University of Pittsburgh

James T Cain

Marlin H Mickle

Alex K Jones

Raymond R Hoare

Peter J Hawrylak

Swapna Dontharaju

Frank Marx

Chuba Oyolu

Shenchih Tung

Minhong Mi

Michael Rhodes Lovell

David Wayne Sammel, Jr

Jungfeng Mei

A method of communicating information from a wireless autonomous device (WAD) to a base station. The WAD has a data element having a predetermined profile having a total number of sequenced possible data element combinations. The method includes receiving at the WAD an RF profile transmitted by the base station that includes a triggering portion having a number of pulses, wherein the number is at least equal to the total number of possible data element combinations. The method further includes keeping a count of received pulses and wirelessly transmitting a piece of data, preferably one bit, to the base station when the count reaches a value equal to the stored data element's particular number in the sequence. Finally, the method includes receiving the piece of data at the base station and using the receipt thereof to determine which of the possible data element combinations the stored data element is.

Wireless autonomous device data transmission

A transponder that may be used as an RFID tag includes a passive circuit to eliminate the need for an 'always on' active RF receiving element to anticipate a wake-up signal for the balance of the transponder electronics. This solution allows the entire active transponder to have all circuit elements in a sleep (standby) state, thus drastically extending battery life or other charge storage device life. Also, a wake-up solution that reduces total energy consumption of an active transponder system by allowing all non-addressed transponders to remain in a sleep (standby) state, thereby reducing total system or collection energy. Also, the transponder and wake-up solution are employed in an asset tracking system.

Methods and apparatus for switching a transponder to an active state, and asset management systems employing same

A method of designing an integrated circuit for use in an application having standards having a plurality of primitives, wherein each of the primitives has a corresponding response. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, generating a template relating to the response corresponding to each of the primitives, receiving information specifying a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives based on the template, and generating a hardware description language representation for the integrated circuit based on the macros description and the information.

Method and software tool for designing an integrated circuit

Described are methods of making an electronic device, such as an RFID tag, including fabricating an antenna by depositing an electrically conductive polymer onto a substrate. The electrically conductive polymer is electrically connected to an electronic component, such as an IC chip or a diode. The electronic component may be placed on the substrate before or after the electrically conductive polymer is deposited. Once deposited, the electrically conductive polymer is cured. The electrically conductive polymer may be deposited in a number of ways, such using a mask having a desired pattern and applying the electrically conductive polymer to the mask, by screen printing the electrically conductive polymer or by printing the electrically conductive polymer using ink jet printing techniques.

Method of making an electronic device using an electrically conductive polymer, and associated products

A power management method for a transponder having a plurality of circuits including at least a first circuit having a first active state requiring at least a first power level, and a second circuit having a second active state requiring at least a second power level greater than the first power level includes receiving a reader device signal in the first circuit, determining in the first circuit, based on information included in the reader signal, whether the reader signal requires a circuit other than the first circuit to operate, and causing the first circuit to provide a wake-up signal and the reader signal to the second circuit if it is determined that the reader signal requires a circuit other than the first circuit to operate. The wake-up signal causes the second circuit to move from an inactive state to the second active state.

Methods and apparatus for reducing power consumption of an active transponder

A method of designing an integrated circuit for an application having standards having a plurality of primitives, each of the primitives having a corresponding response. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, wherein the macros description includes information relating to a number of first fields for each of the primitives and a number of second fields for the response corresponding to each of the primitives. The method further includes receiving a specification of the behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives that has one or more values specified for each of the second fields, and generating a hardware description language representation for the integrated circuit based on the macros description and the specification. Also, a software tool which implements the method.

A method of generating software code for a processor of an IC based on a simple input description of the IC's standards. The method includes generating a macros description of each of the primitives from the standards and the response corresponding to each of the primitives, wherein the macros description includes information relating to a number of first fields for each of the primitives and a number of second fields for each response. The method further includes generating a blank version of a template that includes each of the second fields and receiving a completed version of the template, wherein the completed template specifies a behavior of the integrated circuit in response to the primitives. Finally, the method includes compiling the software code based on the macros description and the completed version of the template. Also, a software tool implementing the method is provided.

Method and software tool for automatic generation of software for integrated circuit processors

A transponder apparatus having an identifier associated therewith includes a receiver for receiving an RF signal transmitted by an interrogator, a power source and a processing unit that is operatively coupled to the power source and is capable of being in an inactive, sleep state (low current draw) and an active state. The transponder apparatus also includes a buffer device that is structured to: (i) receive an information signal based on the RF signal from the receiver, (ii) determine whether the information signal includes the identifier, and (iii) cause the processing unit to move from the inactive state to the active state and transmit at least a portion of the information signal to the processing unit only if it is determined that the information signal includes the identifier. An associated method is also provided.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

James T Cain