Method and system for detecting receivers and adjustable receivers

Abstract

The method for detecting a receiver includes a receiver detecting step, in which the overall controller detects the adjustable receiver when the overall antenna receives a secondary wave emitted by the adjustable receiver, and then a reconfiguration step, in which the overall controller instructs the controller of the detected adjustable receiver to switch the impedance of the adjustable receiver to an interaction mode that alternates between a first configured impedance and a second configured impedance to detect another receiver, the reconfiguration step being of a duration one order of magnitude greater than the duration of each alternation of the first and second configured impedances.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a receiver detection method, a system making it possible to implement said method, and an adjustable receiver. [Background technology]

[0002] Items available for purchase may be provided with labels or badges equipped with RFID technology, for example, to reduce checkout time. Items are placed in a tray in front of or next to the cash register, and the system identifies the items using the RFID tags and automatically issues receipts, without the need for a cashier to scan each item individually, thus saving time.

[0003] However, some items may not be detected by the system, which may lead to checkout errors.

[0004] When multiple receivers (or badges) are placed next to each other, as is the case with cash register trays, they can be difficult to read, especially due to interference and / or electromagnetic field minima. These interferences are due to the environment, which may scatter, reflect, and / or diffract the waves, and due to the receiver itself, which may reflect, scatter, diffract, and even attenuate the waves, since the receiver is also a scatterer.

[0005] There may also be problems with receiver detection when receivers send simultaneous responses. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present disclosure seeks to improve badge detection within a volume. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To this end, a method for detecting a receiver is provided, which is realized by a detection system comprising a supervisory antenna suitable for emitting primary waves and a supervisory controller connected to the supervisory antenna, the system comprising an adjustable receiver having a receiver antenna suitable for receiving the primary waves and for emitting secondary waves, the adjustable receiver having a receiver controller connected to the receiver antenna, the receiver controller being suitable for detecting the primary waves received by the receiver antenna and for directing the emission of secondary waves by the receiver antenna, the adjustable receiver having a modifiable impedance and thus influencing the emitted secondary waves, the adjustable receiver being initially in a detection mode in which the adjustable receiver has a base impedance, a receiver detection step in which the adjustable receiver is detected by the overall controller when the overall antenna receives the secondary wave emitted by the adjustable receiver; and and a reconfiguration step in which the overall controller instructs the receiver controllers to switch to an interaction mode in which the impedance of the adjustable receiver alternates between a first configured impedance and a second configured impedance, the reconfiguration step being of a duration an order of magnitude greater than the duration of each alternation of the first and second configured impedances, in order to detect other receivers.

[0008] Using the above configuration, as new receivers are detected, the number of adjustable receivers available to the general controller for detection increases. Each time a receiver is detected, its impedance is adjusted by the general controller to a mode appropriate for detecting other receivers. The system can thus more efficiently detect the presence of one or more undetected receivers, regardless of their location and whether they are fixed or mobile.

[0009] In various embodiments of the system, one or more of the following configurations may be used.

[0010] The base impedance is provided by the receiver controller independent of the overall controller. The first constituent impedance is the base impedance. The first constituent impedance is at a distance from the second constituent impedance. The first constituent impedance and the second constituent impedance are close to each other, one on each side of the base impedance in the complex plane. the adjustable receiver is a first adjustable receiver, the receiver antenna is a first receiver antenna, the primary wave is a first primary wave, the secondary wave is a first secondary wave, the receiver controller is a first receiver controller, the base impedance is a first base impedance, the configuration impedance is a first configuration impedance, the system includes a second adjustable receiver, the second adjustable receiver has a second receiver antenna suitable for receiving the primary wave and emitting a second secondary wave, the second receiver controller is connected to the second receiver antenna, the second receiver controller is suitable for controlling the emission of the second secondary wave by the second receiver antenna and for detecting the primary wave received by the second receiver antenna, the second adjustable receiver has a modifiable impedance, thereby affecting the second secondary wave emitted by the second receiver antenna, the second adjustable receiver is initially in a detection mode, the second adjustable receiver has a second base impedance; The method further includes a reconfiguration step of reconfiguring the second receiver, in which, when the central antenna receives a second secondary wave emitted by the second adjustable receiver and the controller detects the second adjustable receiver, the central controller instructs the second adjustable receiver to switch to an interaction mode in which the impedance of the second adjustable receiver alternates between a first configured impedance of the second receiver and a second configured impedance of the second receiver to detect other receivers, wherein the reconfiguration step of reconfiguring the second adjustable receiver has a duration one order of magnitude greater than the duration of each alternation of the first and second configured impedances of the second receiver. The first configuration impedance of the second receiver is the second base impedance of the second receiver. The first configuration impedance of the second receiver is at a distance from the second configuration impedance of the second receiver. The first configuration impedance of the second receiver and the second configuration impedance of the second receiver are close to each other, one on each side of the base impedance in the complex plane. The alternation of the configuration impedance of the second receiver in the interaction mode is determined by an optimization algorithm or by a predetermined set of impedance values. The alternation of the configuration impedance of the second receiver in the interaction mode is performed at irregular, non-periodic times. The overall controller determines the alternation of the configuration impedance of the second receiver in the interaction mode. An overall controller directs the switching of the identified receivers into an interaction mode, and the controllers of these identified adjustable receivers determine the alternation of their configuration impedances when in the interaction mode. In the interaction mode, the impedance of the adjustable receiver alternates between a number of configured impedances. The adjustable receiver includes a plurality of adjustable components and associated antennas, and an integrated controller instructs the integrated antenna to emit an integrated control wave containing identification information to designate each adjustable component to which the adjustment parameters apply, along with the associated adjustment parameters, and if the identification information is equal to the adjustable component identifier, the adjustable component controls the impedance of the associated antenna in relation to the adjustment parameters. The system further includes an adjustable element connected to the supervisory antenna, and during the receiver detection step, the supervisory controller also modifies the impedance of the adjustable element. An overall controller simultaneously modifies the impedance of the tunable element and the impedance of the identified tunable receiver according to values ​​determined by the optimization algorithm.

