RFID system with distributed transmitters
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, comprising:
- a reader having at least one receive antenna in communication therewith; and
a plurality of transmitters in communication with the reader and spatially separated from the reader,wherein the transmitters broadcast commands received from the reader or converted from commands received from the reader,wherein the at least one receive antenna receives replies directly from the transponders performing a backscatter operation on a carrier transmitted from at least one of the transmitters,wherein more of the transmitters are in communication with the reader than-the at least one receive antenna,wherein the at least one receive antenna is proximally closer to the reader than the transmitters.
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Abstract
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system according to one embodiment includes a reader having a receive antenna in communication therewith, and a plurality of transmitters in communication with the reader and spatially separated from the reader. Methods of use are also presented.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, comprising:
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a reader having at least one receive antenna in communication therewith; and a plurality of transmitters in communication with the reader and spatially separated from the reader, wherein the transmitters broadcast commands received from the reader or converted from commands received from the reader, wherein the at least one receive antenna receives replies directly from the transponders performing a backscatter operation on a carrier transmitted from at least one of the transmitters, wherein more of the transmitters are in communication with the reader than-the at least one receive antenna, wherein the at least one receive antenna is proximally closer to the reader than the transmitters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 33, 34, 35, 40)
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9. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, comprising:
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a reader having at least one receive antenna in communication therewith; and a plurality of transmitters in communication with the reader and spatially separated from the reader, wherein the transmitters broadcast commands received from the reader or converted from commands received from the reader, wherein the reader communicates with the transmitters directly via a wired connection, wherein the receive antenna receives replies directly from transponders responding to a signal from any of the transmitters, wherein the at least one receive antenna is proximally closer to the reader than the transmitters, wherein more of the transmitters are in communication with the reader than the at least one receive antenna.
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14. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, comprising:
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a reader having at least one receive antenna coupled thereto and in close proximity therewith; and a plurality of transmitters in communication with the reader and spatially separated from the reader, each of the transmitters being separately controllable, the transmitters being unable to process a received backscattered RF signal, wherein the transmitters broadcast commands received from the reader or converted from commands received from the reader, wherein the at least one receive antenna receives replies directly from transponders responding to a signal from any of the transmitters, wherein the at least one receive antenna is proximally closer to the reader than the transmitters, wherein more of the transmitters are in communication with the reader than the at least one receive antenna. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41)
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25. A method for locating a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag utilizing a system having a reader with at least one receive antenna coupled thereto and a plurality of transmitters in communication with the reader and spatially separated from the reader, the method comprising:
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instructing at least one of the transmitters to transmit a signal; listening for a backscattered signal from a particular transponder while the at least one of the transmitters transmits; estimating a location of the particular transponder when a backscattered signal from the particular transponder is received; and instructing at least another of the transmitters to transmit a signal when no backscattered signal from the particular transponder is received when the at least one of the transmitters transmits, wherein the at least one receive antenna is proximally closer to the reader than the transmitters, wherein more of the transmitters are in communication with the reader than the at least one receive antennas. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification