Manufacture of LPRF device wake up using wireless tag

• US 20050093702A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TeraHop Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Twitchell, Robert W. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,133,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• 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 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method is disclosed for manufacturing a wireless transceiver (5008) having a low power radio frequency (LPRF) component (5010) that powers down to conserve energy and powers up in response to a signal; and a second receiver (5014) that provides the signal via line (5018) in response to receipt of a radio frequency broadcast. The broadcast is targeted to activate particular transceivers by including in the broadcast identifications such as class designations, in which case the transceivers power up and form networks. A transceiver may include one or more identifications and may include a unique identification of the transceiver itself. The LPRF component is a Bluetooth radio, but the overall transceiver itself only draws about 10 to 15 μA while actively awaiting and screening for a targeted broadcast.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a wireless transceiver that can be used to read one or more wireless tags (WTs) that are disposed externally to and in proximity of the wireless transceiver (WRT), the method comprising the step of hardwiring within a housing of the WRT:

(a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and

(b) a second receiver providing in response to receipt by the second receiver of a radio frequency broadcast the electronic signal in order to power up the LPRF communications component.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of hardwiring within the housing of the WRT a reader component in physical connection to the LPRF communications component for data exchange therebetween, the reader component used for reading the WTs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the WRT draws on the order of approximately 10 to 15 μ

A of electric current when awaiting for and receiving the radio frequency broadcast.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the LPRF communications component draws on the order of approximately 40 mAh of electric charge when powered up and receiving transmissions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the LPRF communications component draws on the order of approximately 10 mA of electric current when powered down to a standby mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the LPRF communications component draws approximately no electric current when powered down to an off state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second receiver draws on the order of 10 to 15 μ

A of electric current when awaiting for and receiving the radio frequency broadcast.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein one of the group of a modified FSK radio, PM radio, and AM radio comprises the second receiver.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second receiver generates the electronic signal by providing power to voltage regulators that supply power to the LPRF communications component.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the LPRF communications component is programmed to power down to an off state when no longer actively transmitting or receiving.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a wireless tag comprises the second receiver, the wireless tag including:

(a) a radio frequency detector component,

(b) a memory component, and

(c) an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) component.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the memory component stores an identification in read/write memory or in read only memory.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the ASIC component permanently stores an identification.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency broadcast, to which the second receiver responds by providing the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component, includes therein an identification that is stored within the WRT.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification is permanently stored within the WRT and uniquely identifies the WRT.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second receiver responds to a radio frequency broadcast by providing the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component only if the radio frequency broadcast includes the identification.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification represents a WRT class.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification represents a WT class.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification uniquely identifies the WRT.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification represents a selected plurality of WRTs.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising a sensor component physically connected to the LPRF communications component for data exchange therebetween.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the sensor component includes a motion detector.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the sensor component includes a digital camera.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the sensor component includes a microphone.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the sensor component includes a thermometer.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the sensor component includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising an external network communications component physically connected to the LPRF communications component for data exchange therebetween.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the external network communications component comprises a satellite transceiver.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the external network communications component comprises a cellular transceiver.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the second receiver includes an antenna.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the LPRF communications component includes an antenna.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the antenna of the LPRF communications component is different from that of the second receiver.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the antenna of the LPRF communications component is the same as that of the second receiver.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the second receiver includes an energy source.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the LPRF communications component includes an energy source.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein a transceiver comprises the second receiver.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the WTs that are read by the reader component are associated with assets to be tracked.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the WTs that are read by the reader component each comprises a radio-frequency transponder.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency of the broadcast is approximately 2.4 GHz.

36. The method of claim 36, wherein the energy source of the LPRF communications component is different from that of the second receiver.

37. The method of claim 36 above, wherein the energy source of the LPRF communications component is the same as that of the second receiver.