Power consumption management for an RFID reader

• US 8,830,035 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Farpointe Data Incorporated (dormakaba Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Farpointe Data Incorporated (dormakaba Holding AG)
• Inventors: Lindley, Scott, Geiszler, Theodore D., Bierach, Kirk B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang, Yong Hang
• Application Number:
  US11/174,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,358 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.34, 340/10.51, 340/10.3, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.31, 340/693.3, 340/7.32, 340/425.2
• US Class Current: 340/10.34
• 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: G06K 7/10128 the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device

Abstract

Power consumption management for a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system. The RF system includes an RFID device and a host. The RFID reader includes an RFID controller, an excitation signal transmitter, a response signal receiver, an optional RFID device detector, a host interface input/output, and a user interface. The method includes establishing a first power consumption level for the RFID reader, establishing a second power consumption level that is different from the first, and changing between the first level and the second level. The difference between the first level and the second level is derived from at least one technique for power consumption management. A plurality of techniques are presented. Among the potential benefits to reduced power consumption are increased energy efficiency and reduced radiated emissions. The option of choosing between power consumption levels presents unique opportunities in system design, implementation, and operation.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader comprising:

an RFID controller;

an excitation signal transmitter coupled to the RFID controller;

a response signal receiver coupled to the RFID controller;

a host interface coupled to the RFID controller, the host interface configured to be coupled to a host and configured to be powered down; and

a user interface coupled to the RFID controller,

wherein at least one of the host interface and the user interface is configured to access an input of the RFID reader to select at least one technique for power consumption management from among a plurality of power consumption management techniques available to the RFID reader, each power consumption management technique operative to reduce power consumption of the RFID reader for a set of one or more operations of the RFID reader,

wherein the RFID reader is configured to change between a first power consumption management technique and a second power consumption management technique different from the first responsive to the input, the first and second power consumption management techniques operative to manage power consumption of the RFID reader at different levels for the same set of one or more operations of the RFID reader, and

wherein the plurality of power consumption management techniques includes reducing a time at least one of the RFID controller, the excitation signal transmitter, and the response signal receiver remains powered, and reducing a time that the host interface is powered in response to a command received by the host interface from the host.

3. The RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the second power consumption level is associated with a mode in which a second voltage level applied to the excitation signal transmitter is lower than a first voltage level associated with a first power consumption level.

4. The RFID reader of claim 1, wherein the first power consumption level is associated with a mode in which the response signal receiver remains powered for a first period after it is activated and the second power consumption level is associated with a mode in which the response signal receiver remains powered for a second period of time less than the first period of time after it is activated.

5. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the excitation signal transmitter is powered on and coordinate the powering of the response signal receiver to that of the excitation signal transmitter.

9. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the user interface is powered on.

10. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is peak versus off-peak time wherein the first power consumption level is used during peak times and the second power consumption level is used during off-peak times.

11. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is high versus low demand frequency wherein the first power consumption level is used during high demand frequency times and the second power consumption level is used during low demand frequency times.

12. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is a power outage emergency wherein the first power consumption level is used during normal power times and the second power consumption level is used during power outage times.

13. The RFID reader as defined in claim 12, wherein the second power consumption level for the RFID reader is such that power can be supplied to the RFID reader at least in part by the host.

14. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is an emergency wherein the first power consumption level is used during normal times and the second power consumption level is used during emergency times.

15. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management includes a condition that is sensed by the RFID reader.

16. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management includes a condition that is sensed by an external device and communicated to the RFID reader.

17. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management includes a dynamic condition that is customized by the RFID reader based on empirical data.

18. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein a present power consumption level of the RFID reader is made known to one or more elements of the RF system.

19. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein a change in power consumption level of the RFID reader is made known to one or more elements of the RF system.

20. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein a change in the power consumption level of the RFID reader is accomplished through the use of at least one of a switch, a push button, a rotary dial, a control card, or a control key.

21. The RFID reader as defined in claim 1, wherein a change in the power consumption level of the RFID reader is accomplished at least in part through a command from the host to the RFID reader.

2. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader comprising:

an RFID controller;

an excitation signal transmitter coupled to the RFID controller;

a response signal receiver coupled to the RFID controller;

a host interface coupled to the RFID controller, the host interface configured to be coupled to a host and configured to be powered down; and

a user interface coupled to the RFID controller,

wherein at least one of the host interface and the user interface is configured to access an input of the RFID reader to select at least one technique for power consumption management from among a plurality of power consumption management techniques available to the RFID reader, each power consumption management technique operative to reduce power consumption of the RFID reader for a set of one or more operations of the RFID reader,

wherein the RFID reader is configured to change between a first power consumption management technique and a second power consumption management technique different from the first responsive to the input, the first and second power consumption management techniques operative to manage power consumption of the RFID reader at different levels for the same set of one or more operations of the RFID reader, wherein the second power consumption level is associated with a sleep mode of the RFID controller, and

wherein the plurality of power consumption management techniques includes reducing a time at least one of the RFID controller, the excitation signal transmitter, and the response signal receiver remains powered, and reducing a time that the host interface is powered in response to a command received by the host interface from the host.

6. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader comprising:

an RFID controller;

an excitation signal transmitter coupled to the RFID controller;

a response signal receiver coupled to the RFID controller;

a host interface coupled to the RFID controller, the host interface configured to be coupled to a host and configured to be powered down; and

a user interface coupled to the RFID controller,

wherein at least one of the host interface and the user interface is configured to access an input of the RFID reader to select at least one technique for power consumption management from among a plurality of power consumption management techniques available to the RFID reader, each selected power consumption management technique operative to reduce power consumption of the RFID reader for a set of one or more operations of the RFID reader, and

wherein the RFID reader is configured to change between a first power consumption management technique and a second power consumption management technique different from the first responsive to the input, the first and second power consumption management techniques operative to manage power consumption of the RFID reader at different levels for the same set of one or more operations of the RFID reader; and

an RFID device detector coupled to the RFID controller,

wherein the RFID device detector ascertains the presence of the RFID device by sampling a receive signal and determining whether a sufficient number of successive receive clocks are present in a row at a select frequency,

wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is to place the RFID reader in a detection sleep state until the RFID device is detected to be in proximity to the RFID reader, and

wherein the plurality of power consumption management techniques includes reducing a time at least one of the RFID controller, the excitation signal transmitter, and the response signal receiver remains powered, and reducing a time that the host interface is powered in response to a command received by the host interface from the host.

7. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader comprising:

an RFID controller;

an excitation signal transmitter coupled to the RFID controller;

a response signal receiver coupled to the RFID controller;

a host interface coupled to the RFID controller, the host interface configured to be coupled to a host and configured to be powered down; and

a user interface coupled to the RFID controller,

wherein at least one of the host interface and the user interface is configured to access an input of the RFID reader to select at least one technique for power consumption management from among a plurality of power consumption management techniques available to the RFID reader, each power consumption management technique operative to reduce power consumption of the RFID reader for a set of one or more operations of the RFID reader,

wherein the RFID reader is configured selected to change between a first power consumption management technique and a second power consumption management technique different from the first responsive to the input, the first and second power consumption management techniques operative to manage power consumption of the RFID reader at different levels for the same set of one or more operations of the RFID reader, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management reduces a time that the host interface input/output is powered on, and

wherein the plurality of power consumption management techniques includes reducing a time at least one of the RFID controller, the excitation signal transmitter, and the response signal receiver remains powered, and reducing a time that the host interface is powered in response to a command received by the host interface from the host.

8. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader comprising:

an RFID controller;

an excitation signal transmitter coupled to the RFID controller;

a response signal receiver coupled to the RFID controller;

a host interface coupled to the RFID controller, the host interface configured to be coupled to a host and configured to be powered down; and

a user interface coupled to the RFID controller,

wherein at least one of the host interface and the user interface is configured to access an input of the RFID reader to select at least one technique for power consumption management from among a plurality of power consumption management techniques available to the RFID reader, operative to reduce power consumption of the RFID reader for a set of one or more operations of the RFID reader,

wherein the RFID reader is configured to change between a first power consumption management technique and a second power consumption management technique different from the first responsive to the input, the first and second power consumption management techniques operative to manage power consumption of the RFID reader at different levels for the same set of one or more operations of the RFID reader, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management reduces a time that the response signal receiver is powered on and coordinates the powering of the host interface input/output to that of the response signal receiver, and

wherein the plurality of power consumption management techniques includes reducing a time at least one of the RFID controller, the excitation signal transmitter, and the response signal receiver remains powered, and reducing a time that the host interface is powered in response to a command received by the host interface from the host.

22. A method for power consumption management for a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader including an RFID controller, an excitation signal transmitter, a response signal receiver, a host interface, and a user interface, the method comprising:

responsive to an input from at least one of the host interface and the user interface, selecting a first technique for power consumption management to reduce power consumption, the first technique establishing a first power consumption level at which a selected set of one or more operations of the RFID reader occur; and

selecting a second technique for power consumption management to reduce power consumption, the second technique establishing a second power consumption level, different from the first, at which the selected set of one or more operations of the RFID reader occur,

wherein at least one of the first technique for power consumption management and the second technique for power consumption management includes reducing a time at least one of the RFID controller, the excitation signal transmitter, and the response signal receiver remains powered, and reducing a time that the host interface is powered in response to a command received by the host interface from the host.

24. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is to change between a first voltage level and a second voltage level at which the excitation signal transmitter is pulsed.

25. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the response signal receiver is powered on.

26. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the excitation signal transmitter is powered on and coordinate the powering of the response signal receiver to that of the excitation signal transmitter.

30. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is to reduce a time that the user interface is powered on.

31. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is peak versus off-peak time wherein the first power consumption level is used during peak times and the second power consumption level is used during off-peak times.

32. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is high versus low demand frequency wherein the first power consumption level is used during high demand frequency times and the second power consumption level is used during low demand frequency times.

33. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is a power outage emergency wherein the first power consumption level is used during normal power times and the second power consumption level is used during power outage times.

34. The method as defined in claim 33, wherein the second power consumption level for the RFID reader is such that power can be supplied to the RFID reader at least in part by the host.

35. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management is an emergency wherein the first power consumption level is used during normal times and the second power consumption level is used during emergency times.

36. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management includes a condition that is sensed by the RFID reader.

37. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management includes a condition that is sensed by an external device and communicated to the RFID reader.

38. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the selected at least one technique for power consumption management includes a dynamic condition that is customized by the RFID reader based on empirical data.

39. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein a present power consumption level of the RFID reader is made known to one or more elements of the RF system.

40. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein a change in power consumption level of the RFID reader is made known to one or more elements of the RF system.

41. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the change in the power consumption level is accomplished through the use of at least one of a switch, a push button, a rotary dial, a control card, or a control key.

42. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the change in the power consumption level is accomplished at least in part through a command from the host to the RFID reader.

23. A method for power consumption management for a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader including an RFID controller, an excitation signal transmitter, a response signal receiver, a host interface, and a user interface, the method comprising:

responsive to an input from at least one of the host interface and the user interface, selecting a first technique for power consumption management to reduce power consumption, the first technique establishing a first power consumption level at which a selected set of one or more operations of the RFID reader occur; and

selecting a second technique for power consumption management to reduce power consumption, the second technique establishing a second power consumption level, different from the first, at which the selected set of one or more operations of the RFID reader occur,

wherein the selected first technique controls a sleep mode of the RFID controller, and

wherein at least one of the first technique for power consumption management and the second technique for power consumption management includes reducing a time at least one of the RFID controller, the excitation signal transmitter, and the response signal receiver remains powered, and reducing a time that the host interface is powered in response to a command received by the host interface from the host.

27. A method of power consumption management for a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader including an RFID controller, an excitation signal transmitter, a response signal receiver, a host interface, and a user interface, the method comprising:

responsive to an input from at least one of the host interface and the user interface, selecting a first technique for power consumption management to reduce power consumption, the first technique establishing a first power consumption level at which a selected set of one or more operations of the RFID reader occur; and

selecting a second technique for power consumption management to reduce power consumption, the second technique establishing a second power consumption level, different from the first, at which the selected set of one or more operations of the RFID reader occur,

wherein the RFID reader further comprises an RFID device detector,

wherein the RFID device detector ascertains the presence of the RFID device by sampling a receive signal and determining whether a sufficient number of successive receive clocks are present in a row at a select frequency,

wherein the selected first technique places the RFID reader in a detection sleep state until the RFID device is detected to be in proximity to the RFID reader, and

wherein at least one of the first technique for power consumption management and the second technique for power consumption management includes reducing a time at least one of the RFID controller, the excitation signal transmitter, and the response signal receiver remains powered, and reducing a time that the host interface is powered in response to a command received by the host interface from the host.

28. A method of power consumption management for a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader including an RFID controller, an excitation signal transmitter, a response signal receiver, a host interface, and a user interface, the method comprising:

responsive to an input from at least one of the host interface and the user interface, selecting a first technique for power consumption management to reduce power consumption, the first technique establishing a first power consumption level at which a selected set of one or more operations of the RFID reader occur; and

selecting a second technique for power consumption management to reduce power consumption, the second technique establishing a second power consumption level, different from the first, at which the selected set of one or more operations of the RFID reader occur,

wherein the selected first technique reduces a time that the host interface is powered on based on a command from the host, and

wherein at least one of the plurality of power consumption management techniques is associated with reducing a time at least one of the RFID controller, the excitation signal transmitter, and the response signal receiver remains powered.

29. A method of power consumption management for a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader including an RFID controller, an excitation signal transmitter, a response signal receiver, a host interface, and a user interface, the method comprising:

responsive to an input from at least one of the host interface and the user interface, selecting a first technique for power consumption management to reduce power consumption, the first technique establishing a first power consumption level at which a selected set of one or more operations of the RFID reader occur; and

selecting a second technique for power consumption management to reduce power consumption, the second technique establishing a second power consumption level, different from the first, at which the selected set of one or more operations of the RFID reader occur,

wherein the selected first technique reduces a time that the response signal receiver is powered on and coordinates the powering of the host interface to that of the response signal receiver and wherein the second technique establishing a second power consumption level includes selecting a power level of the host interface based on a command received from the host.

43. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader for a radio frequency (RF) transponder system, the RF system including the RFID reader, an RFID device, and a host, the RFID reader comprising:

means for selecting a first technique for power consumption management to reduce power consumption responsive to an input from at least one of the host interface and the user interface, the first technique establishing a first power consumption level at which a selected set of one or more operations of the RFID reader occur; and

means for selecting a second technique for power consumption management to reduce power consumption, the second technique establishing a second power consumption level, different from the first, at which the selected set of one or more operations of the RFID reader occur,

wherein at least one of the first technique for power consumption management and the second technique for power consumption management includes reducing a time at least one of the RFID controller, the excitation signal transmitter, and the response signal receiver remains powered, and reducing a time that the host interface is powered in response to a command received by the host interface from the host.