RFID antenna multiplexing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system to multiplex antennas for radio-frequency (RF) communication, the system comprising:
- a radio-frequency (RF) reader circuit configured to establish radio-frequency communication by controlling a first antenna matching network and a second antenna matching network, wherein the first antenna matching network is configured to match a first antenna to a receiver and the second antenna matching network is configured to match a second antenna to the same receiver;
a first alternating-current shorting circuit configured to selectively establish electrical coupling for alternating current between the first antenna matching network and the first antenna;
a second alternating-current shorting circuit configured to selectively establish electrical coupling for alternating current between the second antenna matching network and the second antenna;
a controller configured to control the first and second alternating-current (AC) shorting circuits to operate selectively in one of the following states at a given time;
i) a first state wherein radio-frequency communication is established through the first antenna and electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted by the second alternating-current shorting circuit,ii) a second state wherein radio-frequency communication is established through the second antenna and electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted by the first alternating-current shorting circuit, oriii) a third state wherein electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted by the first alternating-current shorting circuit and electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted by the second alternating-current shorting circuit; and
wherein the controller is further configured to cause operation of the first alternating-current shorting circuit and the second alternating-current shorting circuit in a predetermined order.
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Abstract
A system to multiplex antennas for radio-frequency communication uses one or more antenna shorting circuits to selectively enable RF communication via one of a plurality of antenna matching networks. The system is cost-efficient compared to alternatives. The RF communication includes read and/or read/write communication with, e.g., radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags.
31 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system to multiplex antennas for radio-frequency (RF) communication, the system comprising:
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a radio-frequency (RF) reader circuit configured to establish radio-frequency communication by controlling a first antenna matching network and a second antenna matching network, wherein the first antenna matching network is configured to match a first antenna to a receiver and the second antenna matching network is configured to match a second antenna to the same receiver; a first alternating-current shorting circuit configured to selectively establish electrical coupling for alternating current between the first antenna matching network and the first antenna; a second alternating-current shorting circuit configured to selectively establish electrical coupling for alternating current between the second antenna matching network and the second antenna; a controller configured to control the first and second alternating-current (AC) shorting circuits to operate selectively in one of the following states at a given time; i) a first state wherein radio-frequency communication is established through the first antenna and electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted by the second alternating-current shorting circuit, ii) a second state wherein radio-frequency communication is established through the second antenna and electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted by the first alternating-current shorting circuit, or iii) a third state wherein electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted by the first alternating-current shorting circuit and electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted by the second alternating-current shorting circuit; and wherein the controller is further configured to cause operation of the first alternating-current shorting circuit and the second alternating-current shorting circuit in a predetermined order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system to multiplex antennas for radio-frequency (RF) communication, the system comprising:
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a radio-frequency (RF) reader-writer circuit configured to establish radio-frequency communication by controlling a first antenna matching network and a second antenna matching network, wherein the first antenna matching network is configured to match a first antenna to a transceiver and the second antenna matching network is configured to match a second antenna to the same transceiver; a first alternating-current shorting circuit configured to selectively establish electrical coupling for alternating current between the first antenna matching network and the first antenna; and a second alternating-current shorting circuit configured to selectively establish electrical coupling for alternating current between the second antenna matching network and the second antenna, wherein the radio-frequency reader-writer circuit is further configured to control the first and second alternating-current (AC) shorting circuits to operate selectively in one of the following states at a given time; i) a first state wherein radio-frequency communication is established through the first antenna and electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted by the second alternating-current shorting circuit, ii) a second state wherein radio-frequency communication is established through the second antenna and electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted by the first alternating-current shorting circuit, or iii) a third state wherein electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted by the first alternating-current shorting circuit and electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted by the second alternating-current shorting circuit; and wherein the controller is further configured to cause operation of the first alternating-current shorting circuit and the second alternating-current shorting circuit in a predetermined order. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented method for multiplexing antennas for radio-frequency (RF) communication, the method comprising:
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establishing radio-frequency communication by controlling operations of a first antenna matching network and a second antenna matching network, wherein the first antenna matching network is configured to match a first antenna to a transceiver and the second antenna matching network is configured to match a second antenna to the same transceiver; selectively establishing electrical coupling for alternating current between the first antenna matching network and the first antenna; selectively establishing electrical coupling for alternating current between the second antenna matching network and the second antenna; and selectively enabling radio-frequency communication via the first antenna matching network or the second antenna matching network, such that the first and second antenna matching networks operate selectively in one of the following states at a given time; i) a first state wherein radio-frequency communication is established through the first antenna matching network and electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted for the second antenna matching network, ii) a second state radio-frequency communication is established through the second antenna matching network and electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted for the first antenna matching network, or iii) a third state wherein electrical coupling for alternating current is shorted for the first and second antenna matching networks; and wherein the controlling of the operations of the first antenna matching network and the second antenna matching network is in a predetermined order. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification