Adaptive control for improved RFID transponder read and write performance

• US 8,305,198 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Donato, Daniel F.
• Primary Examiner(s): SYED, NABIL H
• Application Number:
  US13/048,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20110169615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.3, 340/10.4, 340/10.5, 340/10.51, 340/10.52, 340/572.1, 340/572.2
• US Class Current: 340/10.51
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0025 the arrangement consisting of a wireless interrogation device in combination with a device for optically marking the record carrier
• 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

System, methods and computer program product are provided for an adaptive control for adjusting the electromagnetic interrogation signal of an RFID transceiver where said signal is used to read and/or write to an RFID transponder, or to adjust the gain of the RFID transceiver, or adjust both the gain and the signal strength. The system includes a RFID transceiver having at least a transmitter portion and a receiver portion and capable of generating electromagnetic signals, a signal-to-noise ratio module, and an adaptive control module that adjusts the power of the electromagnetic signal of the transmitter portion or the gain of the receiver portion according to the signal-to-noise ratio of a first electromagnetic signal. In one embodiment the system may be employed in printer-encoder devices for reading or encoding RFID transponders during a printing process.

Claims

1. A system for communicating with an RFID transponder comprised of:

a receiver that is used to receive noise and a signal from said RFID transponder; and

a signal-to-noise ratio module in communication with said receiver, wherein said signal-to-noise ratio module determines a signal-to-noise ratio from said signal and said noise received by said receiver;

wherein said system encodes said RFID transponder, said signal used to determine said signal-to-noise ratio resulting from said RFID transponder; and

an adaptive control module in communication with said signal-to-noise ratio module and said receiver,

wherein based upon said signal-to-noise ratio, said adaptive control module adjusts a gain of said receiver to facilitate encoding said RFID transponder, and

wherein, after adjusting said gain, said system encodes said RFID transponder.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiver includes a low noise amplifier having an adjustable gain.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said system comprises a portion of an RFID printer-encoder.

4. A system for communicating with an RFID transponder, comprising:

a receiver that is used to receive noise and a signal from said RFID transponder;

a signal-to-noise ratio module in communication with said receiver, wherein said signal-to-noise ratio module determines a signal-to-noise ratio from said signal and said noise received by said receiver;

wherein said system encodes said RFID transponder, said signal used to determine said signal-to-noise ratio resulting from said RFID transponder; and

an adaptive control module in communication with said signal-to-noise ratio module and said receiver,

wherein based upon said signal-to-noise ratio, said adaptive control module adjusts a signal strength of an electromagnetic interrogation signal,

wherein, after adjusting said signal strength, said system encodes said RFID transponder.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein said receiver includes a low noise amplifier having an adjustable gain.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein said system comprises a portion of an RFID printer-encoder.

5. A method of communicating with a RFID transponder comprising:

exposing said RFID transponder to a first electromagnetic signal;

receiving a response signal from said RFID transponder that is in response to said first electromagnetic signal;

receiving noise;

determining a signal-to-noise ratio of said response signal and said noise;

encoding said RFID transponder; and

prior to encoding said RFID transponder, adjusting a signal strength of a transmitter portion of a transceiver, wherein said signal strength is determined by said signal-to-noise ratio of said response signal.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising interrogating said RFID transponder with a second electromagnetic signal for the purpose of reading said RFID transponder.

6. A method of communicating with a RFID transponder comprising:

exposing said RFID transponder to a first electromagnetic signal;

receiving a response signal from said RFID transponder that is in response to said first electromagnetic signal;

receiving noise;

determining a signal-to-noise ratio of said response signal and said noise;

encoding said RFID transponder; and

prior to encoding said RFID transponder, adjusting a gain of a receiver portion of a transceiver, wherein said gain is determined by said signal-to-noise ratio of said response signal.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising interrogating said RFID transponder with a second electromagnetic signal for the purpose of reading said RFID transponder.

7. A method of communicating with a RFID transponder comprising:

exposing said RFID transponder to a first electromagnetic signal;

receiving a response signal from said RFID transponder that is in response to said first electromagnetic signal;

receiving noise;

determining a signal-to-noise ratio of said response signal and said noise;

encoding said RFID transponder; and

prior to encoding said RFID transponder, adjusting both a signal strength of a transmitter portion of a transceiver and gain of a receiver portion of said transceiver, wherein said signal strength and said gain are determined by said signal-to-noise ratio of said response signal.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising interrogating said RFID transponder with a second electromagnetic signal for the purpose of reading said RFID transponder.