Object identification system with adaptive transceivers and methods of operation

• US 7,633,378 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RF Code Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RF Code Incorporated
• Inventors: Coulthard, John J., Lastinger, Roc A., Fowler, Billy C., Rehman, Mohammad A., Jaecks, Howard K., Picard, Paul A., Rodgers, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Application Number:
  US11/305,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20060103506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340 101- 1052
• US Class Current: 340/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/753 using frequency selective elements, e.g. resonator
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/756 using a signal generator for modifying the reflectivity of the reflector G01S13/758 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/758 using a signal generator powered by the interrogation signal
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0701 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising an arrangement for power management
• 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 19/0724 the arrangement being a circuit for communicating at a plurality of frequencies, e.g. for managing time multiplexed communication over at least two antennas of different types
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07779 the inductive antenna being a coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07783 the coil being planar
• 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 7/10039 interrogator driven, i.e. synchronous
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10336 the antenna being of the near field type, inductive coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• 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 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/35 using two or more simultaneously fed points
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/40 Imbricated or interleaved structures; Combined or electromagnetically coupled arrangements, e.g. comprising two or more non-connected fed radiating elements
• 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: H01Q 9/14 : Length of element or elements adjustable telescopic elements H01Q1/10

Abstract

An object identification system includes a monitor and a plurality of transceivers that communicate over a common medium. The monitor includes a first transmitter, a first receiver, and a processor. Each transceiver includes a resonant circuit, a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna coupled to the resonant circuit. The processor performs a method for performing transceiver communication that includes the steps of: (a) transmitting from the first transmitter a first frequency for a first duration; (b) after lapse of the first duration, receiving via the first receiver a response signal from at least one of the resonant circuits; (c) determining a second frequency from the received response signal; and (d) performing transceiver communication using the second frequency. Transceivers of the type having a resonant circuit coupled to an antenna, when operating in close proximity to each other, may interfere with the response from a single transceiver by absorbing the energy intended to be received by the transceiver, absorbing the energy transmitted by the transceiver, or altering the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. By determining the second frequency for transceiver communication, the monitor may establish communication with the single transceiver at a frequency better suited for transferring operative power to the transceiver, conducting an interrogation protocol for identifying the transceiver, or for data transfer.

Claims

1. An object identification system comprising a transceiver having circuitry which includes:

a receiver section operable to receive a wireless monitor transmitter signal that includes a monitor identification of a monitor that transmits the wireless monitor transmitter signal, the monitor identification to be stored in a memory of the transceiver; and

a transmitter section operable to transmit wireless transceiver signals which each include an identification associated with said transceiver, said transmitter section being responsive to receipt by said receiver section of said monitor transmitter signal, for including in said wireless transceiver signals, the monitor identification stored in said memory;

wherein said monitor transmitter signal includes a command portion, and wherein said transceiver is responsive to said command portion for effecting a control function within said transceiver.

2. The object identification system of claim 1, further comprising the monitor.

3. The object identification system of claim 1, wherein the control function includes a function to reset an access state bit.

4. The object identification system of claim 1, wherein the control function includes a function to clear a slot counter.

5. The object identification system of claim 1, wherein the control function includes a function to accept data for storage in the memory.

6. The object identification system of claim 1, wherein the control function includes a function to accept a configuration for a sensor associated with the transceiver.

7. The object identification system of claim 1, wherein the control function includes a function to reply with sensor data of a sensor associated with the transceiver.

8. The object identification system of claim 1, wherein the control function includes a function to reply in a time slot corresponding to sensor data.

9. An object identification system comprising:

a monitor device;

an antenna connected to the monitor device; and

a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver having a circuitry comprising;

a receiver section operable to receive a wireless monitor transmitter signal that includes a monitor identification of the monitor device, the monitor device to transmit the wireless monitor transmitter signal via the antenna, the monitor identification to be stored in a memory of the circuitry; and

a transmitter section operable to transmit a wireless transceiver signal which includes an identification associated with the each transceiver and includes the monitor identification;

wherein the monitor transmitter signal includes a command portion, and wherein the each transceiver is responsive to the command portion for effecting a control function within the each transceiver.

10. The object identification system of claim 9, further comprising a host computer connected to the monitor device.

11. The object identification system of claim 9, further comprising an antenna bus connecting the antenna and the monitor device.

12. The object identification system of claim 9, further comprising a sensor connected to the monitor device.

13. The object identification system of claim 9, further comprising a control connected to the monitor device.

14. The object identification system of claim 13, wherein the control is an environmental control.

15. A method of identifying an object, the method comprising:

receiving a wireless monitor transmitter signal from a monitor at a receiver section of a transceiver circuitry of a transceiver, the wireless monitor transmitter signal including a monitor identification and a command portion, the monitor identification associated with the monitor;

storing the monitor identification in a memory of the transceiver circuitry;

performing a control function at the transceiver based on the command portion of the wireless monitor transmitter signal; and

transmitting, using a transmitter section of the transceiver circuitry, a wireless transceiver signal including the monitor identification and a transceiver identification associated with the transceiver.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein performing the control function includes resetting an access state bit of the transceiver circuitry.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein performing the control function includes clearing a slot counter.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein performing the control function includes accepting data for storage in the memory.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein performing the control function includes accepting a configuration for a sensor associated with the transceiver.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein performing the control function includes controlling the transmitting to be performed in a time slot corresponding to sensor data of a sensor associated with the transceiver.