# US 2018/0025191 A1 · Rfid apparatus and method for communicating with at least one rfid transponder > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0025191 A1 - Document ID: US20180025191A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/644,337 - Filed: 2017-07-07 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-19 - Assignees: Sick AG - Applicants: Sick AG - Inventors: Olaf PILZNER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180025191A1 ## CPC - G06K 7/10366: {the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications} - G06K 7/10029: {the collision being resolved in the time domain, e.g. using binary tree search or RFID responses allocated to a random time slot} - G06K 7/10118: {the sensing being preceded by at least one preliminary step} - 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)} - G06K 17/0022: {arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device ("transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L)} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract An RFID apparatus for communicating with at least one RFID transponder is provided that has an RFID transceiver for radiating and receiving RFID signals and a control unit that is configured to encode RFID information into the RFID signal in accordance with an RFID protocol or to read it from the RFID signal and in which a singulation process is implemented to give a command to only one respective RFID transponder. The singulation process in this respect checks a communication parameter of the RFID signal itself that is independent of RFID information encoded in the RFID signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An RFID apparatus for communicating with at least one RFID transponder, the RFID apparatus comprising: an RFID transceiver for radiating and receiving RFID signals; and a control unit that is configured to encode RFID information into the RFID signal in accordance with an RFID protocol or to read it from the RFID signal and a singulation process is implemented in the control unit, with the singulation process being adapted to give a command to only one respective RFID transponder, wherein the singulation process checks a communication parameter of the RFID signal itself that is independent of RFID information encoded in the RFID signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The RFID apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the communication parameter is one of a level and a phase of the RFID signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The RFID apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the communication parameter is a direction from which the RFID signal is received. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The RFID apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the RFID apparatus is configured for the UHF range in accordance with ISO 180000-6. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The RFID apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to determine the communication parameter during an inventory. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The RFID apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the inventory divides a time duration of a round into a plurality of slots and the control unit acknowledges the response in each slot, provided that exactly one RFID transponder responds therein, and subsequently receives the unique identification parameter UII of the responding RFID transponder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The RFID apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to check the communication parameter in an expanded inventory for the output of commands to a specific RFID transponder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The RFID apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to give a write command for setting the unique identification parameter UII to a specific RFID transponder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The RFID apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to select RFID transponders having a predefined unique identification parameter UII. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The RFID apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to give a dummy command to a responding RFID Transponder having a correct unique identification parameter UII, but not having a matching communication parameter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The RFID apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to start an initialization with write commands for setting the unique identification parameter UII when more than one RFID transponder responds with the same unique identification parameter UII. ### Claim 12 A method for communicating with at least one RFID transponder, wherein RFID signals are transmitted to the RFID transponder and are received by the RFID transponder, wherein RFID information is encoded in the RFID signals in accordance with an RFID protocol, and wherein a command is given to only one respective RFID transponder on the basis of a singulation process, wherein the singulation process checks a communication parameter of the RFID signal itself that is independent of RFID information encoded in the RFID signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the communication parameter is a level of the RFID signal, a phase or a direction from which the RFID signal is received. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method in accordance with claim 12. wherein the RFID protocol is that of ISO 180000-6 that determines communication parameters during an inventory and that is checked in an expanded inventory for the output of commands to a specific RFID transponder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein a write command for setting the unique identification parameter UII is given respectively individually to the RFID transponders in the expanded inventory to initialize a population of RFID transponders.