Abstract: Methods and systems of attaching a radio transceiver to an antenna. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising an antenna and an integrated circuit configured to operate as a radio transceiver. The antenna comprises a ground plane having a first edge surface, and an active element having a second edge surface. The ground plane and the active element are retained together such that the first and second edge surfaces are substantially coplanar and form an antenna edge. The integrated circuit is configured to operate as a radio transceiver, and the integrated circuit is mechanically coupled to the edge of the antenna and electrically coupled to the active element.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for a fast hop frequency hopping protocol. A method includes transmitting from a radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator a continuous wave un-modulated radio frequency (RF) signal conforming to a fast hop frequency hopping protocol in which each hop of a plurality of hops spans at least one bit but less than the totality of bits to be sent from a single RFID device data in a single communications session.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for RFID fast hop frequency hopping. A method including transmitting from a radio frequency identification (RFID) interrogator a continuous wave un-modulated radio frequency (RF) signal from a frequency synthesizer based on digital waveform reconstruction with Direct Memory Access (DMA), the continuous wave un-modulated RF signal conforming to a fast hop frequency hopping protocol in which each hop of a plurality of hops spans at least one bit but less than the totality of bits to be sent from a single RFID device data in a single communications session.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to secure data transmission in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system against eavesdropping, using multiple communication channels. In one embodiment, a method includes communicating key information and cipher text generated based on the key information, or plain text, using a plurality of different, distinct and separate communication channels connected to an RFID tag.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method of manufacturing an enclosed transceiver, such as a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag. Structurally, in one embodiment, the tag comprises an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and an RF antenna mounted on a thin film substrate powered by a thin film battery. A variety of antenna geometries are compatible with the above tag construction. These include monopole antennas, dipole antennas, dual dipole antennas, a combination of dipole and loop antennas. Further, in another embodiment, the antennas are positioned either within the plane of the thin film battery or superjacent to the thin film battery.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to secure data transmission in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system and other Vernam-cipher based cryptography methods against eavesdropping. In one embodiment, a method implemented in an RFID system includes generating an encryption key using previously shared information and random information received in a current communication session and securing a communication in the current session using the encryption key.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new methods for manufacturing photovoltaic devices and an apparatus for practicing those methods of manufacture. The present invention employs a transfer-through system for advancing work piece substrates through an integrated apparatus of multiple treatment chambers that control each of the manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A reservation system includes a database configured to store information identifying customers who have purchased tickets for an event, information about the scheduled time for the event, and information identifying customers who have arrived; a controller configured to operate on the database; and an interrogator in communication with the controller, and an antenna coupled to the interrogator, the interrogator being configured to send wireless commands requesting wireless responses from portable identification devices, the portable identification devices being configured to transmit identifying data in response to receiving a command, the interrogator having a predetermined communications range and being configured to communicate with portable identification devices within the predetermined communications range, the controller being configured to modify the database to indicate that one of the customers who purchased a ticket has arrived, responsive to the interrogator receiving a response from the portable

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 method and system to determine physical parameters as between a RFID tag and a reader. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising generating an antenna feed signal, and transmitting a first electromagnetic wave to a radio frequency device (by coupling the antenna feed signal to a reading antenna), receiving a backscattered electromagnetic wave from the radio frequency device to create a received signal, calculating a combined signal based on the antenna feed signal and received signal, and determining relative velocity between the radio frequency device and the reading antenna based on the combined signal.

Abstract: A method and system to determine physical parameters as between an RFID tag and a reader. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising generating an antenna feed signal, and transmitting a first electromagnetic wave to a radio frequency device (by coupling the antenna feed signal to a reading antenna), receiving a backscattered electromagnetic wave from the radio frequency device to create a received signal, calculating a combined signal based on the antenna feed signal and received signal, and determining relative velocity between the radio frequency device and the reading antenna based on the combined signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems of using RFID tags in emergency situations. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising writing emergency information to a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, and enabling a first responder to read the emergency information in an emergency situation.

Abstract: Selectively coupling to feed points of an antenna system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising an antenna system, an antenna communication circuit, a first diode coupled between the antenna communication circuit and a first feed point of the antenna system, and a second diode coupled between the antenna communication circuit and a second feed point of the antenna system. The antenna communication circuit is configured to couple the antenna communication circuit to the first and second feed points by forward biasing the diodes.

Abstract: Methods and systems using polarization modulated electromagnetic waves. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, and a RFID tag (the RFID tag communicatively coupled to the RFID reader),. The RFID tag is configured to transmit data to the RFID reader with data encoded in polarization of electromagnetic waves transmitted from the RFID tag.

Abstract: Method and system of using radio frequency identification tags. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising receiving an item for purchase, reading RFID tag on the item to identify the item at checkout, and writing data to the RFID tag indicative of parameters associated with the purchaser.

Abstract: Methods and systems of RFID tags using RFID circuits and antennas having unmatched frequency ranges. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are RFID tags comprising a RFID circuit configured to operate with an antenna having a first range of resonant frequencies, a tag antenna coupled to the RFID circuit (the tag antenna having a range of resonant frequencies different than the first range of resonant frequencies, the range of resonant frequencies of the tag antenna being a second range of resonant frequencies).

Abstract: RFID tags and methods of designing RFID tags. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are RFID tags comprising a tag antenna, a matching circuit coupled to the tag antenna, a shorting device coupled to the tag antenna and the matching circuit (wherein the shorting device is configured to selectively couple the tag antenna to common), and a tag circuit coupled to the matching circuit and the shorting device (the tag circuit configured to control the shorting device). In one or more such embodiments, a difference between a reflection coefficient of the tag antenna when the shorting device is conductive and a reflection coefficient of the tag antenna when shorting device is non-conductive is greater than or equal to approximately 0.8.

Abstract: Method and system of determining a locational characteristic of a RFID tag. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, and a phased-array reading antenna coupled to the RFID reader (the phased-array reading antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements). The system is configured to determine a value indicative of direction of a RFID tag relative to the phased-array reading antenna based on an analysis of phase of signals induced on each of the antenna elements of the phased-array antenna by a return signal from the RFID tag.

Abstract: Methods and systems of attaching a RFID tag to an object. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising a substrate having a pendant portion and an attachment portion, a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit disposed on the substrate, and a tag antenna coupled to the RFID circuit and disposed on the substrate. The attachment portion of the substrate is configured to couple to an object and the pendant portion is configured to extend away from the object.

Abstract: Methods and systems of attaching a radio transceiver to an antenna. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising an antenna and an integrated circuit configured to operate as a radio transceiver. The antenna comprises a ground plane having a first edge surface, and an active element having a second edge surface. The ground plane and the active element are retained together such that the first and second edge surfaces are substantially coplanar and form an antenna edge. The integrated circuit is configured to operate as a radio transceiver, and the integrated circuit is mechanically coupled to the edge of the antenna and electrically coupled to the active element.