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  Battery-assisted backscatter rfid transponderUSPTO Application #: 20060007049Title: Battery-assisted backscatter rfid transponder Abstract: A radio frequency transponder includes at least one battery, which is coupled to provide electrical power for operating the transponder and at least one antenna, which is configured to receive and backscatter RF interrogation radiation from an interrogation device. An integrated circuit is arranged to store a code including information and, powered only with energy provided by the battery, to vary a radiation characteristic of the antenna responsively to the code so as to modulate the information onto the backscattered radiation. (end of abstract) Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon - Washington, DC, US Inventors: Zvi Nitzan, Doron Lavee, Gaby Guri USPTO Applicaton #: 20060007049 - Class: 343904000 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060007049. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/584,141, filed Jul. 1, 2004, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/602,342, filed Aug. 18, 2004, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/608,118, filed Sep. 9, 2004, of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/614,552, filed Oct. 1, 2004, and of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/649,561, filed Feb. 4, 2005. These related applications are assigned to the assignee of the present patent application, and their disclosures are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, and particularly to battery-assisted backscatter RFID transponders, their components and methods for producing RFID transponders. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Radio frequency identification (RFID) systems are used in a variety of applications, ranging from warehouse inventory control and container tracking, through automatic toll payment, to automatic supermarket cashier applications. In a typical RFID system, an RF transponder is attached to, or incorporated into, a tracked object. RF transmissions between an interrogation device or a reader and the transponder are used for identifying or controlling the object, reading data, writing data or otherwise communicating with the transponder. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] RF transponders are commonly classified in terms of the use they make of an internal power source. A passive transponder has no internal power source and uses the energy of the RF radiation transmitted by the reader (referred to herein as interrogation radiation) for powering the transponder circuitry and for transmitting response radiation back to the reader. (The response radiation typically comprises information, such as an identification number, transmitted from the transponder to the reader.) An active transponder comprises an internal power source that is used for both powering the transponder and for generating the RF energy required for transmitting the response radiation. A battery-assisted transponder (also referred to as a semi-active or a semi-passive transponder) comprises an internal power source. The energy of the response radiation is derived from the interrogation radiation provided by the reader, and the transponder circuitry is powered by the internal power source. Some battery-assisted transponders, referred to as backscatter transponders, generate the response radiation by backscattering the interrogation radiation from the transponder antenna. Backscatter transponders typically transmit information to the reader by modulating the backscattered radiation. [0005] Battery-assisted backscatter transponders, as described in the background art, can use part of the energy of the received interrogation radiation for powering the transponder circuitry, in parallel to their internal battery. This configuration reduces the amount of energy that is available for backscattering, thus reducing the achievable communication range of the transponder. [0006] Embodiments of the present invention provide improved battery-assisted backscatter RF transponder configurations that maximize the achievable communication range and extend the lifetime of the internal power source. Exemplary performance measurements of such transponders in various challenging test environments are shown hereinbelow. [0007] In some embodiments, an integrated circuit (IC) in the transponder modulates the information to be transmitted to the reader onto the backscattered radiation using backscatter modulation. The IC modulates a radar cross-section (RCS) of the transponder antenna by varying the impedance at the feed-point of the antenna. In particular, when an extreme mismatch, such as an open circuit, is introduced at the antenna feed-point, the energy of the interrogation radiation available for backscattering is maximized, thus maximizing the communication range of the transponder. [0008] In some embodiments, the antenna and the IC are jointly optimized so as to maximize the impedance mismatch at the antenna feed-point, and hence maximize the achievable communication range. Additionally or alternatively, a modulation depth (denoted .DELTA.RCS) defined as the ratio between the different RCS values is also maximized. [0009] The RF transponders described herein can operate under various protocols, such as, but not limited to various transponder-talks-first (TTF) and reader-talks-first (RTF) protocols. Such protocols typically define the different modes of operation for the transponder. In some embodiments, an energy saving (battery saving) module in the IC activates and deactivates parts of the transponder responsively to the operational modes defined in the protocol, in order to reduce the energy consumption from the internal power source. In some embodiments, the energy saving module controls the operational modes of the transponder responsively to predetermined timeout conditions, to further reduce energy consumption. [0010] Embodiments of the present invention also provide improved methods for producing RF transponders. In some embodiments, the power source of the transponder is a thin and flexible battery that is printed on the same substrate as the IC and the antenna, as part of the transponder production process. [0011] There is therefore provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a radio frequency (RF) transponder, including: [0012] at least one battery, which is coupled to provide electrical power for operating the transponder; [0013] at least one antenna, which is configured to receive and backscatter RF interrogation radiation from an interrogation device; and [0014] an integrated circuit (IC), which is arranged to store a code including information and, powered only with energy provided by the battery, to vary a radiation characteristic of the antenna responsively to the code so as to modulate the information onto the backscattered_radiation. [0015] In some embodiments, the transponder includes a substrate having at least one of the IC, the at least one antenna and the at least one battery disposed thereon. [0016] In a disclosed embodiment, the at least one battery includes at least a printed anode layer, a printed electrolyte layer and a printed cathode layer disposed in at least one of a co-planar and a co-facial configuration. The electrolyte layer is disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. In another embodiment, the substrate is flexible. [0017] In yet another embodiment, the transponder has a thickness no greater than 1 mm and a bending radius no greater than 25 mm. [0018] In an embodiment, the transponder is attached to an object and at least part of the information in the IC is related to the object. Additionally or alternatively, the transponder is adapted to be attached around a corner of an object so that the at least one battery is oriented in a first plane and the at least one antenna is oriented in a second plane different from the first plane. [0019] In another embodiment, the at least one antenna is selected from the group consisting of at least one of a monopole, a bent monopole, a dipole, a bent dipole, a patch, an array antenna and a combination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one antenna is configured to receive and backscatter the interrogation radiation in one of an ultra-high frequency (UHF) range and a microwave frequency range. Further additionally or alternatively, the at least one antenna is arranged to receive and backscatter transverse electromagnetic (TEM) radiation. [0020] In yet another embodiment, the at least one antenna includes a feed-point, the radiation characteristic includes a radar cross-section (RCS) of the at least one antenna, and the IC is arranged to vary a load impedance at the feed-point of the at least one antenna so as to vary the RCS of the at least one antenna between two or more different RCS values. In still another embodiment, the IC includes a solid-state switch operatively coupled to the feed-point of the at least one antenna, which is arranged to switch the load impedance between a first impedance and a second impedance, responsively to a binary representation of the code. [0021] In an embodiment, the IC is arranged to introduce a low resistive load condition at the feed-point of the at least one antenna so as to maximize at least one of the two or more RCS values, thereby maximizing a communication range of the transponder. Additionally or alternatively, the IC is arranged to maximize a modulation depth defined as a ratio between two of the two or more RCS values. Further additionally or alternatively, the at least one antenna and the IC are arranged to jointly maximize the modulation depth and a communication range of the transponder. [0022] In an embodiment, the interrogation radiation received by the at least one antenna has a first power level, and the at least one antenna and the IC are arranged to backscatter the interrogation radiation at a second power level that is greater than 75% of the first power level. In another embodiment, the second power level is greater than 95% of the first power level. [0023] In still another embodiment, the IC is configured to comply with an operation protocol defining two or more operational modes. Additionally or alternatively, the IC includes an energy saving module, which is arranged to activate and deactivate parts of the transponder responsively to the operational modes so as to reduce an energy consumption from the at least one battery. In yet another embodiment, the protocol includes at least one of a transponder-talks-first (TTF) and a reader-talks-first (RTF) protocol. Continue reading... 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