Abstract: An RFID reader is operable to receive an inbound RF signal during transmission of an outbound RF signal. The inbound RF signal may be a modulated, backscattered signal from a tag that has substantially the same frequency as the outbound RF signal or at a different frequency from the outbound RF signal. The receiver section of the RFID reader is operable to down convert the inbound RF signal by using a transmitter signal generated by the transmitter section to generate at least one local oscillation signal. The receiver section then processes and digitizes the down converted inbound RF signal to produce an encoded inbound signal.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for identifying a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag location using a switchable coil are presented. Aspects of the systems may include one or more processors that enable selection of an inductor coil from a plurality of inductor coils. The selection of the inductor coil may be based on a change in an electromagnetic field, with respect to an initial electromagnetic field, as detected by the selected inductor coil. The processors may enable transmission of a signal, having a transmitter frequency in the UHF frequency band, via the selected inductor coil.

Abstract: A near field communication front-end includes an up conversion module, a plurality of coils, and a down conversion module. The up conversion module is coupled to convert an outbound symbol stream into a plurality of outbound signals based on a frequency-space encoding scheme. The plurality of coils is coupled to electromagnetically transmit the plurality of outbound signals and to electromagnetically receive a plurality of inbound signals in accordance with the frequency-space encoding scheme. The down conversion module is coupled to convert the plurality of inbound signals into an inbound symbol stream in accordance with the frequency-space encoding scheme.

Abstract: A multi-mode RFID tag includes a power generating and signal detection module, a baseband processing module, a transmit section, a configurable coupling circuit, and an antenna section. In near field mode, the configurable coupling circuit is operable to couple the transmit section to a coil or inductor in the configurable coupling circuit to transmit an outbound transmit signal using electromagnetic or inductive coupling to an RFID reader. In far field mode, the configurable coupling circuit is operable to couple the transmit section to the antenna section, and the multi-mode RFID tag then utilizes a back-scattering RF technology to transmit the outbound transmit signal to RFID readers.

Abstract: A receiver architecture for canceling blocking signals in the receive path includes a low noise amplifier for receiving and amplifying an inbound RF signal to produce an amplified inbound signal, in which the inbound RF signal includes a modulated RF signal and a blocking signal, and a cancellation module for substantially canceling the blocking signal from the amplified inbound RF signal and substantially passing the modulated RF signal. The cancellation module cancels the blocking signal by generating an injection signal representative of the blocking signal, combining the blocking signal with the injection signal to produce an error signal, updating the injection signal based on the error signal and using the injection signal to cancel the blocking signal from the amplified inbound RF signal.

Abstract: A multi-mode RFID tag includes a power generating and signal detection module, a baseband processing module, a transmit section, a configurable coupling circuit, and an antenna section. In near field mode, the configurable coupling circuit is operable to couple the transmit section to a coil or inductor in the configurable coupling circuit to transmit an outbound transmit signal using electromagnetic or inductive coupling to an RFID reader. In far field mode, the configurable coupling circuit is operable to couple the transmit section to the antenna section, and the multi-mode RFID tag then utilizes a back-scattering RF technology to transmit the outbound transmit signal to RFID readers.

Abstract: A near field RFID system includes an RFID reader and an RFID tag. The RFID reader includes a transmit path and a receive path, wherein the transmit path includes: an encoding section coupled to convert data into encoded data; a digital to analog conversion module coupled to convert the encoded data into an analog encoded signal; a power amplifier coupled to amplify the analog encoded signal; and a plurality of coils coupled to generate a plurality of electromagnetic fields from the analog encoded signal. The RFID tag that includes: a coil coupled to generate a current and a recovered signal from at least one of the plurality of electromagnetic fields; a power recovery circuit coupled to generate a voltage from the current; and a data processing section coupled to process the recovered signal, wherein the data processing section is powered via the voltage.

Abstract: A receiver architecture for canceling blocking signals in the receive path includes a low noise amplifier for receiving and amplifying an inbound RF signal to produce an amplified inbound signal, in which the inbound RF signal includes a modulated RF signal and a blocking signal, and a cancellation module for substantially canceling the blocking signal from the amplified inbound RF signal and substantially passing the modulated RF signal. The cancellation module cancels the blocking signal by generating an injection signal representative of the blocking signal, combining the blocking signal with the injection signal to produce an error signal, updating the injection signal based on the error signal and using the injection signal to cancel the blocking signal from the amplified inbound RF signal.

Abstract: A receiver architecture for canceling blocking signals in the receive path includes a low noise amplifier for receiving and amplifying an inbound RF signal to produce an amplified inbound signal, in which the inbound RF signal includes a modulated RF signal and a blocking signal, and a cancellation module for substantially canceling the blocking signal from the amplified inbound RF signal and substantially passing the modulated RF signal. The cancellation module cancels the blocking signal by generating an injection signal representative of the blocking signal, combining the blocking signal with the injection signal to produce an error signal, updating the injection signal based on the error signal and using the injection signal to cancel the blocking signal from the amplified inbound RF signal.

