Abstract:
A circuit for adjusting a magnitude of a transmit signal includes a transmitter (105), providing a transmit signal (107). It also includes a transmitter amplifier (109), receiving the transmit signal (107) and a power control adjustment signal (121), and responsive thereto, providing an amplified transmit signal (111). The circuit also includes a detector (123), for detecting an amplitude of the amplified transmit signal (111). Also included is an error component (137) for determining the difference between the amplitude and a reference level (129). Further provided is a digital signal generator (155), receiving the difference (145), and responsive thereto, generating (157) a reference signal (125) and the power control adjustment signal (117, 121), where the reference level (129) is responsive to the reference signal (125).
Abstract:
A portal antenna (10) particularly suited for enabling low frequency RFlD devices carried by animals to be read when animals are proceeding through a stock race or the like. The portal antenna includes a portal structure (11) through which an animal can pass and about which is wound at least one coil (18/19) of antenna conductor. At least one elongate radiator element (21) preferably projects to at least one side of the portal structure (11). Preferably the radiator(s) (21) is/are of ferrous/magnetically conductive metal. The radiator(s) can form a separate structure or be part of the wall structure of a stock race.
Abstract:
An antenna arrangement (10) including a first antenna module (12) having a first antenna loop (14) positioned in a plane for emitting a signal in a first spatial area (16), and at least one additional antenna loop (18) positioned in substantially the same plane for emitting a signal in an additional spatial area (20). The arrangement (10) includes at least one power source (22) in communication with the first antenna module (12) for providing current thereto. The first spatial area (16) and the additional spatial area (20) at least partially overlap, and the first antenna loop (14) and the additional antenna loop (18) are powered by the power source (22) in a specified pattern. A method of identifying at least one item (100) is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method is provided for transmitting data. A first device (121) generates a first signal (320) having a first duty cycle, comprising a first gated-on portion (323) and a first gated-off portion (326) a time slot (260); and a second device (125) generates a second signal (330) having second duty cycle, comprising a second gated-on portion (333) and a second gated-off portion (336) in the same time slot (260). The first gated-on portion (323) is generated during a first segment of the time slot (260) and the first gated-off portion (326) is generated during a second segment of the time slot (260), while the second gated-on portion (333) is generated during the second segment and the second gated-off portion (336) is generated during the first segment. Media access control (MAC) can be used to further define positions within time slots (250) and provide error correction, power control, and the like. A preamble (860) can be transmitted at an increased power level to facilitate acquisition.
Abstract:
Method, systems, and articles of manufacture for assigning priority to antenna are disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, reader antenna (151, 152, 153) identify the location of an object by detecting a tag or other identifier associated with each object. Sensors (121, 122, 123) can be provided to provide additional information regarding the environment of the objects to their surroundings. A priority order is assigned to the reader antenna based on the location and other characteristics of the objects and/or their environment. A polling sequence for reading the reader antennae is determined according to the priority order.
Abstract:
Method, systems, and articles of manufacture for assigning priority to antenna are disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, reader antenna (151, 152, 153) identify the location of an object by detecting a tag or other identifier associated with each object. Sensors (121, 122, 123) can be provided to provide additional information regarding the environment of the objects to their surroundings. A priority order is assigned to the reader antenna based on the location and other characteristics of the objects and/or their environment. A polling sequence for reading the reader antennae is determined according to the priority order.
Abstract:
A scanner has plasma loop or plasma window antennas for selectively scanning for ID tags along distinct radials of the scanner. Scanner elements are made electromagnetically invisible to adjacent elements by removing power or lowering plasma densities so that the scanner elements do not interfere with its own operation. Activatable ID tags and a shipping container suitable for scanning with electromagnetic energy are also disclosed.
Abstract:
An RF power amplifier module can be used without a matching device between the power amplifier module and an antenna. The power amplifier module is constructed and operated to detect, protect and maintain the performance of the power amplifier in the presence of severe VSWR load mismatches, without requiring the use of external circuitry. The RF power amplifier module includes integral detection circuitry for generating a first detection signal having a value that is indicative of the current flowing through an output power transistor and a second detection signal having a value that is indicative the voltage appearing at the output of the output power transistor, as well as integral compensation circuitry for controlling the generation of a plurality of bias current and bias voltage signals to have values that are a function of the values of the first and second detection signals, as well as the current output power level of the RF power amplifier module. Also included is an integral impedance matching circuit, coupled between the output of the output transistor and the output node,. that provides a variable impedance that is selectively controlled by an output signal from the compensation circuitry.
Abstract:
Techniques enabling electronic control of propagation constant associated with meanderline loaded antennas and phased arrays are disclosed. An activation layer can be electronically stimulated to change its characteristics (e.g., capacitance or shape) so as to enable the control independent of antenna operating frequency.
Abstract:
A power mixer architecture for a transmitter chip (10) is disclosed. The power mixer architecture is a mixing stage (60) including one or more upper trees, and one or more lower trees. Each lower tree is selectively activated to receive current biasing signals, and current intermediate frequency signals. Upon receipt, the activated lower tree activates a corresponding upper tree to receive one or more amplified current intermediate frequency signals from the lower tree. In conjunction with a reception of voltage local oscillating signals, the upper tree provides voltage radio frequency signals. The gain of the lower tree is designed to be constant over any variance in a temperature, supply voltage or processing performance of the transmitter chip.