Abstract: Systems and methods for a reconfigurable antenna are provided. One system includes a device having a plurality of antenna elements configured to read a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag and a switch having an input configured to receive a control signal from an RFID reader via a communication line to select one antenna of the plurality of antenna elements. The device further include a controller configured to control a state of the switch, wherein the switch is configured to be switched between states when the controller receives the RFID control signal comprising an address unique to the switch, thereby allowing the RFID reader to send an interrogation signal to and receive a response from the RFID tag in response to receiving the RFID control signal.

Abstract: A trickle-charged RFID device includes a main antenna receiving wireless interrogator signals from one or more RFID readers, a power harvester connected with the main antenna to obtain power from the wireless interrogator signals, and an intermediate storage device connected to the power harvester to collect trickle flows of unused power harvested from wireless interrogator signals received by the RFID device that lack an inquiry for the device. The RFID device further includes a primary storage device, into which the intermediate storage device discharges its collection of trickle flows of unused power when the collection reaches a predetermined threshold level, which recharges power lost from the main storage device. The intermediate storage device can include one or more capacitors including super-capacitors, and the main storage device can include a rechargeable battery, such that the effective life of the main storage device is extended from the collected trickle flows.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a distributed antenna network are provided. One system includes a plurality of antenna modules coupled via a communication line, with each antenna module configured to be switched between a through state and a connected state using radio-frequency identification (RFID) control signals. The system further includes a plurality of antennas, with each antenna connected to a corresponding antenna module. A controller is coupled to the communication line and configured to transmit RFID control signals to the plurality of antenna modules to selectively activate one of the antenna modules by switching the antenna module to the connected state to thereby activate an antenna connected to the antenna module in the connected state.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna is disclosed. The RFID antenna may include: a substrate; a radiator disposed on the substrate, the radiator comprising a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor that perpendicularly intersect a straight edge of the radiator, the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor being symmetrical to each other with respect to a central point of the radiator; a loop disposed on the substrate; and a stub disposed on the substrate between the loop and the central point of the radiator.

Abstract: Provided are methods, systems, and apparatuses related to modular electronics platforms for mobile computing devices. One such apparatus may include a system on module (SOM) having a first surface that is configured to be coupled electrically to one or more chipsets. The apparatus may include a land grid array (LGA) disposed on a second surface of the SOM. The LGA may include one or more center anchor pads, one or more corner anchor pads, a digital signal array, one or more communications pads, and one or more ground pads. The various pads of the LGA may be configured to be coupled to one or more pads or pins disposed on a surface of a main logic board (MLB).

Abstract: A trickle-charged RFID device includes a main antenna receiving wireless interrogator signals from one or more RFID readers, a power harvester connected with the main antenna to obtain power from the wireless interrogator signals, and an intermediate storage device connected to the power harvester to collect trickle flows of unused power harvested from wireless interrogator signals received by the RFID device that lack an inquiry for the device. The RFID device further includes a primary storage device, into which the intermediate storage device discharges its collection of trickle flows of unused power when the collection reaches a predetermined threshold level, which recharges power lost from the main storage device. The intermediate storage device can include one or more capacitors including super-capacitors, and the main storage device can include a rechargeable battery, such that the effective life of the main storage device is extended from the collected trickle flows.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a distributed antenna network are provided. One system includes a plurality of antenna modules coupled via a communication line, with each antenna module configured to be switched between a through state and a connected state using radio-frequency identification (RFID) control signals. The system further includes a plurality of antennas, with each antenna connected to a corresponding antenna module. A controller is coupled to the communication line and configured to transmit RFID control signals to the plurality of antenna modules to selectively activate one of the antenna modules by switching the antenna module to the connected state to thereby activate an antenna connected to the antenna module in the connected state.

Abstract: Passive wireless transponders can perform transponder-to-transponder communication when illuminated by an interrogation carrier wave. The transponder-to-transponder communication permits each transponder to determine the identity of “other” proximately transponders. The transponder-to-transponder communication optionally permits each transponder to identify a “nearest neighbor” using one or more backscatter signal properties such as received signal strength or time-of-flight. Using this information and one or more externally supplied or internally stored instruction sets transponders can provide neighboring transponder data to an interrogator. Using this “neighbor” data, the interrogator can provide a system user with data indicative of the relative locations of a plurality of tags arranged in a one or two dimensional matrix.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a reconfigurable radio front-end are provided. One system includes a device having an antenna, a first front-end communication section configured to communicate using a first communication method and a second front-end communication section configured to communicate using a second communication method, wherein the first and second communication methods are different communication methods. The device further includes a switch having an input configured to receive a control signal via a communication line to select the first front-end communication section or the second front-end communication section and a controller configured to control a state of the switch. The switch is configured to be switched between states when the controller receives the control signal, thereby allowing communication using the first communication method or the second communication method via the antenna.