Abstract: A power amplifier for use in a transmitter includes a first transistor having an input, a first node and a second node, a second transistor having an input, a first node and a second node and a digital to analog conversion module. The input of the first transistor is coupled to receive a first input, while the input of the second transistor is coupled to receive a second input. The second nodes of the first and second transistors provide an output of the power amplifier. The digital to analog conversion module is coupled to control current through the first and second transistors.

Abstract: A multi-mode RFID tag includes a power generating and signal detection module, a baseband processing module, a transmit section, a configurable coupling circuit, and an antenna section. In near field mode, the configurable coupling circuit is operable to couple the transmit section to a coil or inductor in the configurable coupling circuit to transmit an outbound transmit signal using electromagnetic or inductive coupling to an RFID reader. In far field mode, the configurable coupling circuit is operable to couple the transmit section to the antenna section, and the multi-mode RFID tag then utilizes a back-scattering RF technology to transmit the outbound transmit signal to RFID readers.

Abstract: A multi-mode RFID tag includes a power generating and signal detection module, a baseband processing module, a transmit section, a configurable coupling circuit, and an antenna section. In near field mode, the configurable coupling circuit is operable to couple the transmit section to a coil or inductor in the configurable coupling circuit to transmit an outbound transmit signal using electromagnetic or inductive coupling to an RFID reader. In far field mode, the configurable coupling circuit is operable to couple the transmit section to the antenna section, and the multi-mode RFID tag then utilizes a back-scattering RF technology to transmit the outbound transmit signal to RFID readers.

Abstract: A power generating circuit includes a rectifying module and a tuning module. The rectifying module is operably coupled to convert a radio frequency (RF) signal into a voltage. The tuning module is operably coupled to tune the rectifying module in accordance with the RF signal.

Abstract: A power amplifier for use in a transmitter includes a first transistor having an input, a first node and a second node, a second transistor having an input, a first node and a second node and a digital to analog conversion module. The input of the first transistor is coupled to receive a first input, while the input of the second transistor is coupled to receive a second input. The second nodes of the first and second transistors provide an output of the power amplifier. The digital to analog conversion module is coupled to control current through the first and second transistors.

Abstract: A power amplifier for use in a transmitter includes a first transistor having an input, a first node and a second node, a second transistor having an input, a first node and a second node and a digital to analog conversion module. The input of the first transistor is operably coupled to receive a first input, while the input of the second transistor is operably coupled to receive a second input. The second nodes of the first and second transistors provide an output of the power amplifier. The digital to analog conversion module is operably coupled to control current through the first and second transistors based on at least one of a power control signal and an amplitude modulation control signal.

Abstract: A multi-mode RFID tag includes a power generating and signal detection module, a baseband processing module, a transmit section, a configurable coupling circuit, and an antenna section. In near field mode, the configurable coupling circuit is operable to couple the transmit section to a coil or inductor in the configurable coupling circuit to transmit an outbound transmit signal using electromagnetic or inductive coupling to an RFID reader. In far field mode, the configurable coupling circuit is operable to couple the transmit section to the antenna section, and the multi-mode RFID tag then utilizes a back-scattering RF technology to transmit the outbound transmit signal to RFID readers.

Abstract: A multi-mode RFID reader operates in both far field mode and near field mode. The multi-mode RFID reader includes a transmitter section, a receiver section, a transmit multiplexer and a receive multiplexer. Both the transmit multiplexer and the receive multiplexer are configurably coupled to a far field antenna structure and a near field coil structure. For far field operation, the transmit multiplexer provides an up-converted outbound signal to a far field antenna structure and the receive multiplexer provides an inbound signal to a receiver section. For near field operation, the transmit multiplexer provides an up-converted outbound signal to the near field coil structure and the receive multiplexer provides an inbound signal to the receiver section.

Abstract: A near field communication front-end includes an up conversion module, a plurality of coils, and a down conversion module. The up conversion module is coupled to convert an outbound symbol stream into a plurality of outbound signals based on a frequency-space encoding scheme. The plurality of coils is coupled to electromagnetically transmit the plurality of outbound signals and to electromagnetically receive a plurality of inbound signals in accordance with the frequency-space encoding scheme. The down conversion module is coupled to convert the plurality of inbound signals into an inbound symbol stream in accordance with the frequency-space encoding scheme.

Abstract: An RFID reader is operable to receive an inbound RF signal during transmission of an outbound RF signal. The inbound RF signal may be a modulated, backscattered signal from a tag that has substantially the same frequency as the outbound RF signal or at a different frequency from the outbound RF signal. The receiver section of the RFID reader is operable to down convert the inbound RF signal by using a transmitter signal generated by the transmitter section to generate at least one local oscillation signal. The receiver section then processes and digitizes the down converted inbound RF signal to produce an encoded inbound signal.

Abstract: A dynamic radio frequency (RF) front end includes an antenna array, a power amplifier structure, and a low noise amplifier structure. The power amplifier structure generates a plurality of outbound RF signals from an outbound RF signal and provides the plurality of outbound RF signals to the antenna array. Each of the plurality of outbound RF signals has a different transmit phase rotation. The low noise amplifier structure receives a plurality of inbound RF signals from the antenna array and outputs one of the plurality of inbound RF signals based on a favorable phase relationship with respect to the outbound RF signal. Each of the plurality of inbound RF signals has a different receive phase rotation.