RFID reader integrated with wireless communication device

An integrated RFID reader and wireless communication device is realized by a radio frequency (RF) front end operable, in a first mode, to generate a radio frequency identification system (RFID) outbound radio frequency (RF) signal, to receive an RFID inbound RF signal responsive to the RFID outbound RF signal and to convert the RFID inbound RF signal to an RFID near baseband signal, and operable in a second mode, to generate a transceiver outbound radio frequency (RF) signal, to receive a transceiver inbound RF signal and to convert the transceiver inbound RF signal to a transceiver near baseband signal. The integrated device further includes a digitization module operable, in the first mode, to convert the RFID near baseband signal to an RFID digital baseband signal, and operable, in a second mode, to convert the transceiver near baseband signal to a transceiver digital baseband signal, and a baseband processing module operably coupled, in the first mode, to convert the RFID digital baseband signal into inbound RFID digital data, and operably coupled, in the second mode, to convert the transceiver digital baseband signal into inbound transceiver digital data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

This invention is related generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly to wireless communication devices facilitating radio-frequency identification (RFID).

2. Description of Related Art

A radio frequency identification (RFID) system generally includes a reader, also known as an interrogator, and a remote tag, also known as a transponder. Each tag stores identification data for use in identifying a person, article, parcel or other object. RFID systems may use active tags that include an internal power source, such as a battery, and/or passive tags that do not contain an internal power source, but instead are remotely powered by the reader.

Communication between the reader and the remote tag is enabled by radio frequency (RF) signals. In general, to access the identification data stored on an RFID tag, the RFID reader generates a modulated RF interrogation signal designed to evoke a modulated RF response from a tag. The RF response from the tag includes the coded identification data stored in the RFID tag. The RFID reader decodes the coded identification data to identify the person, article, parcel or other object associated with the RFID tag. For passive tags, the RFID reader also generates an unmodulated, continuous wave (CW) signal to activate and power the tag during data transfer.

RFID systems typically employ either far-field technology, in which the distance between the reader and the tag is great compared to the wavelength of the carrier signal, or near-field technology, in which the operating distance is less than one wavelength of the carrier signal, to facilitate communication between the RFID reader and RFID tag. In far-field applications, the RFID reader generates and transmits an RF signal via an antenna to all tags within range of the antenna. One or more of the tags that receive the RF signal responds to the reader using a backscattering technique in which the tags modulate and reflect the received RF signal. In near-field applications, the RFID reader and tag communicate via mutual inductance between corresponding reader and tag inductors.

Current RFID readers are formed of separate and discrete components whose interfaces are well-defined. For example, an RFID reader may consist of a controller or microprocessor implemented on a CMOS integrated circuit and a radio implemented on one or more separate CMOS, BiCMOS or GaAs integrated circuits that are uniquely designed for optimal signal processing in a particular technology (e.g., near-field or far-field). However, the high cost of such discrete-component RFID readers has been a deterrent to wide-spread deployment of RFID systems.

For example, in some applications, it may be desirable to wirelessly communicate RFID data captured by an RFID reader to a computer, server or network device for centralized storage, verification and/or analysis of the RFID data. There are a number of well-defined wireless communication standards (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), and/or variations thereof) that could facilitate such wireless communication between an RFID reader and a network device. However, due to the high cost of RFID readers, RFID technology has not been integrated into existing wireless communication devices, such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio, personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptop computer, home entertainment equipment and other similar handheld wireless communication devices.

Therefore, a need exists for a wireless communication device that incorporates a low-cost RFID reader. In addition, a need exists for a wireless communication device capable of communicating RFID data over a communication network.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a schematic block diagram ofFIG. 1is a functional block diagram illustrating a communication system10that includes a plurality of base stations or access points (APs)12-16, a plurality of wireless communication devices18-28and a network hardware component44. The wireless communication devices18-28may be laptop computers18, personal digital assistants20, personal computers24and28and/or cellular telephones22and26.

