Patents Assigned to RF Controls, LLC
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Patent number: 11728568Abstract: A dual band radio frequency signal acquisition and source location system, provided with a steerable phased array antenna operable in a first and a second radio frequency band. A digital signal processor electrically connected to the steerable phased array antenna is configured to control steering of an antenna beam of the steerable phased array antenna and apply frequency time division multiplexing to radio frequency signaling in the first and the second radio frequency bands. In particular, the first frequency band may be 2.4 GHz Bluetooth/Bluetooth Low Energy, and the second frequency band may be 900 MHz passive UHF RFID.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: RF Controls LLCInventor: Graham P. Bloy
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Patent number: 8742896Abstract: A system for and method of tracking and locating RFID tags, including where at least one steerable phase array antenna may locate the tags associated with items in three dimensions in real time, through the use of a beam steering unit and controller therewith to control the direction of a beam launched by the at least one steerable phase array antenna.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: RF Controls, LLCInventor: Graham P. Eloy
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Patent number: 8698575Abstract: An antenna switching arrangement with a quadrature arrangement of transmission lines through which a desired signal path may be configured via switches selectively grounding junctions of the switching arrangement. The desired path routing a signal from an input port to one or both of first and second output ports to generate a signal with vertical linear polarization, horizontal linear polarization or circular polarization. The selected polarization may be changed as desired and/or multiple antenna switching arrangements applied to enable simultaneous signals with different polarizations.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: RF Controls, LLCInventors: Graham P. Bloy, Matthew E. Pierce, Christopher Gordon Gervase Turner
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Patent number: 8659430Abstract: A radio frequency signal acquistion and source location system, including a first signal acquisition and source location module comprising an RF transceiver coupled to an antenna, the antenna provided with a electronic steering circuit. The antenna operative to launch an interrogation signal, the interrogation signal steerable by an electronic steering circuit. A processor operatively coupled to the RF transceiver and the electronic steering circuit, the processor provided with a data storage for storing a signal data record for each of at least one response signal(s) received by the RF transceiver(s). The signal data record including a signal identification, a received signal strength indicator and an RF signal direction along which respective signal(s) are received by the antenna, the RF signal direction derived from the electronic steering circuit. A postion logic operative upon the data record(s) derives a three dimensional signal origin location of each response signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: RF Controls, LLCInventors: Graham P. Bloy, Matthew E. Pierce, Russell Hofer
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Patent number: 8599024Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring untagged objects in a target area including calibrating a radio environment monitoring system including a rules engine and a baseline data set for a target area by recording a set of changes to the RF environment fingerprint of the target area received by the radio environment monitoring system as the target area is filled with objects. During system operation, scanning the target area with the radio environment monitoring system for a current RF environment fingerprint, comparing the current RF environment fingerprint with the baseline data set by a rules engine and reporting an output of the rules engine.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: RF Controls, LLCInventor: Graham P. Bloy
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Publication number: 20130214907Abstract: A radio frequency signal acquisition and source location system, including a first signal acquisition and source location module comprising an RF transceiver coupled to an antenna, the antenna provided with a electronic steering circuit. The antenna operative to launch an interrogation signal, the interrogation signal steerable by an electronic steering circuit. A processor operatively coupled to the RF transceiver and the electronic steering circuit, the processor provided with a data storage for storing a signal data record for each of at least one response signal(s) received by the RF transceiver(s). The signal data record including a signal identification, a received signal strength indicator and an RF signal direction along which respective signal(s) are received by the antenna, the RF signal direction derived from the electronic steering circuit. A position logic operative upon the data record(s) derives a three dimensional signal origin location of each response signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: RF CONTROLS, LLCInventor: RF Controls, LLC
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Patent number: 8493182Abstract: A method and apparatus for phase ranging the distance an RFID tag is from an RFID location system antenna along the interrogation signal beam, based upon the phase readings included in data sets obtained from monitoring reply signals corresponding to interrogation signals at multiple frequencies and a common interrogation signal beam direction; by comparison of measured phase and frequency data sets with theoretical phases calculated with respect to the same frequencies over a range of positions corresponding to a beam extent of the interrogation signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2009Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: RF Controls, LLCInventors: Russell Hofer, Graham P. A. Bloy
