# US 8,786,440 B2 · Calibration of beamforming nodes in a configurable monitoring device system

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- Number: US 8,786,440 B2
- Document ID: US8786440B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/878,546
- Filed: 2010-09-09
- Published: 2011-04-07
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-10-02
- Assignees: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Thomas J. Clare; Venkat Krishnamurthy
- Inventors: Thomas J. Clare; Venkat Krishnamurthy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786440B2

## CPC

- G06K 7/0008: {General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer}
- G01S 13/82: wherein continuous-type signals are transmitted
- 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 7/10099: {the directional field being used for pinpointing the location of the record carrier, e.g. for finding or locating an RFID tag amongst a plurality of RFID tags, each RFID tag being associated with an object, e.g. for physically locating the RFID tagged object in a warehouse}
- G06K 7/10217: {parameter settings controlling the transmission power of the interrogator}
- G06K 7/10356: {using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas}
- G06K 7/10475: {arrangements to facilitate interaction with further interrogation devices, e.g. such that at least two interrogation devices may function and cooperate in a network of such devices}
- H04B 7/0617: {for beam forming}
- H04W 16/28: using beam steering
- G01S 7/4004: {of parts of a radar system}
- G01S 7/4052: {by simulation of echoes}
- G01S 7/4056: {specially adapted to FMCW}
- G01S 7/52004: {Means for monitoring or calibrating (short-range imaging G01S7/5205)}
- G01S 2013/466: {by Trilateration, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the distance to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, i.e. the distance between the antennas or sensors, the position data of the target is determined}
- G01S 2013/468: {by Triangulation, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the bearing, direction or angle to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, the position data of the target is determined}
- G08B 13/2442: {Tag materials and material properties thereof, e.g. magnetic material details}
- H04Q 2213/13095: PIN / Access code, authentication
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

A system for radio frequency identification of a tag in an interrogation zone, includes a calibration node disposed in the interrogation zone to measure a signal strength of radio frequency identification signals from a beamforming system and provide signal data in accordance with the signal strength. A reader node is configured to receive the signal data and adjust the radio frequency identification signals generated by the beamforming system based upon the signal data. At least one of the calibration node, the reader node and the beamforming system is a configurable monitoring system. The calibration node, the reader node, and the beamforming system are coupled in a feedback control loop. The beamforming system includes a plurality of beamforming nodes. A signal of at least one beamforming node is optimized in accordance with the feedback control loop.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for radio frequency identification of a tag in an interrogation zone, comprising:
a calibration node disposed in the interrogation zone to measure a signal strength of radio frequency identification signals from a beamforming system and provide signal data in accordance with the signal strength; and
a reader node configured to receive the signal data and adjust the radio frequency identification signals generated by the beamforming system based upon the signal data, wherein at least one of the calibration node, the reader node and the beamforming system is a configurable monitoring system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the calibration node, the reader node, and the beamforming system are coupled in a feedback control loop.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the beamforming system further comprises a plurality of beamforming nodes.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein a signal of at least one beamforming node is optimized in accordance with the feedback control loop.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein a signal to noise ratio of at least one beamforming node is optimized in accordance with the feedback control loop.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein a phase of at least one beamforming node is optimized in accordance with the feedback control loop.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of beamforming nodes form a one dimensional beamforming array.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of beamforming nodes form a two dimensional beamforming array.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, including a plurality of tags arranged in a mesh with tag to tag communication between at least two of the tags in the mesh.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein a tag within the interrogation zone is localized in accordance with range data based on the tag to tag communication.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein a tag within the interrogation zone is localized in accordance with a combination of the signal data and range data based on the tag to tag communication.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein a tag within the interrogation zone is localized in accordance with the signal data and a beacon signal provided within the interrogation zone.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the beacon signal has multiple ranges for providing multiple range determinations to localize the tag by performing a logical operation on the multiple range determinations.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the beacon signal is provided by a configurable monitoring device configured as a beacon.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the signal data is transmitted to the reader node by way of the tag, to tag communication.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the signal data is transmitted to the reader node by way of network activity nodes.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the signal data is transmitted to the reader node by way of a gateway node.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the beamformer system receives the signal data and adjusts the radio frequency identification signals based on the signal data.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the beamformer system receives the signal data by way of a control radio frequency connection.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the beamformer system receives the signal data by way of a hardwired connection.