Abstract: Digital memory devices and systems, including memory systems and methods for operating such memory systems are disclosed. In the embodiments, a memory system may include a processor and a memory controller communicatively coupled to the processor. A memory bus communicates with at least two memory units through the memory bus. At least one divider unit may be interposed between the memory bus and the at least two memory units that is configured to approximately equally divide levels of received signals while matching an impedance of the memory bus to an impedance of the memory units.

Abstract: The present invention provides backscatter interrogators, communication systems and backscatter communication methods. According to one aspect of the present invention, a backscatter interrogator includes a data path configured to communicate a data signal; a signal generator configured to generate a carrier signal; and a modulator coupled with the data path and the signal generator, the modulator being configured to spread the data signal to define a spread data signal and amplitude modulate the carrier signal using the spread data signal, the modulator being further configured to phase modulate the carrier signal.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) device includes an antenna linked to a receiving circuit, the antenna tuned to receive a radio frequency (RF) time-code signal from a public source, a controller circuit and an internal clock linked to the receiving circuit, a microcontroller linked to the receiving circuit, a memory linked to the microcontroller, and a battery linked to and powering the receiving circuit, controller circuit, internal clock, microcontroller and memory.

Abstract: An interrogator provides a phase shifter including a first power divider configured to receive a signal and provide plural quadrature components of the signal; plural mixers coupled with the first power divider and configured to scale the quadrature components using a phase shift angle; and a second power divider coupled with the mixers and configured to combine the scaled quadrature components to shift the phase angle of the input signal by the phase shift angle.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) device includes an antenna linked to a receiving circuit, the antenna tuned to receive a radio frequency (RF) time-code signal from a public source, a controller circuit and an internal clock linked to the receiving circuit, a microcontroller linked to the receiving circuit, a memory linked to the microcontroller, and a battery linked to and powering the receiving circuit, controller circuit, internal clock, microcontroller and memory.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification device includes an integrated circuit including a receiver, a transmitter, and a microprocessor. The receiver and transmitter together define an active transponder. The integrated circuit is preferably a monolithic single die integrated circuit including the receiver, the transmitter, and the microprocessor. Because the device includes an active transponder, instead of a transponder which relies on magnetic coupling for power, the device has a much greater range.

Abstract: Identification information is wirelessly communicated between radio frequency devices. In one embodiment, a first wireless device transmits a signal to request identification information. Other wireless devices are each affixed a respective item, and each of the other wireless devices determines if a reply signal is to be transmitted, and if so, communicates the reply signal to the first wireless device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting a signal from a wireless transmitter to a radio frequency (RF) device of a plurality of RF devices within a communication range of the transmitter. The signal is to select a group of the RF devices. A reply signal is received from each RF device if the respective RF device determines that it is a member of the group.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes an interrogator including a housing including circuitry configured to generate a forward link communication signal; communication circuitry configured to communicate the forward link communication signal; and a communication station remotely located with respect to the housing and configured to receive the forward link communication signal from the communication circuitry and to radiate a forward link wireless signal corresponding to the forward link communication signal; and at least one remote communication device configured to receive the forward link wireless signal.

Abstract: A radio a frequency identification (RFID) system includes a RFID reader, and a RFID tag affixed to an asset, the asset surrounded in a wrapping having one or more conductive elements in proximity to the RFID tag to enable radio frequency (RF) signal distribution.

Abstract: To identify an RFID tag in a field of RFID tags, an interrogator sends a series of commands to implement an arbitration scheme. The commands include differentiation, selection, and modulation information. The tag uses the differentiation information to differentiate commands sent by the interrogator from commands sent by other interrogators that may be within communication range of the tag. The selection information is used by the tag to determine if the tag is a member of a group selected by the interrogator for response to the interrogator. If the tag is a member of the selected group, the tag may send a reply that is modulated using a modulation type selected by the modulation information. In accordance with one of the modulation types, one of three different pulse waveforms is selected by the interrogator via the modulation information to multiply with the baseband waveform of the reply from the tag.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) device includes an antenna linked to a receiving circuit, the antenna tuned to receive a radio frequency (RF) time-code signal from a public source, a controller circuit and an internal clock linked to the receiving circuit, a microcontroller linked to the receiving circuit, a memory linked to the microcontroller, and a battery linked to and powering the receiving circuit, controller circuit, internal clock, microcontroller and memory.

Abstract: Digital memory devices and systems, including memory systems and methods for operating such memory systems are disclosed. In the embodiments, a memory system may include a processor and a memory controller communicatively coupled to the processor. A memory bus communicates with at least two memory units through the memory bus. At least one divider unit may be interposed between the memory bus and the at least two memory units that is configured to approximately equally divide levels of received signals while matching an impedance of the memory bus to an impedance of the memory units.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification device includes an integrated circuit including a receiver, a transmitter, and a microprocessor. The receiver and transmitter together define an active transponder. The integrated circuit is preferably a monolithic single die integrated circuit including the receiver, the transmitter, and the microprocessor. Because the device includes an active transponder, instead of a transponder which relies on magnetic coupling for power, the device has a much greater range.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) system enabling backscatter communication between a reader and a tag. A baseband data signal is encoded, and it may be selectively inverted and used to modulate a carrier using amplitude modulation, phase modulation, or both amplitude and phase modulation. A reply received from the tag in response to a command from the reader may include an identification code associated with an object to which the tag is affixed.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification device includes an integrated circuit including a receiver, a transmitter, and a microprocessor. The receiver and transmitter together define an active transponder. The integrated circuit is preferably a monolithic single die integrated circuit including the receiver, the transmitter, and the microprocessor. Because the device includes an active transponder, instead of a transponder which relies on magnetic coupling for power, the device has a much greater range.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification device includes an integrated circuit including a receiver, a transmitter, and a microprocessor. The receiver and transmitter together define an active transponder. The integrated circuit is preferably a monolithic single die integrated circuit including the receiver, the transmitter, and the microprocessor. Because the device includes an active transponder, instead of a transponder which relies on magnetic coupling for power, the device has a much greater range.

Abstract: The present invention includes phase shifters, interrogators, methods of shifting a phase angle of a signal, and methods of operating an interrogator. One aspect of the present invention provides a phase shifter including a first power divider configured to receive a signal and provide plural quadrature components of the signal; plural mixers coupled with the first power divider and configured to scale the quadrature components using a phase shift angle; and a second power divider coupled with the mixers and configured to combine the scaled quadrature components to shift the phase angle of the input signal by the phase shift angle.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification device comprises an integrated circuit including a receiver, a transmitter, and a microprocessor. The receiver and transmitter together define an active transponder. The integrated circuit is preferably a monolithic single die integrated circuit including the receiver, the transmitter, and the microprocessor. Because the device includes an active transponder, instead of a transponder which relies on magnetic coupling for power, the device has a much greater range.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification device comprises an integrated circuit including a receiver, a transmitter, and a microprocessor. The receiver and transmitter together define an active transponder. The integrated circuit is preferably a monolithic single die integrated circuit including the receiver, the transmitter, and the microprocessor. Because the device includes an active transponder, instead of a transponder which relies on magnetic coupling for power, the device has a much greater range.