# US 7,071,824 B2 · Radio frequency identification devices, remote communication devices, identification systems, communication methods, and identification methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,071,824 B2 - Document ID: US7071824B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 09/915,367 - Filed: 2001-07-27 - Published: 2002-02-07 - Granted: 2006-07-04 - Earliest claimed: 1999-07-29 - Assignees: Micron Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Scott T. Trosper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7071824B2 ## CPC - G06K 7/10366: {the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications} - G06K 7/0008: {General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer} - G06K 7/0095: {Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly (testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28)} - G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs} - G06K 19/07703: {the interface being visual} - G06Q 10/08: Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management - G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders - G06Q 10/0877: {by inventory control or reporting using inventory tracking or counting} - G08B 13/19634: {Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions} - G08B 13/1966: {Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera} - G08B 21/02: Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons - G08B 21/0222: {Message structure or message content, e.g. message protocol} - G08B 21/0227: {System arrangements with a plurality of child units} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract The present invention provides radio frequency identification devices, remote communication devices, identification systems, communication methods, and identification methods. A radio frequency identification device according to one aspect includes a substrate; communication circuitry coupled with the substrate and configured to receive a wireless signal including an identifier, to process the identifier of the wireless signal and to output a control signal responsive to the processing of the identifier; and indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to receive the control signal and to indicate presence of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal. A communication method according to another aspect includes providing a radio frequency identification device; receiving a wireless signal including an identifier within the radio frequency identification device; processing the identifier; generating a control signal after the processing; and indicating presence of the radio frequency identification device using indication circuitry of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radio frequency identification device comprising: a substrate; communication circuitry coupled with the substrate and configured to receive a wireless signal including an identifier, to process the identifier of the wireless signal and to output a control signal responsive to the processing of the identifier; indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to receive the control signal and to indicate presence at the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal; and wherein the communication circuitry is configured to output another wireless signal including backscattering electromagnetic energy received by the radio frequency identification device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the indication circuitry includes a light emitting device configured to emit a human visible signal to indicate the presence. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the wireless signal includes data and the communication circuitry is configured to output the control signal comprising the data. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to output the control signal comprising digital information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to extract digital data from the wireless signal and to output the control signal comprising the extracted digital data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 further comprising an antenna coupled with the communication circuitry and the control signal is configured to alter the impedance of the antenna to backscatter modulate the electromagnetic energy of a continuous wave signal received at the antenna. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to output the another wireless signal having data therein according to the control signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry comprises a processor configured to execute executable instructions to process the identifier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to process the identifier comprising digital information. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 wherein the another wireless signal identifies the radio frequency identification device. ### Claim 11 A remote communication device comprising: a housing; communication circuitry supported by the housing and including a data port, the communication circuitry being configured to receive a wireless signal including an identifier and data, to process the identifier, and to write the data to the data port responsive to the processing of the identifier; and indication circuitry coupled with the data port and configured to receive the data and to indicate presence of the remote communication device responsive to the data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11 wherein the indication circuitry is configured to emit a human perceptible signal to indicate the presence. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11 wherein the indication circuitry includes a light emitting device configured to emit a human visible signal to indicate the presence. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to output a wireless signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11 wherein the wireless signal includes a command and the communication circuitry writes the data to the data port responsive to the command. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11 wherein the communication circuitry comprises radio frequency identification device circuitry. ### Claim 17 A remote communication device comprising: a housing; communication circuitry supported by the housing and including a data port, the communication circuitry being configured to receive a wireless signal including an identifier and data, to process the identifier, and to write the data to the data port responsive to the processing of the identifier; and indication circuitry including: a latch coupled with the data port and configured to receive the data; and an indicator coupled with the latch and configured to output a signal to indicate presence of the remote communication device responsive to the data received within the latch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17 wherein the indicator is configured to emit a human perceptible signal to indicate the presence. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17 wherein the indicator includes a light emitting device configured to emit a human visible signal to indicate the presence. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17 wherein the wireless signal includes a command and the communication circuitry writes the data to the data port responsive to the command. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17 wherein the communication circuitry comprises radio frequency identification device circuitry. ### Claim 22 A radio frequency identification device comprising: communication circuitry configured to receive a wireless signal including an identifier, to process the identifier of the wireless signal and to output a control signal responsive to the processing of the identifier; indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to receive the control signal and to output a human perceptible signal to indicate presence of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal; and wherein the communication circuitry is configured to output another wireless signal comprising an identifier of the radio frequency identification device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The device according to claim 22 wherein the indication circuitry includes a light emitting device configured to emit a human visible signal to indicate the presence. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The device according to claim 22 wherein the wireless signal includes data and the communication circuitry is configured to output the control signal comprising the data. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The device according to claim 22 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to output the another wireless signal comprising a modulated continuous wave signal. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The device according to claim 22 further comprising a battery coupled with the communication circuitry and the indication circuitry. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The device according to claim 22 wherein the communication circuitry comprises radio frequency identification device communication circuitry. ### Claim 28 An identification system comprising: an interrogator configured to output a wireless signal to identify at least one of a plurality of radio frequency identification devices; plural radio frequency identification devices individually configured to receive the wireless signal and individually comprising radio frequency identification device communication circuitry configured to control emission of a human perceptible signal to indicate presence of the respective radio frequency identification device within a communications range of the interrogator and to backscatter electromagnetic energy to output another wireless signal responsive to the received wireless signal; and wherein only the at least one radio frequency identification device identified by the wireless signal is configured to output the human perceptible signal responsive to receiving the wireless signal. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The system according to claim 28 wherein the radio frequency identification devices individually include a light emitting device configured to emit a human visible signal to indicate presence. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The system according to claim 28 wherein the wireless signal includes an identifier and the at least one radio frequency identification device is configured to indicate presence responsive to the identifier. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The system according to claim 28 wherein the another wireless signal comprises an identifier configured to identify the respective radio frequency identification device which communicated the another wireless signal. ### Claim 32 An identification system comprising: an interrogator configured to output a wireless signal including an identifier and data; and a plurality of remote communication devices configured to communicate with the interrogator and individually including: communication circuitry including a data port and the communication circuitry being configured to receive the wireless signal, to process the identifier, and to selectively write the data to the data port responsive to the processing of the identifier; and indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to receive the data and to indicate presence of the respective remote communication device responsive to the data. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The system according to claim 32 wherein the indication circuitry is configured to emit a human perceptible signal to indicate the presence. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The system according to claim 32 wherein the indication circuitry includes a light emitting device configured to emit a human visible signal to indicate the presence. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The system according to claim 32 wherein the wireless signal includes a command and the communication circuitry writes the data to the data port responsive to the command. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) The system according to claim 32 wherein the communication circuitry comprises radio frequency identification device circuitry. ### Claim 37 An identification system comprising: an interrogator configured to output plural forward link radio frequency signals individually including a command, data, and an identifier to identify at least one of a plurality of radio frequency identification devices; a plurality of radio frequency identification devices configured to communicate with the interrogator and individually including: a substrate; communication circuitry coupled with the substrate and including a data port, the communication circuitry being configured to receive the wireless signal, to process the identifier, to selectively process the command responsive to the processing of the identifier, and to selectively write the data to the data port responsive to the processing of the command; indication circuitry coupled with the data port and configured to receive the data and to output a human visible signal to indicate presence of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the data; and a battery coupled with the substrate and configured to supply power to the communication circuitry and the indication circuitry; and wherein only the at least one radio frequency identification device which is identified by the identifier of the wireless signal emits the human visible signal to indicate presence. ### Claim 38 A communication method comprising: providing a radio frequency identification device; receiving a wireless signal including an identifier within the radio frequency identification device; processing the identifier; generating a control signal after the processing; indicating presence of the radio frequency identification device using indication circuitry of the radio frequency identification device responsive to the control signal; and outputting another wireless signal comprising backscattering electromagnetic energy using the radio frequency identification device responsive to the processing. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method according to claim 38 further comprising outputting the wireless signal using an interrogator. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The method according to claim 38 wherein the indicating includes emitting a human perceptible signal. ### Claim 41 (depends on 38) The method according to claim 38 wherein the indicating includes emitting a human visible signal. ### Claim 42 (depends on 38) The method according to claim 38 wherein the wireless signal includes data and the control signal comprises the data. ### Claim 43 (depends on 38) The method according to claim 38 wherein the another wireless signal comprises an identifier configured to identify the radio frequency identification device. ### Claim 44 A communication method comprising: providing a remote communication device; receiving a wireless signal including an identifier and data within the remote communication device; processing the identifier; selectively outputting the data to indication circuitry of the remote communication device after the processing; and emitting a human perceptible signal using the indication circuitry after the outputting the data. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The method according to claim 44 wherein the emitting includes emitting a human visible signal. ### Claim 46 (depends on 44) The method according to claim 44 further comprising processing a command and the emitting is responsive to the processing the command. ### Claim 47 (depends on 44) The method according to claim 44 wherein the providing includes providing a radio frequency identification device. ### Claim 48 An identification method comprising: providing a plurality of remote communication devices comprising radio frequency identification devices individually including indication circuitry; associating the remote communication devices with respective plural objects; outputting a wireless signal to identify at least one object; receiving the wireless signal within the remote communication devices; and indicating presence of the at least one selected object using the indication circuitry of the remote communication device associated with the at least one selected object; and outputting another wireless signal responsive to the receiving using the remote communication device associated with the at least one selected object. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The method according to claim 48 wherein the indicating includes emitting a human perceptible signal. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The method according to claim 48 wherein the indicating includes emitting a human visible signal. ### Claim 51 (depends on 48) The method according to claim 48 wherein the wireless signal includes an identifier and the indicating is responsive to the identifier. ### Claim 52 (depends on 48) The method according to claim 48 further comprising processing the wireless signal and the indicating is responsive to the processing. ### Claim 53 (depends on 48) The method according to claim 48 wherein the outputting comprises outputting the wireless signal including data, and further comprising extracting the data and the indicating being responsive to the extracted data. ### Claim 54 (depends on 48) The method according to claim 48 wherein the outputting comprises outputting the wireless signal including digital data, and further comprising extracting the data and the indicating being responsive to the extracted digital data. ### Claim 55 (depends on 48) The method according to claim 48 wherein the outputting the another wireless signal comprises backscatter modulating a continuous wave signal. ### Claim 56 (depends on 48) The method according to claim 48 further comprising processing the wireless signal comprising executing a plurality of executable instructions, and wherein the indicating is responsive to the processing. ### Claim 57 An identification method comprising: providing a plurality of radio frequency identification devices individually including indication circuitry; outputting a wireless signal to identify at least one of the radio frequency identification devices; receiving the wireless signal within the radio frequency identification devices; emitting a human perceptible signal after the receiving using the indication circuitry of the at least one identified radio frequency identification device; and emitting another wireless signal using radio frequency identification device communication circuitry of the at least one identified radio frequency identification device, wherein the another wireless signal identifies the at least one identified radio frequency identification device. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The method according to claim 57 wherein the emitting includes emitting a human visible signal. ### Claim 59 (depends on 57) The method according to claim 57 wherein the wireless signal includes data and the emitting is responsive to the data. ### Claim 60 (depends on 57) The method according to claim 57 wherein the emitting the another wireless signal includes outputting an identifier. ### Claim 61 (depends on 57) The method according to claim 57 further comprising processing the wireless signal and the emitting is responsive to the processing. ### Claim 62 An identification method comprising: providing a plurality of remote communication devices individually including indication circuitry; associating the remote communication devices with respective plural objects; outputting a wireless signal to identify at least one object and including data; receiving the wireless signal within the remote communication devices; extracting the data; indicating presence of the at least one selected object using the indication circuitry of the remote communication device associated with the at least one selected object responsive to the extracting; and outputting another wireless signal responsive to the receiving using the remote communication device associated with the at least one selected object. ### Claim 63 (depends on 62) The method according to claim 62 wherein the outputting the outputting the wireless signal comprises outputting the wireless signal including digital data.