Radio frequency data communications device with adjustable receiver sensitivity and method

• US 7,345,575 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2003
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Tuttle, John R., Tuttle, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): SYED, NABIL H
• Application Number:
  US10/696,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20040085190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/572.7, 340/573.1, 340/572.1, 340/572.2, 340/10.2, 343/795
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/767 Responders; Transponders teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/78 discriminating between different kinds of targets, e.g. IFF-radar, i.e. identification of friend or foe G01S13/75, G01S13/79 take precedence
• 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 19/0726 the arrangement including a circuit for tuning the resonance frequency of an antenna on the record carrier
• 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 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/645 Inductive arrangements H01L23/647, H01L23/66 take precedence
• 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 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A device has a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit with integrated circuitry, interrogation receiving circuitry provided on the monolithic integrated circuit forming at least part of the integrated circuitry and configured to receive an interrogation signal from the interrogator unit, an antenna electrically coupled to the interrogation receiving circuitry and configured to communicate with the remote interrogator unit, a power source electrically coupled to the integrated circuitry and configured to generate operating power for the communications device, and at least one of the antenna and the interrogation receiving circuitry having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune the at least one of the antenna and the interrogation receiving circuitry within a range of tuned and detuned states to realize a desired receiver sensitivity of the communications device. Additionally, a method for tuning receiver sensitivity and/or transmitter sensitivity according to construction of the above device is disclosed.

Claims

1. An adjustable radio frequency identification device for use with a remote interrogator unit, the device comprising:

a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit having integrated circuitry;

transmitter circuitry provided on the monolithic integrated circuit and forming at least part of the integrated circuitry;

an antenna electrically coupled to the transmitter circuitry and configured to communicate with the remote interrogator unit; and

at least one of the antenna and the transmitter circuitry having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune the at least one of the antenna and the transmitter circuitry for sensitivity within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce transmitter range of the device in response to a command from the remote interrogator unit.

2. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transmitter circuitry has at least one circuit with at least one selectively tunable circuit element electrically reconfigurable to modify the transmission range of the transmitter circuitry.

3. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 2 wherein the at least one circuit comprises a plurality of fixed matching networks and circuitry configured to selectively switch one of the fixed matching networks into electrical connection with the transmitter circuitry in order to adjust tuning of the transmitter circuitry and the antenna.

4. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 2 wherein the at least one circuit comprises an adjustable circuit element which selectively causes the transmitter circuitry and the antenna to have mismatched impedances.

5. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising receiver circuitry having at least one circuit with at least one selectively tunable circuit element electrically reconfigurable to modify the reception range of the receiver circuitry in response to a command from the interrogator unit.

6. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 5 wherein the at least one circuit comprises a plurality of fixed matching networks and circuitry configured to selectively switch one of the fixed matching networks into electrical connection with the receiver circuitry, in response to the command from the interrogator, in order to adjust tuning of the receiver circuitry and the antenna.

7. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 5 wherein the at least one circuit comprises an adjustable circuit element which selectively causes the receiver circuitry and the antenna to have mismatched impedances.

43. The adjustable radio frequency identification device of claim 1 further comprising a power source electrically coupled to the integrated circuitry and configured to generate operating power for the communications device.

8. An adjustable radio frequency identification device for use with a remote interrogator unit, the device comprising:

an integrated circuit including receiver circuitry configured to receive an interrogation signal from the interrogator unit;

an antenna electrically coupled to the receiver circuitry, the antenna configured to receive the interrogation signal from the interrogator unit and deliver the interrogation signal to the receiver; and

at least one of the antenna and the receiver having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable, in response to a command from the interrogator unit, to selectively tune the at least one of the antenna and the receiver circuitry within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a reception range of the device.

9. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 8 wherein the receiver circuitry has at least one circuit with at least one selectively tunable circuit element electrically reconfigurable to modify the reception range of the receiver circuitry.

10. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 9 wherein the at least one circuit comprises a plurality of fixed matching networks and circuitry configured to selectively switch one of the fixed matching networks into electrical connection with the receiver circuitry in order to adjust tuning of the receiver circuitry and the antenna.

11. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 9 wherein the at least one circuit comprises an adjustable circuit element which selectively causes the receiver circuitry and the antenna to have mismatched impedances.

12. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 8 and further comprising transmitter circuitry having at least one circuit with at least one selectively tunable circuit element electrically reconfigurable to modify the transmission range of the transmitter circuitry, in response to a command from the interrogator unit.

13. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 12 wherein the at least one circuit comprises a plurality of fixed matching networks and circuitry configured to selectively switch one of the fixed matching networks into electrical connection with the transmitter in order to adjust tuning of the transmitter circuitry and the antenna.

14. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 12 wherein the at least one circuit comprises an adjustable circuit element which selectively causes the transmitter circuitry and the antenna to have mismatched impedances.

44. The adjustable radio frequency identification device of claim 8 further comprising a battery electrically coupled to the integrated circuit and configured to provide power to the receiver circuitry.

15. A method of adapting a radio frequency identification device for use with a remote interrogator unit, the method comprising:

providing transponder circuitry;

providing an antenna electrically coupled to the transponder circuitry for communicating with a remote interrogator unit; and

selectively tuning at least one of the antenna and the transponder circuitry within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce sensitivity responsive to an interrogation signal transmitted by the interrogator unit.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of selectively tuning comprises configuring electrical conduction of the transponder circuit.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the transponder circuit is selectively tuned by electrically switching in one or more of a plurality of fixed circuit networks for realizing the desired receiver sensitivity of the communication device.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the transponder circuit includes a circuit network, the method further including the step of selectively tuning the circuit network.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the transponder circuit comprises a receiver circuit, and the step of selectively tuning comprises detuning the receiver circuit.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the transponder circuit comprises a transmitter circuit, with the step of selectively tuning comprising detuning the transmitter circuit.

21. A radio frequency identification device operating method comprising:

providing an active transmitter electrically coupled to an antenna, the transmitter defining at least a portion of a monolithic RFID integrated circuit configured to communicate with a remote interrogator; and

selectively tuning at least one of the antenna and the transmitter to a state selected from a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a transmitter range in response to a command transmitted by the interrogator unit.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the transmitter has at least one circuit with at least one selectively tunable circuit element electrically reconfigurable to modify the transmission range of the transmitter.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the at least one circuit comprises an adjustable circuit element which selectively causes the transmitter and the antenna to have mismatched impedances.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the RFID integrated circuit comprises a receiver having at least one circuit with at least one selectively tunable circuit element electrically reconfigurable to modify the reception range of the receiver.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the at least one circuit comprises a plurality of fixed matching networks and circuitry configured to selectively switch one of the fixed matching networks into electrical connection with the receiver in order to adjust tuning of the receiver and the antenna.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the at least one circuit comprises an adjustable circuit element which selectively causes the receiver and the antenna to have mismatched impedances.

23. A radio frequency identification device fabrication method comprising:

electrically coupling an active transmitter to an antenna, the transmitter defining at least a portion of a monolithic RFID integrated circuit configured to communicate with a remote interrogator; and

wherein the transmitter is configured to be selectively tuned to a state selected from a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a transmitter range, the selectively tuning including providing a plurality of fixed matching networks and circuitry configured to selectively switch one of the fixed matching networks into electrical connection with the transmitter, in response to a command transmitted by the interrogator unit, in order to adjust impedance matching between the transmitter and the antenna.

28. An adjustable radio frequency identification device for use with a remote interrogator unit, the device comprising:

a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit having integrated circuitry;

transmitter circuitry provided on the monolithic integrated circuit and forming at least part of the integrated circuitry;

an antenna electrically coupled to the transmitter circuitry and configured to communicate with the remote interrogator unit; and

the transmitter circuitry having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune at least one of the transmitter circuitry and antenna within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a transmission range of the radio frequency identification device.

29. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 28 wherein the transmitter circuitry has a plurality of fixed matching networks and circuitry configured to selectively switch one of the fixed matching networks into electrical connection with the transmitter circuitry in order to adjust tuning of the transmitter circuitry and the antenna.

30. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 28 wherein the transmitter circuitry comprises an adjustable circuit element which selectively causes the transmitter circuitry and the antenna to have mismatched impedances.

45. The adjustable radio frequency identification device of claim 28 further comprising a power source electrically coupled to the integrated circuitry and configured to generate operating power for the communications device.

31. An adjustable radio frequency identification device for use with a remote interrogator unit, the device comprising:

a semiconductor integrated circuit having integrated circuitry;

an antenna;

transmitter circuitry provided on the integrated circuit and forming at least part of the integrated circuitry, the transmitter circuitry having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune at least one of the transmitter circuitry and antenna within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a transmission range of the radio frequency identification device; and

receiver circuitry having electrically reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune at least one of the transmitter circuitry and antenna within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a reception range of the radio frequency data communication device.

32. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 31 wherein the receiver circuitry has a plurality of fixed matching networks and circuitry configured to selectively switch the fixed matching networks in order to adjust tuning of the receiver circuitry and the antenna.

33. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 32 wherein the transmitter circuitry has a plurality of fixed matching networks and circuitry configured to selectively switch the fixed matching networks in order to adjust tuning of the transmitter circuitry and the antenna.

34. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 31 wherein the receiver circuitry comprises an adjustable circuit element which selectively causes the receiver circuitry and the antenna to have mismatched impedances.

35. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 34 wherein the transmitter circuitry comprises an adjustable circuit element which selectively causes the transmitter circuitry and the antenna to have mismatched impedances.

46. The adjustable radio frequency identification device of claim 31 further comprising a power source electrically coupled to the integrated circuitry and configured to generate operating power for the radio frequency identification device.

36. An adjustable radio frequency identification device for use with a remote interrogator unit, the device comprising:

an integrated circuit including receiver circuitry configured to receive an interrogation signal from the interrogator unit;

an antenna electrically coupled to the receiver circuitry, the antenna configured to receive the interrogation signal from the interrogator unit and deliver the interrogation signal to the receiver circuitry; and

the receiver circuitry having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune the at least one of the antenna and the receiver circuitry within a range of tuned and detuned states to purposely reduce a reception range of the radio frequency identification device.

37. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 36 wherein the receiver circuitry has at least one circuit with at least one selectively tunable circuit element electrically reconfigurable to modify the reception range of the receiver circuitry.

38. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 37 wherein the at least one circuit comprises a plurality of fixed matching networks and circuitry configured to selectively switch one of the fixed matching networks into electrical connection with the receiver circuitry in order to adjust tuning of the receiver circuitry and the antenna.

39. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 37 wherein the at least one circuit comprises an adjustable circuit element which selectively causes the receiver circuitry and the antenna to have mismatched impedances.

40. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 37 and further comprising transmitter circuitry having at least one circuit with at least one selectively tunable circuit element electrically reconfigurable to modify the transmission range of the transmitter circuitry.

41. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 40 wherein the at least one circuit comprises a plurality of fixed matching networks and circuitry configured to selectively switch one of the fixed matching networks into electrical connection with the transmitter circuitry in order to adjust tuning of the transmitter circuitry and the antenna.

42. An adjustable radio frequency identification device in accordance with claim 40 wherein the at least one circuit comprises an adjustable circuit element which selectively causes the transmitter circuitry and the antenna to have mismatched impedances.

47. The adjustable radio frequency identification device of claim 36 further comprising a battery electrically coupled to the integrated circuit and configured to provide power to the receiver circuitry.