Texas Instruments Corporation

Oscar Barraza

Claude Andrew Sharpe

Disclosed is a system and method which protects a transponder or tag (14) from being enabled or awakened by spurious RF energy. A modulation detector (64) is provided which detects a modulation signal that is superimposed upon an RF modulation from an interrogator (12). Preferably this superimposed modulation is of a low frequency, below those typically existing as Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI), such that the transponder (14) is less likely to be erroneously activated by an unintended RF signal. Upon reception of an RF interrogation having the proper modulation superimposed thereupon, the modulation detector (64) is operable to awaken other circuitry within the transponder (14) such that the transponder (14) is then operable to communicate with the interrogator (12).

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Coppell, TX, United States of America

Oscar Barraza