Abstract: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags may receive one or more run commands, prior to being singulated, that specify one or more programs for the tag to execute. A run command may encapsulate the programs, in which case the tag may execute or store and execute the program(s). A run command may alternatively specify programs stored on the tag. The tag may execute the program(s) upon receipt, upon a trigger event, serially or in parallel, and/or may modify the instructions or program(s) by adjusting parameters. A reader may tell the tag to execute the instructions or program(s) via the run command or another command which, in some cases, may be sent prior to tag singulation. A tag may, based on a result of the executed program(s), determine whether to participate in a subsequent inventory round, modify a behavior during a subsequent inventory round, or store the result in tag memory.

Abstract: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags may receive one or more encapsulated commands within the payload of an encapsulating command. An encapsulated command includes at least a command code and an instruction. A tag may store the encapsulated command(s) or the instruction portion of the encapsulated command(s) for later execution. A sequence of encapsulated commands may be contained within one encapsulating command or spread across multiple encapsulating commands. The sequence of encapsulated commands, or the sequence of instructions associated with the encapsulated commands, may form a program. The tag may execute the instructions or program upon receipt, upon a trigger event, serially or in parallel, and/or may modify the instructions or program by adjusting parameters. The tag may later be told by a reader to execute the instructions or program via another command which, in some cases, may be sent prior to tag singulation.

Abstract: Systems, methods of operation, and software are provided, for encoding RFID tags with which a predefined group of items is tagged. Encoding is by writing applicable Electronic Product Codes (EPCs) to the tags, so as to identify the individual items in the group. A base code can be read from each tag, and the applicable EPC is then written to it.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) having a first circuit block electrically coupled to first and second antenna contacts. The first antenna contact is disposed on a first surface of the IC and the second antenna contact is disposed on a second surface of the IC different from the first surface. The first and second antenna contacts are electrically disconnected from each other.

Abstract: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers may transmit one or more encapsulated commands within the payload of an encapsulating command. An encapsulated command includes at least a command code and an instruction. A reader may instruct a tag to store the encapsulated command(s) or instruction(s) for later execution. A sequence of encapsulated commands may be contained within one encapsulating command or spread across multiple encapsulating commands. The sequence of encapsulated commands, or the sequence of instructions associated with the encapsulated commands, may form a program. The reader may cause the tag to execute the instructions or program upon receipt, upon a trigger event, serially or in parallel, and/or may cause the tag to modify the instructions or program by adjusting parameters. The reader may later instruct a tag to execute the instructions or program via another command which, in some cases, may be sent prior to tag singulation.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) having a first circuit block electrically coupled to first and second antenna contacts. The first antenna contact is disposed on a first surface of the IC and the second antenna contact is disposed on a second surface of the IC different from the first surface. The first and second antenna contacts are electrically disconnected from each other.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC) having a first circuit block electrically coupled to first and second antenna contacts. The first antenna contact is disposed on a first surface of the IC and the second antenna contact is disposed on a second surface of the IC different from the first surface. The first and second antenna contacts are electrically disconnected from each other.

Abstract: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags may receive one or more encapsulated commands within the payload of an encapsulating command. An encapsulated command includes at least a command code and an instruction. A tag may store the encapsulated command(s) or the instruction portion of the encapsulated command(s) for later execution. A sequence of encapsulated commands may be contained within one encapsulating command or spread across multiple encapsulating commands. The sequence of encapsulated commands, or the sequence of instructions associated with the encapsulated commands, may form a program. The tag may execute the instructions or program upon receipt, upon a trigger event, serially or in parallel, and/or may modify the instructions or program by adjusting parameters. The tag may later be told by a reader to execute the instructions or program via another command which, in some cases, may be sent prior to tag singulation.

Abstract: RFID tags, ICs for RFID tags, and methods are provided. In some embodiments, an RFID tag includes a memory with multiple sections, and a processing block. The processing block may map one of these sections, or another of these sections, for purposes of responding to a first command from an RFID reader. As such, an RFID tag can operate according to the data stored in the section mapped at the time. In some embodiments, a tag can even transition from mapping one of the sections to mapping another of the sections. This can amount to the tag exhibiting alternative behaviors, and permits hiding data on the tag.

Abstract: In RFID systems employed for loss prevention, an item supplier or an ingress reader writes an ownership code associated with an organization or facility into a tag, indicating that an item to which the tag is attached is associated with the facility and not foreign. At checkout or point-of-sale an authorization reader writes a digital signature into the tag indicating that the tagged item is allowed to leave the facility. At point-of-exit an exit reader determines if the tagged item is allowed to leave the facility by verifying the ownership code and the digital signature. The loss-prevention system may issue an alert or sound an alarm if a facility-associated item is leaving the facility without a proper digital signature indicating that the item is approved to leave.

Abstract: RFID reader systems, readers, components, software and methods cause RFID tags to backscatter a combination made from at least portions of a first code and a second code, without transmitting any commands in the interim. The first and/or second codes may include a tag response to a reader challenge. In a number of embodiments, a separate command does not have to be sent for reading the second code along with the first code, thereby saving time in inventorying the tags. Plus, the combination can enable reading tag codes during tag manufacturing that are not otherwise readily available to read in the field. In some embodiments, the combination may further include one or more error-checking codes.

Abstract: Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are selected for inventorying using a combination of preselect and/or post select criteria. The selection commands can be for selecting according to a tag memory content, by invoking the mask address or by comparing other tag characteristics. Selection criteria can be determined locally at a modem block of a reader or provided to the modem block by higher layers of the reader. Tags meeting the selection criteria are reported to the higher layers for further actions. Some tags may be held while waiting for instructions from the higher layer block(s). The instructions may involve one or more access operations, which may be performed using a higher transmit power than other operations.

Abstract: A nonconductive, organic stabilization layer deposited on an RFID IC provides a consistent and predictable mounting distance between the RFID IC and its antenna layer or a strap, thereby ensuring a consistent and predictable mounting capacitance between circuits of the RFID IC and an antenna formed on the inlay or the strap. Openings in the stabilization layer enable electrical connection between the antenna pads of the RFID IC and the terminals of the inlay antenna or strap contacts through bumps formed on the antenna pads, through a conductive redistribution layer formed on the stabilization layer (when the inlay or strap is attached to the RFID IC by means of an anisotropic conductive layer), or through a capacitive connection to the inlay antenna or strap (when the inlay or strap is attached to the RFID IC by means of a nonconductive layer).

Abstract: RFID readers transmit a Quiet Technology (QT) command to RFID tags causing at least one of the tags to transition between a private profile and a public profile. When a tag is inventoried in the private profile, it replies to the reader with contents from its private memory. When a tag is inventoried in the public profile, it replies to the reader with contents from its public memory, where the contents of the public memory may be a subset and/or modified version of the private memory contents, or entirely different altogether. The tag's profile can be switched again by another QT command from the reader, or following a loss of power at the tag. An access password and/or a short-range mechanism may be employed to allow only authorized readers to transition tag profiles or interrogate the private memory contents of tags in the public profile.

Abstract: A method of adjusting operation of an RFID tag for an environment is described. The method includes sensing an aspect of the environment. The method also includes sending an instruction, based on the sensed aspect of the environment, to the RFID tag. The instruction encoded in a TUNE command. The instruction causes the RFID tag to perform a specific act. The specific act includes one of the following: turning a sub-circuit of the RFID tag's semiconductor chip on; turning a sub-circuit of the RFID tag's semiconductor chip off; altering a bias current within a sub-circuit of the RFID tag's semiconductor chip; altering a bias voltage within a sub-circuit of the RFID tag's semiconductor chip; and, adjusting a threshold within a sub-circuit of the RFID tag's semiconductor chip.

Abstract: RFID tag ICs employ tunneling-voltage profile calibration during IC manufacturing to determine and store, typically in nonvolatile memory, a tunneling-voltage profile for writing data to the IC's nonvolatile memory. The IC may subsequently read the profile at power-up, prior to writing the memory, or at other times as determined by the IC or by an interrogating reader. By using the stored profile when writing to the nonvolatile memory the IC may reduce nonvolatile memory write time and oxide stress.

Abstract: RFID reader systems, readers, components, software and methods for causing a custom RFID tag to change how many remaining commands they will comply with. In a number of embodiments, this is achieved by causing a custom limiting command to be transmitted to the tag.

Abstract: An RFID reader uses an adaptive filter to mitigate the effects of colored noise in tag reply signals. The adaptive filter may be a linear equalizer, a linear-predictive canceller, or a decision-feedback equalizer. The adaptive filter estimates the colored noise portion of the signal received from the tag and removes the noise estimate from the tag signal. The adaptive filter bases its noise estimate on the difference between a desired signal and a portion of the received signal. The reader uses reader-generated training data, a CW signal, and/or portions of the tag reply signal to adapt the filter.

Abstract: RFID reader systems, readers, components, software and methods cause RFID tags to backscatter a combination made from at least portions of a first code and a second code, without transmitting any commands in the interim. The first and/or second codes may include a tag response to a reader challenge. In a number of embodiments, a separate command does not have to be sent for reading the second code along with the first code, thereby saving time in inventorying the tags. Plus, the combination can enable reading tag codes during tag manufacturing that are not otherwise readily available to read in the field. In some embodiments, the combination may further include one or more error-checking codes.

Abstract: RFID tags and chips for RFID tags are capable of complying with only a limited number of remaining commands, and methods. In a number of embodiments, a counter is adjusted in association with receiving a command and complying with it. The tag complies until the counter reaches a limit, and then it can stop complying. Non-compliance can be by the tag becoming quiet, or performing other activities, or performing nothing at all, or performing only selected activities, and so on. In some embodiments non-compliance is permanent, while in others it is temporary and/or restorable.