[0011] Also, an adjustable receiver; a manager antenna adapted to emit a primary wave and to receive the emitted secondary wave with a receiver adjustable in response to receiving the primary wave; a supervisory controller connected to the supervisory antenna, the supervisory controller being adapted to direct the emission of the primary wave and to detect the adjustable receiver using the secondary wave received by the supervisory antenna; 1. A receiver detection system comprising: The adjustable receiver also a receiver antenna adapted to emit the secondary wave; a receiver controller connected to the receiver antenna, the receiver controller being adapted to direct emission of secondary waves by the receiver antenna and to detect primary waves received by the receiver antenna; Equipped with the adjustable receiver has a modifiable impedance to modify the manner in which the primary wave is reflected and / or transmitted as a secondary wave by the receiver antenna; the system is configured such that when an adjustable receiver is detected by the supervisory controller, the supervisory controller instructs the receiver controller to switch from a detection mode to an interaction mode; In detection mode, the adjustable receiver has a base impedance, A system is provided in which, in an interaction mode, the impedance of the adjustable receiver is alternated between a first configured impedance and a second configured impedance to detect other receivers, the interaction mode being of a duration that is an order of magnitude greater than the duration of each alternation of the first and second configured impedances.

[0012] In various embodiments of the system, one or more of the following configurations may be used.

[0013] The first constituent impedance is the base impedance. The first constituent impedance is at a distance from the second constituent impedance. The alternation of the configuration impedance in the interaction mode is determined by an optimization algorithm or by a predetermined set of impedance values. The alternation of the configuration impedance in the interaction mode is performed at irregular, non-periodic times. The overall controller is adapted to direct alternation of the configuration impedance in the interaction mode of the adjustable receiver. An overall controller is adapted to instruct the identified adjustable receivers to switch to an interaction mode, and the controllers of the identified adjustable receivers are adapted to instruct alternation of the configuration impedance when in the interaction mode.

[0014] Also, an antenna adapted to emit a secondary wave in response to receiving a primary wave and to receive an overall control wave; a controller connected to the antenna, the controller being adapted to direct the emission of the secondary waves and to detect the received primary waves and the integrated control wave; An adjustable receiver comprising: an adjustable receiver having a modifiable impedance, thus influencing the emitted secondary wave; The adjustable receiver has a detection mode and an interaction mode, and the adjustable receiver switches from the detection mode to the interaction mode according to the received supervisory control wave; In detection mode, the adjustable receiver has a base impedance, A receiver is provided in which, in an interaction mode, the impedance of the adjustable receiver is adapted to alternate between a first configuration impedance and a second configuration impedance to detect other receivers, the interaction mode being of a duration one order of magnitude greater than the duration of each alternation of the first and second configuration impedances.

[0015] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of one of its embodiments, given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overview of one embodiment of a receiver detection system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows an example of an adjustable receiver for the system of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 illustrates the alternation of impedance over time for the adjustable receiver of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 illustrates a dynamic list used by an algorithm that can be used by the system of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] In the various drawings, the same reference numbers designate the same or similar elements.

[0018] system FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a receiver detection system 10. In this example, the system 10 comprises a container C having a volume V. The container C may be optional, and the volume V may be defined without physical walls. The container C is suitable for containing one, two, or more receivers within its volume V. One or more of these receivers may be adjustable receivers 30 that, once detected, can be controlled to participate in the detection of other receivers that may be contained within the volume V. The adjustable receivers may include, among other things, a first adjustable receiver 30a and a second adjustable receiver 30b. The adjustable receivers 30 may be fixed or mobile. Identification or simple communication with itself also constitutes detection. Thus, the system 10 is a system for receiver detection and / or receiver identification and / or communication with a receiver. According to one example, the adjustable receiver 30 is attached to merchandise (e.g., items for sale), and the container C is a tray at a checkout register in a store. Therefore, by simply placing items in the tray, the register can identify them without scanning them one by one. Other applications are described in this disclosure.

[0019] As will be described below, the identified adjustable receiver, when identified, contributes to the identification of other receivers present within volume V. Although only two adjustable receivers 30a, 30b are shown in the drawings, system 10 may have more than two receivers similar to adjustable receivers 30a, 30b. Some of those identified receivers may not be adjustable impedance receivers.

[0020] In the particular example of FIG. 1 , container C is a parallelepiped with a bottom C1, four side surfaces C2, C3, C4, and C5, and an open surface C6 opposite bottom surface C1. Adjustable receivers 30, such as first adjustable receiver 30a and second adjustable receiver 30b, can be inserted into and / or removed from volume V through open surface C6. These adjustable receivers 30 may also be moved within volume V. First adjustable receiver 30a and second adjustable receiver 30b are substantially identical and will be described in more detail below with reference to the generic receiver 30.

[0021] The system 10 further comprises: a managerial antenna 42 adapted to emit primary waves OP into the volume V and adapted to receive secondary waves OS emitted by each of the adjustable receivers 30 positioned within the volume V in response to reception of the primary waves OP by the adjustable receivers 30; and an overall controller 41 connected to an overall antenna 42, the overall controller 41 being adapted to direct the emission of primary waves OP and to identify adjustable receivers 30 by corresponding secondary waves OS emitted by the adjustable receivers 30 and received by the overall antenna 42. The overall controller 41 and the overall antenna 42 are shown in the drawings in accordance with one embodiment as being located outside of the volume V. Alternatively, either or both of the overall controller 41 and the overall antenna 42 can be located inside the volume V.

[0022] Adjustable receiver One of the adjustable receivers 30 is shown schematically in Figure 2. Note that the first adjustable receiver 30a and the second adjustable receiver 30b are similar to the generic adjustable receiver 30, and the description of the structure and mode of operation of the adjustable receiver 30 serves as a description of the first adjustable receiver 30a and the second adjustable receiver 30b, with common elements designated with index "a" for the first adjustable receiver 30a and index "b" for the second adjustable receiver 30b.

[0023] The tunable receiver 30 comprises an antenna 32 adapted to emit a secondary wave OS in response to receiving a primary wave OP emitted by a central antenna 42. The tunable receiver 30 also comprises a controller 31 connected to the antenna 32 and an adjustable component 35 connected to the controller 31 on the one hand and to the antenna 32 on the other hand. The controller 31 is configured to direct the emission of the secondary wave OS and to detect and decode the information contained therein the received primary wave OP. The controller 31 also controls the impedance of the adjustable component 35, which influences the secondary wave OS emitted by the antenna 32. The adjustable component 35 may be connected to the controller 31 in a wired or wireless manner. A local control wave OCl may be sent from the controller 31 to the adjustable component 35 to transmit adjustment parameters to the adjustable component 35.

[0024] Each adjustable component 35 has an associated antenna, which may be antenna 32 of adjustable receiver 30 or a separate antenna.

