Method and system for miniature passive RFID tags and readers

• US 20100253481A1
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Afshin Zand
• Original Assignee: Afshin Zand
• Inventors: Zand, Afshin
• Granted Patent: US 8,558,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.300
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10306 ultra wide band

Abstract

This invention makes possible small size, long range, reliable, low-power, low-cost RFIDs fulfilling the needs of the industry and the roadmap set for RFID, as by Walmart and the DoD. Tag energization and data communication take place by independent means. The invention employs low-power communication means, such as ultra wideband (UWB), for transfer of data between Tag and Reader, and relatively high power narrowband means to remotely energize the Tag. Said means of powering and communication mechanisms, further, are independent of the underlying process, or technology, of implementation of the Microchip on the Tag, as well as from the transceiver technology aboard the Reader. As such, they provide an ideal method and system by which to power and communicate with RFIDs, through cycles of evolution and changes in physical implementation technology.

Claims

1. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system comprising:

a. a powered interrogator/reader downlink transmitting in a non-pulsed ultra wideband signal;

b. a transponder or tag receiving said non-pulsed ultra wideband signal to at least partially or wholly power said tag;

c. said non-pulsed ultra wideband downlink transmission from said interrogator/reader instructing said transponder to broadcast data;

d. said transponder uplink communicating with said interrogator/reader using time domain carrierless impulse radio (pulsed ultra wideband) having ultra wide band width frequency spectrum of a short time duration pulse; and

e. said powered interrogator/reader receiving the pulsed ultra wideband ultra wide band short time duration pulse uplink communication;

whereby data is communicated from said transponder or tag to the said interrogator/reader using very little transponder power and an uncomplicated, low cost transponder design that is easily manufactured.

7. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system comprising:

a. a powered interrogator/reader downlink transmitting in a non-pulsed ultra wideband signal;

b. a transponder or tag receiving said non-pulsed ultra wideband signal to wholly power said tag;

c. said non-pulsed ultra wideband downlink transmission from said interrogator/reader instructing said transponder to broadcast data;

d. said transponder uplink communicating by a second antenna with said interrogator/reader using time domain carrierless impulse radio (pulsed ultra wideband) having ultra wide band width frequency spectrum and a short time duration pulse; and

e. said powered interrogator/reader receiving the pulsed ultra wideband ultra wide band short time duration pulse uplink communication;

whereby data is communicated from said transponder or tag to the said interrogator/reader using very little transponder power and an uncomplicated low cost transponder design that is easily manufactured.

8. An asymmetric bandwidth communication apparatus, comprising at least one Time-Domain Carrierless Impulse Radio (pulsed ultra wideband) transmitter and at least one non-pulsed ultra wideband receiver.

17. An asymmetric bandwidth communication apparatus, comprising at least one non-pulsed ultra wideband transmitter and at least one pulsed ultra wideband receiver.

26. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system comprising:

a. a powered interrogator/reader downlink transmitting in a non-pulsed ultra wideband signal;

b. a transponder or tag receiving said non-pulsed ultra wideband signal to at least partially or wholly power said tag;

c. said non-pulsed ultra wideband downlink transmission from said interrogator/reader instructing said transponder to broadcast data;

d. said transponder uplink communicating with said interrogator/reader using time domain carrierless impulse radio (pulsed ultra to wideband) having ultra wide band width frequency spectrum of a short time duration pulse; and

e. said powered interrogator/reader receiving the pulsed ultra wideband ultra wide band short time duration pulse uplink communication;

whereby data is communicated from said transponder or tag to the said interrogator/reader using very little transponder power and an uncomplicated, low cost transponder design that is easily manufactured.

2. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system as recited by claim 26, wherein said interrogator/reader communicates with said transponder or tag at a frequency of approximately centered on 915 MHz.

3. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system as recited by claim 26, wherein said interrogator/reader communicates with said transponder or tag to determine the location of said tag.

4. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system as recited by claim 26, wherein said transponder or tag additionally communicates with said interrogator/reader using conventional RF communication uplink with onboard additional power source.

5. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system as recited by claim 26, wherein said transponder or tag downlinks and uplinks with said interrogator/reader for RF communication and pulsed ultra wideband communication by a single common antenna.

6. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system as recited by claim 26, wherein said interrogator downlinks to said transponder or tag by RF and pulsed ultra wideband to communicate massive data and said transponder receiving said RF by first antenna and receiving said pulsed ultra wideband communication by a second antenna and uplinking with said interrogator/reader by pulsed ultra wideband communication by said second antenna.

27. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system as recited by claim 26, wherein said interrogator/reader communicates with said transponder or tag at a frequency of approximately centered on 915 MHz.

28. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system as recited by claim 26, wherein said interrogator/reader communicates with said transponder or tag to determine the location of said tag.

29. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system as recited by claim 26, wherein said transponder or tag additionally communicates with said interrogator/reader using conventional RF communication uplink with onboard additional power source.

30. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system as recited by claim 26, wherein said transponder or tag downlinks and uplinks with said interrogator/reader for RF communication and pulsed ultra wideband communication by a single common antenna.

31. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system as recited by claim 26, wherein said interrogator downlinks to said transponder or tag by RF and pulsed ultra wideband to communicate massive data and said transponder receiving to said RF by first antenna and receiving said pulsed ultra wideband communication by a second antenna and uplinking with said interrogator/reader by pulsed ultra wideband communication by said second antenna.

32. An asymmetric bandwidth communication system comprising:

a. a powered is interrogator/reader downlink transmitting in a non-pulsed ultra wideband signal;

b. a transponder or tag receiving said non-pulsed ultra wideband signal to wholly power said tag;

c. said non-pulsed ultra wideband downlink transmission from said interrogator/reader instructing said transponder to broadcast data;

d. said transponder uplink communicating by a second antenna with said interrogator/reader using time domain carrierless impulse radio (pulsed ultra wideband) having ultra wide band width frequency spectrum and a short time duration pulse; and

e. said powered interrogator/reader receiving the pulsed ultra wideband ultra wide band short time duration pulse uplink communication;

whereby data is communicated from said transponder or tag to the said interrogator/reader using very little transponder power and an uncomplicated low cost transponder design that is easily manufactured.

33. An asymmetric bandwidth communication apparatus, comprising at least one Time-Domain Carrierless Impulse Radio (pulsed ultra wideband) transmitter and at least one non-pulsed ultra wideband receiver.

9. Apparatus according to claim 33 wherein a pulsed ultra wideband signal is an Ultra Wide Band Impulse Radio (UWB-IR).

10. Apparatus according to claim 33 wherein a non-pulsed ultra wideband signal is a Continuous Wave (CW) RF signal.

11. Apparatus according to claim 33 wherein at least one non-pulsed ultra wideband signal is a magnetic, electric, electromagnetic or optical coupling signal.

12. Apparatus according to claim 33 that is partially or wholly powered up by the non-pulsed ultra wideband signal.

13. Apparatus according to 33, also including memory.

14. Apparatus according to 33, also including digital or analog computational circuitry.

15. Apparatus according to 33, also including digital or analog interface to other units.

16. A system composed of at least two apparatuses as recited in claim 33 wherein one apparatus acts as an interrogator and the other as a transponder.

34. Apparatus according to claim 33 wherein a pulsed ultra wideband signal is an Ultra Wide Band Impulse Radio (UWB-IR).

35. Apparatus according to claim 33 wherein a non-pulsed ultra wideband signal is a Continuous Wave (CW) RF signal.

36. Apparatus according to claim 33 wherein at least one non-pulsed ultra wideband signal is a magnetic, electric, electromagnetic or optical coupling signal.

37. Apparatus according to claim 33 that is partially or wholly powered up by the non-pulsed ultra wideband signal.

38. Apparatus according to 33, also including memory.

39. Apparatus according to 33, also including digital or analog computational circuitry.

40. Apparatus according to 33, also including digital or analog interface to other units.

41. A system composed of at least two apparatuses as recited in claim 33 wherein one apparatus acts as an interrogator and the other as a transponder.

42. An asymmetric bandwidth communication apparatus, comprising at least one non-pulsed ultra wideband transmitter and at least one pulsed ultra wideband receiver.

18. Apparatus according to claim 42 wherein a pulsed ultra wideband signal is an Ultra Wide Band Impulse Radio (UWB-IR).

19. Apparatus according to claim 42 wherein a non-pulsed ultra wideband signal is a Continuous Wave (CW) RF signal.

20. Apparatus according to claim 42 wherein at least one non-pulsed ultra wideband signal is a magnetic, electric, electromagnetic or optical coupling signal.

21. Apparatus according to claim 42 that is partially or wholly powered up by the non-pulsed ultra wideband signal.

22. Apparatus according to 42, also including memory.

23. Apparatus according to 42, also including digital or analog computational circuitry.

24. Apparatus according to 42, also including digital or analog interface to other units.

25. A system composed of at least two apparatuses as recited in claim 42 wherein one apparatus acts as an interrogator and the other as a transponder.

43. Apparatus according to claim 42 wherein a pulsed ultra wideband signal is an Ultra Wide Band Impulse Radio (UWB-IR).

44. Apparatus according to claim 42 wherein a non-pulsed ultra wideband signal is a Continuous Wave (CW) RF signal.

45. Apparatus according to claim 42 wherein at least one non-pulsed ultra wideband signal is a magnetic, electric, electromagnetic or optical coupling signal.

46. Apparatus according to claim 42 that is partially or wholly powered up by the non-pulsed ultra wideband signal.

47. Apparatus according to 42, also including memory.

48. Apparatus according to 42, also including digital or analog computational circuitry.

49. Apparatus according to 42, also including digital or analog interface to other units.

50. A system composed of at least two apparatuses as recited in claim 42 wherein one apparatus acts as an interrogator and the other as a transponder.