The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 05, 1996
Dean Alan Paschen, Lafayette, CO (US);
Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp., Broomfield, CO (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a wireless transponder system. The transponder system includes a transponder device which is capable of operating over a relatively long range without the need for frequent battery replacements. The transponder device includes both an antenna means and a signal modification means. The signal modification means is operative for modulating an interrogation signal received from a reader device. The modulation means may utilize low power switching components that allow it to operate continuously while drawing very little current from an internal battery. In this way, the battery within the transponder will not become prematurely drained and can last up to substantially the shelf-life of the battery. In one embodiment, the transponder of the present invention utilizes a retrodirective array antenna for achieving increased antenna gain in the direction of a reader device, and therefore increased range, without an associated reduction in effective antenna coverage.