[0025] According to one embodiment, at least one of the adjustable receivers 30 includes multiple adjustable components 35. An adjustable receiver 30 can include several adjustable components 35, each with an associated antenna. In another embodiment, an adjustable receiver 30 includes a single antenna for its multiple adjustable components 35. An adjustable receiver 30 may include one or more controllers 31 for overall control. For simplicity, by way of example, this description describes adjustable receivers each having one antenna, one controller, and one adjustable component, it being understood that there may be several antennas, and / or several adjustable components, and / or several controllers per adjustable receiver.

[0026] Overall structure The adjustable receiver 30 is, for example, a device of the technology known as RFID, for "radio frequency identification."

[0027] The tunable receiver 30 is, for example, a connected object, for example of the Internet of Things (IoT) type or of the type with transmission via WiFi or Bluetooth, or via a LoRa network.

[0028] The adjustable receiver 30 may include one or more sensors (e.g., temperature, humidity, presence detection, gas detection, flow rate, voltage, current), one or more of which sensor measurements may be stored in the receiver memory or any other memory and transmitted to the general controller 41 using a secondary wave OS.

[0029] The controller 31, antenna 32, and adjustable component 35 of the same receiver 30 may be grouped together on a base 36 so that the receiver 30 forms a small object. According to one embodiment, the base 36 is, for example, a label for clothing or a household item that is thin, for example, less than 0.2 mm thick, and made of, for example, a flexible polymer material. The adjustable component 35, antenna 32, and controller 31 may be fixed onto the base 36, for example, by adhesive. Because the adjustable component 35, antenna 32, and controller 31 of the adjustable receiver 30 are themselves thin circuits, the adjustable receiver 30 is a thin, flexible device associated with the item.

[0030] Adjustable Components There are several approaches to achieving an adjustable receiver 30 with variable impedance.

[0031] The adjustable component 35 of the adjustable receiver 30 comprises at least one adjustable electronic circuit connected to the antenna 32, for example, to modify the impedance of electromagnetic radiation, thereby characterizing its interaction with electromagnetic fields, particularly with waves around the receiver. The adjustable electronic circuit may be, for example, a capacitor, a diode, a transistor, or a combination thereof. This adjustable electronic circuit includes an input controllable by the controller 31 to modify one of its electronic characteristics, i.e., more generally, its electrical impedance, which is the load impedance of the antenna 32 of the adjustable receiver 30. This modification involves modifying the radiation impedance of the antenna 32 and its interaction with waves.

[0032] Thus, the adjustable component 35 can be modified, for example, by a voltage value applied by the controller 31, and can be controlled by inputs, for example, corresponding to one or more adjustment parameter values. These adjustment parameters may be determined by the overall controller 41 or by the adjustable receiver controller 31, as will be described in more detail below.

[0033] Modifying the impedance of the adjustable receiver 30 modifies the spatial distribution of the primary wave OP within the volume V. This modification may be optimized to detect other receivers contained within the volume V but not initially identified by the overall controller 41. Additionally, as detection of receivers within the volume V progresses, these receivers become controlled by the overall controller 41 to participate in modifying the spatial distribution of the primary wave OP in order to more efficiently detect any other receivers present within the volume V. Modifying the impedance of the adjustable receiver 30 is much more complex than spatial directionality or focusing, and involves modifying the electromagnetic field within the volume around the receiver.

[0034] mode When the impedance of the adjustable receiver 30 is modified, the way in which the adjustable receiver 30 reflects and / or transmits the primary wave OP is also modified, which affects the overall electromagnetic field within the volume V. This modification is now used to detect other receivers that are not visible to the overall controller 41. Therefore, the overall controller 41 can instruct the adjustable receiver 30 to switch into an interaction mode in which the adjustable receiver 30 has a changing impedance in order to modify the overall electromagnetic field within the volume V. This modification of the electromagnetic field can help to detect one or more other receivers that were previously invisible to the overall controller 41.

[0035] Each adjustable receiver 30 contained in the volume V is initially undetected by the overall controller 41 and is in detection mode. In detection mode, the adjustable receiver 30 has a base impedance IB1. The base impedance IB1 is, for example, the load impedance of the antenna 32 of the adjustable receiver 30, i.e., the impedance adapted to receive maximum energy. For example, the base impedance IB1 of the adjustable receiver 30 is 11+143*j (j is a complex number where j^2=-1). According to one embodiment, the base impedance IB1 of the adjustable receiver 30 is imposed by the controller 31 independently of the overall controller 41. According to another embodiment, the base impedance IB1 of the adjustable receiver 30 is commanded by the overall controller 41. In detection mode, the adjustable receiver 30 can have several base impedances, and the controller 31 of the adjustable receiver 30 can alternate between these different base impedances. This alternation can occur without the general controller 41 instructing the controllers 31 of the adjustable receivers 30 or can be under the control of the general controller 41 .

[0036] If the overall antenna 42 receives a secondary wave OS emitted by a receiver located within the volume V and the receiver is an adjustable receiver 30, the overall controller 41 can instruct the controller 31 of this adjustable receiver 30 to switch into interaction mode to help identify other receivers contained within the volume.

[0037] In the interaction mode, the impedance of the adjustable receiver 30 alternates between a first configuration impedance IC1 and a second configuration impedance IC2. For example, the first configuration impedance IC1 is IB1-20j, and the second configuration impedance IC2 is IB1+20j. The first configuration impedance IC1 can be infinite, and the second configuration impedance IC2 can be zero, a low coefficient, or close to zero. The impedance of the adjustable element 35 can alternate between three or more configuration impedances. At least one of the first and second configuration impedances IC1, IC2 can be a base impedance IB to enable energy recovery.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the first constituent impedance ICI is at a distance from the second constituent impedance IC2. "At a distance" is understood to mean, for example, at least a factor of 10 between them. Since impedances are complex values, an impedance can be considered to be at a distance from another impedance when, for example: The coefficients have values ​​that are at a distance from each other, for example the ratio of magnitude between them is at least 2, preferably (as mentioned above) at least 10. Alternatively, their phases have values ​​that are at a distance from each other, such as values ​​that differ by at least π / 4, and preferably by more than π / 2; or The coefficient of difference between the first and second impedances has a high value, for example greater than a threshold value, or for example greater than the coefficient of the first impedance and / or greater than the coefficient of the second impedance.

[0039] Many criteria for the distance between impedances can be defined.

[0040] Small variations in the impedance of the tunable components allow for significant modification of the radiation impedance of the antenna, which functions as a resonator; particularly at the fundamental frequency of the resonator, the amplitude and phase of the impedance seen by the electromagnetic wave vary significantly with this small change in the load impedance. Therefore, because the antenna is distributed, small modifications of its load impedance around its resonant frequency allow for spaced alternations between the first and second component impedances ICI and IC2. In addition, this type of resonator is very easy to implement in a small, particularly thin, tunable receiver 30.

[0041] According to another embodiment, the first and second configuration impedances ICI and IC2 are close to the base impedance IB. "Close" is understood to mean that they are at most 10 times closer. Impedances are complex values, and therefore, an impedance is close to another impedance when the differences in their modulus and / or phase and / or complex modulus are close to each other. The advantage of the first and second configuration impedances ICI and IC2 being close to the base impedance IB is that the adjustable receiver 30 can recover energy and remain powered during interaction mode. According to one embodiment, the first and second configuration impedances ICI and IC2 are close to each other, one on each side of the base impedance in the complex plane.

[0042] The first configuration impedance ICI and the second configuration impedance IC2 can both be higher than the base impedance IB1, or both be lower than the base impedance IB1, or one be higher and one be lower than the base impedance IB1.

[0043] In the interaction mode, there is therefore a very frequent alternation between two or more configuration impedances, in the sense that the duration T1 of the interaction mode is an order of magnitude greater than the durations T2, T3 of each alternation of the first and second configuration impedances ICI and IC2. Figure 3, for example, illustrates this point. By way of example, the duration T1 of the interaction mode is 100 ms, and the durations T2, T3 of each alternation of the first and second configuration impedances ICI and IC2 are 10 ms.

[0044] Leaving interaction mode Each adjustable receiver detected and switched to interaction mode by the overall controller 41 may remain in interaction mode until all receivers present in the volume V have been detected.

[0045] The adjustable receiver 30 may leave the interaction mode after a predetermined period of time that is deemed sufficient to detect all receivers present in the volume V, which may correspond to, for example, tens or hundreds of milliseconds. This period of time may be imposed by the overall controller 41 or by the controller 31 of the adjustable receiver 30. This period of time may be different for each or some of the receivers contained in the volume V. This period of time may be random.

[0046] According to another embodiment, the overall controller 41 controls the exit of adjustable receivers from the interaction mode. The overall controller 41 may instruct all detected adjustable receivers to exit simultaneously, or may instruct the receivers to exit in groups.

[0047] According to another embodiment, the adjustable receiver 30 remains in interaction mode until the energy stored in the adjustable receiver falls below a minimum value.

[0048] Rotation based on a predetermined or random sequence According to one embodiment, the overall controller 41 periodically defines adjustment parameters for the adjustable components 35 of the receivers 30 being detected, either randomly or in a predetermined manner, to sweep through a set of combinations of adjustment parameters, thereby enabling a sweep of the container volume V with various electromagnetic fields. Simultaneously with each impedance alternation, the overall controller 41 emits a primary wave OP to detect the receiver using this new setting. Alternatively, the overall controller 41 can emit the primary wave OP at a time after sending the impedance adjustment parameters. According to a variation of this embodiment, the overall controller 41 only instructs the identified receivers to switch from detection mode to interaction mode, and the controller of each identified adjustable receiver 30 periodically defines adjustment parameters for its adjustable components 35 in a random manner to sweep through a set of combinations of adjustment parameters.

[0049] According to another embodiment, the timing of the alternation is not periodic, but irregular, dedicated, or random.

[0050] According to another embodiment, when an adjustable receiver 30 is detected and placed in interaction mode, its controller 31 is passive and the overall controller 41 directs the impedance alternation of the adjustable receiver 30 via the adjustable receiver's controller 31.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the overall controller 41 only commands the switching of identified receivers into the interaction mode, and this receiver or its controller 31 commands the impedance alternation of the adjustable receiver 30. These alternations may be pre-programmed. To this end, each controller 31 of an adjustable receiver 30 may include a memory 33 that will contain programming of alternating impedance sequences for the interaction mode (possibly including time delays associated with the sequence or each alternation, e.g., alternations after alternation durations on the order of a few milliseconds to a few hundred milliseconds) when the adjustable receiver 30 is switched into the interaction mode by the overall controller 41.

[0052] Optimization-based alternation According to another embodiment, the modification of the electromagnetic field by the adjustable receivers 30 switched into the interaction mode may be performed in order to optimize this field for detecting other receivers. The optimization allows some adjustable receivers 30 (detected ones) to be used to improve the electromagnetic field in the volume V and thus to detect other receivers that were previously undetectable. The overall controller 41 monitors the secondary waves OS emanating from the various detected adjustable receivers 30, received by the overall antenna 42 (when said waves are received). Via these waves, the overall controller 41 can determine, for example, reception information regarding the reception of the secondary waves OS received by its overall antenna 42, such as reception level and / or reception quality.

[0053] The overall controller 41 can then use the received information to estimate a value to be optimized (optimization value), which may be one piece of information or a combination of multiple pieces of received information.

[0054] The overall controller 41 executes an optimization algorithm based on, for example, a set of previous (in time) parameters, previous estimates, and current estimates.

[0055] The optimization algorithm may maximize or minimize this value depending on the magnitude represented by the estimate. In one or more successive steps, the optimization algorithm makes it possible to obtain an optimal set of parameters for detecting new tunable receivers 30. At each step, or at a predetermined periodicity, the overall controller 41 applies the new set of parameters to the identified tunable receivers 30 and / or determines the reception information for performing the next iteration. These iterations may be performed at a very high rate so that the duration of this optimization is very short compared to the number of receivers detected and / or identified within the volume.

[0056] The optimal set of parameters may, for example, allow for an improved reception level of the secondary wave OS at the central antenna 42. This modification by optimized states of adjustable components of an identified receiver, such as the first receiver 30, improves the propagation field of the secondary wave OS towards the central antenna 42, improving or even enabling receiver detection and / or identification, for example, of a previously unidentified second receiver 30b within the volume V.

[0057] Therefore, according to one embodiment, the overall controller 41 determines a set of parameters for adjusting a number of adjustable components of the receiver identified by the overall controller 41, for example, to optimize reception of the secondary waves by the overall antenna 42. The optimization involves estimates, for example, estimates of the reception level and / or reception quality of the secondary waves by the overall antenna 42.

[0058] dynamic optimization The optimization is dynamic, i.e., the number of parameters sent by the overall controller 41 to the adjustable receivers 30 to adjust the adjustable components 35 increases as new receivers are detected in the volume V. Thus, when the first adjustable receiver 30a is detected, the overall controller 41 commands a change in the impedance of this adjustable receiver, and then does the same for each new adjustable receiver that is detected. Thus, after several iterations, five adjustable receivers 30 will be controlled by the overall controller 41 as it detects new receivers present in the volume V, for example.