Abstract: A method for reconfiguring an RFID tag or RFID reader is disclosed.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder may include a substrate and a device. The substrate may be in communication with a controller and an antenna, and the antenna is arranged to receive radio frequency signals. A first side surface of the substrate may include a capacitor. The device may be detachably coupled with the substrate via a conductive member positioned between the structure and the capacitor of the substrate, and the conductive member may be within a desired proximity of the capacitor. The structure may be attached to an attachment surface so that an attachment strength between the structure and the attachment surface may be greater than a force required to decouple the structure from the substrate. When the structure is decoupled from the substrate, the conductive member separates from the capacitor, disabling the transponder.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a reconfigurable antenna are provided. One system includes a device having a plurality of antenna elements configured to read a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag and a switch having an input configured to receive a control signal from an RFID reader via a communication line to select one antenna of the plurality of antenna elements. The device further include a controller configured to control a state of the switch, wherein the switch is configured to be switched between states when the controller receives the RFID control signal comprising an address unique to the switch, thereby allowing the RFID reader to send an interrogation signal to and receive a response from the RFID tag in response to receiving the RFID control signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for authentication are provided. One system includes a device configured to sense electrical characteristics of an item coupled with a person and a memory storing a plurality of electrical signatures corresponding to measured electrical characteristics for a plurality of items. The system also includes a controller operable on a processor to determine if an electrical signature determined from sensed electrical characteristics of the item coupled with the person match one of the plurality of electrical signatures stored in the memory to authenticate the person having the item coupled thereto.

Abstract: A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag with improved sensitivity includes an antenna that receives a radio-frequency (RF) signal and wireless power from an RFID reader. The RFID tag further includes a circuit that varies a reflection coefficient of the antenna to transmit a reflected signal to the reader, the reflected signal having periods of high reflectance when a relatively high amount of the RF signal is reflected, and low reflectance periods when a relatively low amount of the RF signal is reflected. The reflectance of the antenna is sufficiently low during the high reflectance periods to enable wireless power reception during the high reflectance periods.

Abstract: Systems and methods for radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag communication are provided. One radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag includes a communication device configured to communicate with an RFID reader and an impedance element configured to change an variable impedance of the RFID tag. The RFID tag further includes at least one switch connected to the impedance element and a controller connected to the at least one switch and configured to control operation of the switch between open and closed states based on a control signal received from the RFID reader, wherein the variable impedance of the RFID tag is changed between a first modulating impedance value and a second modulating impedance value when the switch is changed between the open and closed states.

Abstract: A passive, self-reconfigurable antenna device, components of a corresponding wireless network, and methods pertaining to operations and controls of the antenna device are provided. The antenna device can include at least one antenna element configured to receive a modulated or unmodulated wireless signal, a power harvester configured to obtain power from the modulated or unmodulated wireless signal, and a first switch coupled to the power harvester and powered by the obtained power from the power harvester. The first switch can be configured to operate automatically when receiving the obtained power without requiring the receipt of control information. Further, the first switch can be configured to automatically operate according to one or more predetermined operating patterns when receiving the obtained power to modulate the corresponding antenna element. This way, antenna operating frequency, or radiation pattern or polarization states can be reconfigured.

Abstract: Systems and methods for radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag communication are provided. One radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag includes a communication device configured to communicate with an RFID reader and an impedance element configured to change an variable impedance of the RFID tag. The RFID tag further includes at least one switch connected to the impedance element and a controller connected to the at least one switch and configured to control operation of the switch between open and closed states based on a control signal received from the RFID reader, wherein the variable impedance of the RFID tag is changed between a first modulating impedance value and a second modulating impedance value when the switch is changed between the open and closed states.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder may include a substrate and a device. The substrate may be in communication with a controller and an antenna, and the antenna is arranged to receive radio frequency signals. A first side surface of the substrate may include a capacitor. The device may be detachably coupled with the substrate via a conductive member positioned between the structure and the capacitor of the substrate, and the conductive member may be within a desired proximity of the capacitor. The structure may be attached to an attachment surface so that an attachment strength between the structure and the attachment surface may be greater than a force required to decouple the structure from the substrate. When the structure is decoupled from the substrate, the conductive member separates from the capacitor, disabling the transponder.

Abstract: Passive wireless transponders can perform transponder-to-transponder communication when illuminated by an interrogation carrier wave. The transponder-to-transponder communication permits each transponder to determine the identity of “other” proximately transponders. The transponder-to-transponder communication optionally permits each transponder to identify a “nearest neighbor” using one or more backscatter signal properties such as received signal strength or time-of-flight. Using this information and one or more externally supplied or internally stored instruction sets transponders can provide neighboring transponder data to an interrogator. Using this “neighbor” data, the interrogator can provide a system user with data indicative of the relative locations of a plurality of tags arranged in a one or two dimensional matrix.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of treating an alloimmune or autoimmune disorder in an individual; the methods involve administering to the individual an effective amount of an antibody specific for complement component C1s. The present disclosure provides a method of monitoring the efficacy of a subject treatment method; the method involves detecting the level of autoantibody or alloantibody in a biological sample obtained from the individual.