Battery assisted RFID system RF power control and interference mitigation methods

• US 8,410,906 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zest Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelleflex Corporation
• Inventors: Dacus, Farron, van Niekerk, Johannes Albertus, Rodriguez, Alfonso
• Primary Examiner(s): SYED, NABIL H
• Application Number:
  US12/205,718
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.3, 340/10.4, 340/10.41, 340/10.5, 340/572.1, 340/541, 340/426.2, 340/10.34, 340/572.7, 340/10.32, 455/41.1, 455/41.2
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0715 the arrangement including means to regulate power transfer to the integrated circuit
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10039 interrogator driven, i.e. synchronous
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication

Abstract

The present invention discloses battery assisted RFID system RF power leveling methods that optimize the amount of transmitted power and interference from a reader in relation to the sensitivity of the RFID tags, their ranges from the reader, and the unique physics of the backscatter RFID radio link. These methods enhance system reliability when employing battery assisted RFID tags that operate with sensitive transistor based square law tag receivers and highly sensitive RFID readers intended to take advantage of outstanding tag sensitivity. Further enhancement is achieved via design of system command sets and tag state machine behavior that optimally support the power level operations, power level operations that span across tag hibernation and normal modes, and that otherwise control system interference. Embodiments of the present invention are also enhanced with receiver training and synchronizing methods suited to the high tag sensitivity and need for dynamic range state switching. These enhancements may employ pseudo-random sequence based receiver training, activation signaling, and frame synchronizing.

Claims

1. A method for communicating between an RFID reader and a plurality of RFID tags, the method comprising:

the RFID reader transmitting at a first carrier power level in a forward link that communicates information from the RFID reader to a first set of RFID tags and a second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags; and

the RFID reader compensating for reverse link propagation behavior by transmitting at a second carrier power level supporting reverse link backscatter communications from the first set of RFID tags and the second set of RFID tags to the RFID reader, the second carrier power level being higher than the first carrier power level,

wherein a lower subcarrier frequency for the reverse link communications is used for communication between the RFID reader and the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags and a second higher subcarrier frequency is used for communication between the RFID reader and the second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags, the first set of RFID tags being proximately closer to the RFID reader than the second set of RFID tags,

wherein at least one additional forward link power level is used by the RFID reader, a first forward power level being used to communicate with the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags and a second forward power level being used to communicate with the second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags, and the first forward power level being smaller than the second forward power level,

wherein a first higher data rate is used for the communication between the RFID reader and the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags and a second lower data rate is used for the communication between the RFID reader and the second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags,

wherein the RFID reader sends instructions to the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags for causing the first set of RFID tags to adjust their transmit power,

wherein the RFID tags in the first set that have been accessed are placed into a non-responsive state for a predetermined period of time by the RFID reader after having been accessed for preventing the tags in the first set that are in the non-responsive state from responding to the RFID reader when the RFID reader is communicating with the second set of RFID tags.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader adjusts its reverse carrier transmit power in response to a particular one of the RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags in order to not use more power in both forward and reverse modes than necessary when the RFID reader is communicating with the particular one of the RFID tags, the adjusted carrier power resulting in the average forward reader carrier power and the average reverse link tag backscatter power being reduced.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID tags in the first and second sets of RFID tags are in one or more tag class types selected from a group consisting of Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, Class 3 Plus, and Class 4.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein an RFID tag with optional active transmit capability is using its backscatter transmitter for reverse link communications from tag to reader.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

returning the RFID tags in the first set of RFID tags that were successfully accessed at a first reader forward mode power level to a hibernate state;

initiating a timer operation in each of the RFID tags in the first set of RFID tags that are returned to the hibernate state, the timer operation defining a period of time; and

preventing the RFID tags in the first set of RFID tags that are returned to the hibernate state from responding to an activation command at a second reader forward power level during the period of time, the second reader forward power level being higher than the first reader forward power level; and

