Method and system for performing distance measuring and direction finding using ultrawide bandwidth transmissions

• US 7,616,676 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2008
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: North Star Innovations Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: McCorkle, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perilla, Jason M.
• Application Number:
  US12/068,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 375/316, 375/295, 375/131, 375/139
• US Class Current: 375/139
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2431 Tag circuit details
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/69 Spread spectrum techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7172 Pulse shape in general H04L25/03834
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7174 Pulse generation in general H04L25/03834
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7176 Data mapping, e.g. modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7183 Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0682 by delay compensation, e.g. by compensation of propagation delay or variations thereof, by ranging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4902 Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0004 using wavelets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0008 arrangements for allowing a transmitter or receiver to use more than one type of modulation negotiating modulation type for two-way transmission paths H04L5/1453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/18 Phase-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using phase-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An identification tag is provided in which radio frequency (RF) circuitry and ultrawide bandwidth (UWB) circuitry are both provided on the same tag, along with some UWB-RF interface circuitry. The RF circuitry is used to detect when the identification tag must be accessed, and is used to connect the UWB circuitry with a power supply. The UWB circuitry then performs the necessary communication functions with a distant device and the power supply is again disconnected. In this way the power supply is only accessed when the UWB circuitry is needed and it'"'"'s usable lifetime can be maximized.

Claims

1. A combined ultrawide bandwidth-radio frequency (UWB-RF) remote identification tag, comprising:

ultrawide bandwidth (UWB) circuitry for receiving or transmitting UWB signals;

radio frequency (RF) circuitry for receiving or transmitting RF signals; and

interface circuitry formed between the RF circuitry and the UWB circuitry,

wherein the UWB-RF interface further comprises;

a scaler for receiving a frequency signal from the RF circuitry, scaling it by a scaling factor P/Q, and providing a scaled frequency;

a memory device for providing a data signal; and

a mixer for mixing the scaled frequency with the data signal to form a UWB radio frequency signal,

wherein the data signal includes one of identification data for the remote identification tag, date of placement of the remote identification tag, and information regarding an object that the remote identification tag is associated with, and

wherein P and Q are integers and the UWB signals have a fractional bandwidth in the range of about 0.25 to 2.

2. A combined UWB-RF remote identification tag, as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply for providing power to the UWB circuitry; and

a switch connected between the power supply and the UWB circuitry,

wherein the interface circuitry controls the operation of the switch based on a signal received from the RF circuitry.

3. A combined UWB-RF remote identification tag, as recited in claim 1,

wherein the UWB-RF interface further comprises a second scaler for receiving the frequency signal from the RF circuitry, scaling it by a second scaling factor N/M, and providing a second scaled frequency to the UWB circuitry, and

wherein N and M are integers.

4. A combined UWB-RF remote identification tag, as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

a power supply for providing power to the UWB circuitry; and

a switch connected between the power supply and the UWB circuitry,

wherein the interface circuitry controls the operation of the switch based on a signal received from the RF circuitry.

5. A combined UWB-RF remote identification tag, as recited in claim 3, wherein the second scaled frequency is used by the UWB circuitry as a pulse repetition frequency.

6. A method of responding to an incoming signal, including:

receiving an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal;

processing the incoming RF signal to generate an activation signal;

activating an ultrawide-bandwidth (UWB) circuit in response to the activation signal; and

performing a UWB function with the UWB circuit after the UWB circuit is activated,

wherein the UWB function is transmission of data via UWB signals and the UWB signals have a fractional bandwidth in the range of about 0.25 to 2.

8. A method of responding to an incoming signal, as recited in claim 6, wherein the step of activating the UWB circuit is performed by having the activation signal connect the UWB circuit to a power supply.

9. A method of responding to an incoming signal, as recited in claim 6, further including shutting off the UWB circuit after the UWB function is performed.

7. A method of responding to an incoming signal, including:

receiving an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal;

processing the incoming RF signal to generate an activation signal;

activating an ultrawide-bandwidth (UWB) circuit in response to the activation signal; and

performing a UWB function with the UWB circuit after the UWB circuit is activated,

wherein the UWB function is reception of data via UWB signals and the UWB signals have a fractional bandwidth in the range of about 0.25 to 2.

10. A method of responding to an incoming signal, as recited in claim 7, wherein the step of activating the UWB circuit is performed by having the activation signal connect the UWB circuit to a power supply.

11. A method of responding to an incoming signal, as recited in claim 7, further including shutting off the UWB circuit after the UWB function is performed.