RFID interrogator with adjustable signal characteristics

• US 8,179,232 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Tuttle, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBINIYI, PAULSON IDOWU
• Application Number:
  US12/115,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20090273449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.1, 340/6.1, 340/10.4, 340/10.6, 235/383, 235/451, 235/462.01
• US Class Current: 340/10.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10346 the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator housed in a portable platform that includes at least one antenna, a transceiver for transmitting and receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal through the antenna, and a controller in communication with the transceiver for adjusting power and direction of the transmitted RF signal. The controller can be configured to adjust the antenna orientation, and can also selectively activate and deactivate one or more antennas.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator comprising:

a portable platform;

at least one antenna coupled to the platform;

a transceiver coupled to the platform for transmitting a first radio frequency (RF) signal and for receiving a second RF signal through the antenna;

a trigger coupled to the platform, wherein the trigger signals the transceiver to transmit the first RF signal and to receive the second RF signal emanating from a RFID device;

a controller coupled to the platform and in communication with the transceiver, wherein the controller is configured to;

adjust power and a transmission direction of the first RF signal, and

adjust a sensitivity and direction of the antenna to indicate a directional axis along which the second RF signal is received such that other RF signals transmitted along a different directional axis are not received at the transceiver.

2. The RFID interrogator of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust polarization of the antenna by changing an antenna orientation.

3. The RFID interrogator of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate and deactivate one or more antennas.

4. The RFID interrogator of claim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to the platform and in communication with the transceiver for processing and retrieving information from the second RF signal.

5. The RFID interrogator of claim 4, further comprising a user interface (UI) coupled to the platform and in communication with the processor for presenting the information to a user.

6. The RFID interrogator of claim 5, wherein the presented information includes an indication of distance between the interrogator and an item of interest.

7. The RFID interrogator of claim 5, wherein the presented information includes an indication having any one of an audio indication, visual indication, and physical indication.

8. The RFID interrogator of claim 1, further comprising a transducer coupled to the platform for presenting an alert to a user.

9. The RFID interrogator of claim 8, wherein the alert includes any one of an audio indication, visual indication, and physical indication.

10. A radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting a first radio frequency (RF) signal and for receiving a second RF signal;

an antenna in communication with the transceiver;

a transducer for presenting an alert to a user, wherein the alert includes any one of an audio indication, visual indication, and physical indication; and

a controller in communication with the transceiver, wherein the controller is configured to;

adjust characteristics of the first RF signal, and

adjust a sensitivity and direction of the antenna to indicate a directional axis along which the second RF signal is received such that other RF signals transmitted along a different directional axis are not received at the transceiver.

11. The RFID interrogator of claim 10, wherein the characteristics include power of the first RF signal.

12. The RFID interrogator of claim 10, wherein the characteristics include direction of the first RF signal.

13. The RFID interrogator of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to adjust polarization of the antenna by changing an antenna orientation.

14. The RFID interrogator of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate and deactivate one or more antennas.

15. The RFID interrogator of claim 10, further comprising a processor in communication with the transceiver for processing and retrieving information from the second RF signal.

16. The RFID interrogator of claim 15, further comprising a user interface in communication with the processor for presenting the information to a user.

17. The RFID interrogator of claim 16, wherein the presented information includes an indication of distance between the interrogator and an item of interest.

18. The RFID interrogator of claim 16, wherein the presented information includes an indication having any one of an audio indication, visual indication, and physical indication.

19. The RFID interrogator of claim 10, further comprising an aiming device for indicating a direction targeted by the interrogator.