Identification device and identification system

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes: an identification device ( 1 ) for receiving a first signal and transmitting a second signal, the device including: a receiving means ( 35 ) for receiving the first signal to generate a voltage; an integrated circuit ( 37 ) having a state selection means ( 41 ) for selecting whether the device ( 1 ) is in a first state or a second state; a connection ( 39 ) between the receiving means ( 35 ) and the integrated circuit ( 37 ); a transmission means ( 45 ) for generating the second signal. The invention also includes a system ( 50 ) that includes an interrogator ( 43 ) for interrogating a plurality of the identification devices ( 1 ).

1 - 60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . An identification device comprising:
 a receiving means for receiving a first signal and employing the first signal to generate a voltage adapted to power the identification device;   the receiving means comprising an inductance and substantially zero-tuning capacitance;   a transmission means for generating a second signal;   a state selection means adapted to select whether the identification device is in a first state or a second state; and   wherein the identification device is a radio frequency identification device (RFID).   
     
     
         62 . The identification device according to  claim 61 , wherein:
 receiving means generates a first current from the voltage;   an integrated circuit;   wherein the integrated circuit includes a state selection means for randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting whether the identification device is in a first state or a second state;   a connection between the receiving means and the integrated circuit;   wherein relative to the second state, a relatively larger amount of a first current flows through the receiving means when the identification device is in the first state;   wherein relative to the first state, a relatively smaller amount of the first current flows through the receiving means when the identification device is in the second state; and   wherein the relatively smaller amount of the first current causes the receiving means to not interfere with operation of a second identification device in close proximity to the identification device.   
     
     
         63 . The identification device according to  claim 62  wherein:
 a first probability is associated with the first state; 
 a second probability is associated with the second state; and 
 the first probability is lower than the second probability. 
 
     
     
         64 . The identification device according to  claim 63  wherein the first probability is at least two times lower than the second probability. 
     
     
         65 . The identification device according to  claim 63  wherein the first probability is at least four times lower than the second probability. 
     
     
         66 . The identification device according to  claim 63  wherein the first probability is at least eight times lower than the second probability. 
     
     
         67 . The identification device according to  claim 63  wherein the first probability is at least sixteen times lower than the second probability. 
     
     
         68 . The identification device according to  claim 63  wherein the relatively smaller amount of current is at least less than approximately 100 μA. 
     
     
         69 . The identification device according to  claim 68  wherein the relatively smaller amount of current is less than approximately 50 μA. 
     
     
         70 . The identification device according to  claim 69  wherein the relatively smaller amount of current is less than approximately 30 μA. 
     
     
         71 . The identification device according to  claim 70  wherein the relatively smaller amount of current is less than approximately 15 μA. 
     
     
         72 . The identification device according to  claim 71  wherein the relatively smaller amount of current is less than approximately 5 μA. 
     
     
         73 . The identification device according to  claim 72  wherein the relatively smaller amount of current is between approximately 0.1 μA and approximately 4.99 μA. 
     
     
         74 . The identification device according to  claim 62  wherein the relatively smaller amount of the first current is less than 50% of the relatively larger amount of the first current. 
     
     
         75 . The identification device according to  claim 74  wherein the relatively smaller amount of the first current is less than 25% of the relatively larger amount of the first current. 
     
     
         76 . The identification device according to  claim 75  wherein the relatively smaller amount of the first current is less than 5% of the relatively larger amount of the first current. 
     
     
         77 . The identification device according to  claim 76  wherein the relatively smaller amount of the first current is less than 1% of the relatively larger amount of the first current. 
     
     
         78 . The identification device according to  claim 63  wherein the first probability and second probability are at least partially random. 
     
     
         79 . The identification device according to  claim 62  wherein:
 the integrated circuit has an operating cycle of a first time; 
 the identification device is in either the first state or the second state and not both states during the first time; and 
 the integrated circuit receives the first signal for a second time. 
 
     
     
         80 . The identification device according to  claim 61  wherein the receiving means is an antenna. 
     
     
         81 . The identification device according to  claim 80  wherein the antenna is a coil. 
     
     
         82 . The identification device according to  claim 80  wherein the receiving means is a dipole antenna. 
     
     
         83 . The identification device according to  claim 80  wherein the receiving means is a capacitive antenna. 
     
     
         84 . The identification device according to  claim 61  wherein the first signal is at least one of: an electric signal, a capacitive signal, an inductive signal, a radio signal, and a magnetic signal. 
     
     
         85 . The identification device according to  claim 62  wherein the connection includes a voltage multiplier. 
     
