Electronic identification label and interrogator for use therewith

• US 7,014,112 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Blakley, Daniel Robert, Way, Olan, Betrabet, Chinmay, Weng, Jian-gang, deVos, John A
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US10/425,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20040217171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/383, 235/380, 235/492, 235/451, 340/854.6, 340/5.6, 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 235/451
• 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 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer

Abstract

A method of conveying information from an electronic identification label to an interrogator includes coupling energy from an external field into a resonant circuit of the electronic identification label. The method also includes the electronic identification label periodically storing and discharging an amount of the coupled energy wherein the period that the electronic identification label stores and discharges the energy conveys information about the electronic identification label to the interrogator.

Claims

1. A method of conveying information from an electronic identification label to an interrogator, comprising:

coupling energy from an external field to a resonant circuit of the electronic identification label;

the electronic identification label periodically storing and discharging an amount of the coupled energy; and

wherein the period of the storing and discharging conveys information about the electronic identification label to the interrogator;

coupling energy from the external field into a second resonant circuit of the electronic identification label; and

the electronic identification label periodically storing and discharging an amount of the energy coupled into the second resonant circuit, wherein

the period during which the electronic identification label stores and discharges the energy coupled into the second resonant circuit conveys timing information to the interrogator that accompanies the information about the electronic identification label, wherein

the information about the electronic identification label is measured by way of measuring a change in the input impedance to a first field-generating device operating at a first frequency, and wherein the timing information is measured by way of measuring a change in the input impedance to a second field-generating device operating at a second frequency.

2. A method of interrogating an electronic identification label, comprising:

placing the electronic identification label within a coupling distance of a first and second field-generating device, the electronic identification label having first and second resonant circuits operating at a corresponding first and second frequency;

counting changes in the input impedance of the first field-generating device and the changes in the input impedance of the second field-generating device; and

comparing the number of changes in the input impedance of the first field-generating device to the number of changes in the input impedance of the second field-generating device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the changes in the input impedance of the first field-generating device are brought about by switching a resistor in parallel with elements of the first resonant circuit.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein switching of the resistor into the first resonant circuit is performed substantially simultaneously with the discharge of energy stored on a storage device coupled to the first resonant circuit.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the change in the input impedance of the second resonant circuit is brought about by switching a resistor in parallel with elements of the second resonant circuit.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein switching of the resistor into the second resonant circuit is performed substantially simultaneously with the discharge of energy stored on a storage device coupled to the second resonant circuit.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the change in the input impedance of the first field-generating device is brought about by creating a substantially open circuit in the first resonant circuit.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the change in the input impedance of the second field-generating device is brought about by creating a substantially open circuit in the second resonant circuit.

9. An electronic identification label, comprising:

first and second resonant circuits;

first and second energy storage devices coupled to a corresponding resonant circuit, for storing energy coupled into the first and second resonant circuits;

first and second switching devices placed between the first and second resonant circuits and the corresponding energy storage device; and

first and second circuit elements that are periodically coupled and decoupled from the corresponding resonant circuits by way of the corresponding first and second switching devices, wherein

the rate at which the second circuit element is coupled and decoupled from the second resonant circuit compared to the rate at which the first circuit element is coupled and decoupled from the first resonant circuit conveys information from the electronic identification label to an interrogator.

10. The electronic identification label of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second energy storage devices is a capacitor.

11. The electronic identification label of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second switching devices includes at least one transistor.

12. The electronic identification label of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second circuit elements is a resistor.

13. The electronic identification label of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second switching devices periodically couple the resistor to the corresponding energy storage device, thereby removing a substantial portion of energy from the corresponding energy storage device.

14. An electronic identification label, comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving energy at a predetermined frequency from an external source;

means for storing the received energy; and

means for periodically coupling and decoupling a circuit element into and out of the means for wirelessly receiving energy, wherein

the period of the coupling and decoupling is determined by the amount of energy that can be stored in the means for storing the coupled energy;

second means for wirelessly receiving energy at a second predetermined frequency;

means for storing the received energy received by the second means for wirelessly receiving energy; and

second means for periodically coupling and decoupling a circuit element into and out of the second means for wirelessly receiving energy, wherein

the period of the coupling and decoupling of the circuit element into and out of the second means for wirelessly receiving energy is used to derive timing information used to measure the information about the electronic identification label.

15. An interrogator for use with an electronic identification label;

comprising;

a first field-generating device that radiates energy at a first frequency to the electronic identification label;

a first sensor that senses the changes in the quality factor of the electronic identification label at the first frequency;

a second field-generating device that radiates energy at a second frequency to the electronic identification label;

a second sensor that senses the changes in the quality factor of the electronic identification label at the second frequency; and

a processor that determines the respective number of changes in the quality factor at the first and second frequencies and compares the two numbers.

16. The interrogator of claim 15, wherein changes in the quality factor of the electronic identification label at the first frequency are measured as changes in the in put impedance of the first field-generating device operating at the first frequency.

17. The interrogator of claim 15, wherein the processor uses the count of the changes in the quality factor at the first frequency to define a data frame, within which the count of the changes in the quality factor at the second frequency are measured.

18. The interrogator of claim 15, wherein the processor uses the count of the changes in the quality factor at the second frequency to extract information about the electronic identification label.

19. The interrogator of claim 15, wherein the first field-generating device is an inductor that generates a magnetic field.

20. An interrogator for use with an electronic identification label;

comprising;

first and second field-generating devices that convey energy to the electronic identification label;

first and second impedance sensors, each coupled to a corresponding one of the first and second field-generating devices; and

a processor, coupled to the first and second impedance sensors, which uses the timing of changes in the input impedance of the first sensor to establish a time base for reading changes in the input impedance of the second sensor.

21. The interrogator of claim 20, further comprising a first and second signal generator for generating signals at a first and second frequency for coupling to the first and second field-generating devices.

22. The interrogator of claim 20, wherein the first and second field-generating devices are inductive devices.