RFID system and communication method performed by the same

• US 8,797,145 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2013
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Jeon, Ki-yong, Yoon, Chang-seok, Cho, Sung-ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Syed, Nabil
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALAM, MIRZA F
• Application Number:
  US13/856,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20130234829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.5, 340/988, 340/10.1, 340/10.2, 340/10.3, 340/10.31, 340/10.4, 340/10.41, 340/10.42, 340/539, 340/10.5, 340/5.61, 340/5.72, 340/539.21, 340/10.33, 455/101, 455/552, 455/422, 455/435, 455/436, 455/255, 455/130, 455/230, 455/552.1, 455/550.1, 455/85, 455/86, 455/41.2, 455/91, 455/141, 455/73, 455/75, 455/76, 455/131, 455/132, 455/102, 455/180.1, 375/219, 375/261, 375/298, 375/316, 375/283, 375/281, 375/315, 342/195, 342/51
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10297 arrangements for handling protocols designed for non-contact record carriers such as RFIDs NFCs, e.g. ISO/IEC 14443 and 18092 cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; network security protocols H04L63/00; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; network protocols for data switching network services H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

Provided is an RFID system and method for maintaining a constant strength of a signal transmitted from an RFID tag to an RFID reader, regardless of a distance between the reader and tag. The RFID signal strength measuring reader measures a signal strength received from the RFID tag, creates control information used to set an amplification amount of the RFID tag by using a value of the measured strength to include the control information in an output signal, and sends the output signal to the RFID tag. The RFID tag, if the signal sent from the RFID reader is received, extracts internal information from the received signal, sends the information to the RFID reader as an output signal, and extracts the control information included in the signal sent from the RFID reader to adjust a strength of the output signal according to a value of the control information.

Claims

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

an RFID tag; and

an RFID reader having a signal strength measurer that measures a strength of a signal received from the RFID tag, the RFID reader is configured to create control information used to set an amplification amount of the RFID tag using a value of the measured strength, include the control information in a first output signal, and send the first output signal to the RFID tag;

wherein the RFID tag, if the signal sent from the RFID reader is received, extracts internal information in response to the received signal, sends the information to the RFID reader as a second output signal, extracts the control information included in the received signal sent from the RFID reader, and adjusts a strength of the second output signal according to a value contained within the control information, wherein

if the strength of the signal received from the RFID tag is below a first predetermined value, the RFID reader sets the control information so that the amplification amount of the RFID tag is increased, and

if the strength of the signal received from the RFID tag is above a second predetermined value, the RFID reader sets the control information so that the amplification amount of the RFID tag is reduced.

2. A radio frequency communication system comprising:

a first device configured to transmit a wireless signal; and

a second device configured to receive the wireless signal and send information to the first device by modulating the received wireless signal;

wherein the second device sends control information including a digital value to the first device, and the first device, if the control information sent from the second device is received, extracts the digital value from the control information, and controls the transmission of the wireless signal according to the digital value contained within the control information, wherein

if the strength of the wireless signal transmitted from the first device to the second device is below a first predetermined value, the second device sets the digital value of the control information so that the amplification amount of the first device is increased, and

if the strength of the wireless signal transmitted from the first device to the second device is above a second predetermined value, the second device sets the digital value of the control information so that the amplification amount of the first device is reduced.

3. The radio frequency communication system of claim 2, wherein the first device adjusts a strength of the wireless signal based on the digital value.

4. The radio frequency communication system of claim 2, wherein the second device measures a strength of the received wireless signal and generates the control information based on the measured value of the strength of the received wireless signal.

5. The radio frequency communication system of claim 4, wherein the second device generates the control information by comparing the measured value and at least one predetermined target value.

6. The radio frequency communication system of claim 5, wherein when the measured value is greater than a first target value, the first device decreases the strength of the wireless signal and when the measured value is smaller than a second target value, the first device increases the strength of the wireless signal.

7. The radio frequency communication system of claim 5, wherein the control information includes an error value representing a difference between the measured value and the predetermined target value.

8. The radio frequency communication system of claim 2, wherein the first device determines whether to perform the transmission of the wireless signal according to the reception of the control information.

9. The radio frequency communication system of claim 8, wherein the control information indicates a strength of the received wireless signal.

10. The radio frequency communication system of claim 8, wherein when the first device receives the control information the first device transmits the wireless signal, and when the first device does not receive the control information the first device does not transmit the wireless signal.

11. The radio frequency communication system of claim 2, wherein the second device sends identification information to the first device.

12. The radio frequency communication system of claim 11, wherein the identification information identifies the second device.

13. The radio frequency communication system of claim 11, wherein the second device sends optional information to the first device.

14. The radio frequency communication system of claim 13, wherein the optional information includes at least one of nationality information, origin information, price information, manufacturing information and expiring information.