Abstract: A wireless communication system having a terminal unit operates in a reduced noise state during receipt of a wireless transmission from a control unit. The terminal unit includes terminal circuitry, a radio and noise management circuitry. The noise management circuitry partially or fully disables operation of the terminal circuitry during a receipt by the radio. Noise management circuitry may disable a terminal processor, disable interrupts, buffer interrupts and otherwise modify operation of the terminal circuitry to reduce generated radio noise that would otherwise interfere with receipt of data by the radio. The wireless communication system includes noise management circuitry located in a control unit that operates in conjunction with noise management circuitry in a first terminal unit and a second terminal unit to schedule transmissions from the control unit. These scheduled transmissions allow the terminal units to perform required processing functions outside of the reduced noise period.

Abstract: An RFID tag's mobility can be increased and cost can be decreased by using high-performance mobile power antennas instead of battery powered tags. Disclosed are some power antennas that include a half wave rectifier, a full wave rectifier, and a voltage multiplier. These antennas can be cascaded to boost the power or voltage gain. Additionally, planar elements can be added to increase efficiency without decreasing mobility.

Abstract: A communications transceiver incorporating diversity architecture for utilization with a wireless communications network and having improved receiver sensitivity is disclosed. In a first embodiment of the invention, the communications transceiver comprises a pair of antennas connected to a pair of amplifiers and a selector connected between the amplifiers and the intermediate frequency stage of the transceiver for providing selective operation of the communications transceiver with either antenna of the pair of antennas. In a second embodiment of the invention, the communications transceiver comprises a pair of antennas, a pair of amplifiers and a selector disposed between the first amplifier and the intermediate frequency stage of the transceiver and between the second antenna and the second amplifier for providing selective operation of the communications transceiver with either of the antennas.

Abstract: A Write Broadcast system and method uses a base station to write sent data to all or some selected number (sub group) of tags in a base station field simultaneously. By unselecting the tags that have been successfully written to, and requesting a response from the remaining tags in the field (or sub group), the system determines, by receiving a response to the request, that there are tags in the field (sub group) that were unsuccessfully written to. Another Write Broadcast signal is sent to these tags. The system is useful for quickly (simultaneously) “stamping” information on the tag memory of a large number of tags in the field of the base station.

Abstract: An RFID tag's mobility can be increased and cost can be decreased by using high-performance mobile power antennas instead of battery powered tags. Disclosed are some power antennas that include a half wave rectifier, a full wave rectifier, and a voltage multiplier. These antennas can be cascaded to boost the power or voltage gain. Additionally, planar elements can be added to increase efficiency without decreasing mobility.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for implementing forced frequency “hops” if the time it takes to perform a particular transaction is greater than the time available on a particular carrier frequency. In one embodiment of the present invention, a radio frequency identification (RFID) base station processor (in conjunction with program information stored in a base station memory) is adapted to (i) determine the amount of time available on a particular carrier frequency (e.g., pursuant to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations, European Telecommunications Standardization Institute (ETSI) regulations, etc.), (ii) determine the amount of time it would take to perform a particular transaction, and (iii) force the base station to “hop” to another carrier frequency if the transaction time is longer than the available time. In one embodiment of the present invention, the time it would take to perform a particular transaction is the time it would take to perform the next transaction.

Abstract: The present invention assures the integrity of state information retained by a Radio Frequency Transponder during a loss of power. During the regular operation of the Transponder power is provided to a voltage-storing device powering an information retention mechanism of the Transponder. After the loss and reestablishing of power to the Transponder but before the Transponder is restarted, the voltage-storing device is checked to determine whether sufficient power is present in the information retention mechanism to retain information without corruption. If sufficient power is present, a signal to indicate that fact is communicated to the Transponder and the stored information is restored. The Transponder is then restarted.