Impinj, Inc.

Omar Khwaja

Ali Aiouaz

Christopher J Diorio

Paul F Dietrich

David Ord

Casey M Hagen

RFID reader systems, readers, components, software and methods for causing a custom RFID tag to change how many remaining commands they will comply with. In a number of embodiments, this is achieved by causing a custom limiting command to be transmitted to the tag.

Causing RFID tag to change how many remaining commands it will comply with

RFID reader systems, software and methods precompute one or more reader commands, before a tag actually responds to an earlier transmitted command. This way a system can result at a high data rate, while meeting specification requirements of responding within a preset time.

Ahead-of-time scheduling of commands in RFID reader systems

RFID tags and chips for RFID tags are capable of complying with only a limited number of remaining commands, and methods. In a number of embodiments, a counter is adjusted in association with receiving a command and complying with it. The tag complies until the counter reaches a limit, and then it can stop complying. Non-compliance can be by the tag becoming quiet, or performing other activities, or performing nothing at all, or performing only selected activities, and so on. In some embodiments non-compliance is permanent, while in others it is temporary and/or restorable.

RFID tag chips and tags complying with only a limited number of remaining commands and methods

RFID readers, reader systems, and methods are provided that utilize smart antenna switching. A first signal is transmitted from a first antenna estimating presence of tags within the antennas field of view. If fewer than a predefined number of tags are estimated, the system switches to a second antenna. Otherwise, the tags found in the field of view of the first antenna are inventoried before switching to the second antenna.

RFID readers and systems with antenna switching upon detecting too few tags and methods

RFID readers, reader systems, and methods are provided for processing RFID tags through interruptions for antenna change or other reasons. If the reason for the interruption is an antenna change, the reader restarts processing the tags initializing any operational parameters. If the reason is other than an antenna change, the reader determines whether the operation is to be continued or to be restarted upon power up and proceeds accordingly.

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Irvine, CA, United States of America

Omar Khwaja