Multiple radio frequency network node RFID tag

• US 8,558,699 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TEGO LLC
• Original Assignee: TEGO LLC
• Inventors: Butler, Timothy P., Berrios, Javier
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase, Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US11/923,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20080164977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,183 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.4, 340/10.33
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0724 the arrangement being a circuit for communicating at a plurality of frequencies, e.g. for managing time multiplexed communication over at least two antennas of different types
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• 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: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) tag that contains multiple Radio Frequency (RF) network nodes that provide enhanced memory capabilities, redundant functionality, and multiple frequency capabilities to the RFID tag using an inter-RF network node communication connection. The inter-RF network node communication may allow the coordination of RFID tag memory and functionality.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a single radio frequency identification (RFID) tag substrate;

mounting a plurality of RF network nodes on the single RFID tag substrate wherein each of the plurality of RF network nodes includes an RF and analog block for receiving and transmitting an RFID reader signal, a data processing and controller block for digital information processing, a power management block for managing power requirements of the RF network node, and a memory store; and

interconnecting the plurality of RF network nodes into a network topology with a communication bus to enable coordinating data communications between the plurality of RF network nodes to provide a coordinated power management facility that during operation of the RFID tag coordinates the power management blocks on any of the plurality of RF network nodes to dynamically control the distribution of power to and from any RF network node functional blocks of the plurality of RF network nodes to select between an extended operational time and an increase in available functionality based on at least one of (a) monitoring of the link quality from the RFID reader signal and (b) on monitoring the functional demands of commands received from an RFID reader.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing logical signals to one or more of the plurality of RF network nodes, the logical signals indicating a power-related state of one or more functional blocks in the one or more RF network nodes.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the power-related state includes a power readiness condition, a power-on reset condition, or a power too low condition.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising sharing power between nodes in the plurality of RF network nodes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the coordinating is provided through a master RF network node coupled to the communication bus.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the master RF network node includes one of the plurality of RF network nodes on the single RFID tag substrate.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the master RF network node causes power to be shared between the nodes in the plurality of RF network nodes.