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Publication number: 20130099898Abstract: A system for and method of tracking and locating RFID tags, including where at least one steerable phase array antenna may locate the tags associated with items in three dimensions in real time, through the use of a beam steering unit and controller therewith to control the direction of a beam launched by the at least one steerable phase array antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2012Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: RF CONTROLS, LLCInventor: RF CONTROLS, LLC
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Publication number: 20130093572Abstract: An antenna switching arrangement with a quadrature arrangement of transmission lines through which a desired signal path may be configured via switches selectively grounding junctions of the switching arrangement. The desired path routing a signal from an input port to one or both of first and second output ports to generate a signal with vertical linear polarization, horizontal linear polarization or circular polarization. The selected polarization may be changed as desired and/or multiple antenna switching arrangements applied to enable simultaneous signals with different polarizations.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2012Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: RF Controls, LLCInventor: RF Controls, LLC
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Patent number: 8421631Abstract: A radio frequency signal acquisition and source location system, including a first signal acquisition and source location module comprising an RF transceiver coupled to an antenna, the antenna provided with a electronic steering circuit. The antenna operative to launch an interrogation signal, the interrogation signal steerable by an electronic steering circuit. A processor operatively coupled to the RF transceiver and the electronic steering circuit, the processor provided with a data storage for storing a signal data record for each of at least one response signal(s) received by the RF transceiver(s). The signal data record including a signal identification, a received signal strength indicator and an RF signal direction along which respective signal(s) are received by the antenna, the RF signal direction derived from the electronic steering circuit. A position logic operative upon the data record(s) deriving a three dimensional signal origin location of each response signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2008Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: RF Controls, LLCInventors: Graham P. Bloy, Matthew E. Pierce, Russell Hofer
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Patent number: 8344823Abstract: An antenna switching arrangement with a quadrature arrangement of transmission lines through which a desired signal path may be configured via switches selectively grounding junctions of the switching arrangement. The desired path routing a signal from an input port to one or both of first and second output ports to generate a signal with vertical linear polarization, horizontal linear polarization or circular polarization. The selected polarization may be changed as desired and/or multiple antenna switching arrangements applied to enable simultaneous signals with different polarizations.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: RF Controls, LLCInventors: Graham P. Bloy, Matthew E Pierce, Christopher Gordon Gervase Tumer
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Patent number: 8344858Abstract: A system for and method of tracking and locating RFID tags, including where at least one steerable phase array antenna may locate the tags associated with items in three dimensions in real time, through the use of a beam steering unit and controller therewith to control the direction of a beam launched by the at least one steerable phase array antenna.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2008Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: RF Controls, LLCInventor: Graham P. Bloy
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Publication number: 20120112913Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring untagged objects in a target area including calibrating a radio environment monitoring system including a rules engine and a baseline data set for a target area by recording a set of changes to the RF environment fingerprint of the target area received by the radio environment monitoring system as the target area is filled with objects. During system operation, scanning the target area with the radio environment monitoring system for a current RF environment fingerprint, comparing the current RF environment fingerprint with the baseline data set by a rules engine and reporting an output of the rules engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2012Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: RF CONTROLS, LLCInventor: Graham P. Bloy
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Patent number: 8159367Abstract: A method and apparatus for validating a distance output of a phase ranging RFID location system, based upon the phase readings included in data sets obtained from monitoring reply signals corresponding to interrogation signals at multiple frequencies and a common interrogation signal beam direction; by comparison of measured phase and frequency data sets with theoretical phases calculated with respect to the same frequencies over a range of positions corresponding to a beam extent of the interrogation signal. The distance output validated by comparison with theoretical threshold data processed to generate an extreme values distribution from which a cumulative distribution function is extracted and against which a confidence level is applied.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: RF Controls, LLCInventors: Russell Hofer, Graham P. A. Bloy
