Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit including a Schottky diode includes providing a substrate of a first conductivity type, defining a region of a second conductivity type relative to the substrate and forming an insulator over the second conductivity type region. The method also includes removing an area of the insulator for definition of a contact hole, and removing an area encircling the contact hole and forming highly doped regions of the second conductivity type in second conductivity type regions encircling the contact hole. The method further includes depositing a Schottky metal in the contact hole and annealing the metal to form a suicide interface to the second conductivity type region.

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: This invention provides radio frequency identification devices, wireless communication systems, communication methods, methods of forming a radio frequency identification device, methods of testing wireless communication operations, and methods of determining a communication range. According to a first aspect, a radio frequency identification device includes a substrate; communication circuitry coupled with the substrate and configured to at least one of receive wireless signals and communicate wireless signals; and indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to indicate operation of the radio frequency identification device. A communication method according to another aspect includes providing a radio frequency identification device including indication circuitry; receiving a wireless signal within the radio frequency identification device; and indicating operation of the radio frequency identification device using the indication circuitry after the receiving.

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: 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: This invention provides radio frequency identification devices, wireless communication systems, communication methods, methods of forming a radio frequency identification device, methods of testing wireless communication operations, and methods of determining a communication range. According to a first aspect, a radio frequency identification device includes a substrate; communication circuitry coupled with the substrate and configured to at least one of receive wireless signals and communicate wireless signals; and indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to indicate operation of the radio frequency identification device. A communication method according to another aspect includes providing a radio frequency identification device including indication circuitry; receiving a wireless signal within the radio frequency identification device; and indicating operation of the radio frequency identification device using the indication circuitry after the receiving.

Abstract: The present invention relates to wireless communication systems, interrogators and methods of communicating within a wireless communication system. One aspect of the present invention provides a wireless communication system including at least one remote communication device configured to communicate a return link wireless signal; an interrogator including: a communication station configured to receive the return link wireless signal and to generate a return link communication signal corresponding to the return link wireless signal; communication circuitry coupled with the communication station and configured to communicate the return link communication signal; and a housing remotely located with respect to the communication station and including circuitry configured to receive the return link communication signal from the communication circuitry and to process the return link communication signal.

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: This invention provides radio frequency identification devices, wireless communication systems, communication methods, methods of forming a radio frequency identification device, methods of testing wireless communication operations, and methods of determining a communication range. According to a first aspect, a radio frequency identification device includes a substrate; communication circuitry coupled with the substrate and configured to at least one of receive wireless signals and communicate wireless signals; and indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to indicate operation of the radio frequency identification device. A communication method according to another aspect includes providing a radio frequency identification device including indication circuitry; receiving a wireless signal within the radio frequency identification device; and indicating operation of the radio frequency identification device using the indication circuitry after the receiving.

Abstract: The present invention relates to wireless communication systems, interrogators and methods of communicating within a wireless communication system. One aspect of the present invention provides a wireless communication system including at least one remote communication device configured to communicate a return link wireless signal; an interrogator including: a communication station configured to receive the return link wireless signal and to generate a return link communication signal corresponding to the return link wireless signal; communication circuitry coupled with the communication station and configured to communicate the return link communication signal; and a housing remotely located with respect to the communication station and including circuitry configured to receive the return link communication signal from the communication circuitry and to process the return link communication signal.

Abstract: A stage for a voltage controlled oscillator includes a first p-channel transistor having a gate defining a control node, having a source adapted to be coupled to a supply voltage, and having a drain; a second p-channel transistor having a gate coupled to the control node, having a source coupled to the supply voltage, and having a drain; a first n-channel transistor having a gate defining a first input, having a drain coupled to the drain of the first p-channel transistor and defining a first node, and having a source; a second n-channel transistor having a gate defining a second input, having a drain coupled to the drain of the second p-channel transistor and defining a second node, and having a source; a current draw; first and second loads; a first source follower having an input coupled to the first node; and a second source follower.

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 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: This invention provides radio frequency identification devices, wireless communication systems, communication methods, methods of forming a radio frequency identification device, methods of testing wireless communication operations, and methods of determining a communication range. According to a first aspect, a radio frequency identification device includes a substrate; communication circuitry coupled with the substrate and configured to at least one of receive wireless signals and communicate wireless signals; and indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to indicate operation of the radio frequency identification device. A communication method according to another aspect includes providing a radio frequency identification device including indication circuitry; receiving a wireless signal within the radio frequency identification device; and indicating operation of the radio frequency identification device using the indication circuitry after the receiving.

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: This invention provides radio frequency identification devices, wireless communication systems, communication methods, methods of forming a radio frequency identification device, methods of testing wireless communication operations, and methods of determining a communication range. According to a first aspect, a radio frequency identification device includes a substrate; communication circuitry coupled with the. substrate and configured to at least one of receive wireless signals and communicate wireless signals; and indication circuitry coupled with the communication circuitry and configured to indicate operation of as the radio frequency identification device. A communication method according to another aspect includes providing a radio frequency identification device including indication circuitry; receiving a wireless signal within the radio frequency identification device; and indicating operation of the radio frequency identification device using the indication circuitry after the receiving.

Abstract: The present invention includes interrogators, communication systems, communication methods, and methods of processing a communication signal. One aspect of the present invention provides a backscatter system interrogator including a downconverter configured to receive a backscatter communication signal having a first frequency and convert the backscatter communication signal having the first frequency to a subcarrier signal having a second frequency less than the first frequency; a filter coupled with the downconverter and configured to filter direct path energy from the subcarrier signal; and a gain control coupled with the filter and configured to adjust the gain of the filtered subcarrier signal.

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.

Abstract: The present invention includes bit synchronizers and methods of synchronizing and calculating error. One method of synchronizing with a data signal in accordance with the present invention includes providing a data signal having a first portion and a second portion, generating a timing signal, first adjusting the timing signal during the first portion of the data signal, accumulating a history value during the first portion of the data signal, and second adjusting the timing signal during a second portion of the data signal using the history.