step further comprises operating a diagnostic light of the radio frequency identification tag reader at a first brightness level less than a second brightness level associated with using the external power adapter.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the operating step further comprises operating an audible indicator of the radio frequency identification tag reader at a first volume level less than a second volume level associated with using the external power adapter.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the operating step further comprises disabling a serial interface of the radio frequency identification tag reader.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the operating step comprises operating the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a first power consumption level higher than a second power consumption level associated with a second power source.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the operating step further comprises operating the controller at a first processor speed greater than a second processor speed associated with using the second power source.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the operating step further comprises operating the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a first duty cycle greater than a second duty cycle associated with using the second power source.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the operating step further comprises operating the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a first radio frequency output power level greater than a second radio frequency output power-level associated with using the second power source.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the operating step further comprises operating a diagnostic light of the radio frequency identification tag reader at a first brightness level greater than a second brightness level associated with using the second power source.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the operating step further comprises operating an audible indicator of the radio frequency identification tag reader at a first volume level greater than a second volume level associated with using the external power adapter.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein the operating step further comprises enabling a serial interface of the radio frequency identification tag reader.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein the second power source comprises a battery of the radio frequency identification tag reader.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein the second power source comprises a power over Ethernet power source.

45. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

booting up from a default power source prior to the detecting step by the controller.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the default power source comprises a battery.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the default power source comprises a power over Ethernet power source.

48. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving another signal by the controller indicating removal of the power adapter; and

operating the adjustable radio frequency transceiver at a second power consumption level commensurate with a second power level received from a second power source by the controller.