Patents by Inventor Robert Tiernay

Robert Tiernay has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8810403
    Abstract: When multiple readers for RF transponders have to be placed in close proximity, such as in adjacent lanes of a highway toll barrier, they can be set to operate at different frequencies. When signals from two adjacent ones of the readers interfere, the resulting signal includes interference terms whose frequencies equal the sum of the reader frequencies and the difference between the reader frequencies. To remove such interference terms while passing the desired terms, a tag includes a low-pass or other frequency-selective filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Amtech Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Tiernay
  • Publication number: 20130119132
    Abstract: When multiple readers for RF transponders have to be placed in close proximity, such as in adjacent lanes of a highway toll barrier, they can be set to operate at different frequencies. When signals from two adjacent ones of the readers interfere, the resulting signal includes interference terms whose frequencies equal the sum of the reader frequencies and the difference between the reader frequencies. To remove such interference terms while passing the desired terms, a reader includes a low-pass or other frequency-selective filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventor: Robert TIERNAY
  • Publication number: 20110025470
    Abstract: When multiple readers for RF transponders have to be placed in close proximity, such as in adjacent lanes of a highway toll barrier, they can be set to operate at different frequencies. When signals from two adjacent ones of the readers interfere, the resulting signal includes interference terms whose frequencies equal the sum of the reader frequencies and the difference between the reader frequencies. To remove such interference terms while passing the desired terms, a tag includes a low-pass or other frequency-selective filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Robert TIERNAY
  • Patent number: 7772977
    Abstract: When multiple readers for RF transponders have to be placed in close proximity, such as in adjacent lanes of a highway toll barrier, they can be set to operate at different frequencies. When signals from two adjacent ones of the readers interfere, the resulting signal includes interference terms whose frequencies equal the sum of the reader frequencies and the difference between the reader frequencies. To remove such interference terms while passing the desired terms, a tag includes a low-pass or other frequency-selective filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: TC License Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert Tiernay
  • Publication number: 20090206998
    Abstract: When multiple readers for RF transponders have to be placed in close proximity, such as in adjacent lanes of a highway toll barrier, they can be set to operate at different frequencies. When signals from two adjacent ones of the readers interfere, the resulting signal includes interference terms whose frequencies equal the sum of the reader frequencies and the difference between the reader frequencies. To remove such interference terms while passing the desired terms, a tag includes a low-pass or other frequency-selective filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Robert TIERNAY
  • Patent number: 7518532
    Abstract: When multiple readers for RF transponders have to be placed in close proximity, such as in adjacent lanes of a highway toll barrier, they can be set to operate at different frequencies. When signals from two adjacent ones of the readers interfere, the resulting signal includes interference terms whose frequencies equal the sum of the reader frequencies and the difference between the reader frequencies. To remove such interference terms while passing the desired terms, a tag includes a low-pass or other frequency-selective filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventor: Robert Tiernay
  • Publication number: 20080117052
    Abstract: When multiple readers for RF transponders have to be placed in close proximity, such as in adjacent lanes of a highway toll barrier, they can be set to operate at different frequencies. When signals from two adjacent ones of the readers interfere, the resulting signal includes interference terms whose frequencies equal the sum of the reader frequencies and the difference between the reader frequencies. To remove such interference terms while passing the desired terms, a tag includes a low-pass or other frequency-selective filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: Robert Tiernay
  • Publication number: 20080024279
    Abstract: A multi-protocol RFID interrogating system employs a synchronization technique (step-lock) for a backscatter RFID) system that allows simultaneous operation of closely spaced interrogators. The multi-protocol RFID interrogating system can communicate with backscatter transponders having different output protocols and with active transponders including: Title 21 compliant RFID backscatter transponders; IT2000 RFID backscatter transponders that provide an extended mode capability beyond Title 21; EGO™ RFID backscatter transponders, SEGO™ RFID backscatter transponders; ATA, ISO, ANSI AAR compliant RFID backscatter transponders; and IAG compliant active technology transponders. The system implements a step-lock operation, whereby adjacent interrogators arc synchronized to ensure that all downlinks operate within the same time frame and all uplinks operate within the same time frame, to eliminate downlink on uplink interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Kelly GRAVELLE, Steven Catanach, Robert Tiernay, Joseph Kao, Michael Melville
  • Publication number: 20060267736
    Abstract: A multi-mode, preferably dual mode, radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is adapted for automatic detection of whether a RFID reader located within communication range of the RFID tag is transmitting a continuous wave (CW) or modulated wave types of RF signal, and accordingly, mandating a response from the tag in read-only (RO) mode or read/write (R/W) mode, respectively. The tag includes means for designating one of the RO and R/W operating modes as a default mode of the tag, and for switching the tag from its default mode to its other operating mode, and vice versa, according to a rule for determining the frequency of occurrence of a selected event related to signal type of the reader. A device-implemented method of this automatic detection, and a method of fabricating the tag, are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Tiernay, Dale Scott, Charles Johnson, Filip Weytjens, Matthew Burnett, Kelly Gravelle
  • Publication number: 20060109085
    Abstract: A multi protocol transponder for a communications network having a antenna for receiving a first RF signal transmitted according to a communications protocol and a detector for identifying the communications protocol from the first RF signal. A protocol controller is provided for executing the identified communications protocol to generate a second RF signal. Thereafter an antenna transmits the second RF signal according to the communications protocol either by active transmission or modulated backscatter. The transponder may implement a variety of wide area and localized lane based protocols for Automatic Vehicle Identification systems such as CVO and Toll systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Applicant: Mark IV Industries Limited
    Inventors: Robert Tiernay, Weimin He
  • Publication number: 20060006986
    Abstract: A multi-protocol RFID interrogating system employs a synchronization technique (step-lock) for a backscatter RFID system that allows simultaneous operation of closely spaced interrogators. The multi-protocol RFID interrogating system can communicate with backscatter transponders having different output protocols and with active transponders including: Title 21 compliant RFID backscatter transponders; IT2000 RFID backscatter transponders that provide an extended mode capability beyond Title 21; EGO™ RFID backscatter transponders, SEGO™ RFID backscatter transponders; ATA, ISO, ANSI AAR compliant RFID backscatter transponders; and IAG compliant active technology transponders. The system implements a step-lock operation, whereby adjacent interrogators are synchronized to ensure that all downlinks operate within the same time frame and all uplinks operate within the same time frame, to eliminate downlink on uplink interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Kelly Gravelle, Steven Catanach, Robert Tiernay, Joseph Kao, Michael Melville