TC License Ltd. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120127021 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MICROWAVE RANGING TO A TARGET IN PRESENCE OF CLUTTER AND MULTI-PATH EFFECTS - A system for measuring range to an RFID tag including situations containing high clutter and multi-path signals is disclosed. The system includes an RFID reader; an RFID tag; and a coordinated signal compression radar system. The reader causes the tag to respond to received signals in a first backscatter state at a first time and a second backscatter state at a second time. The signal compression radar system transmits signals coordinated by the backscatter state of the tag and creates a differential signal comprised of the differences between radar signals obtained during the first and second states of the tag to obtain an uncorrupted measure of a round trip time of flight of said radar signals between the radar system and the RFID tag. The radar may use signals typical of pulse compression radar systems such as chirp modulation or Orthogonal Frequency Domain Modulation (OFDM), either pulsed or semi-continuous. | 05-24-2012 |
20120032788 | MULTI-PROTOCOL RFID SYSTEM USING BIT-LOCK OR STEP-LOCK SYNCHRONIZATION - A multi-protocol RFID interrogating system employs a synchronization technique (step-lock) for a backscatter RFID system that allows simultaneous operation of closely spaced interrogators. The multi-protocol RFID interrogating system can communicate with backscatter transponders having different output protocols and with active transponders including: Title 21 compliant RFID backscatter transponders; IT2000 RFID backscatter transponders that provide an extended mode capability beyond Title 21; EGO™ RFID backscatter transponders, SEGO™ RFID backscatter transponders; ATA, ISO, ANSI AAR compliant RFID backscatter transponders; and IAG compliant active technology transponders. The system implements a step-lock operation, whereby adjacent interrogators are synchronized to ensure that all downlinks operate within the same time frame and all uplinks operate within the same time frame, to eliminate downlink on uplink interference. | 02-09-2012 |
20120032787 | MULTI-PROTOCOL RFID SYSTEM USING DYNAMIC RECONFIGURATION - A multi-protocol RFID interrogating system employs a synchronization technique (step-lock) for a backscatter RFID system that allows simultaneous operation of closely spaced interrogators. The multi-protocol RFID interrogating system can communicate with backscatter transponders having different output protocols and with active transponders including: Title 21 compliant RFID backscatter transponders; IT2000 RFID backscatter transponders that provide an extended mode capability beyond Title 21; EGO™ RFID backscatter transponders, SEGO™ RFID backscatter transponders; ATA, ISO, ANSI AAR compliant RFID backscatter transponders; and IAG compliant active technology transponders. The system implements a step-lock operation, whereby adjacent interrogators are synchronized to ensure that all downlinks operate within the same time frame and all uplinks operate within the same time frame, to eliminate downlink on uplink interference. | 02-09-2012 |
20110309969 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MICROWAVE RANGING TO A TARGET IN PRESENCE OF CLUTTER AND MULTI-PATH EFFECTS - A system for measuring the range to an RFID tag including situations containing high clutter and multi-path signals is disclosed. The system includes an RFID reader; an RFID tag; and a coordinated pulse compression radar system. In the system the RFID reader causes the tag to respond to received signals in a first backscatter state at a first time and a second backscatter state at a second time. The pulse compression radar system transmits short pulses coordinated by the backscatter state of the RFID tag and the system creates a differential signal comprised of the differences between radar signals obtained during the first and second states of the tag to obtain an uncorrupted measure of a round trip time of flight of said radar pulses between the pulse radar system and the RFID tag. | 12-22-2011 |
20110279240 | MULTI-PROTOCOL RFID SYSTEM USING DYNAMIC RECONFIGURATION - A multi-protocol RFID interrogating system employs a synchronization technique (step-lock) for a backscatter RFID system that allows simultaneous operation of closely spaced interrogators. The multi-protocol RFID interrogating system can communicate with backscatter transponders having different output protocols and with active transponders including: Title 21 compliant RFID backscatter transponders; IT2000 RFID backscatter transponders that provide an extended mode capability beyond Title 21; EGOTM RFID backscatter transponders, SEGOTM RFID backscatter transponders; ATA, ISO, ANSI AAR compliant RFID backscatter transponders; and IAG compliant active technology transponders. The system implements a step-lock operation, whereby adjacent interrogators are synchronized to ensure that all downlinks operate within the same time frame and all uplinks operate within the same time frame, to eliminate downlink on uplink interference. | 11-17-2011 |