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Patent number: 8120488Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring untagged objects in a target area including calibrating a radio environment monitoring system including a rules engine and a baseline data set for a target area by recording a set of changes to the RF environment fingerprint of the target area received by the radio environment monitoring system as the target area is filled with objects. During system operation, scanning the target area with the radio environment monitoring system for a current RF environment fingerprint, comparing the current RF environment fingerprint with the baseline data set by a rules engine and reporting an output of the rules engine.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: RF Controls, LLCInventor: Graham P. Bloy
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Publication number: 20110090061Abstract: A method and apparatus for validating a distance output of a phase ranging RFID location system, based upon the phase readings included in data sets obtained from monitoring reply signals corresponding to interrogation signals at multiple frequencies and a common interrogation signal beam direction; by comparison of measured phase and frequency data sets with theoretical phases calculated with respect to the same frequencies over a range of positions corresponding to a beam extent of the interrogation signal. The distance output validated by comparison with theoretical threshold data processed to generate an extreme values distribution from which a cumulative distribution function is extracted and against which a confidence level is applied.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2009Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: RF CONTROLS, LLCInventors: Russell Hofer, Graham P. Bloy
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Publication number: 20110090062Abstract: A method and apparatus for phase ranging the distance an RFID tag is from an RFID location system antenna along the interrogation signal beam, based upon the phase readings included in data sets obtained from monitoring reply signals corresponding to interrogation signals at multiple frequencies and a common interrogation signal beam direction; by comparison of measured phase and frequency data sets with theoretical phases calculated with respect to the same frequencies over a range of positions corresponding to a beam extent of the interrogation signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2009Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: RF Controls, LLCInventors: Russell Hofer, Graham P. Bloy
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Publication number: 20110063113Abstract: A method for monitoring objects in a three dimensional target area and or business process decision making. The methods include calibration, recalibration, operation and rules compliance for a radio frequency object monitoring system. Location tags are placed throughout a three dimensional area in predetermined positions and used to determine relative position, movement and or distances of objects with and without object tags. Repeated scanning and comparison of data provides a database by which the object monitoring system responds according to predetermined rules.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: RF CONTROLS, LLCInventors: Christopher Derek Hook, Graham P. Bloy, Thomas Ellinwood, Christopher Gordon Gervase Turner
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Publication number: 20110032079Abstract: An antenna switching arrangement with a quadrature arrangement of transmission lines through which a desired signal path may be configured via switches selectively grounding junctions of the switching arrangement. The desired path routing a signal from an input port to one or both of first and second output ports to generate a signal with vertical linear polarization, horizontal linear polarization or circular polarization. The selected polarization may be changed as desired and/or multiple antenna switching arrangements applied to enable simultaneous signals with different polarizations.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2009Publication date: February 10, 2011Applicant: RF Controls, LLCInventors: Graham P. Bloy, Matthew E. Pierce, Christopher Gordon Gervase Turner
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Publication number: 20100225480Abstract: A radio frequency signal acquisition and source location system, including a first signal acquisition and source location module comprising an RF transceiver coupled to an antenna, the antenna provided with a electronic steering circuit. The antenna operative to launch an interrogation signal, the interrogation signal steerable by an electronic steering circuit. A processor operatively coupled to the RF transceiver and the electronic steering circuit, the processor provided with a data storage for storing a signal data record for each of at least one response signal(s) received by the RF transceiver(s). The signal data record including a signal identification, a received signal strength indicator and an RF signal direction along which respective signal(s) are received by the antenna, the RF signal direction derived from the electronic steering circuit. A position logic operative upon the data record(s) deriving a three dimensional signal origin location of each response signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2008Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: RF CONTROLS, LLCInventors: Graham P. Bloy, Matthew E. Pierce, Russell Hofer