[0059] For illustrative purposes, consider a first receiver 30a and a second receiver 30b present in volume V, assumed to be initially unidentified by the overall controller 41. Initially (t=t0), the first receiver 30a and the second receiver 30b are in detection mode, with their base impedances IBa and IBb fixed solely by their associated controllers 31a and 31b (independently of the overall controller 41). In the first step, the receiver detection step, the first receiver 30a is detected by the overall controller 41 when the overall antenna 42 receives a secondary wave OSa emitted by the first receiver 30a (at time t=t1). The overall controller 41 can then add the first receiver 30a to a dynamic list L of identified receivers (see FIG. 4). The dynamic list L may be stored in the memory of the overall controller 41. The list is dynamic in that it is updated in real time by adding detected receivers as they are detected by the overall controller 41 and switched into interaction mode.

[0060] During the third step, a second receiver detection step, the overall antenna 42 receives the secondary wave OSb emitted by the second receiver 30b. The overall controller 41 may identify the second receiver 30b and then add the second receiver 30b to the dynamic list L of identified receivers (time t=t2). The overall controller 41 further instructs the controller 31b of the second receiver 30b to switch to an interaction mode in which the impedance of the second adjustable receiver 30b alternates between at least the first configuration impedance IClb and the second configuration impedance IC2b.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the first component impedance IClb of the second receiver 30b is at a distance from the second component impedance IC2b of the second receiver 30b. "At a distance" is understood to mean, for example, at least a factor of 10 between them. Impedances are complex values, and therefore, an impedance can be considered to be at a distance from another impedance when, for example: The coefficients have values ​​that are at a distance from each other, for example the ratio of magnitude between them is at least 2, preferably (as mentioned above) at least 10. Alternatively, their phases have values ​​that are at a distance from each other, such as values ​​that differ by at least π / 4, and preferably by more than π / 2; or The coefficient of difference between the first and second impedances has a high value, for example greater than a threshold value, or for example greater than the coefficient of the first impedance and / or greater than the coefficient of the second impedance.

[0062] Many criteria for the distance between impedances can be defined.

[0063] Optimization using previously saved parameters According to one embodiment, the general controller 41 periodically defines adjustment parameters for the detected adjustable components of the receiver according to a previously stored table to sweep through a set of combinations of adjustment parameters.

[0064] This previously stored table is defined by knowing the propagation of the primary wave OP in the volume V, for example by simulation or by measurements in the environment of the volume V. The previously stored table is defined, for example, to ensure the ability to sweep the entire volume V with a given spatial accuracy.

[0065] The overall controller 41 then proceeds as above, and for each adjustment of an adjustable component of the identified receiver, the overall controller 41 also controls the emission of the primary wave OP in order to detect the receiver with this new setting. This procedure makes it possible to detect one or more new receivers (adjustable or not) in the volume V. After a predetermined number of combinations, this procedure makes it possible to know all the receivers in the volume V.

[0066] Alternatively, the general controller 41 periodically performs a calibration of said previously stored table, for example by searching for optimal tuning parameters for several reference tunable receivers during a predetermined time (within a time slot and / or on a given day of the week and / or on a given day of the month).

[0067] This further optimization may be based on the secondary waves OS received by the overall controller 41. The overall controller 41 determines reception information (reception level and / or reception quality) regarding the reception of the returned secondary waves OS by its antenna. The overall controller 41 then performs an optimization of the set of adjustment parameters for the identified adjustable receiver 30.

[0068] Following these optimizations of tuning parameters for the identified tunable receivers, the overall controller 41 infers the previously stored tables by various techniques, such as parameterized models and / or interpolation techniques.

[0069] According to a variant of this embodiment, the general controller 41 only commands the identified adjustable receivers 30 to switch from detection mode to interaction mode, and the controller 31 of each receiver periodically defines adjustment parameters for the adjustable components according to a previously stored table in the memory of the receiver in question in order to sweep through a set of combinations of adjustment parameters.

[0070] Receiver-Identification In addition, the memory 33 of each receiver 30 may be provided with an adjustable receiver identifier IDrr, which allows receivers (all with different identifiers) to be distinguished from one another.

[0071] In this case, the overall controller 41 may emit, in the form of an overall control wave emission OCg, an identification IID with the impedance adjustment parameters, allowing said adjustment parameters to specify the identified adjustable receiver of the system 10 to which they are addressed. The overall controller 41 may therefore sequentially emit the entire set of parameters (all adjustment parameters), each adjustment parameter associated with an identification, such that the adjustable receiver 30 to which the adjustment parameter is sent is the only one that applies the adjustment parameter in question.

[0072] If the tunable receiver 30 includes multiple tunable components with their associated antennas, the master control wave includes identification information with the associated adjustment parameters to designate each tunable component to which the adjustment parameters apply, and an tunable component controls the impedance of its associated antenna with respect to the adjustment parameters if the identification information is equal to its tunable component identifier IDcr.

[0073] The receiver 30 may therefore comprise a receiving device 34 for receiving the overall control wave OCg emanating from the overall controller 41, decoding the adjustment parameters contained in this wave OCg. The controller 31 of the adjustable receiver 30 then uses the adjustment parameters to control and modify the impedance of the associated adjustable component 35.

[0074] The receiving device 34 of the receiver 30 then decodes the identification information IID and the adjustment parameters in the overall control wave OCg, and the tunable receiver 30 then controls its impedance (i.e., the tunable component 35 controls the impedance of its associated antenna) according to the adjustment parameters if the identification information is equal to its tunable receiver identifier IDrr.

[0075] The overall controller 41 emits, possibly periodically, a primary wave OP within the volume V of the container C to detect and identify the receivers, and periodically emits an overall control wave OCg within the volume V to adjust the detected adjustable receivers 30. Each detected adjustable receiver 30 then selects adjustment parameters for it.

[0076] Alternatively, the memory 33 of the adjustable receiver 30 stores a set of adjustment parameters (previously saved and / or saved by transmission from the controller) and one or more read periods associated with these adjustment parameters. This set of adjustment parameters and read periods is known to the overall controller 41. This configuration may allow the overall controller 41 to avoid systematically sending new adjustment parameters to the adjustable receivers, which in turn reduces the need for transmission. This set of adjustment parameters and / or these read periods may be different for each adjustable receiver 30.

[0077] According to a first variant of the overall controller 41, the overall controller 41 comprises in its memory 43 a dynamic list L of identifiers of adjustable components, or of adjustable receivers if the overall controller 41 has only one adjustable component. This list is filled with the adjustable receiver identifiers IDrr of the identified system 10 in order to enable the identifiers of the adjustable components to be transmitted together with the adjustment parameters. Each adjustable receiver 30 emits its adjustable receiver identifier IDrr via a return wave, which may be a secondary wave Osa, possibly periodically. The overall controller 41 then establishes a list of the adjustable receivers 30 identified in the system 10 and updates it each time a new receiver identifier is received. In addition, an adjustable receiver 30 may be removed from the dynamic list or deactivated in said list (by an active flag) if the overall controller 41 no longer receives the identifier of the adjustable receiver 30 after a period longer than the adjustable receiver's 30's inactivation duration limit.

[0078] This dynamic operation therefore ensures that the general controller 41 always uses an operational or functioning adjustable receiver 30. This dynamic operation also facilitates the installation of the system 10, which automatically adapts to the adjustable receivers 30 present within the volume V.

[0079] In addition, according to one variant, the tunable receiver 30 periodically emits its tunable identifier IDrr only in the presence of the primary wave OP and / or the overall control wave OCg emanating from the antenna 42 of the controller 41, in particular for the following reasons: This adjustable receiver 30 uses an energy recovery device 37 to recover energy from this wave for its operation. In the absence of energy, the adjustable receiver 30 automatically turns off and does not broadcast its identifier. Alternatively, the adjustable receiver 30 is designed not to transmit its identifier if it has not received the primary wave OP or the overall control wave OCg for a period longer than a predetermined waiting time.

[0080] Receiver-impedance alternating indication The impedance alternation in the interaction mode of the identified adjustable receiver 30 may be implemented in different ways: According to one embodiment, an optimization algorithm iteratively determines the impedance of each adjustable component in the dynamic list L, with the aim of optimizing the electromagnetic field in the volume V.

[0081] Alternatively, the general controller 41 comprises a memory for storing one or more sets of optimal parameters for detecting receivers that are present in the volume V but have not yet been identified. In this way, the optimization algorithm can start its process based on one or more of the stored sets of parameters, thereby making it possible to save time in the optimization and avoiding transient effects.

[0082] Alternatively, the optimization algorithm monitors its performance and stops its optimization iterations when it reaches a stopping criterion, which may be the reception by the general controller 41 of an identifier of a receiver that has not yet been identified. It is therefore possible to avoid slight fluctuations or fluctuations in the reception of the secondary wave OS.

[0083] Finally, the above-described embodiments of the overall controller 41 may be combined to generate some of the adjustment parameters by optimization to the received secondary waves OS, some by random adjustment, and some by default within the volume V. This strategy allows for more rapid identification of more receivers within the volume V.

[0084] Furthermore, so that the receiver can receive and decode the adjustment parameters intended for it, the overall controller 41 determines these adjustment parameters for each adjustable receiver 30 included in the system 10 (i.e., the receivers currently detected and listed by the overall controller 41 in the dynamic list L) according to the optimization procedure described above, and the overall controller 41 transmits each adjustment parameter to the corresponding associated receiver when emitting an overall control wave OCg, which may or may not be a primary wave OP.

[0085] In particular, this transmission in the control wave OC is performed by any type of coding and / or any type of modulation in the general control wave OCg emission signal that the general controller 41 supplies to the general antenna 42 .

[0086] Alternatively, the general controller 41 may simultaneously instruct all adjustable receivers 30 to change or adjust their impedance according to parameters specific to each receiver. For example, instructions may be sent according to the identity of each receiver (such as "contains or does not contain zeros," "has an even number at the end," etc.) to modify the impedance of each receiver according to a defined formula.

[0087] Receiver - Energy Recovery 2, the tunable receiver(s) 30 may further include an energy storage device 38 suitable for storing and possibly accumulating the energy received by the energy recovery device 37. In this way, the tunable receiver 30 becomes more autonomous and can operate for a period determined by the capacity of said energy storage device. This energy storage device may be, for example, a capacitor, or a battery, or any other energy storage device.

[0088] The energy recovery device 37 may recover energy from the primary wave OP and / or from the overall control wave OCg, for example, to power its receiving device 34 and / or its controller 31 and / or adjustable component 35.

[0089] Therefore, the tunable receiver 30 is energy self-sufficient and may also be self-sufficient in terms of adapting its impedance. The tunable components 35 of each tunable receiver 30 may also have access to their energy recovery devices without requiring a wired connection to the controller 31 of the tunable receiver 30.

[0090] Advantageously, all tunable receivers of the system 10 may each (individually) have their own energy recovery device 37 and are therefore independent of each other.

[0091] Adjustable elements Optionally, and referring again to FIG. 1 , the system 10 may further comprise one or more adjustable elements 20 fixed within the volume V. The adjustable elements 20 may have impedances that can be modified to modify the manner in which the primary wave OP is reflected and / or transmitted by each adjustable element 20, in the same manner as described above with respect to the adjustable receiver 30.

[0092] The adjustable elements 20 are structurally and functionally similar to the adjustable receiver 30, except that they are fixed relative to the volume V, are always identified by the overall controller 41, and are always directly identified by the overall controller 41. Therefore, the adjustable elements 20 are passive elements whose impedance is commanded by the overall controller 41.

[0093] The number N of adjustable elements 20 is preferably greater than or equal to 2. Optionally, to further modify the distribution of the primary waves OP within the volume V, the number N is greater than 5, or even 10 or 20.

[0094] According to one embodiment, the general control wave OCg or the primary wave OP emitted by the general controller 41 allows controlling or driving the adjustable element 20. Therefore, the general controller 41 can simultaneously control or drive the adjustable element 20 and the adjustable receiver 30 of the system 10.

[0095] Furthermore, each adjustable element 20 comprises a receiving device for receiving the overall control wave OCg, which decodes the adjustment parameters contained in this wave OCg and emanating from the overall controller 41. The adjustable element 20 then uses the adjustment parameters to control and modify its impedance.

[0096] The overall control wave OCg may be in the same or a different frequency band as the primary wave OP. Advantageously, these waves are of different frequencies and their transmission is independent.

[0097] Additionally, since the adjustable elements 20 are fixed to the container C at multiple different positions, it is possible to further modify the distribution of the primary wave OP within the volume V. The positions of the adjustable elements 20 on the container C may be optimized to best cover the volume V with a minimum number of adjustable elements 20. This spatial optimization may be performed by simulation and / or measurement of the volume V. To improve the discrimination robustness of the system 10, a margin may be added to the number of adjustable elements 20 used.

[0098] Adjustable Elements - Optimization The adjustable elements 20 may be taken into account in the adjustment and / or optimization process described above with respect to the adjustable receiver 30. The adjustable elements 20 may also be part of the dynamic list L, since they are always identified.