20110279239 | MULTI-PROTOCOL RFID SYSTEM USING BIT-LOCK OR STEP-LOCK SYNCHRONIZATION - A multi-protocol RFID interrogating system employs a synchronization technique (step-lock) for a backscatter RFID system that allows simultaneous operation of closely spaced interrogators. The multi-protocol RFID interrogating system can communicate with backscatter transponders having different output protocols and with active transponders including: Title 21 compliant RFID backscatter transponders; IT2000 RFID backscatter transponders that provide an extended mode capability beyond Title 21; EGO™ RFID backscatter transponders, SEGO™ RFID backscatter transponders; ATA, ISO, ANSI AAR compliant RFID backscatter transponders; and IAG compliant active technology transponders. The system implements a step-lock operation, whereby adjacent interrogators are synchronized to ensure that all downlinks operate within the same time frame and all uplinks operate within the same time frame, to eliminate downlink on uplink interference. | 11-17-2011 |
20110260910 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MICROWAVE RANGING TO A TARGET IN PRESENCE OF CLUTTER AND MULTI-PATH EFFECTS - A system for measuring the range to an RFID tag including situations containing high clutter and multi-path signals is disclosed. The system includes an RFID reader; an RFID tag; and a coordinated pulse radar system. In the system the RFID reader causes the tag to respond to received signals in a first backscatter state at a first time and a second backscatter state at a second time. The pulsed radar system transmits short pulses coordinated by the backscatter state of the RFID tag and the system creates a differential signal comprised of the differences between radar signals obtained during the first and second states of the tag to obtain an uncorrupted measure of a round trip time of flight of said radar pulses between the pulse radar system and the RFID tag. | 10-27-2011 |
20110202299 | Method and Apparatus for Testing RFID Tags for Mass Production - A testing system and method for testing glass-mounted RFID tags such as tags mounted on vehicle windows. A testing carrier for use in a test chamber simulates the effect on the tag of the mounting glass. The test chamber and carrier are calibrated by first mounting the tag on the test carrier and making sensitivity measurements and then mounting the tag on glass that is representative of the actual production environment. Comparisons are made between the two measurements and calibration factors are derived to compensate for differences between the actual mounting glass and the test carrier. The test carrier is designed to provide uniform pressure against the tag to minimize any distortions that would alter the sensitivity of the tag. | 08-18-2011 |
20110194733 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTICAL LICENSE PLATE MATCHING - An automated system and method are disclosed for reading license plate characters and associating the image with a vehicle by comparing to existing images and supplementing the automated system with manual review, comprising: capturing a first license plate image; processing the first image with optical character recognition equipment to produce an OCR result; associating the OCR result with a confidence level. If the confidence level is above a predetermined threshold, determining whether the OCR result matches a previously-obtained OCR result and if the confidence level is not above the predetermined threshold, presenting the first image for a manual review to produce a manual result. | 08-11-2011 |
20110187600 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASUREMENT OF DISTANCE TO A TAG BY A MODULATED BACKSCATTER RFID READER - Distance to a modulated backscatter tag is measured with a RFID reader that measures changes in phase with frequency of modulated backscattered RF signals. Measured distances are linked to a specific tag. The effects of other sources of reflected and interfering signals are mitigated. The techniques eliminate the need for high RF bandwidth used in time-of-flight methods, and may be used with linear, limiting or other types of amplifiers in the reader receiver. Unambiguous distance to a tag may be found using the derivative of phase with RF frequency of the modulated signal backscattered by a tag. The distance to a tag can be measured with an accuracy on the order of a centimeter. The techniques utilize the characteristics of cooperative backscatter tags (transponders, labels, etc.). New readers implement the techniques which may use unmodified tags. | 08-04-2011 |
20110116686 | VIDEO TOLLING SYSTEM WITH ERROR CHECKING - An automated toll collection system based on visual recognition of a license plate with a supplemental enhancement to confirm the character recognition of the license plate is disclosed. In an embodiment, a supplemental graphic insignia encodes a check-sum for the license plate characters. The insignia is recorded at the same time as the license plate and the check sum is decoded to confirm the interpretation of the characters on the license plate. Other forms of confirmation devices are also disclosed, including RFID devices. | 05-19-2011 |
20110102156 | RFID TAG WITH OCCUPANCY STATUS RECALL - An RFID tag for use in a vehicle for use in an electronic toll collecting system. The tag is capable of transmitting data to a tag interrogator indicating the occupancy status of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the tag has a user input and a visual and audible tag status indicator. The user input is used to change the occupancy status of the tag, wherein the occupancy status is a portion of a message sent by radio frequency to the interrogator when the vehicle passes through a toll area. In an embodiment the tag has memory for storage of said tag status and the user input can be used to cause the tag to indicate a stored tag status. In a further embodiment, the tag reverts to a default status after a predetermined period of time | 05-05-2011 |
20100314454 | CONFIGURABLE EXTERNAL RFID TAG - RFID tags are disclosed having uniform electronics assemblies, but which fit into a variety of housings. This manufacturing technique allows for high volume production of tag electronics while keeping the mounting means adaptable to a variety of support structures. This ability to host a variety of support structures is important at least in the field of RFID tags for motorcycles, because motorcycles have varying configurations and no one tag would fit all motorcycles. | 12-16-2010 |
20100308971 | RFID TAG DISABLING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE - Systems and methods for disabling transponders used in electronic toll collection or other RFID systems, wherein the transponders include an antenna and RFID circuitry. The transponders can be selectively disabled by releasably securing a disabling device having a metallic portion at an operative position over the antenna of the RFID system, whereupon the metallic portion is coupled to the antenna in such a manner as to disable the RFID circuitry so long as the disabling device is at the operative position. The RFID circuitry is arranged to be automatically enabled upon removal of the disabling device from the operative position. | 12-09-2010 |
20100259363 | Secondary Data Channels in RFID Systems - One or more secondary data channels are added to existing RFID protocols within the existing bandwidth, data clock rate and message frame times of the protocols. | 10-14-2010 |
20100194542 | RFID TAG WITH INTEGRATED DISABLING AND METHOD OF USE - Systems, tags and methods for disabling transponders used in electronic toll collection or other RFID systems, wherein the transponders include an antenna and RFID circuitry. The transponders can be selectively disabled by positioning (e.g., pivotably moving) a disabling member having a metallic portion to an operative position over the antenna of the RFID system, whereupon the metallic portion is coupled to the antenna in such a manner as to disable the RFID circuitry so long as the disabling member is at the operative position. The RFID circuitry is arranged to be automatically enabled upon removal of the disabling member from the operative position (e.g., pivoting the disabling member back to an inoperative position). | 08-05-2010 |
20100079238 | RFID TAG WITH PIEZOELECTRIC SENSOR FOR POWER AND INPUT DATA - An RFID tag having a non-volatile memory and a piezoelectric sensor. The piezoelectric sensor produces an electrical charge that momentarily supplies electrical power to the RFID tag when subjected to a mechanical force and the electrical power is sufficient to record data in the non-volatile memory. The piezoelectric sensor is affixed to an article such that an attempt to tamper with the article produces sufficient mechanical force on the piezoelectric sensor to record data evidencing the tampering in the non-volatile memory. | 04-01-2010 |
20100026465 | RFID VEHICLE TAG WITH MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE DATA FIELDS - An RFID tag for use in a vehicle for use in an electronic toll collecting system. The tag is capable of transmitting data to a tag interrogator indicating the occupancy status of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the tag has a user input and a visual and audible tag status indicator. The user input is used to change the occupancy status of the tag, wherein the occupancy status is a portion of a message sent by radio frequency to the interrogator when the vehicle passes through a toll area. | 02-04-2010 |
20090243858 | RFID TAG DISABLING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE - Systems and methods for disabling transponders used in electronic toll collection or other RFID systems, wherein the transponders include an antenna and RFID circuitry. The transponders can be selectively disabled by releasably securing a disabling device having a metallic portion at an operative position over the antenna of the RFID system, whereupon the metallic portion is coupled to the antenna in such a manner as to disable the RFID circuitry so long as the disabling device is at the operative position. The RFID circuitry is arranged to be automatically enabled upon removal of the disabling device from the operative position. | 10-01-2009 |
20090096584 | RFID MUTUAL AUTHENTICATION VERIFICATION SESSION - In a protocol for preserving the privacy of communications between a RFID reader and a RFID tag, two distinct actions are taken. First, the reader and the tag must be mutually authenticated as being authorized participants in the communications. After that process is successfully completed, the authenticity of each authorized participant must be validated prior to each subsequent communication between reader and tag. | 04-16-2009 |