Tags, wireless communication systems, tag communication methods, and wireless communications methods

• US 20040132406A1
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Inventors: Pratt, Richard M., Scott, Jeff W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,106,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/073 Special arrangements for circuits, e.g. for protecting identification code in memory protection against unauthorised use of computer memory G06F12/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07767 the first and second communication means being two different antennas types, e.g. dipole and coil type, or two antennas of the same kind but operating at different frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

Tags, wireless communication systems, tag communication methods, and wireless communications methods are described. In one aspect, a tag includes a plurality of antennas configured to receive a plurality of first wireless communication signals comprising data from a reader, a plurality of rectifying circuits coupled with. respective individual ones of the antennas and configured to provide rectified signals corresponding to the first wireless communication signals, wherein the rectified signals are combined to produce a composite signal, an adaptive reference circuit configured to vary a reference signal responsive to the composite signal, a comparator coupled with the adaptive reference circuit and the rectifying circuits and configured to compare the composite signal with respect to the reference signal and to output the data responsive to the comparison, and processing circuitry configured to receive the data from the comparator and to process the data.

Claims

1. A tag comprising:

a plurality of antennas configured to receive a plurality of first wireless communication signals comprising data from a reader;

a plurality of rectifying circuits coupled with respective individual ones of the antennas and configured to provide rectified signals corresponding to the first wireless communication signals, wherein the rectified signals are combined to produce a composite signal;

an adaptive reference circuit configured to vary a reference signal responsive to the composite signal;

a comparator coupled with the adaptive reference circuit and the rectifying circuits and configured to compare the composite signal with respect to the reference signal and to output the data responsive to the comparison; and

processing circuitry configured to receive the data from the comparator and to process the data.

2. The tag of claim 1 wherein the antennas individually comprise a meander line.

3. The tag of claim 1 wherein the antennas individually comprise a compressed dipole antenna.

4. The tag of claim 3 further comprising a ground plane spaced from the antennas.

5. The tag of claim 4 further comprising a metal reflector spaced from the ground plane.

6. The tag of claim 1 wherein the rectifying circuits comprise cascaded voltage doubling circuits.

7. The tag of claim 1 wherein the rectifying circuits individually comprise a plurality of diodes configured as a full-wave rectifier circuit.

8. The tag of claim 1 wherein the rectifying circuits comprise a plurality of diodes and a cathode of a diode of one of the rectifying circuits and a cathode of a diode of another of the rectifying circuits are coupled via a common node.

9. The tag of claim 8 wherein the common node is coupled to an input of the comparator.

10. The tag of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the tag to output a plurality of second wireless communication signals comprising backscatter signals for communication to the reader.

11. The tag of claim 10 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the communication of the second wireless communication signals to implement radio frequency identification device communications with the reader.

12. The tag of claim 10 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control at least one of the antennas to output the second wireless communication signals.

13. The tag of claim 10 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the plurality of antennas to output the second wireless communication signals.

14. The tag of claim 1 further comprising a battery configured to provide electrical energy to the processing circuitry.

15. The tag of claim 1 wherein the antennas are tuned to substantially the same frequency band.

16. The tag of claim 1 wherein one of the antennas is substantially tuned to a first frequency band and another of the antennas is substantially tuned to a second frequency band different than the first frequency band.

17. A wireless communication system comprising:

a reader configured to output a plurality of first wireless communication signals comprising data; and

a tag comprising a plurality of antennas configured to receive the first wireless communication signals from the reader, processing circuitry configured to receive the data of the first wireless communication signals and to control backscatter modulation of radio frequency energy to communicate a plurality of second wireless communication signals to the reader, and a battery configured to provide operational electrical energy to the processing circuitry.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the tag is configured to combine a plurality of electrical signals corresponding to the first wireless communication signals.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the tag comprises a plurality of rectifying circuits coupled with respective ones of the antennas and configured to provide the electrical signals comprising rectified signals.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the tag comprises an adaptive reference circuit configured to provide a reference signal responsive to the combined electrical signals, and a comparator configured to compare the combined electrical signals with the reference signal.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control at least one of the antennas to backscatter modulate the radio frequency energy.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the reader is configured to communicate the radio frequency energy comprising a continuous wave signal.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the tag comprises a radio frequency identification device.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein the antennas are tuned to substantially the same frequency band.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein one of the antennas is substantially tuned to a first frequency band and another of the antennas is substantially tuned to a second frequency band different than the first frequency band.

26. A tag communication method comprising:

receiving a plurality of first wireless communication signals from a reader using a plurality of antennas of a tag;

providing a plurality of electrical signals within the tag and corresponding to the first wireless communication signals received using respective ones of the antennas;

combining the electrical signals using the tag;

processing the combined electrical signals using the tag; and

backscatter modulating radio frequency energy using the tag to output a plurality of second wireless communication signals for communication to the reader.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the providing comprises rectifying the first wireless communication signals using a plurality of rectifying circuits of the tag coupled with respective ones of the antennas.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

adjusting a reference signal responsive to the electrical signals using the tag;

comparing the combined electrical signals to the reference signal using the tag; and

providing data responsive to the comparing using the tag, and the processing comprises processing the data using processing circuitry.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the backscatter modulating comprises backscatter modulating using at least one of the antennas.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising providing the tag comprising a radio frequency identification device.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein the processing comprises processing using processing circuitry, and further comprising supplying electrical energy to the processing circuitry using a battery of the tag.

32. The method of claim 26 further comprising providing the tag including the antennas tuned to substantially the same frequency band.

33. The method of claim 26 further comprising providing the tag including one of the antennas substantially tuned to a first frequency band and another of the antennas substantially tuned to a second frequency band different than the first frequency band.

34. A wireless communication method comprising:

providing a reader;

providing a tag comprising a plurality of antennas;

outputting a plurality of first wireless communication signals comprising data using the reader;

receiving the first wireless communication signals using the antennas of the tag;

combining electrical signals corresponding to respective ones of the first wireless communication signals within the tag; and

processing data of the combined electrical signals using processing circuitry of the tag after the combining.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising rectifying the first wireless communication signals within the tag to provide the electrical signals, and the combining comprises combining after the rectifying.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising providing the data comprising comparing the combined electrical signals to an adaptive reference signal using the tag and prior to the processing.

37. The method of claim 34 further comprising communicating a plurality of second wireless communication signals from the tag to the reader.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the communicating comprises backscatter modulating radio frequency energy to communicate the second wireless communication signals.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the communicating comprises backscatter modulating using the antennas of the tag.

40. The method of claim 34 wherein the providing the tag comprises providing a radio frequency identification device.

41. The method of claim 34 further comprising supplying electrical energy to the processing circuitry using a battery of the tag.

42. The method of claim 34 wherein the providing the tag comprises providing the tag including the antennas tuned to substantially the same frequency band.

43. The method of claim 34 wherein the providing the tag comprises providing the tag including one of the antennas substantially tuned to a first frequency band and another of the antennas substantially tuned to a second frequency band different than the first frequency band.