Multi-protocol RFID system using bit-lock or step-lock synchronization
First Claim
1. An interrogator system to read active RFID transponders and backscatter RFID transponders at a single monitoring location comprising:
- at least two transceivers,each transceiver covering a capture zone at said monitoring location wherein said system establishes a tag communication signal sequence, said signal sequence comprising first, second and third sequence portions, said signal sequence being arranged to enable said system to read at least one active RFID transponder in a first capture zone during said first sequence portion, to read at least one active RFID transponder in a second capture zone during said second sequence portion and to simultaneously read backscatter RFID transponders in both capture zones during said third sequence portion, said first and second sequence portions occurring at different times during said signal sequence and said third sequence portion occurring at a different time than said first and second sequence portions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-protocol RFID interrogating system employs a synchronization technique (step-lock) for a backscatter RFID system that allows simultaneous operation of closely spaced interrogators. The multi-protocol RFID interrogating system can communicate with backscatter transponders having different output protocols and with active transponders including: Title 21 compliant RFID backscatter transponders; IT2000 RFID backscatter transponders that provide an extended mode capability beyond Title 21; EGO™ RFID backscatter transponders, SEGO™ RFID backscatter transponders; ATA, ISO, ANSI AAR compliant RFID backscatter transponders; and IAG compliant active technology transponders. The system implements a step-lock operation, whereby adjacent interrogators are synchronized to ensure that all downlinks operate within the same time frame and all uplinks operate within the same time frame, to eliminate downlink on uplink interference.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An interrogator system to read active RFID transponders and backscatter RFID transponders at a single monitoring location comprising:
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at least two transceivers, each transceiver covering a capture zone at said monitoring location wherein said system establishes a tag communication signal sequence, said signal sequence comprising first, second and third sequence portions, said signal sequence being arranged to enable said system to read at least one active RFID transponder in a first capture zone during said first sequence portion, to read at least one active RFID transponder in a second capture zone during said second sequence portion and to simultaneously read backscatter RFID transponders in both capture zones during said third sequence portion, said first and second sequence portions occurring at different times during said signal sequence and said third sequence portion occurring at a different time than said first and second sequence portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An interrogator system using at least a first and second protocol to read RFID transponders comprising:
- at least two transceivers, each transceiver covering a respective capture zone at a single monitoring location; and
a synchronization circuit adapted to synchronize the two transceivers to establish a tag communication signal sequence, said signal sequence comprising first and second signal portions such that said at least two transceivers operate the first protocol simultaneously with each other during said first signal portion and operate the second protocol simultaneously with each other during said second signal portion. - View Dependent Claims (15)
- at least two transceivers, each transceiver covering a respective capture zone at a single monitoring location; and
Specification