Systems, methods, and apparatus for antenna switching

Abstract

A system and method for power control based antenna switching control mechanism is provided. The system includes a plurality of antenna modules arranged in a daisy chain configuration. The plurality of antenna modules is configured to receive a control signal having an input voltage (V in ) and a radio frequency (RF) signal from a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader via a communication line. Each antenna module includes an antenna element and at least one radio frequency (RF) switch configured to couple the antenna element with the RFID reader based at least on a comparison of the input voltage (V in ) to a threshold voltage (V th1 ) and a threshold voltage (V th2 ), wherein the at least one RF switch is configured to either (1) allow communication with the antenna module in a connected state or (2) pass the control signal to a next antenna module in a pass-through state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The example implementation scheme relates generally to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems, and more specifically to systems, methods and apparatus for antenna switching in RFID systems. Background Technology

[0002] Antenna switching within a daisy-chain antenna configuration is typically a time-consuming task that directly impacts productivity. In a daisy-chain antenna configuration, each antenna switch requires transmitting control commands to the radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with the antenna. These control commands necessitate several operations on the RFID tag, including detach and write operations. A successful antenna switch is only expected to occur if these operations are successfully completed. However, antenna switching in a daisy-chain architecture introduces signal degradation and switching delays, leading to data loss or corruption. Additionally, allocating power to antennas in a daisy-chain architecture often results in power loss and failures.

[0003] The applicant has identified various problems and challenges associated with current RFID systems. However, through creativity, hard work, and innovation, this disclosure has addressed many of these problems with its systems and methods. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The following is a simplified overview to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of this disclosure. This invention is not an exhaustive summary and is neither intended to identify key or essential elements nor to describe a range of such elements. Its purpose is to provide, in a simplified form, some concepts of the described features as a prelude to the more detailed description provided later.

[0005] In one example implementation, a system for a power-controlled antenna switching mechanism is disclosed. The system includes multiple antenna modules arranged in a daisy-chain configuration. These antenna modules are configured to receive control signals from a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader via a communication line, the control signals having an input voltage (V). in The antenna modules include both RF (radio frequency) and AC (electrical frequency) signals. Each of the plurality of antenna modules also includes an antenna element. Additionally, at least one RF switch is configured to operate based on at least the input voltage (V). in ) and threshold voltage (V th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 The antenna element is coupled to the RFID reader by comparing the two signals. In addition, the at least RF switch (1) is configured to allow communication with the antenna module in the connected state, or (2) to transmit the control signal to the next antenna module in the pass-through state.

[0006] In some implementations, when V in=V th1 When, the at least one RF switch allows communication with the antenna module, or when V in >V th1 or V in =V th2 At that time, the at least one RF switch transmits the control signal to the next antenna module.

[0007] In some implementations, the V th1 The threshold voltage corresponding to this connection state, and the V th2 The threshold voltage corresponding to this pass-through state. In some implementations, multiple pre-configured power detector circuits are configured to detect this input voltage (V). in In some implementations, multiple comparators are configured to input the voltage (V). in ) respectively with the threshold voltage (V th1 ) and the threshold voltage (V th2 (Compare)

[0008] Additionally, multiple rotary switches are connected to the multiple pre-configured power detector circuits and are configured to set the threshold voltage (V) for each antenna module. th1 ) and the threshold voltage (V th2 ).

[0009] In some implementations, each antenna module also includes a direct-coupled (DC) coupler configured to receive the input voltage (V) of the control signal from the RFID reader. in Each antenna module also includes an RF coupler configured to receive the RF signal of the control signal from the RFID reader. In some embodiments, the RFID reader also includes at least a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) configured to provide a DAC output voltage (V). out ), where the DAC output voltage (V out The input voltage (V) of the antenna module serves as the input voltage for this antenna module. in Additionally, the RFID reader includes a coupler configured to transmit the DAC output voltage (V) out The control signal is superimposed on the RF signal to form the control signal for transmission. Additionally, the RFID reader includes an antenna port configured to transmit the control signal to the DC coupler and the RF coupler of the antenna module.

[0010] In some embodiments, the RFID reader is configured to read one or more RFID tags associated with each of the plurality of antenna modules. In some embodiments, each antenna module also includes an RFID integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits and the plurality of comparators, and is configured to switch each antenna module between a connected state and a pass-through state.

[0011] In some implementations, the DC coupler and the RF coupler of each antenna module are connected to the at least one RF switch. Additionally, the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits, the plurality of comparators, and the RFID IC are connected in parallel between the DC coupler, the RF coupler, and the at least one RF switch.

[0012] In another example implementation, a method for a power-controlled antenna switching control mechanism is provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving a control signal via a plurality of antenna modules, the control signal having an input voltage (V... in The method includes the steps of switching an antenna module in a connected state to allow communication with the antenna module via at least one radio frequency (RF) switch of each of the plurality of antenna modules, or switching the antenna module in a pass-through state to transmit the control signal to the next antenna module at least based on a comparison.

[0013] In some implementations, the method further includes: when V in =threshold voltage (V) th1 When, via the at least one RF switch, communication with the antenna module is permitted, or when V in >V th1 or V in =threshold voltage (V) th2 When the input voltage (V) is received, the control signal is transmitted to the next antenna module via the at least one RF switch. In some embodiments, the method further includes: transmitting the input voltage (V) via an RFID reader. in Configured as an incremental input voltage to bypass this antenna module to the next antenna module.

[0014] In some implementations, the RFID reader is configured to transmit the control signal to the plurality of antenna modules arranged in a daisy chain via a communication line.

[0015] The above description of the invention is provided merely to outline some exemplary embodiments and to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the above embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the scope or nature of the invention in any way. It should be understood that, in addition to those described herein, the scope of the invention covers many possible embodiments, some of which will be further described below. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Therefore, some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure have been described in general terms, and reference will be made below to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which:

[0017] Figure 1A A block diagram of a system for a power-controlled antenna switching control mechanism according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0018] Figure 1B A block diagram of an antenna module according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0019] Figure 1C A block diagram of a system for a power-controlled antenna switching control mechanism according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0020] Figure 2 A table illustrating different threshold voltages for different antenna modules is provided according to an example embodiment of this disclosure;

[0021] Figure 3 A distributed antenna network is illustrated in an example embodiment of the present disclosure for a power-controlled antenna switching control mechanism.

[0022] Figure 4 A linear distributed antenna network configuration according to an example embodiment of this disclosure is illustrated;

[0023] Figure 5 A tree-structured distributed antenna network configuration according to an example embodiment of this disclosure is illustrated;

[0024] Figure 6 A grid-distributed antenna network configuration according to an example embodiment of this disclosure is illustrated; and

[0025] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating a method for a power-controlled antenna switching control mechanism according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is provided. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Some embodiments will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some embodiments, but not all embodiments. In fact, various embodiments can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will meet applicable legal requirements. As discussed herein, unless otherwise indicated, protective devices may be referred to as being for human use, but may also be used to raise and lower objects.

[0027] The components illustrated in the accompanying drawings represent components that may or may not be present in the various embodiments of the invention described herein, such that embodiments may include fewer or more components than those shown in the figures without departing from the scope of the invention. Some components may be omitted from one or more figures, or shown in dashed lines to make the components below visible.

[0028] Various implementations include systems and methods for antenna switching control mechanisms based on power control. In some implementations, systems and methods for distributed antenna systems are disclosed. In some implementations, an antenna module is provided that uses radio frequency (RF) cables to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals or control signals. Utilizing this antenna module, an intelligent, reconfigurable distributed antenna system that can be driven by only one radio frequency identification (RFID) reader is provided. Such systems use a reduced or minimal amount of RF cable to connect the antenna module (e.g., daisy-chained antenna modules).

[0029] For example, each of multiple antenna modules has a unique addressable ID and can be controlled via a single RF cable using either RFID signals or control signals. The antenna module is configured to receive power via the RF cable and has several ports. The antenna module has multiple pre-configured power detector circuits and multiple comparators, and uses these pre-configured power detector circuits to detect the input voltage from the control signal. This input voltage is then compared using the multiple comparators to two threshold voltages set by multiple rotary switches on the antenna module. Additionally, a connected or pass-through state is activated for the antenna module to establish communication with the RFID reader. The RFID reader then successfully scans the RFID tag associated with the antenna module with minimal delay when scanning and reading it. Therefore, a low-cost switching device can be used with one RFID reader and a communication line, such as a section of RF cable (with inserted antenna modules), and multiple antenna modules to cover areas requiring multiple antennas (e.g., packaging or product inventory).

[0030] Figure 1AA block diagram of a system 100 for a power-controlled antenna switching control mechanism according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0031] System 100 may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader 102 and a plurality of antenna modules 104 connected to each other via a communication line 106. In some embodiments, the communication line 106 may be an RF cable. Additionally, each antenna module from the plurality of antenna modules 104 may include a power-sensing switching circuit 108 and an antenna element 110. The power-sensing switching circuit 108 may be configured to switch the plurality of antenna modules 104 between two switching states: a pass-through state and a connected state. In the connected state, an antenna module from the plurality of antenna modules 104 (e.g., a first antenna module) may communicate with the RFID reader 102. Furthermore, the antenna module from the plurality of antenna modules 104 may include an antenna element 110 that facilitates communication between the antenna module and the RFID reader 102 via the antenna module or at least one rotary switch. In the pass-through state, the RFID reader 102 may communicate with the next antenna module (e.g., a second antenna module) in the plurality of antenna modules 104 via the first antenna module in the plurality of antenna modules 104. In the following text, antenna element 110 may be referred to as local antenna 110. Each antenna module from the plurality of antenna modules 104 having an antenna arrangement or configuration can be designed or reconfigured for different applications without the need for additional external controllers and wiring.

[0032] In some implementations, each of the plurality of antenna modules 104 may be configured to operate or behave as an RFID tag, similar to or as an RFID tag. Each antenna module operating as an RFID tag may mean that each antenna module can perform various operations, including but not limited to the ability to transmit data, identify, track, or mirror associated with an RFID tag. Additionally, an RFID reader 102 or an RFID-type transmitter / receiver may be used to selectively activate each of the plurality of antenna modules 104.

[0033] As mentioned above Figure 1A As discussed, the RFID reader 102 can be connected to the plurality of antenna modules 104. Furthermore, the plurality of antenna modules 104 may include antenna modules 104A, 104B, 104C, etc., in a daisy-chain configuration, such as... Figures 1B to 1C As shown. Reference Figure 1BAntenna module 104A can be a three-port device having a radio frequency (RF) input (IN) port 112, an RF output (OUT) port 114 (also referred to as the first output port), and a second output port (not shown). Antenna module 104A can be configured to switch between two states: a connected state and a pass-through state. In some embodiments, antenna module 104A in the connected state can connect RF IN port 112 to the second output port, which can further connect to a local antenna 110 of antenna module 104A, wherein the local antenna 110 can be activated to allow communication with RFID reader 102. In some embodiments, in the pass-through state, RF IN port 112 can be connected via RF OUT port 114 to a next antenna module 104B adjacent to antenna module 104A, such as... Figure 1C As illustrated, the local antenna 110, which is connected to the antenna module 104 via the second output port, is in a deactivated state.

[0034] In some embodiments, antenna module 104A may include an RFID integrated circuit (IC) 116. RFID IC 116 may have a unique addressable ID, such as a Gen2 EPC ID. Antenna module 104A may also include at least one RF switch 118. Additionally, RFID IC 116 may be coupled to the at least one RF switch 118. In some embodiments, the at least one RF switch 118 may be referred to as a switching element. The at least one RF switch 118 may be controllable to switch between an RF OUT port 114 and a second output port. The at least one RF switch 118 may have two outputs, wherein a first output (not shown) may be connected to the RF OUT port 114, and a second output (not shown) may be connected to a second output port connected to the local antenna 110. In some embodiments, RFID IC 116 may be configured to maintain instructions to set antenna module 104A to two switching states.

[0035] In one example embodiment, the RFID IC 116 may include, but is not limited to, an EM4325 Gen 2 IC with a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) that outputs signals to switch the at least one RF switch 118. In another example embodiment, without departing from the scope of this disclosure, the RFID IC 116 may be a MIFARE DESFire, Monza R6, Higgs-3, or any other RFID IC known in the art. In some embodiments, the at least one RF switch 118 may be controlled by signals from RFID IC general purpose input / output (GPIO) pins of the RFID IC 116. In some example embodiments, the at least one RF switch 118 may be a pseudocrystalline high electron mobility transistor (pHEMT) gallium arsenide (GaAs) switch, such as the AS193-73LF RF switch. In other example embodiments, the at least one RF switch 118 may be a PIN diode-based RF switch (such as the MASW-011098 RF switch), a single-pole four-throw (SP4T) switch (such as the ADGM1304 switch), or any other RF switch known in the art. Additionally, the at least one RF switch 118 may be switched electrically.

[0036] In some implementations, during the connected state of the at least one RF switch 118, a control signal may be received by the RFID IC 116 and then sent to the at least one RF switch 118. It can be noted that the RFID IC 116 can operate as an RF front-end and protocol processor for communicating with RFID tags based on the two switching states. Additionally, the RFID IC 116 can allow the antenna module 104A to switch between a pass-through state and a connected state to activate the local antenna 110. Therefore, communication, such as using the RFID IC 116 to communicate with one or more RFID tags between the antenna module 104A and the RFID reader 102 using RFID communication protocols, is permitted.

[0037] In some implementations (including the configuration discussed above), the plurality of antenna modules 104 may correspond as one or more RFID tags to the RFID reader 102. The one or more RFID tags may be controlled using RFID signal protocols or control signals. For example, each of the plurality of antenna modules 104 may have a unique ID corresponding to the RFID IC 116, which may be conveyed in the header portion of the transmitted signal. Therefore, in operation, communication with the antenna modules 104 can be performed by communicating with the one or more RFID tags.

[0038] In one example implementation, the Gen2 RFID communication protocol can be used to communicate with the RFID IC 116 to control the switching of the at least one RF switch 118 between a pass-through state and a connected state. Communication in various implementations includes, for example, an RFID communication establishment sequence (including a handshake) to communicate with the antenna module 104. The antenna module 104 associated with the RFID IC 116 can be controlled by transmitting control signals addressed to that specific RFID IC 116. In some implementations, the determination of the ID associated with the RFID IC 116 and the antenna module 104 can be stored in a lookup table (not shown) or other memory to allow for the lookup of the ID of the RFID IC 116.

[0039] In some embodiments, the antenna module 104A may further include a plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits and a plurality of comparators. The plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits and the plurality of comparators may be connected to the RFID IC 116 of the antenna module 104A. The plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits and the plurality of comparators may consist of various circuit components, such as pre-configured resistors, general-purpose diodes and step recovery diodes, and MOSFETs arranged in the circuit to regulate the current in the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits and the plurality of comparators. The various circuit components arranged in the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits and the plurality of comparators may be based on the input voltage (V) received from the control signal. in ( ) to control and maintain conductivity.

[0040] In some embodiments, the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits and the plurality of comparators may further include a first pre-configured power detector circuit 120, a second pre-configured power detector circuit 122, a first comparator 124, and a second comparator 126. The plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits and the plurality of comparators may be configured to detect an input voltage (V). in ) and compare it with the threshold voltage (V th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 The first comparator 124 can be configured to compare the input voltage (V) with the input voltage (V). in ) and threshold voltage (V th1 The second comparator 126 can compare the input voltage (V) with the input voltage (V). in ) and threshold voltage (V th2 The comparison is as follows. In this document, the RFID IC 116 can be configured to hold commands based on the input voltage (V) received from the RFID reader 102. in The detection of the input voltage and the threshold voltage (V) th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2The antenna module 104 is set to either a through state or a connected state by comparing the parameters.

[0041] Additionally, antenna module 104A may include multiple rotary switches, namely a first rotary switch 128 and a second rotary switch 130. The first rotary switch 128 may be connected to a first pre-configured power detector circuit 120. The first rotary switch 128 may also be adjusted and configured to set a threshold voltage (V) for antenna module 104A. th1 This allows the antenna module 104A to be set to a connected state. In the connected state, the antenna module 104A can set the positioning of the local antenna 110. Additionally, the second rotary switch 130 can be connected to a second pre-configured power detector circuit 122. The second rotary switch 130 can also be adjusted and configured to set the threshold voltage (V) of the antenna module 104A. th2 This allows the antenna module 104A to be set to a through state. In the through state, a control signal can be sent to... Figure 1C The next antenna module 104B is illustrated.

[0042] In some implementations, the plurality of rotary switches may be multi-pole rotary switches. In one example implementation, the plurality of rotary switches may be five-pole rotary switches. It can be noted that the number of poles of the plurality of rotary switches may vary depending on the number of individual circuits that can be controlled by the plurality of rotary switches. The plurality of rotary switches may be based on a threshold voltage (V) set via the first rotary pin 132 of the first rotary switch 128. th1 ) and the threshold voltage (V) set via the second rotary pin 134 of the second rotary switch 130. th2 The multiple rotary switches are used to close or open the circuit. These rotary switches can activate or deactivate current flow to position the antenna module 104A between a connected state and a through state. In some embodiments, the multiple rotary switches may correspond to potentiometers or variable resistors, which can be adjusted by the installer (user) to control the required current flow from the input pins / ports of the multiple rotary switches to the output pins / ports of the multiple rotary switches.

[0043] In some example implementations, the plurality of rotary switches may be digital potentiometers, plurality of dual in-line package (DIP) switches, plurality of digital rotary encoders, or other methods known in the art for setting threshold voltages (V). th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 (Instead of any other switch.)

[0044] In some embodiments, the plurality of rotary switches can be electronic switches or mechanical switches. For example, the installer (user) can configure the plurality of rotary switches for the positioning of each local antenna 110. Additionally, the positioning of the local antenna 110 can configure a pre-configured resistor for each of the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits in the antenna module 104A. In some embodiments, a pre-configured resistor for the first pre-configured power detector circuit 120 can be used to set a threshold voltage (V). th1 The second pre-configured power detector circuit 122 has another pre-configured resistor that can be used to set the threshold voltage (V). th2 The value is also considered. Additionally, the input voltage (V) of the control signal... in The input voltage (V) can be provided from the RFID reader 102. Afterwards, the input voltage (V) can be... in ) and threshold voltage (V th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 The comparison is made to determine whether to switch between two states (i.e., the connected state or the through state of the antenna module 104A).

[0045] In one example implementation, the installer can adjust the threshold voltage (V) for the connection state of the antenna module 104A. th1 Set to 2V, such as Figure 2 As shown in Table 200. Additionally, the installer can adjust the threshold voltage (V) for the through state of antenna module 104A. th2 The voltage is set to 2.5V. In some implementations, the installer can be a user or anyone authorized to access system 100. A threshold voltage of 2V (V) can be used. th1 ) and a threshold voltage of 2.5V (V th2 The input voltage (V) of the control signal transmitted from the RFID reader 102. in ) for comparison. In one case, if the input voltage (V in ) and threshold voltage (V th1 The same, i.e., V in =V th1 Then, antenna module 104A can be set to connected state. In this case, RFID reader 102 can read RFID tags associated with the local antenna 110 of antenna module 104A.

[0046] In another case, if the input voltage (V) in ) greater than the threshold voltage (V th1 ) or input voltage (V in ) equals threshold voltage (V th2 ), that is, V in >V th1 or V in=V th2 Then, antenna module 104A can be set to a through state. In this case, the control signal can be transmitted to the next antenna module 104B to again transmit the input voltage (V). in ) and the threshold voltage (V) of the next antenna module 104B th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 Compare to determine Figure 1C The switching state of the next antenna module 104B is illustrated.

[0047] Therefore, in V in =V th In this case, the at least one RF switch 118, the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits, and the plurality of comparators can set the antenna module 104A to a connected state via the RFID IC 116, and allow communication with the antenna module 104A in response to receiving a control signal from the RFID reader 102. In some embodiments, the at least one RF switch 118 can be configured to... in >V th1 or V in =V th2 In this case, the antenna module 104A is set to a through state via the RFID IC 116, and a control signal is transmitted to the next antenna module 104B. It can be noted that after reading the RFID tag, the input voltage (V) from the control signal... in It can be configured to increment the input voltage (V). in ( ), so as to bypass antenna module 104A to the next antenna module 104B via the at least one RF switch 118.

[0048] In some embodiments, antenna module 104A may further include a direct-coupled (DC) coupler 136 and an RF coupler 138. In some embodiments, DC coupler 136 may be a resistor ladder or resistor divider with impedance matching. In some embodiments, RF coupler 138 may be a microwave coupler. Additionally, DC coupler 136 and RF coupler 138 can separate incoming control signals. DC coupler 136 may be configured to receive the input voltage (V) of the control signal from RFID reader 102 via RF IN port 112. in The received input voltage (Vin) can then be communicated to the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits and the plurality of comparators. Additionally, the RF coupler 104 can be configured to receive an RF signal from the RFID reader 102 that presents a control signal. The RF signal may include power to ensure that the required power input to the RFID IC 116 is within the specifications of the RFID IC 116. These specifications may include the maximum power at which the RFID IC 116 can operate.

[0049] In some embodiments, RF coupler 138 may acquire a small portion of the control signal (e.g., 15 dB low power) and transmit this small portion to RFID IC 116 to allow switching of antenna module 104 between a connected state and a pass-through state via the at least one RF switch 118. Thus, multiple antenna modules can be coupled to the same communication line 106 without signal loss. In some embodiments, the control signal received by antenna module 104A may flow through DC coupler 136 and RF coupler 138 to the at least one RF switch 118. In some embodiments, the main portion of the control signal that passes through DC coupler 136, RF coupler 138, and reaches the at least one RF switch 118 may then be transmitted to the next antenna module 104B in the pass-through state, or to the local antenna 110 of antenna module 104A in the connected state.

[0050] In some implementations, the RF IN port 112, the RF OUT port 114, the second output port, the RFID IC 116, the at least one RF switch 118, the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits, the plurality of comparator circuits, the plurality of rotary switches, the DC coupler 136, and the RF coupler 138 may be part of a power sensing-based switching circuit 108.

[0051] In various embodiments, a DC coupler 136 and an RF coupler 138 from each of the plurality of antenna modules 104 may be connected to the at least one RF switch 118. The plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits and the plurality of comparators and RFID ICs 116 may be connected in parallel between the DC coupler 136, the RF coupler 138 and the at least one RF switch 118.

[0052] As discussed above, RFID reader 102 can be configured to read the plurality of antenna modules 104 arranged in a daisy-chain configuration. (See reference...) Figure 1C The RFID reader 102 may include a microcontroller 140. The microcontroller 140 may be configured to hold commands to issue one or more commands to the RFID reader 102. Additionally, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 142 may be connected to the microcontroller 140 and configured to provide a DAC output voltage (V). out ).

[0053] In one example implementation, DAC 142 may have a specific voltage (V), for example, DAC 142 may have 5V. Additionally, RFID reader 102 may include a coupler 144 connected to DAC 142. Coupler 144 may be configured to convert the DAC output voltage (V) outThe DAC output voltage (V) is superimposed on the RF signal to form a control signal for further transmission. It can be noted that coupler 144 can use one or more signal processing techniques known in the art to superimpose the DAC output voltage (V) onto the RF signal. out The voltage (V) is superimposed on the RF signal. Additionally, the DAC output voltage (V) out The DAC output voltage (V) can be easily separated later. out It is superimposed on the RF signal in the way of RF signal and RF signal.

[0054] Additionally, the RFID reader 102 may include an antenna port 146 coupled between the coupler 144 and the radio frequency identification asynchronous integrated circuit (RFID ASIC) 148. The antenna port 146 may be configured to transmit control signals to the DC coupler 136 and RF coupler 138 of the plurality of antenna modules 104, wherein the DAC output voltage (V... out ) can serve as the input voltage (V) in each of the plurality of antenna modules 104. in ), for further switching of the plurality of antenna modules 104.

[0055] In some implementations, the RFID ASIC 148 may be configured to receive and store information about each of the plurality of antenna modules 104 from control signals. The RFID reader 102 may be further configured to provide input / output voltages and issue inventory read commands to read the plurality of antenna modules 104. Additionally, the RFID reader 102 may include a filter 150. The filter 150 may be configured to filter and match the control signals in the RFID reader 102 to suppress unwanted components or noise from the control signals and to maximize power transfer from the control signals to the plurality of antenna modules 104.

[0056] It should be understood that Figure 1B and Figure 1C The illustrated antenna module 104A configuration allows for bidirectional communication via the antenna module 104A, for example, bidirectional communication to and from RFID tags by selectively activating the local antenna 110 coupled to the antenna module 104A. It can be noted that in various embodiments, the RFID IC 116, the at least one RF switch 118, the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits, and the plurality of comparators can be powered by a DC voltage, which is the input voltage (V) coupled to the RF signal. in The RF signal is transmitted by the RFID reader 102 in the form of a control signal.

[0057] Figure 3 A distributed antenna network 300 for a system of power-controlled antenna switching control mechanism according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. Figure 3 Combination Figures 1A to 2 Describe it.

[0058] The distributed antenna network 300 allows the RFID reader 102 to selectively switch multiple antenna modules 104 to connect the RFID reader 102 to the local antenna 110 of the selected antenna module. Subsequently, the RFID reader 102 can communicate with the RFID tag 302 using control signals and obtain RFID data from the RFID tag 302. Additionally, the distributed antenna network 300 may include N local antennas. In some embodiments, the N local antennas may be implemented using the multiple antenna modules 104 to selectively couple with each local antenna 110, thereby communicating with the RFID tag 302 associated with each of the multiple antenna modules 104.

[0059] In some implementations, each antenna module may appear to the system as an RFID tag 302 with a memory field. Each antenna module can be controlled using control signals transmitted by the RFID reader 102. For example, a unique bit value (transmitted via an RFID transmission protocol to uniquely address the control signal to the RFID IC 116) may be written into the memory field of the RFID IC 116 to select one antenna module from the plurality of antenna modules 104, which then transmits the control signal to the RFID IC 116.

[0060] For example, the first group of antenna modules (1, 2, 3...M) is in a pass-through state. Antenna module (N-1) is in a connected state, causing the local antenna 110 connected to antenna module (N-1) to be activated. In the connected state of antenna module (N-1), signals and data are transmitted to antenna module (N-1) through the first group of antenna modules, enabling RFID communication (e.g., RFID signals / data, general command signals, etc.) between RFID reader 102 and RFID tag 302. In some embodiments, the plurality of antenna modules 104 can be used for known fixed installations. Additionally, the RFID IC 116 in each antenna module can be selectively addressed based on the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits and the plurality of comparators to the input voltage (V). in The detection of ) and the input voltage (V) in ) and threshold voltage (V th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 The comparison is used to activate a specific local antenna 110 coupled to one of the antenna modules from the plurality of antenna modules 104.

[0061] Additionally, in the connected state of each antenna module, RFID tags 302 within the RFID reading range of the local antenna 110 can be activated. Furthermore, the RFID reader 102 can communicate with the RFID tags 302 using an RFID communication protocol. In some embodiments, the RFID reader 102 can communicate with one or more RFID tags 302 using control signals to selectively activate the local antenna 110 without requiring modifications to the RFID reader 102 to allow selective activation of the local antenna 110 of each antenna module.

[0062] Various methods, but not limited to those discussed herein, can be used to identify which RFID tag is responding and communicating with the system. For example, signal strength can be used to determine the location of the responding RFID tag (e.g., the weaker the signal, the farther away the RFID tag 302 is). In some embodiments, a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) can be used to determine the location of the responding RFID tag. In some embodiments, the phase of the RFID response can be used to determine the location of the responding RFID tag 302. In some embodiments, a single local antenna 110 is provided for each anticipated RFID tag 302 (e.g., one local antenna per vehicle).

[0063] It can be noted that the plurality of antenna modules 104 can be reset when the power is turned off. Additionally, it can be noted that there is no power supply to the plurality of other antenna modules 104 after the connected antenna module 104.

[0064] In some specific implementations, the plurality of antenna modules 104 can be used in different applications, wherein the base station communicates with the other plurality of antenna modules 104 using appropriate commands or signals for a particular operating environment. For example, as described in more detail herein, the plurality of antenna modules 104 can be used in different RFID or non-RFID applications.

[0065] For example, scalable distributed antenna systems can be implemented using RFID technology in a daisy-chain antenna arrangement using RF cables. In one implementation, the RF cable used herein can be a single coaxial cable used to transmit RF signals or DC-over-RF signals. Therefore, various implementations of distributed antenna systems can be installed at a lower cost and with less complexity when installed to cover a large area. For example, a distributed 8-antenna system using a standard 4-port RFID reader (covering 8 individual vehicles) would require two readers and multiple lengths of RF cable, or an antenna multiplexer, or one reader, but would require external control wiring and interfaces, as well as a considerable length of coaxial cable. Depending on various implementations using antenna modules, one reader and seven “antenna modules” can be used, along with a minimum length of RF cable.

[0066] In the various embodiments disclosed above, different configurations and arrangements of the multiple antenna modules 104 can be achieved using the RFID reader 102, which will combine Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 To describe in more detail.

[0067] Figure 4 A linear distributed antenna network configuration 400 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. The linear distributed antenna network configuration 400 may include antenna modules 104A connected in a single series arrangement, each antenna module being connected to a local antenna 110, which is connected to a second output port. For example, the plurality of antenna modules 104 are connected in the linear distributed antenna network configuration 400, wherein the RF OUT port 114 of antenna module 104A is connected in series to the next antenna module 104B. An RFID reader 102 transmits control signals to switch the plurality of antenna modules 104 in two switching states (i.e., a pass-through state and a connected state). In the connected state, antenna modules 104A in the linear distributed antenna network configuration 400 communicate with the RFID reader 102 via the local antenna 110. In the pass-through state, the RFID reader 102 communicates with the next antenna module 104B in the linear distributed antenna network configuration 400 connected to antenna module 104A.

[0068] Figure 5A tree-distributed antenna network configuration 500 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. In the tree-distributed antenna network configuration 500, antenna module 104A can be connected to two antenna modules, namely antenna module 104B and antenna module 104C, at its output. Furthermore, each of these two antenna modules can then be connected to two other antenna modules, each of which is further connected to a local antenna 110. For example, the plurality of antenna modules 104 are connected in the tree-distributed antenna network configuration 500, wherein the RF OUT port 114 of antenna module 104A is connected to two other antenna modules, namely antenna module 104B and antenna module 104C. RFID reader 102 transmits control signals to switch the plurality of antenna modules 104 between two switching states (i.e., a pass-through state and a connected state). In the connected state, antenna module 104A in the tree-distributed antenna network configuration 500 communicates with RFID reader 102 via local antenna 110. In the pass-through state, RFID reader 102 communicates with RFID reader 102 based on a threshold voltage (V). th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 It can communicate with either of the two antenna modules (i.e., antenna module 104B and antenna module 104C) connected to antenna module 104A in the tree-distributed antenna network configuration 500.

[0069] Figure 6 A grid-distributed antenna network configuration 600 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated. In some embodiments, each antenna module 104A may be connected to a plurality of antenna modules 104, and each of the plurality of antenna modules is then connected to a local antenna 110, which is connected to a second output port. For example, the plurality of antenna modules 104 are connected in a grid-distributed antenna network configuration 600, wherein one or more of the plurality of antenna modules 104 have an RF OUT port 114 connected to the next antenna module 104B, and two or more of the plurality of antenna modules 104 have RF OUT ports 114 connected to the plurality of antenna modules 104. An RFID reader 102 transmits control signals to switch the plurality of antenna modules 104 between two switching states (i.e., a pass-through state and a connected state). In the connected state, the antenna modules 104A in the grid-distributed antenna network configuration 600 communicate with the RFID reader 102 via the local antenna 110. In the pass-through state, the RFID reader 102 communicates with the RFID reader 102 based on a threshold voltage (V). th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 This allows communication with one or more antenna modules among the multiple antenna modules 104 connected to antenna module 104A in the grid distributed antenna network configuration 600.

[0070] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that this disclosure envisions many different connection arrangements and configurations.

[0071] Various implementations are not limited to UHF (900MHz) RFID and can be used for intelligent distributed antenna systems targeting other wireless technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi, wireless WAN, Bluetooth, etc.) that operate in various other frequency bands (e.g., 2.4GHz, 5.8GHz, etc.) and can be implemented according to this disclosure. For example, a 2.4GHz radio transceiver can transmit modulated 2.4GHz control signals to an RFID IC in smart switches that form and configure an intelligent distributed 2.4GHz antenna system, which then transmits / receives non-RFID signals (e.g., 2.4GHz Wi-Fi or Bluetooth).

[0072] It is worth noting that the functionality of various implementations can be extended beyond port switching and may include communication with a microcontroller via RFID, general purpose input / output (GPIO) capabilities (controlling LEDs, reading sensors), etc. Therefore, various implementations provide an antenna module that can be used in RFID applications that require or expect multiple read areas (e.g., airport garages with multiple parking spaces, or packaging or product inventory). In various implementations, a single RFID reader can be connected to multiple antenna modules, which are connected to a large number of vehicles. It should be understood that many topologies are possible. In operation, these multiple antenna modules can be controlled by an RFID protocol, allowing for easier implementation using a single coaxial cable for RF power and control. For example, these multiple antenna modules can be fed and controlled from a single port of the RFID reader at power as low as 13 dBm. It is worth noting that while various implementations are described in conjunction with specific operating characteristics, they are not limited to specific operating environments. Therefore, one or more implementations can be used in combination with different devices or in different applications.

[0073] Figure 7 A flowchart illustrating a method 700 for a power-controlled antenna switching control mechanism according to an example embodiment of this disclosure is provided. It should be understood that method 700 can be implemented by one or more embodiments disclosed herein, which can be combined or modified as desired or required. Additionally, the steps in method 700 can be modified, rearranged, performed in a different manner, performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously, or otherwise modified as desired or required. Figures 1A to 6 right Figure 7 Describe it.

[0074] At operation 702, multiple antenna modules 104 receive a control signal, which has an input voltage (V). in RFID reader 102 may transmit control signals to the plurality of antenna modules 104 arranged in a daisy-chain configuration via communication line 106, and radio frequency (RF) signals. In some embodiments, antenna module 104A may be configured to connect to other antenna modules or to antenna modules, and may appear as RFID tag 302 to RFID reader 102, which may mean that RFID tag 302 is associated with each of the plurality of antenna modules 104.

[0075] In some implementations, the RFID reader 102 may include a DAC 142 configured to provide a DAC output voltage (V). out DAC output voltage (V) out ) can serve as the input voltage (V) of antenna module 104 in Additionally, the RFID reader 102 may include a coupler 144 configured to output the DAC voltage (V... out The DC voltage is superimposed on the RF signal to form a control signal for transmission. The DC voltage is extracted from this control signal through the DC coupling of the multiple antenna modules. The control signal generated by the RFID reader includes both DC voltage and RF signal.

[0076] For example, RFID reader 102 will include an input voltage of 3 volts (V). in The control signal is transmitted to the antenna module arranged in a daisy chain configuration with multiple antenna modules 104.

[0077] In addition, multiple pre-configured power detector circuits detect this input voltage (V). in In some embodiments, multiple rotary switches may be connected to the multiple pre-configured power detector circuits. These rotary switches may be configured to set a threshold voltage (V) for the antenna module 104. th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 In some example implementations, the plurality of rotary switches may be digital potentiometers, plurality of dual in-line package (DIP) switches, plurality of digital rotary encoders, or other methods known in the art for setting threshold voltages (V). th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 Alternatively, any other switch can be used instead. In some embodiments, the antenna module may include an RFID IC 116 coupled to the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits. For example, a threshold voltage (V) th1 The voltage is set to 3V, and the threshold voltage (V) is... th2It is set to 3.5V.

[0078] At operation 704, multiple comparators in each of the plurality of antenna modules can be configured to input the voltage (V) in ) respectively with threshold voltage (V th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 The comparison is performed. In some embodiments, multiple rotary switches may be connected to the multiple pre-configured power detector circuits. These multiple rotary switches may be configured to set a threshold voltage (V) for the antenna module 104. th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 In an alternative embodiment, the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits may be connected to a variable resistor or potentiometer, which enables the setting of a threshold voltage (V). th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 The antenna module may include an RFID IC 116 coupled to the plurality of comparators.

[0079] Additionally, each of the plurality of antenna modules 104 may include a DC coupler 136 configured to receive the input voltage (V) of the control signal from the RFID reader 102. in Additionally, each of the plurality of antenna modules 104 may include an RF coupler 138 configured to receive an RF signal of the control signal from the RFID reader 102. The RFID reader 102 may include an antenna port 146 configured to transmit the control signal to the DC coupler 136 and the RF coupler 138 of the antenna modules 104.

[0080] For example, the DC coupler 136 of antenna module 104A receives an input voltage of 3V (V in V in Detected by the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits, and by the plurality of comparators and V set by the plurality of rotary switches. th1 and V th2 Compare them.

[0081] At operation 706, at least one RF switch 118 of each of the plurality of antenna modules switches antenna module 104A at 706. In some embodiments, the at least one RF switch 118 can switch antenna module 104A in two switching states: (1) connected state and (2) pass-through state. In some embodiments, RFID IC 116 can be configured to switch antenna module 104A between connected state and pass-through state. In some embodiments, DC coupler 136 and RF coupler 138 of antenna module 104A can be connected to RF switch 118. In addition, the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits, the plurality of comparators, and RFID IC 116 can be connected in parallel between DC coupler 136, RF coupler 138, and RF switch 118.

[0082] In case (1), if the input voltage (V) in ) and the threshold voltage (V) of the local antenna 110 th1 The same, i.e., V in =V th In this case, at 708, the at least one RF switch 118 sets the antenna module 104A to a connected state to allow V in =V th It communicates with antenna module 104A. For example, V th1 Set to equal V in With 3V, antenna module 104 can be switched to connected state.

[0083] In case (2), if the input voltage (V) in ) greater than the threshold voltage (V th1 ) or equal to the threshold voltage (V th2 ), that is, V in >V th1 or V in =V th2 Then, in step 710, antenna module 104A can be set to a through state. For example, V in Set to equal V th2 With a voltage of 3.5V, antenna module 104A can be switched to a through state to transmit the control signal to the next antenna module 104B.

[0084] In some implementations, method 700 may further include: transmitting the input voltage (V) via RFID reader 102. inThe input voltage is configured to increment to bypass antenna module 104A to the next antenna module 104B. The next antenna module 104B can be re-examined based on the threshold voltage (V) of the next antenna module 104B via multiple pre-configured power detector circuits and multiple comparators. th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 Whether communication with the next antenna module 104B is permitted.

[0085] For example, after the connection is established, when the RFID reader 102 has read the RFID tag with V... th1 When antenna module 104A has a voltage of 3V and needs to read the next antenna module 104B, V in The input voltage can be configured by an RFID reader to be 3.5V increments to bypass antenna module 104A to the next antenna module 104B.

[0086] In some implementations, the RFID reader 102 may be configured to read one or more RFID tags 302 associated with each of the plurality of antenna modules 104.

[0087] It should be noted that the plurality of antenna modules 104 can be operated such that by selectively controlling the RFID IC 116 of a particular antenna module as described herein, one of the antenna modules is active at any given time, allowing the RFID reader 102 to activate and communicate with that particular antenna module. Thus, in a connected state, the microcontroller 140 can issue an inventory read command via the RFID ASIC 148 to read one or more RFID tags 302. In this document, the microcontroller 140 can be configured to hold instructions to issue one or more commands to the RFID reader 102 and issue the inventory read command with as little delay as possible. In some embodiments, method 700 can be implemented or performed using one or more systems described herein, such as the plurality of antenna modules 104. These steps can also be performed by the RFID reader 102 or a controller, such that the controller operates as a dedicated processing machine / dedicated hardware.

[0088] Therefore, various embodiments may provide multiple antenna modules that allow a power-controlled antenna switching control mechanism to operate using a communication line (e.g., an RF cable) to communicate with the multiple antenna modules. Control systems and methods include using control signals to selectively activate antenna modules coupled to multiple other antenna modules to select the antenna module for communication (such as with RFID tags).

[0089] It should be noted that one or more embodiments may include one or more microprocessors (which may be embodied as processors) and memory coupled via a system bus. The microprocessors may be provided by general-purpose microprocessors or special-purpose microprocessors (e.g., ASICs). In one embodiment, the system may include a single microprocessor, which may be referred to as a central processing unit (CPU). In another embodiment, one or more configurations described herein may include two or more microprocessors, for example, a CPU providing some or most of the scanning functionality and a special-purpose microprocessor performing some specific functions, such as determining distance information and relating that information to acquired image information. Those skilled in the art will understand that other schemes for distributing processing tasks among two or more microprocessors are within the scope of this disclosure. Memory may include one or more types of memory, including but not limited to: random access memory (RAM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), etc.

[0090] It should be noted that, for example, various implementations may use different standards and protocols to communicate between components. For example, wireless communication may be configured to support, but is not limited to, the following protocols: at least one protocol in the IEEE 802.11 / 802.15 / 802.16 protocol family, at least one protocol in the HSPA / GSM / GPRS / EDGE protocol family, TDMA protocol, UMTS protocol, LTE protocol, and / or at least one protocol in the CDMA / IxEV-DO protocol family.

[0091] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible specific implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the invention. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, comprising one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions indicated in the blocks may occur in the order shown in the drawings. For example, two blocks shown consecutively may actually be executed substantially concurrently, or these blocks may sometimes be executed in reverse order depending on the functionality involved. It should also be noted that each block illustrated in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, and combinations of blocks illustrated in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, may be implemented by a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or action, or a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0092] The corresponding structures, materials, actions, and equivalents of any component or step plus functional element in the following claims are intended to include any structure, material, or action used to perform a function in conjunction with other claimed elements of a particular claim. The description of this disclosure has been presented for illustrative purposes but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the disclosed forms. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the embodiments of this disclosure. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application of the embodiments and to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments and their various modifications suitable for the intended particular purpose.

[0093] Furthermore, as those skilled in the art will understand, aspects of this disclosure may be embodied as a system, method, or computer program product. Therefore, aspects of various embodiments may take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects, all of which are generally referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” “system,” or “subsystem.” Additionally, aspects of this disclosure may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer-readable media having computer-readable program code embodied thereon.

[0094] Any combination of one or more computer-readable media may be used. A computer-readable medium can be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium can be, for example, but not limited to, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor systems, apparatuses, or devices, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (not an exhaustive list) of computer-readable storage media include: electrical connections having one or more wires, portable computer disks, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), optical fiber, portable optical disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) or similar DVD-ROM and BD-ROM, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storage medium can be any tangible medium that may contain or store programs for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0095] Computer-readable signal media may include propagated data signals embodying computer-readable program code (e.g., in baseband or as part of a carrier wave). Such propagated signals may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electromagnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer-readable signal medium may be any computer-readable medium that is not a computer-readable storage medium and may convey, propagate, or transmit a program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0096] Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including but not limited to wireless, wired, fiber optic, RF, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Computer program code for performing operations of one or more embodiments may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​(such as Java, Smalltalk, C++, etc.) and conventional procedural programming languages ​​(such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages). The program code may be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer and partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be connected to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet provided by an Internet service provider).

[0097] This document describes at least some of the embodiments described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products. It should be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create components for implementing the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams.

[0098] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can instruct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus or other device to operate in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of writing comprising instructions that implement the functions / actions specified in one or more boxes of a flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0099] Computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device, thereby producing a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions, which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus, provide for implementing the functions / actions specified in one or more boxes of a flowchart and / or block diagram, and when such instructions are implemented in one or more embodiments, cause a general-purpose computer / processor / hardware to be transformed or converted into a special-purpose computer / processor / hardware in an improved technical field.

[0100] The foregoing description of specific embodiments has been presented for illustrative and descriptive purposes. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed, and it will be apparent that many modifications and variations are possible in accordance with the foregoing teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described to best explain their principles and practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to make optimal use of the various embodiments with various modifications suited to the intended particular purpose. It should be understood that, as the case, various omissions and substitutions of equivalents can be contemplated, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or specific implementation without departing from the spirit or substance of the claims. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the embodiments to the specific embodiments described herein.

Claims

1. A system comprising: Multiple antenna modules, arranged in a daisy-chain configuration and configured to receive control signals from a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader via a communication line, the control signals having an input voltage (V) in ) and radio frequency (RF) signals, wherein each of the plurality of antenna modules includes: Antenna elements; At least one radio frequency (RF) switch, said at least one radio frequency (RF) switch being configured to operate based at least on the input voltage (V). in ) and threshold voltage (V th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 The antenna element is coupled to the RFID reader by comparison, wherein the at least one RF switch is configured to: (1) allow communication with the antenna module in a connected state, or (2) transmit the control signal to the next antenna module in a pass-through state.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein when V in =V th1 When, the at least one RF switch allows communication with the antenna module; or when V in >V th1 or V in =V th2 At that time, the at least one RF switch transmits the control signal to the next antenna module.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the V th1 The threshold voltage corresponding to the connection state, and the V th2 The threshold voltage corresponding to the through state.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: Multiple pre-configured power detector circuits are configured to detect the input voltage (V). in ); and multiple comparators, the multiple comparators being configured to convert the input voltage (V) in ) respectively with the threshold voltage (V th1 ) and the threshold voltage (V th2 (Compare) 5. The system of claim 4, wherein a plurality of rotary switches are connected to the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits and the plurality of comparators, and are configured to set the threshold voltage (V) for each antenna module. th1 ) and the threshold voltage (V th2 ).

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each antenna module further comprises: A direct-coupled (DC) coupler configured to receive the input voltage (V) of the control signal from the RFID reader. in );and An RF coupler configured to receive the RF signal of the control signal from the RFID reader.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the RFID reader further comprises at least the following: Digital-to-analog converter (DAC), the DAC being configured to provide a DAC output voltage (V out ), wherein the DAC output voltage (V out The input voltage (V) of the antenna module serves as the input voltage of the antenna module. in ); Coupler, the coupler being configured to convert the DAC output voltage (V) out ) superimposed on the RF signal to form the control signal for transmission; and An antenna port configured to transmit the control signal to the DC coupler and the RF coupler of the antenna module.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader is configured to read one or more RFID tags associated with each of the plurality of antenna modules.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each antenna module further comprises an RFID integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the plurality of pre-configured power detector circuits and the plurality of comparators, and configured to switch each antenna module between the connected state and the pass-through state.

10. A method, the method comprising: Control signals are received from a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader via a communication line through multiple antenna modules arranged in a daisy-chain configuration. These control signals have an input voltage (V). in ) and radio frequency (RF) signals; as well as Each of the plurality of antenna modules is configured to be based at least on the input voltage (V). in ) and threshold voltage (V th1 ) and threshold voltage (V th2 The comparison is used to couple at least one radio frequency (RF) switch of the antenna element to the RFID reader, (1) switching the antenna module in the connected state to allow communication with the antenna module, or (2) switching the antenna module in the pass-through state to transmit the control signal to the next antenna module based on the comparison.

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