[0099] Adjustable Elements - Energy Recovery Additionally, one, some, or all of the adjustable elements 20 (if part of the system 10) may be equipped with an energy recovery device similar to that described above with respect to the adjustable receiver 30. Thus, the adjustable elements 20 may be self-sufficient in terms of being energy self-sufficient and adapting their impedance. In this case, each adjustable element 20 does not require a wired connection to the overall control module, nor does it require a wired connection to the overall controller 41 of the detection system 10.

[0100] Adjustable element-spatial distribution If adjustable element 20 is present in system 10, it can be placed within volume V without any wiring constraints (e.g., inside or outside container C, or on any surface of container C). This allows for a great deal of freedom in placing adjustable element 20 to best maximize the probability of detection and identification of all adjustable receivers 30 within volume V. This also allows container C to be deployed very quickly, since it is sufficient to fix adjustable element 20 on container C and position manager antenna 42 near volume V.

[0101] The adjustable element 20 may be attached to the container C by any attachment means. For example, the adjustable element 20 is secured to the container C by adhesive, by elastic fastening clips, by screws, by rivets, by interlocking, or by a press fit.

[0102] Furthermore, the adjustable element 20 advantageously has a flat shape. A portion of its electrical circuitry is, for example, printed directly on a substrate. The substrate is, for example, made of paper, cardboard, plastic, or fabric, and has, for example, one side provided with adhesive. Optionally, the portion of the electrical circuitry comprises an antenna. The adjustable element 20 may also have flexibility that allows it to bend along a radius of curvature, thereby allowing it to be fixed on a non-planar surface. Using these configurations, the adjustable element 20 can be easily fixed on multiple surfaces (planar or non-planar) of the container, thereby allowing it to be positioned in a position suitable for controlling the electromagnetic field within the volume V.

[0103] Non-adjustable elements The system 10 according to the invention may further comprise a non-adjustable element 29 fixed within the volume V, having a predetermined fixed impedance, which impedance is adapted to modify the manner in which the primary wave OP is reflected and / or absorbed by said non-adjustable element 29.

[0104] This or these non-adjustable elements 29 are fixed at different positions to the container C. These non-adjustable elements 29 make it possible to modify in a non-adjustable way the distribution of the primary wave OP in the volume V.

[0105] For example, these non-adjustable elements 29 are elements that are resonant in the frequency band of the primary wave OP.

[0106] For example, the non-adjustable element 29 may reflect the primary wave OP and / or absorb the primary wave OP, which may allow confining the primary wave OP to the volume V of the container C in order to optimize the efficiency of the adjustable element 20 and the adjustable receiver 30 within the volume V.

[0107] The positions of the non-adjustable elements 29 on the container C may be optimized so that the primary wave best covers the volume V with the minimum number of adjustable elements 20. This optimization may be performed by simulation and / or measurement (experimental method) of the volume V.

[0108] Industrial Applications System 10 incorporating adjustable receivers that involve other receivers to detect them, increase their number, modify and / or optimize the electromagnetic field as they are identified by the general controller 41 allows the general controller 41 to more quickly determine other receivers that are present within volume V but have not yet been identified.

[0109] This system 10 has numerous industrial applications.

[0110] For example, the following: Furniture (optionally equipped with adjustable elements 20), such as storage furniture such as a cupboard or shelving unit, or office furniture such as a desk or table, suitable to receive a product having an adjustable receiver attached thereto, or a container in a cash register of a store (optionally equipped with adjustable elements 20) into which products, each having an associated adjustable receiver 30, are inserted, the adjustable receiver attached to the product enabling the system to identify the product and the cash register to issue a receipt; or a shopping cart in a store (optionally equipped with adjustable elements 20) containing several items for purchase, each having an associated adjustable receiver 30; or a bag (optionally equipped with adjustable elements 20), e.g. a shopping bag, containing several items therein, each having an adjustable receiver 30; or a car or aeroplane or a train (optionally equipped with an adjustable element 20 and / or an adjustable receiver 30) carrying a device each having an adjustable receiver 30 therein; or a room or other facility (optionally equipped with adjustable elements 20) having movable elements each with an associated adjustable receiver 30, for example an industrial space such as a warehouse, or a room in a residence, or a retail space in a shopping centre; or Store shelves, each product equipped with an adjustable receiver 30; or A storage or shipping center for products each equipped with an adjustable receiver 30, which may be sold by mail order. [Explanation of symbols]

[0111] 10 Receiver Detection System 20 adjustable elements 29 Non-adjustable elements 30 Adjustable receiver, first receiver 30a First adjustable receiver 30b Second adjustable receiver 31 Controller 32 Antenna 33 Memory 34 Receiving Device 35 Adjustable Components 36 base 37 Energy Recovery Device 38 Energy Storage Devices 41 General Controller 42 Integrated Antenna 43 Memory C Container C1 bottom C2 side C3 side C4 side C5 side C6 opening surface IB1 Base Impedance IC1 First configuration impedance IC2 Second configuration impedance OCg Overall control wave emission, overall control wave OP primary wave OSb secondary wave T1 duration T2 duration T3 duration V volume

Claims

1. 1. A method for detecting a receiver, realized by a detection system (10) comprising an overall antenna (42) suitable for emitting a primary wave (OP) and an overall controller (41) connected to the overall antenna, the system comprising an adjustable receiver (30) having a receiver antenna (32) suitable for receiving the primary wave and for emitting a secondary wave (OS), the adjustable receiver having a receiver controller (31) connected to the receiver antenna, the receiver controller being suitable for detecting the primary wave received by the receiver antenna and for directing the emission of the secondary wave by the receiver antenna, the adjustable receiver having a modifiable impedance, thereby influencing the emitted secondary wave, the adjustable receiver being initially in a detection mode, wherein the adjustable receiver has a base impedance (IB), a receiver detection step in which the adjustable receiver is detected by the integrated controller when the integrated antenna receives the secondary wave emitted by the adjustable receiver; and a reconfiguration step in which the overall controller instructs the receiver controller to switch the impedance of the adjustable receiver to an interaction mode in which the impedance alternates between a first configuration impedance (IC1) and a second configuration impedance (IC2) in order to detect other receivers, the reconfiguration step requiring a duration (T1) that is an order of magnitude greater than the durations (T2, T3) of each alternation of the first and second configuration impedances; A method comprising:

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base impedance is applied by the receiver controller independently of the overall controller.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first constituent impedance is the base impedance.

4. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first configuration impedance is at a distance from the second configuration impedance.

5. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first constituent impedance and the second constituent impedance are within a factor of 10 of each other, one on each side of the base impedance in the complex plane.

6. The adjustable receiver is a first adjustable receiver (30a), the receiver antenna (32) is a first receiver antenna, the primary wave is a first primary wave, the secondary wave is a first secondary wave, the receiver controller (31) is a first receiver controller, the base impedance is a first base impedance, the first adjustable receiver has a first configured impedance, and the system includes a second adjustable receiver (30b), the second adjustable receiver is a second receiver antenna suitable for receiving the primary wave and emitting a second secondary wave (OSb). a second receiver controller (31b) connected to the second receiver antenna, the second receiver controller (31b) adapted to control the emission of the second secondary wave by the second receiver antenna and to detect the primary wave received by the second receiver antenna, the second adjustable receiver having a modifiable impedance and thus affecting the second secondary wave emitted by the second receiver antenna, the second adjustable receiver initially in a detection mode, the second adjustable receiver having a second base impedance; 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: a reconfiguration step of reconfiguring the second receiver, wherein when the central antenna receives the second secondary wave emitted by the second adjustable receiver and the central controller detects the second adjustable receiver, the central controller instructs the second adjustable receiver to switch to an interaction mode in which the impedance of the second adjustable receiver alternates between a first configured impedance (IC2a) of the second receiver and a second configured impedance (IC2b) of the second receiver to detect other receivers, wherein the reconfiguration step of reconfiguring the second adjustable receiver requires a duration (T1b) that is one order of magnitude greater than the durations (T2b, T3b) of each alternation of the first and second configured impedances of the second receiver.

7. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first configuration impedance of the second receiver is the second base impedance of the second receiver.

8. 8. The method of claim 6 or 7, wherein the first configuration impedance of the second receiver is at a distance from the second configuration impedance of the second receiver.

9. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first configuration impedance of the second receiver and the second configuration impedance of the second receiver are close to each other, one on each side of the base impedance in the complex plane.

10. 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the alternation of the configuration impedance of the second receiver in interaction mode is determined by the overall controller iteratively determining and optimizing the configuration impedance or by a predetermined set of impedance values.

11. 11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the alternation of the configuration impedance of the second receiver in interaction mode is performed at irregular, non-periodic times.

12. 12. The method of claim 6, wherein the overall controller determines the alternation of the configuration impedance of the second receiver in an interaction mode.

13. 13. The method of claim 6, wherein the overall controller directs the switching of the second receiver to an interaction mode, and when in interaction mode, the controller of the second receiver directs the alternation of the configuration impedance.

14. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein in an interaction mode, the impedance of the adjustable receiver alternates between a plurality of configured impedances.

15. the adjustable receiver includes a plurality of adjustable components and associated antennas; The general controller instructs the general antenna to emit a general control wave containing identification information together with the adjustment parameters to specify each adjustable component to which the related adjustment parameters are applied; 15. The method of claim 1, wherein if the identification information is equal to its adjustable component identifier (IDcr), the adjustable component controls the impedance of the associated antenna with respect to the adjustment parameter.

16. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an adjustable element (20) connected to the supervisory antenna, and wherein, during the receiver detection step, the supervisory controller also modifies the impedance of the adjustable element.

17. 17. The method of claim 16, with reference to any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the overall controller simultaneously modifies the impedance of the adjustable element and the impedance of the second receiver according to values ​​determined by iteratively determining and optimizing the configured impedances.

18. an adjustable receiver (30); a manager antenna (42) adapted to emit a primary wave (OP) and to receive a secondary wave (OS) emitted by the adjustable receiver in response to receiving the primary wave; a supervisory controller (41) connected to the supervisory antenna, the supervisory controller (41) being adapted to direct the emission of the primary wave and to detect the adjustable receiver using the secondary wave received by the supervisory antenna; A receiver detection system (10) comprising: The adjustable receiver further comprises: a receiver antenna (32) adapted to emit said secondary waves; a receiver controller (31) connected to the receiver antenna, the receiver controller (31) being adapted to direct the emission of the secondary waves by the receiver antenna and to detect the primary waves received by the receiver antenna; Equipped with the tunable receiver has a modifiable impedance to modify the manner in which the primary wave is reflected and / or transmitted as a secondary wave by the receiver antenna; the receiver detection system is configured such that when the adjustable receiver is detected by the overall controller, the overall controller instructs the receiver controller to switch from a detection mode to an interaction mode; In a detection mode, the adjustable receiver has a base impedance (IB); A receiver detection system (10) in which, in an interaction mode, the impedance of the adjustable receiver is alternated between a first configuration impedance (IC1) and a second configuration impedance (IC2) to detect other receivers, and the interaction mode is of a duration (T1) that is one order of magnitude greater than the durations (T2, T3) of each alternation of the first and second configuration impedances.

19. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the first configuration impedance is the base impedance.

20. 20. The system of claim 18 or 19, wherein the first constituent impedance is a distance from the second constituent impedance.

21. 21. The system of claim 18, wherein the alternation of the configuration impedance in the interaction mode is determined by the overall controller iteratively determining and optimizing the configuration impedance or by a predetermined set of impedance values.

22. 22. The system of claim 18, wherein the alternation of the configuration impedance in interaction mode is performed at irregular, non-periodic times.

23. 23. The system of any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the overall controller is adapted to determine the alternation of the configuration impedance in an interaction mode of the adjustable receiver.

24. 24. The system of claim 18, wherein the overall controller is adapted to direct the switching of the adjustable receivers into an interaction mode, and when in interaction mode, the controllers of the adjustable receivers are adapted to direct the alternation of the configuration impedances.

25. an antenna (32) adapted to emit a secondary wave (OS) in response to receiving a primary wave (OP) and to receive an overall control wave; a controller (31) connected to the antenna, the controller (31) being suitable for instructing the emission of the secondary waves and detecting received primary waves and the overall control wave; An adjustable receiver (30) comprising: the adjustable receiver has a modifiable impedance, thus influencing the emitted secondary wave; the adjustable receiver has a detection mode and an interaction mode, and the adjustable receiver switches from the detection mode to the interaction mode according to the received supervisory control wave; In a detection mode, the adjustable receiver has a base impedance (IB); An adjustable receiver (30) in which, in an interaction mode, the impedance of the adjustable receiver is adapted to alternate between a first configuration impedance (IC1) and a second configuration impedance (IC2) to detect other receivers, and the interaction mode is of a duration (T1) that is one order of magnitude greater than the duration (T2, T3) of each alternation of the first and second configuration impedances.

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