     
         86 . The identification device according to  claim 62  wherein the connection includes a voltage rectifier. 
     
     
         87 . The identification device according to  claim 61  wherein the transmission means is connected to, and responsive to, a series regulator. 
     
     
         88 . The identification device according to  claim 61  wherein the identification device further includes a first device portion that is comprised of an impedance means in series with the receiving means. 
     
     
         89 . The identification device according to  claim 88  wherein the impedance means is at least one of: an extra resistor, a capacitor, and an inductor. 
     
     
         90 . The identification device according to  claim 88  wherein the impedance means is a switched impedance. 
     
     
         91 . The identification device according to  claim 62  wherein the identification device further includes a second device portion that is comprised of the impedance means in series with the integrated circuit. 
     
     
         92 . The identification device according to  claim 91  wherein the impedance means is a switched impedance. 
     
     
         93 . The identification device according to  claim 62  wherein the state selection means is responsive to the first signal. 
     
     
         94 . The identification device according to  claim 93  wherein the first signal includes at least one or more first signal breaks, and the state selection means is responsive to the first signal breaks. 
     
     
         95 . The identification device according to  claim 61  wherein the identification device further includes a memory. 
     
     
         96 . The identification device according to  claim 95  wherein the memory includes memory space for at least one of the following information units: content information, address information, and name information. 
     
     
         97 . The identification device according to  claim 61  wherein the identification device has a thickness between 0.0 mm and 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         98 . The identification device according to  claim 61  wherein the identification device has a width between 10 mm and 10 cm, and a length between 60 mm and 100 mm. 
     
     
         99 . The identification device according to  claim 62  wherein the integrated circuit includes an onboard power source. 
     
     
         100 . The identification device according to  claim 62  wherein the identification device employs a second antenna means, that is responsive to the integrated circuit, to generate the second signal. 
     
     
         101 . The identification device according to  claim 61  wherein the receiving means is also the transmission means. 
     
     
         102 . The identification device according to  claim 62  wherein the transmission means is responsive to the integrated circuit for generating the second signal. 
     
     
         103 . The identification device according to  claim 62  wherein the state selection means includes a MOSFET transistor. 
     
     
         104 . An RFID system, comprising:
 at least a first transponder and second transponder adapted to operate in relatively close proximity;   the first transponder having a first receiving means for receiving a first signal and employing the first signal to generate a voltage adapted to power a first device, the first receiving means comprising an inductance and substantially zero-tuning capacitance, the first transponder further comprising first transmission means for generating a first reply signal;   the second transponder having a second receiving means for receiving a second signal and employing the second signal to generate a second voltage adapted to power a second device, the second receiving means comprising an inductance and substantially zero-tuning capacitance, the second transponder further comprising second transmission means for generating a second reply signal; and   
       wherein said at least the first transponder and the second transponder is a radio frequency identification device (RFID) as claimed in  claim 61 . 
     
     
         105 . The RFID system according to  claim 104  further comprising:
 an integrated circuit; 
 wherein the integrated circuit includes a state selection means for randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting whether at least one transponder is in a first state or a second state; 
 a connection between the respective receiving means and the respective integrated circuit; 
 wherein relative to the second state, a relatively larger amount of the first current flows through the receiving means when the at least one transponder is in the first state; 
 wherein relative to the first state, a relatively smaller amount of the first current flows through the receiving means when the at least one transponder is in the second state; and 
 wherein the relatively smaller amount of the first current causes the receiving means to not interfere with operation of the second transponder in close proximity to the first transponder. 
 
     
     
         106 . The system according to  claim 105  wherein each transponder further includes a memory. 
     
     
         107 . The system according to claim  45  wherein the memory includes memory space for at least one of the following information units: content information, address information, and name information. 
     
     
         108 . The system according to  claim 105 , wherein each transponder is respectively associated with article(s). 
     
     
         109 . The system according to  claim 108  further including a sorting means that sorts the articles according to at least one of the following information units: content information, address information, and name information. 
     
     
         110 . The system according to  claim 105  wherein the plurality of devices are placed as close as 0 cm of each other without interfering with their respective receiving means' ability to receive the first signal and their respective transmissions means' ability to generate the second signal. 
     
     
         111 . The system according to  claim 108  wherein the articles are documents. 
     
     
         112 . The system according to  claim 108  wherein the articles are parcels. 
     
     
         113 . The system according to  claim 108  wherein the articles are postaged articles including at least: letters, and packages. 
     
     
         114 . The system according to  claim 108  wherein the articles are baggage. 
     
     
         115 . The system according to  claim 108  wherein the articles are inventory-related items. 
     
     
         116 . The system according to  claim 105  wherein:
 a first probability is associated with the first state; 
 a second probability is associated with the second state; and 
 the first probability is lower than the second probability. 
 
     
     
         117 . The system according to  claim 116  wherein the first probability is at least two times lower than the second probability. 
     
     
         118 . The system according to  claim 116  wherein the first probability is at least sixteen times lower than the second probability. 
     
     
         119 . The identification device according to  claim 62  wherein the state selection means is comprised of a plurality of digital circuits. 
     
     
         120 . The identification device according to  claim 119  wherein the digital circuits are comprised of one of the following: a dedicated logic circuit consisting of logic gates, a state engine consisting of logic arrays, a micro controller, and a processor. 
     
     
         121 . The identification device according to  claim 119  wherein the digital circuits are comprised of a plurality of logic arrays. 
     
     
         122 . The identification device according to  claim 121  wherein the logic arrays are controlled by a microcontroller. 
     
     
         123 . A method for interrogating at least one identification device, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first device with a first receiving means for receiving a first signal and employing the first signal to generate a voltage adapted to power the first device, the first receiving means comprising an inductance and substantially zero-tuning capacitance, the first device further comprising first transmission means for generating a first reply signal;   providing a second device with a second receiving means for receiving a second signal and employing the second signal to generate a second voltage adapted to power the second device, the second receiving means comprising an inductance and substantially zero-tuning capacitance, the second device further comprising second transmission means for generating a second reply signal;   randomly or pseudo-randomly selecting a first or second state for the first identification device, wherein a relatively larger amount of the first current flows through the first receiving means when the first device is in the first state and wherein a relatively smaller amount of the first current flows through the first receiving means when the first device is in the second state; and   wherein the relatively smaller amount of the first current causes the first receiving means to not interfere with operation of the first device in close proximity to the second device.   
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein:
 a first probability is associated with the first state;   a second probability is associated with the second state; and   the first probability is lower than the second probability.   
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein:
 the integrated circuit operates in an operating cycle having a first time;   the identification device operates in either the first state or the second state and not both states during the first time; and   the identification device receives the first signal for a second time.   
     
     
         126 . The identification device according to  claim 85 , wherein the voltage multiplier has a selectable voltage multiplication factor. 
     
     
         127 . The identification device according to  claim 126 , wherein the selectable voltage multiplication factor is selectable between two states. 
     
     
         128 . The identification device according to  claim 126 , wherein the selectable voltage multiplication factor enables a first state and a second state of the identification device. 
     
     
         129 . The identification device according to  claim 86 , wherein the voltage rectifier has a selectable voltage multiplication factor. 
     
     
         130 . The identification device according to  claim 129 , wherein the selectable voltage multiplication factor is selectable between two states. 
     
     
         131 . The identification device according to  claim 129 , wherein the selectable voltage multiplication factor enables a first state and a second state of the identification device. 
     
     
         132 . The identification device according to  claim 61 , wherein the identification device solely consists of the receiving means and an integrated circuit. 
     
     
         133 . The identification device according to  claim 61 , wherein the state selection means is adapted to randomly or pseudo randomly select whether the identification device is in the first state or the second state. 
     
     
         134 . A method of enabling at least a first transponder and a second transponder to operate in relatively close proximity, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing the first transponder with a first receiving means for receiving a first signal and employing the first signal to generate a voltage adapted to power a first device, the first receiving means comprising an inductance and substantially zero-tuning capacitance, the first transponder further comprising first transmission means for generating a first reply signal;   providing the second transponder with a second receiving means for receiving a second signal and employing the second signal to generate a second voltage adapted to power a second device, the second receiving means comprising an inductance and substantially zero-tuning capacitance, the second transponder further comprising second transmission means for generating a second reply signal; and   wherein said at least the first transponder and the second transponder is a radio frequency identification device (RFID) as claimed in  claim 61 .   
     
     
         135 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the first and second reply signals are transmitted independent of each other. 
     
     
         136 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein a timing of the first and second reply signals is controlled. 
     
     
         137 . The method of  claim 136 , wherein the timing is randomly or pseudo randomly selected. 
     
     
         138 . The identification device according to  claim 61 , wherein a relatively small amount of current flows through the receiving means when the identification device is in at least one of the first state and the second state. 
     
     
         139 . The identification device according to  claim 61 , wherein a relatively small amount of current flows through the receiving means when the identification device is in the first state. 
     
     
         140 . The identification device according to  claim 61 , wherein a relatively small amount of current flows through the receiving means when the identification device is in the second state.