Multi-antenna signaling scheme for low-powered or passive radio communications
First Claim
1. A radio frequency identification tag, comprising:
- a retrodirective array phase modulator configured for quadrature phase shift keying comprising;
a retrodirective antenna array comprising at least one antenna pair; and
a staggered pattern charge collector for harvesting energy from an incident electromagnetic wave, comprising;
an array of patch antennas; and
a plurality of charge pumps in electrical communication with each of the array of patch antennas, wherein the plurality of charge pumps are configured to collect a charge;
at least one switch configured to selectively engage and disengage the retrodirective array phase modulator, wherein the at least one switch is configured to disengage at least one of the plurality of charge pumps after the at least one of the plurality of charge pumps has collected a predetermined amount of charge, the at least one switch is further configured to engage the retrodirective array phase modulator after the at least one switch disengage at least one of the plurality of charge pumps; and
a memory for storing data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-antenna signaling scheme, system and method for passive or low-powered RF devices, such as a radio frequency identification tag, are herein described. In one embodiment, the presently disclosed subject matter discloses a Retrodirective Array Phase Modulator which is configured to allow RFID tags to return higher-powered signals with higher data rates back to an RFID interrogator or reader unit. In some configurations, pattern strobing is used which is an array-based transmission technique for stepping or sweeping an RF waveform through space so that passive radio devices may more efficiently harvest energy without increasing transmit power. In some configurations, the presently disclosed subject matter may also use a Staggered Pattern Charge Collector to boost the collection of microwave power.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A radio frequency identification tag, comprising:
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a retrodirective array phase modulator configured for quadrature phase shift keying comprising; a retrodirective antenna array comprising at least one antenna pair; and
a staggered pattern charge collector for harvesting energy from an incident electromagnetic wave, comprising;an array of patch antennas; and a plurality of charge pumps in electrical communication with each of the array of patch antennas, wherein the plurality of charge pumps are configured to collect a charge; at least one switch configured to selectively engage and disengage the retrodirective array phase modulator, wherein the at least one switch is configured to disengage at least one of the plurality of charge pumps after the at least one of the plurality of charge pumps has collected a predetermined amount of charge, the at least one switch is further configured to engage the retrodirective array phase modulator after the at least one switch disengage at least one of the plurality of charge pumps; and a memory for storing data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for multi-antenna signaling, comprising:
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receiving, at a radio frequency identification tag, an incident electromagnetic wave comprising an interrogation signal; changing a phase length of a transmission line between at least one antenna pair of a retrodirective array at the radio frequency identification tag; spatially strobing a main pattern lobe of at least one antenna of the at least one antenna pair of the retrodirective array; selectively engaging and disengaging, with at least one switch, the retrodirective array; when the at least one switch is engaged, harvesting energy from the incident electromagnetic wave by a plurality of charge pumps; disengaging, by the at least one switch, the least one charge pump of the plurality of charge pumps when a certain charge is harvested; and engaging a retrodirective array phase modulator after the disengaging of the at least one charge pump of the plurality of charge pumps. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A multi-channel signaling system, comprising:
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a radio frequency identification tag comprising a retrodirective array phase modulator configured for quadrature phase shift keying, comprising; a retrodirective antenna array comprising at least one antenna pair, wherein the antenna array of the retrodirective array phase modulator is spatially strobed by sweeping, rotating or stepping the main pattern lobe; and at least one microcontroller for controlling a plurality of switches that change a phase length of a transmission line between the at least one antenna pair; a staggered pattern charge collector for harvesting energy from an incident electromagnetic wave, wherein the staggered pattern charge collector comprises; a plurality of arrays comprising a plurality of patch antennas; and a plurality of charge pumps, wherein at least one of the plurality of charge pumps are in electrical communication with at least one of the plurality of arrays, wherein the plurality of charge pumps are configured to collect a charge; a memory for storing data; and a data switch configured to switch between a matched load that substantially eliminates the reradiation of at least a portion of the energy of the incident electromagnetic wave to an electrical short load that causes the reradiation of at least a portion of the energy of the incident electromagnetic wave. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification