Enhanced identification system

• US 9,607,193 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Atkins, Raymond Catherall, Marais, Mario Alphonso, Van Zyl Smit, Hendrik
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY III, EDWIN C
• Application Number:
  US11/392,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20060279408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,017 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.2, 340/10.1, 340/10.3, 340/10.31, 340/10.33, 340/10.4, 340/10.42, 340/10.51, 340/5.61, 340/5.63, 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/10.32, 342/42, 342/44, 342/51, 700/11, 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 7/10039 interrogator driven, i.e. synchronous
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10059 transponder driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles

Abstract

A method and an identification system used for communicating between a reader and a plurality of transponders are disclosed. The reader has a transmitter for transmitting a signal and each transponder includes a receiver for receiving the reader signal and a transmitter for generating a transponder signal. When the reader recognises a transponder signal from one of the transponders it immediately issues a mute instruction, muting all other active transponders and passing control to the said transponder, without the need for a specifically timed acknowledgement to the said controlling transponder. The reader may issue a single disable/wakeup instruction which disables the controlling transponder returning control to the reader and reactivated all muted (but not disabled) transponders.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a reader; and

a plurality of transponders;

wherein the reader is configured to transmit a powering signal to the plurality of transponders,

wherein each of the transponders is configured to transmit identifying data subsequent to receiving the power signal, wherein each of the transponders is configured to transmit the identifying data in response to the powering signal without a need for an instruction in the powering signal,

wherein the reader is further configured to transmit a mute instruction muting all transponders except for a controlling transponder,

wherein a coded instruction is included in the mute instruction,

wherein the controlling transponder is configured to perform an operation in accordance with the coded instruction, and

wherein the mute instruction comprises a modulation of the powering signal while the powering signal maintains a pre-selected frequency.

2. A transponder comprising circuitry configured to:

receive a powering signal from a reader;

transmit identifying data subsequent to receiving the powering signal, wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit the identifying data in response to the powering signal without a need for an instruction in the powering signal;

receive a mute instruction;

recognize a coded instruction included in the mute instruction and perform an operation in accordance with the coded instruction when the transponder is a controlling transponder, and when the transponder is not the controlling transponder mute transmissions by the transponder; and

wherein the mute instruction comprises a modulation of the powering signal while the powering signal maintains a pre-selected frequency.

3. A reader comprising circuitry configured to:

transmit a powering signal to a plurality of transponders; and

in response to receiving a transponder transmission including data identifying a controlling transponder, transmit a mute instruction thereby muting all transponders except for a controlling transponder;

wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit the powering signal to cause the transponder transmission without a need for an instruction in the powering signal;

wherein the mute instruction includes a coded instruction directing the controlling transponder to perform an operation; and

wherein the mute instruction comprises a modulation of the powering signal while the powering signal maintains a pre-selected frequency.

4. A system comprising:

a reader; and

a plurality of transponders;

wherein the reader is configured to transmit a powering signal to the plurality of transponders,

wherein each of the transponders is configured to transmit identifying data subsequent to receiving the power signal,

wherein the reader is further configured to transmit a mute instruction muting all transponders except for a controlling transponder,

wherein the reader is configured to transmit an acceptance instruction subsequent to receiving identifying data from the controlling transponder,

wherein a coded instruction is included in the mute instruction,

wherein the controlling transponder is configured to perform an operation in accordance with the coded instruction, and

wherein the mute instruction comprises a modulation of the powering signal while the powering signal maintains a pre-selected frequency.

5. A transponder comprising circuitry configured to:

receive a powering signal from a reader;

transmit identifying data subsequent to receiving the powering signal;

receive a mute instruction;

recognize a coded instruction included in the mute instruction and perform an operation in accordance with the coded instruction when the transponder is a controlling transponder, and wherein the transponder is not the controlling transponder mute transmissions by the transponder; and

receive an acceptance instruction from the reader subsequent to transmitting the identifying data in an instance in which the transponder is the controlling transponder,

wherein the mute instruction comprises a modulation of the powering signal while the powering signal maintains a pre-selected frequency.

6. A reader comprising circuitry configured to:

transmit a powering signal to a plurality of transponders;

in response to receiving a transponder transmission including data identifying a controlling transponder, transmit a mute instruction thereby muting all transponders except for a controlling transponder;

transmit an acceptance instructions subsequent to receiving the transponder transmission from the controlling transponder,

wherein the mute instruction includes a coded instruction directing the controlling transponder to perform an operation, and

wherein the mute instruction comprises a modulation of the powering signal while the powering signal maintains a pre-selected frequency.