Back to results
US 2015/0310237 A1Published application
Streamlined apparatus and methods for rfid communication
AssigneeSquare, Inc.
InventorAfshin Rezayee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and devices for receiving a data signal transmitted via load modulation, by detecting current supplied in an amplifier feeding the antenna of the device which transmits the carrier signal.
Claims23
1-16. (canceled)
A radio-frequency identification (RFID) system, comprising:
- an RFID reader having a transmitter portion and a sensor, the transmitter portion comprising:
- a processor;
- a modulator coupled to the processor, the modulator configured to modulate a reference signal with an input signal from the processor, thereby providing a primary signal for transmission from the RFID reader;
- a filter coupled to the modulator, the filter configured to filter the primary signal;
- an amplifier coupled to the filter, the amplifier configured to amplify the primary signal;
- and
- an antenna coupled to the amplifier, the amplifier configured to wirelessly transmit the primary signal;
- an RFID tag configured to transmit a data signal via load modulation of the wirelessly transmitted primary signal thereby inducing current or voltage variations of the primary signal in the transmitter portion, wherein the sensor is configured to sense the current or voltage variations in the transmitter portion;
- and
- a signal extraction unit configured to extract the data signal based on the sensor.
7 more elements
A radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader, comprising:
- a transmitter portion having an antenna, the transmitter portion for carrying a primary signal along a signal path to the antenna for wireless transmission of the primary signal from the antenna, the signal path including at least an amplifier coupled to the antenna for amplifying the primary signal;
- a sensor configured to sense current or voltage variations of the primary signal in the signal path;
- and
- a signal extraction unit coupled to the sensor and configured to extract, based on the current or voltage variations, a data signal transmitted by an RFID tag via load modulation of the primary signal.
1 more element
A wireless reader, comprising:
- an antenna;
- an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the antenna by a single pin of the integrated circuit, the integrated circuit comprising:
- a signal generation unit configured to generate a primary signal;
- an amplifier coupled to the signal generation unit and the antenna, the amplifier configured to amplify the primary signal and to transmit the primary signal through the pin to the antenna for wireless transmission of the primary signal from the antenna;
- a sensor configured to sense current or voltage variations of the primary signal in the reader;
- and
- a signal extraction unit coupled to the sensor and configured to extract, based on the current or voltage variations, a data signal transmitted by a tag in wireless communication with the reader.
4 more elements
A method for use in a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system having an RFID reader in communication with an RFID tag, the method comprising:
- transmitting a primary signal along a signal path in the RFID reader to an antenna of the RFID reader;
- wirelessly transmitting the primary signal from the antenna;
- detecting with a sensor current or voltage variations of the primary signal in the signal path;
- and
- extracting, based on the detecting, a data signal wirelessly transmitted by the RFID tag via load modulation of the primary signal by the RFID tag.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.