Generation of trigger events by RFID labels

• US 9,460,324 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2013
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Roskosch, Richard, Seisenberger, Claus
• Primary Examiner(s): WILSON, BRIAN P
• Application Number:
  US14/378,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20150028999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 340 101- 106, 3405721-5729, 605/27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10158 methods and means used by the interrogation device for reliably powering the wireless record carriers using an electromagnetic interrogation field
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10198 setting parameters for the interrogator, e.g. programming parameters and operating modes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas

Abstract

In an apparatus and by a method for detecting a tag having a transponder for identification by electromagnetic waves (RFID), a synchronization unit is electromagnetically coupled to the transponder and outputs a trigger signal for activating a supplementary system based on the occurrence of data interchange with the transponder. Any desired devices can therefore be easily activated and uniquely identified using an identification number of the transponder.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting a tag, having a transponder with a first antenna, for identification by electromagnetic waves and triggering of a supplementary system, the apparatus comprising:

second and third antennas electromagnetically coupled together;

a reader, electrically connected to the second antenna, supplying energy to the transponder via electromagnetic coupling between the first and second antennas and interchanging data with the transponder; and

a synchronization unit, electrically connected to the third antenna, outputting a trigger signal activating the supplementary system based on occurrence of the data interchange between the transponder and the reader when detected using the third antenna, wherein the supplementary system, during output of the trigger signal, introduces modulation enabling determination of a distance to the reader using the third antenna.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modulation is introduced to the first antenna by the third antenna and by the first antenna to the second antenna.

3. A method for detecting a tag having a transponder for identification by electromagnetic waves, the method comprising:

supplying energy from a reader, via a first antenna electrically connected to the reader, to the transponder via a second antenna electromagnetically coupled to the first antenna;

interchanging data with the transponder using the reader,

outputting, by a synchronization unit electrically connected to a third antenna that is electromagnetically coupled to the second antenna, a trigger signal activating a supplementary system based on occurrence of the data interchange detected using the third antenna; and

transmitting sensor data from a sensor in the supplementary system to the reader using the third antenna during output of the trigger signal.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the synchronization unit acquires contents of the data interchange using the third antenna and outputs the trigger signal based on the contents of the data interchange.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the supplementary system, during output of the trigger signal, generates supplementary data acquired by the reader in addition to transponder data from the transponder.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the transponder and the supplementary system are mechanically fixed together.

7. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sensor data is transmitted by the third antenna to the second antenna, electrically connected to the transponder, and by the second antenna to the first antenna electrically connected to the reader.

8. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the supplementary system, during output of the trigger signal, introduces modulation enabling determination of a distance to the reader using the third antenna.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the modulation is introduced to the second antenna by the third antenna and by second antenna to the first antenna.

10. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the synchronization unit outputs the trigger signal during the data interchange.

11. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the synchronization unit outputs the trigger signal in a delayed manner with respect to the data interchange.

12. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the synchronization unit has a diode detector generating a signal and an analog/digital converter sampling the signal generated by the diode detector.

13. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the data interchange is reading of the transponder.

14. An apparatus for detecting a tag, having a transponder with a first antenna, for identification by electromagnetic waves and triggering of a supplementary system, the apparatus comprising:

second and third antennas electromagnetically coupled together;

a reader, electrically connected to the second antenna, supplying energy to the transponder via electromagnetic coupling between the first and second antennas and interchanging data with the transponder; and

a synchronization unit, electrically connected to the third antenna, outputting a trigger signal activating the supplementary system based on occurrence of the data interchange between the transponder and the reader when detected using the third antenna, the supplementary system comprising a sensor device transmitting sensor data to the reader via the third antenna during output of the trigger signal.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said synchronization unit acquires the data interchange contents using the third antenna and outputs the trigger signal based on the data interchange contents.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the supplementary system, during output of the trigger signal, generates supplementary data acquired by the reader in addition to transponder data.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the transponder and the supplementary system are mechanically fixed together.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sensor data is transmitted by the third antenna to the first antenna of the transponder and by the first antenna to the second antenna electrically connected to the reader.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the synchronization unit outputs the trigger signal during the data interchange.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the synchronization unit outputs the trigger signal in a delayed manner with respect to the data interchange.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the synchronization unit includes a diode detector generating a signal;

and an analog/digital converter sampling the signal generated by the diode detector.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the data interchange is reading of the transponder.