Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention may use code division multiple access (CDMA) technology in communications from radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to RFID readers, so that multiple RFID tags may respond to the same RFID reader at the same time on the same frequency and still be reliably decoded by the RFID reader. In some embodiments, orthogonal CDMA PN sequences for the RFID tags to use in creating their responses may first be transmitted to those RFID tags, possibly using a non-CDMA technique.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention may incorporate an oscillator circuit into a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in which the oscillator circuit comprises at least one component that is sensitive to an environmental factor such as temperature or humidity. When the tag responds to an RFID reader, the tag may incorporate the sense environmental parameter into its response by transmitting an oscillating signal whose frequency indicates the value of the parameter. The RFID reader may then determine the parameter by analyzing the resulting analog portion of the waveform in terms of frequency and/or cycle and/or pulse width. In some embodiments, the environmental sensor may be incorporated into the integrated circuit containing the RFID tag circuit.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RFID) reader may modulate a clock signal onto the carrier wave that it transmits to one or more RFID tags, and maintain that clock signal throughout all or most of its transmission (which in some embodiments may also be modulated additionally for the transmission of data). An RFID tag receiving that signal may synchronize its own internal clock to that received clock signal, and use its own internal clock as a reference clock for its own transmission. By continuing to synchronize on the clock signal from the RFID reader, the RFID tag's transmission data rate may be prevented from drifting excessively.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for imager resolution enhancement based on mechanical pixel shifting are disclosed. In one implementation, a system comprising a substrate, an imaging pixel array disposed on the substrate, imaging optics at least capable of providing an illumination field to the imaging pixel array, and one or more actuators disposed on the substrate and at least capable of moving the imaging pixel array relative to the illumination field is disclosed.

Abstract: A power amplification system includes functionality for measuring and compensating for distortion and non-linearity in a power amplifier (PA). The compensation process may be performed repeatedly (or continuously) during the operational life of the PA to adapt to changing gain characteristics of the PA.

Abstract: A reconfigurable zone plate lens is disclosed. Some embodiments may include a central annular element having a first a first circumference centered about a central axis. Embodiments may also include a plurality of concentric annular elements of increasing circumference centered about the central axis and the central annular element, where each annular element is positioned around an annular element having a smaller circumference. The annular elements of some embodiments may each be adapted to be in either an active or inactive state where the active and inactive annular elements form a plurality of alternating active rings and inactive rings. Each active ring may include one or more annular elements in an active state and each inactive ring may include one or more annular elements in an inactive state. Each annular element may include one or more liquid crystal display (LCD) elements or micromirrors. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: In some embodiments of a radio frequency identification (RFID) system, multiple bits of data may be encoded at the same time based on a frequency shift key (FSK) modulation technique using multiple frequencies, by permitting any or all of the frequencies to be modulated on a carrier wave at the same time. In some embodiments a parallel but asymmetric down-conversion of the frequencies may allow both frequencies to be detected with identical filters.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, an antenna sub-assembly includes a multi-band antenna coupled to a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC). The multi-band antenna is tuned to receive radio frequency (RF) signals of an RFID frequency band and RF signals of a non-RFID frequency band.

Abstract: An ablating laser may be used to trim a metal-covered area on a data disk to form an antenna for an RFID tag that is on or in the data disk. In some embodiments the metal is aluminum that has been sputtered onto the disk.

Abstract: Embodiments of a radio frequency identification tag are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader with multiple antennas may determine the location of an RFID tag relative to the reader's antennas, by using a difference-in-time-of-arrival technique to triangulate on the RFID tag based on the difference in distances between the tag and each antenna. A given point in the signal from the RFID tag may provide a narrow point in time from which to make the calculations, while a common clock to the multiple receive paths may permit making accurate measurements of the difference in time of reception of that point at the different antennas. In some embodiments, movement of the RFID tag may be determined by calculating a series of locations over time.

Abstract: An AM-FM hybrid signal is created which may be used to communicate simultaneously with both RFID tags that receive AM signals and wireless devices that receive FM or PM signals. The AM-FM hybrid signal may be fed back into the system's receiver at the local oscillator in order to recover the RFID tag's FM response, thus enabling simultaneous reception and decoding of both RFID tag FM response and FM wireless device response.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF ID tag capable of reporting receiver signal strength indication, wherein the receiver signal strength may be indicated by an a RSSI byte included with an electronic product code (EPC) data packet. The EPC data packet may be in the standard SGTIN-64 EPC data format. Further, the RF ID tag capable of reporting signal strength may enable power control or beam steering.

Abstract: A power amplification system within an RFID reader uses feedback to linearize a transfer function of the system. ASK modulation is used in the system. An envelope of an output signal of a non-linear power amplifier is fed back to an input where it is combined in an integrator with an ASK modulation signal to generate a pre-emphasized modulation signal. The pre-emphasized modulation signal is then applied to the power amplifier to generate a linearized output signal.

Abstract: An RFID tag includes separate transmit and receive clocks. In at least one embodiment, the transmit clock frequency is adjusted based on an amount of power available to transmit a response signal to a reader.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method, and article for a multi-tap microelectromechanical inductor are described. The apparatus may include an inductor formed on a substrate, a switching mechanism contacting the inductor to vary inductance of said inductor; and a disconnect mechanism contacting the inductor to reduce parasitic effects of the inductor upon actuation of said switching mechanism. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A wireless communications device may receive information about the locations of other wireless communications devices from those other wireless communications devices, use the location information to determine what directions those other wireless communications devices are from it, and create a directional transmission to focus the transmission in the direction of one or more of those other wireless communications devices.

Abstract: A transceiver includes a detuning circuit to generate an impedance mismatch in a receive signal path in response to a control signal provided by loop-control circuitry. The loop-control circuitry generates the control signal based on a comparison of detected peak signal levels in the receive signal path. In this way, high-power input signal levels in the receive signal path may be reflected back to an input of the receiver due to the impedance mismatch.

Abstract: Labels that have radio frequency identification (RFID) tags embedded within them may include a removable electromagnetic shield that is removed only for the next tag to be processed, so that only that tag will be detected by an RFID reader. In some embodiments such processing includes printing the labels. Different embodiments may use single-sided or double-sided shielding.

Abstract: A sensor may be used to detect a previous or current change of state, and the change may be reported by a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. In some embodiments, the change may represent a broken security seal, which in turn may affect an electrical connection that can be sensed by the RFID tag during operation of the RFID tag.