US5416486A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Identification/security tag system employing electronic doppler shifting and/or rectenna structure
Assignee: Retro Reflective Optics LLC
•
Filing: 1993-11-08
•
Granted: 1995-05-16
•
Expires: 2013-11-08
Abstract
Abstract An identification/security tag system, including miniaturized tags which can be readily concealed, utilizes a concept of "electronic" Doppler shifting to generate a frequency shifted signal in response to an interrogation signal. The frequency shifted signal is used to identify individual tags. The implementation of electronic Doppler shifting permits the utilization of conventional police/sport radar guns as a combined transmitter and receiver unit, thereby greatly reducing the expense of the system. The high frequency operation of the system permits size of the tag to be significantly reduced with respect to the size of tags used in conventional tag systems. Rectenna circuitry is further employed to eliminate the need for an active power supply in the tag in some applications.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Koert
- 👤 George M. Metze
- 👤 Mark Machina
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:00
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/74; G01S13/75; G01S13/751; G01S13/758; G01S13/76; G01S13/78
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A tagging system comprising: receiving means for receiving an interrogation signal; frequency shifting means for generating a frequency shifted signal in response to the receipt of the interrogation signal by the receiving means; and transmission means for transmitting the frequency shifted signal; wherein the frequency shifting means further comprises a passive power source coupled to the timer circuit; and wherein the passive power source comprises a rectenna circuit including a patch antenna coupled to an input filter, a rectifying diode coupled to an output of the input filter, and an output filter coupled to the rectifying diode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A tagging system comprising: receiving means for receiving an interrogation signal; frequency shifting means for generating a frequency shifted signal in response to the receipt of the interrogation signal by the receiving means; and transmission means for transmitting the frequency shifted signal; wherein the frequency shifting means further comprises a passive power source coupled to the timer circuit; and wherein the passive power source comprises a rectenna circuit including a patch antenna coupled to an input filter, a rectifying diode coupled to an output of the input filter, and an output filter coupled to the rectifying diode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A tagging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interrogation signal has a frequency greater than 10 GHz.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A tagging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interrogation signal has a frequency in the K a band.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tagging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency shifting means comprises a timer circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
An identification/security tagging system comprising: base transmission means for transmitting an interrogation signal; at least one tag comprising a receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, frequency shifting means for generating a frequency shifted signal in response to the receipt of the interrogation signal by the receiving means, and transmission means for transmitting the frequency shifted signal; and base receiving means for receiving the frequency shifted signal transmitted by the transmission means of the tag, wherein the base receiving means includes means for identifying the tag based on the amount of electronic Doppler shift between the interrogation signal and the frequency shifted signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
An identification/security tagging system comprising: base transmission means for transmitting an interrogation signal; at least one tag comprising a receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, frequency shifting means for generating a frequency shifted signal in response to the receipt of the interrogation signal by the receiving means, and transmission means for transmitting the frequency shifted signal; and base receiving means for receiving the frequency shifted signal transmitted by the transmission means of the tag, wherein the base receiving means includes means for identifying the tag based on the amount of electronic Doppler shift between the interrogation signal and the frequency shifted signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tagging system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the interrogation signal transmitted by the base transmission means has a frequency greater than 10 GHz.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tagging system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the interrogation signal transmitted by the base transmission means has a frequency in the K a band.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tagging system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frequency shifting means comprises a timer circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tagging system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the frequency shifting means includes an active power source coupled to the timer circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tagging system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frequency shifting means includes a passive power source coupled to the timer circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
117 words
An identification/security tagging system comprising: base transmission means for transmitting an interrogation signal; at least one tag comprising a receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, frequency shifting means for generating a frequency shifted signal in response to the receipt of the interrogation signal by the receiving means, and transmission means for transmitting the frequency shifted signal; and base receiving means for receiving the frequency shifted signal transmitted by the transmission means of the tag, wherein the base receiving means includes means for decoding the frequency shifted signal to identify the tag; wherein the frequency shifting means includes a passive power source coupled to a timer circuit; and wherein the passive power source comprises a rectenna structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
117 words
An identification/security tagging system comprising: base transmission means for transmitting an interrogation signal; at least one tag comprising a receiving means for receiving the interrogation signal, frequency shifting means for generating a frequency shifted signal in response to the receipt of the interrogation signal by the receiving means, and transmission means for transmitting the frequency shifted signal; and base receiving means for receiving the frequency shifted signal transmitted by the transmission means of the tag, wherein the base receiving means includes means for decoding the frequency shifted signal to identify the tag; wherein the frequency shifting means includes a passive power source coupled to a timer circuit; and wherein the passive power source comprises a rectenna structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
A tagging system comprising: a transmitter for transmitting a microwave interrogation signal; at least one tag that generates an information signal in response to receipt of the microwave interrogation signal; and a receiver for receiving the information signal generated by the tag; wherein the tag includes a passive power supply comprising a rectenna structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A tagging system comprising: a transmitter for transmitting a microwave interrogation signal; at least one tag that generates an information signal in response to receipt of the microwave interrogation signal; and a receiver for receiving the information signal generated by the tag; wherein the tag includes a passive power supply comprising a rectenna structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tagging system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the interrogation signal transmitted by the base transmission means has a frequency greater than 10 GHz.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tagging system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the interrogation signal transmitted by the base transmission means has a frequency in the K a band.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4015259A
Cited
US4260983A
Cited
US4170773A
Cited
US4331957A
Cited
US4647930A
Cited
US4804961A
Cited
US5068669A
Cited
US5218374A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-05-15 | 1998-11-14 | 1999-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-05-15 | 2002-11-14 | 2003-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-05-15 | 2006-11-14 | 2007-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |