Semi-passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with active beacon
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsMichael A. Hughes, Richard M. Pratt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A radio frequency beacon device for use with a backscatter interrogator includes a processor; a receiver coupled to the processor; a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor; and an active transmitter coupled to the processor, the active transmitter being configured to transmit an RF signal, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator. Other methods and apparatus are provided.
Claims72
A radio frequency beacon device for use with a backscatter interrogator, comprising:
- a processor;
- a receiver coupled to the processor;
- a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor;
- and
- an active transmitter coupled to the processor, the active transmitter being configured to transmit an RF signal, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator.
A radio frequency communications system comprising:
- a backscatter interrogator;
- and
- a beacon device comprising:
- a processor;
- a receiver coupled to the processor;
- a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor;
- an active transmitter coupled to the processor, the active transmitter being configured to transmit an RF signal to the interrogator, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator;
- and
- a sensor coupled to the processor, the trigger signal being generated in response to a condition sensed by the sensor;
- wherein the interrogator is configured to contact the beacon device in response to receiving the RF signal transmitted by the active transmitter.
A radio frequency communications device, for use with a backscatter interrogator, comprising:
- a battery;
- a semi-passive radio frequency device, coupled to the battery, for use with a backscatter interrogator, including components configured to be supplied with power from the battery, wherein range is greater than for a passive backscatter radio frequency device, the semi-passive radio frequency device including:
- a processor;
- a receiver coupled to the processor;
- and
- a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor;
- and
- an active transmitter coupled to the processor and to the battery, the active transmitter being configured to transmit, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator.
A radio frequency communications device, for use with a backscatter interrogator, comprising:
- a battery;
- a semi-passive radio frequency device, coupled to the battery, for use with a backscatter interrogator, including components configured to be supplied with power from the battery, wherein range is greater than for a passive backscatter radio frequency device, the semi-passive radio frequency device including:
- a processor;
- a receiver coupled to the processor;
- and
- a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor;
- and
- an active transmitter coupled to the processor and to the battery, the active transmitter being configured to transmit, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator;
- and
- a sensor coupled to the processor, the sensor being configured to sense a condition with respect to the radio frequency communication device and to generate the trigger signal responsive to the sensing and independent of communications of the interrogator.
A method of manufacturing a radio frequency beacon device for use with a backscatter interrogator, the method comprising:
- coupling a receiver to a processor, coupling a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor, and coupling an active transmitter to the processor;
- and
- arranging the active transmitter to transmit an RF signal, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator.
A method of manufacturing a radio frequency beacon device for use with a backscatter interrogator, the method comprising:
- coupling a receiver to a processor, coupling a backscatter modulator to the processor, and coupling an active transmitter to the processor;
- arranging the active transmitter to transmit an RF signal, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator;
- and
- coupling a sensor to the processor, the trigger signal being generated in response to a condition sensed by the sensor.
A method of manufacturing a radio frequency communications device, for use with a backscatter interrogator, the method comprising:
- providing a battery;
- coupling a semi-passive radio frequency device to the battery, the device being for use with a backscatter interrogator and including components configured to be supplied with power from the battery, wherein range is greater than for a passive backscatter radio frequency device, the semi-passive radio frequency device including:
- a processor;
- a receiver coupled to the processor;
- and
- a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor;
- and
- coupling an active transmitter to the processor of the semi-passive tag and to the battery, and configuring the active transmitter to transmit, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator.
A method of manufacturing a radio frequency communications device, for use with a backscatter interrogator, the method comprising:
- providing a battery;
- coupling a semi-passive radio frequency device to the battery, the device being for use with a backscatter interrogator and including components configured to be supplied with power from the battery, wherein range is greater than for a passive backscatter radio frequency device, the semi-passive radio frequency device including:
- a processor;
- a receiver coupled to the processor;
- and
- a backscatter modulator coupled to the processor;
- and
- coupling an active transmitter to the processor of the semi-passive tag and to the battery, and configuring the active transmitter to transmit, in response to a trigger signal, regardless of whether the interrogator is providing a carrier wave for backscatter modulation by the backscatter modulator, the trigger signal being independent of the interrogator;
- and
- coupling a sensor to the processor of the semi-passive tag, the sensor being configured to sense a condition with respect to the semi-passive tag and to generate the trigger signal responsive to the sensing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.