Sequential antenna switching scheme for rfid system
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsMatthias Yuan, Dan Yu, Yong Yuan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device, system, antenna system including a reader and a plurality of antennae, antenna product, method for the addressing antennae, and method for switching the antenna in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, wherein the method includes switching the reader in a sequential manner to each of the antennae successively according to a radio frequency communication signal from said reader, where the radio frequency communication signal is provided for the reader to communicate with a tag such that it is simple to form a network and easy to implement the network at low cost.
Claims24
-20. (canceled)
A method for switching an antenna in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising a reader and a plurality of antennae, the method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a radio frequency communication from the reader;
- and
- switching the reader in a sequential manner to each antenna of the plurality of antennae successively according to the radio frequency communication signal from the reader;
- wherein the radio frequency communication signal is provided for the reader to communicate with a tag.
A device for switching an antenna in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, comprising:
- a reader;
- and
- a plurality of antennae corresponding to a respective antenna switching device connectable sequentially to said reader;
- wherein the antenna switching device comprises:
- a first signal coupling module;
- a detection triggering module;
- and
- a switching module;
- wherein, an initial status of the switching module is connection to its respective antenna and disconnection from a next hop in a forward link which is provided in a direction from the reader to the antenna switching device;
- wherein said first signal coupling module receives a radio frequency communication signal from a previous hop over the forward link and outputs the radio frequency communication signal to the detection triggering module and the switching module;
- wherein the radio frequency communication signal is provided for the reader to communicate with a tag;
- wherein the detection triggering module outputs a first switching instruction to the switching module according to the radio frequency communication signal;
- and
- wherein the switching module disconnects from its respective antenna after having received the first switching instruction, connects to the next hop in the forward link, and outputs the radio frequency communication signal to the next hop in the forward link.
A system for switching an antenna in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, comprising:
- a reader;
- and
- a plurality of antennae;
- wherein each antenna of the plurality of antennae corresponds to a respective antenna switching device, and the plurality of antenna switching devices are sequentially connected to the reader, an initial status of each antenna of the plurality of antenna switching devices being connected to its respective antenna and disconnected from a next hop in a forward link;
- and
- wherein the respective antenna switching device receiving a radio frequency communication signal from a previous hop over the forward link, disconnecting from its respective antenna and connecting to a next hop in the forward link according to the radio frequency communication signal, and outputting the radio frequency communication signal to the next hop in the forward link;
- wherein the radio frequency communication signal is provided for the reader to communicate with a tag, and the forward link is provided in a direction from the reader to the antenna switching device.
An antenna system in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, the antenna system comprising:
- an antenna;
- and
- an antenna switching device comprising:
- a first signal coupling module;
- a detection triggering module;
- and
- a switching module;
- wherein, an initial status of the switching module is connection to its respective antenna and disconnection from a next hop in a forward link which is provided in a direction from the reader to the antenna switching device;
- wherein said first signal coupling module receives a radio frequency communication signal from a previous hop over the forward link and outputs the radio frequency communication signal to the detection triggering module and the switching module;
- wherein the radio frequency communication signal is provided for the reader to communicate with a tag;
- wherein the detection triggering module outputs a first switching instruction to the switching module according to the radio frequency communication signal;
- and
- wherein the switching module disconnects from its respective antenna after having received the first switching instruction, connects to the next hop in the forward link, and outputs the radio frequency communication signal to the next hop in the forward link.
A method for addressing antennae in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising a reader and a plurality of antennae, the method comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a radio frequency communication from the reader;
- and
- switching in a sequential manner the reader successively to some of or all of the antennae in the plurality of antennae according to a radio frequency communication signal sent out in a predetermined period so as to address an antenna of the plurality of antennae therein;
- wherein said radio frequency communication signal is provided for the reader to communicate with a tag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.