wherein a flag state stored in each of the RFID tags within the first set of RFID tags that are returned to the hibernate state indicates whether the timer operation is active to prevent undesired activation of the RFID tags within the first set of RFID tags that are returned to the hibernate state at the second reader forward power level.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing the RFID tags in the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags in the non-responsive state until expiration of a timer indicative of the amount of time for preventing the tags in the first set that are in the non-responsive state from responding to the RFID reader when the RFID reader is communicating at the second forward power level.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the RFID reader sets the period of time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader sends information indicative of the difference between the first carrier power level and the second carrier power level to the RFID tags in the first and/or second sets of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags in a command for causing the RFID tags receiving the command to adjust a percentage of incident power reflected as backscatter power based on the information.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the RFID reader identifies one of the RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags that is beyond a maximum backscatter range and accesses a memory thereof, wherein the RFID reader adjusts its second carrier power level to a level no higher than is necessary to access other tags within the plurality of RFID tags that are within the maximum backscatter range at the adjusted level.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the RFID tag that is beyond the maximum backscatter range uses an active transmitter to respond to the RFID reader.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader adjusts its reverse carrier transmit power in response to a particular one of the RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags in order to not use more power in both forward and reverse modes than necessary when the RFID reader is communicating with the particular one of the RFID tags, the adjusted carrier power resulting in the average forward reader carrier power and the average reverse link tag backscatter power being reduced, wherein the RFID reader sets the period of time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader adjusts its reverse carrier transmit power in response to a particular one of the RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags in order to not use more power in both forward and reverse modes than necessary when the RFID reader is communicating with the particular one of the RFID tags, the adjusted carrier power resulting in the average forward reader carrier power and the average reverse link tag backscatter power being reduced, wherein the RFID reader sends information in a command, the information being indicative of the difference between the first carrier power level and the second carrier power level to the RFID tags in the first and/or second sets of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags for causing the RFID tags receiving the command to adjust a percentage of incident power reflected as backscatter power based on the information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader sets the period of time.

14. A method for communicating between an RFID reader and a plurality of RFID tags, the method comprising:

the RFID reader transmitting at a first carrier power level in a forward link that communicates information from the RFID reader to a first set of RFID tags and a second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags; and

the RFID reader compensating for reverse link propagation behavior by transmitting at a second carrier power level supporting reverse link backscatter communications from the first set of RFID tags and a second set of RFID tags to the RFID reader, the second carrier power level being higher than the first carrier power level,

wherein a lower subcarrier frequency for the reverse link communications is used for communication between the RFID reader and the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags and a second higher subcarrier frequency is used for communication between the RFID reader and the second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags, the first set of RFID tags being closer to the RFID reader than the second set of RFID tags,

wherein the RFID reader sends instructions to the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags for causing the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags to adjust their transmit power,

wherein the RFID reader sends forward link power data to the second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags for enabling the second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags to select the transmit power of the second set of RFID tags based on the forward link power data,

wherein the RFID tags in the first set that have been accessed are placed into a non-responsive state for a predetermined period of time by the RFID reader after having been accessed for preventing the tags in the first set that are in the non-responsive state from responding to the RFID reader when the RFID reader is communicating with the second set of RFID tags.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one additional forward link power level is used by the RFID reader, a first forward power level being used to communicate with the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags and a second forward power level being used to communicate with the second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags, and the first forward power level being smaller than the second forward power level.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a first higher data rate is used by the RFID reader for the communication with the first set of RFID tags and a second lower data rate is used for the communication with the second set of RFID tags.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein higher reader sensitivity results from the use of the second higher subcarrier frequencies in an exemplary case of phase noise limited reader sensitivity.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one additional forward link power level is used by the RFID reader, a first forward power level being used to communicate with the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags and a second forward power level being used to communicate with the second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags, and the first forward power level being smaller than the second forward power level, wherein a first higher data rate is used for communication between the RFID reader and the first set of RFID tags and a second lower data rate is used for communication between the RFID reader and the second set of RFID tags.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein closer range tags that have been accessed at a lower reader transmit power level are placed in a non-responsive state until expiration of a timer.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the RFID reader adjusts its reverse carrier transmit power in response to a particular one of the RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags in order to not use more power in both forward and reverse modes than necessary when the RFID reader is communicating with the particular one of the RFID tags, the adjusted carrier power resulting in the average forward reader carrier power and the average reverse link tag backscatter power being reduced, wherein a first higher data rate is used for communication between the RFID reader and the first set of RFID tags and a second lower data rate is used for communication between the RFID reader and the second set of RFID tags.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising placing the RFID tags in the first set within the plurality of RFID tags in the non-responsive state for a period of time, wherein the RFID reader sets the period of time.

22. A method for communicating between an RFID reader and a plurality of RFID tags, the method comprising:

the RFID reader transmitting at a first carrier power level in a forward link that communicates information from the RFID reader to a first set of RFID tags and a second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags; and

the RFID reader compensating for reverse link propagation behavior by transmitting at a second carrier power level supporting reverse link backscatter communications from the first set of RFID tags and a second set of RFID tags to the RFID reader, the second carrier power level being higher than the first carrier power level,

wherein a lower subcarrier frequency for the reverse link communications is used for communication between the RFID reader and the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags and a second higher subcarrier frequency is used for communication between the RFID reader and the second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags, the first set of RFID tags being proximately closer to the RFID reader than the second set of RFID tags,

wherein at least one additional forward link power level is used by the RFID reader, a first forward power level being used to communicate with the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags and a second forward power level being used to communicate with the second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags, and the first forward power level being smaller than the second forward power level,

wherein the RFID reader adjusts its reverse carrier transmit power in response to a particular RFID tag in the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags in order to not use more power in both forward and reverse modes than necessary, the adjusted carrier power resulting in the average forward reader carrier power and the average reverse link tag backscatter power being reduced,

wherein a first higher data rate is used by the RFID reader for the communication with the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags and a second lower data rate is used by the RFID reader for the communication with the second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags,

wherein higher reader sensitivity results from the use of the second higher subcarrier frequencies in an exemplary case of phase noise limited reader sensitivity,

wherein the RFID tags in the first set that have been accessed are placed into a non-responsive state for a predetermined period of time by the RFID reader after having been accessed for preventing the tags in the first set that are in the non-responsive state from responding to the RFID reader when the RFID reader is communicating with the second set of RFID tags.

23. A method for communicating between an RFID reader and a plurality of RFID tags, the method comprising:

the RFID reader transmitting at a first carrier power level in a forward link that communicates information from the RFID reader to a first set of RFID tags and a second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags; and

the RFID reader compensating for reverse link propagation behavior by transmitting at a second carrier power level supporting reverse link backscatter communications from the first set of RFID tags and a second set of RFID tags to the RFID reader, the second carrier power level being higher than the first carrier power level,

wherein a lower subcarrier frequency for reverse link communications is used for communication between the RFID reader and the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags and a second higher subcarrier frequency is used for communication between the RFID reader and the second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags, the first set of RFID tags being proximately closer to the RFID reader than the second set of RFID tags,

wherein the RFID reader sends information in a command, the information being indicative of the difference between the first carrier power level and the second carrier power level to the RFID tags in the first and/or second sets of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags for causing the RFID tags receiving the command to adjust a percentage of incident power reflected as backscatter power based on the information,

wherein the RFID tags in the first set that have been accessed are placed into a non-responsive state for a predetermined period of time by the RFID reader after having been accessed for preventing the tags in the first set that are in the non-responsive state from responding to the RFID reader when the RFID reader is communicating with the second set of RFID tags.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one additional forward link power level is used by the RFID reader, a first forward power level being used to communicate with the first set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags and a second forward power level being used to communicate with the second set of RFID tags within the plurality of RFID tags, and the first forward power level being smaller than the second forward power level, wherein a first higher data rate is used for communication between the RFID reader and the first set of RFID tags and a second lower data rate is used for communication between the RFID reader and the second set of RFID tags.