Wireless communication devices22and26each include a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader30and32, respectively. Each RFID reader30and34wirelessly communicates with one or more RFID tags36-40within its coverage area. For example, RFID tags36and38may be within the coverage area of RFID reader30, and RFID tag40may be within the coverage area of RFID reader32. In one embodiment, the RF communication scheme between the RFID readers30and32and RFID tags36-40is a backscatter technique whereby the RFID readers30and32request data from the RFID tags36-40via an RF signal, and the RF tags36-40respond with the requested data by modulating and backscattering the RF signal provided by the RFID readers30and32. In another embodiment, the RF communication scheme between the RFID readers30and32and RFID tags36-40is an inductance technique whereby the RFID readers30and32magnetically couple to the RFID tags36-40via an RF signal to access the data on the RFID tags36-40. In either embodiment, the RFID tags36-40provide the requested data to the RFID readers30and32on the same RF carrier frequency as the RF signal. The details of the wireless communication devices and associated RFID readers will be described in greater detail with reference toFIGS. 2-9.

The base stations or APs12-16are operably coupled to the network hardware component44via local area network (LAN) connections46-49. The network hardware component44, which may be a router, switch, bridge, modem, system controller, etc., provides a wide area network connection42for the communication system10. Each of the base stations or access points12-16has an associated antenna or antenna array to communicate with the wireless communication devices in its area. Typically, the wireless communication devices18-28register with the particular base station or access points12-16to receive services from the communication system10. For direct connections (i.e., point-to-point communications), wireless communication devices communicate directly via an allocated channel.

Typically, base stations are used for cellular telephone systems and like-type systems, while access points are used for in-home or in-building wireless networks. For example, access points are typically used in Bluetooth systems. Regardless of the particular type of communication system, each wireless communication device and each of the base stations or access points includes a built-in radio and/or is coupled to a radio. The radio includes a transceiver (transmitter and receiver) for modulating/demodulating information (data or speech) bits into a format that comports with the type of communication system.

In addition to or as an alternative to including RFID readers within wireless communication devices, an RFID reader34can also be incorporated within a base station16. As shown inFIG. 1, RFID reader34within base station16wirelessly communicates with one or more RFID tags42within its coverage area using a backscatter technique. The RFID collected by the RFID reader34may then be passed to the network hardware component44over LAN connection48.

In this manner, the RFID readers30-34collect RFID data from each of the RFID tags36-42within its coverage area. The collected data may then be conveyed to the network hardware component44for further processing and/or forwarding of the collected data. For example, the RFID readers30and32incorporated within wireless communication devices22and26can provide the collected RFID data to the respective internal transceivers within wireless communication devices22and26to communicate the RFID data to the network hardware component44using any available wireless communication standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11x, Bluetooth, et cetera). In addition, and/or in the alternative, the network hardware component44may provide data to one or more of the RFID tags36-42via the associated RFID reader30-34. Such downloaded information is application dependent and may vary greatly. Upon receiving the downloaded data, the RFID tag can store the data in a non-volatile memory therein.

The RFID tags36-42may each be associated with a particular object for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to, tracking inventory, tracking status, location determination, assembly progress, et cetera. The RFID tags may be active devices that include internal power sources or passive devices that derive power from the RFID readers30-34.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the communication system10ofFIG. 1may be expanded to include a multitude of RFID readers30-34distributed throughout a desired location (for example, a building, office site, et cetera) where the RFID tags may be associated with equipment, inventory, personnel, et cetera. In addition, it should be noted that the network hardware component44may be coupled to an RFID server and/or other network device to provide wide area network coverage.

FIG. 2is a schematic block diagram illustrating a wireless communication device18-28as a host device and an associated transceiver60. For cellular telephone hosts, the radio60is a built-in component. For personal digital assistants hosts, laptop hosts, and/or personal computer hosts, the transceiver60may be built-in or an externally coupled component.

As illustrated, the host wireless communication device18-28includes a processing module50, a memory52, a transceiver interface54, an input interface58and an output interface56. The processing module50and memory52execute instructions that are typically performed by the host device. For example, for a cellular telephone host device, the processing module50performs the corresponding communication functions in accordance with a particular cellular telephone standard.

The transceiver interface54allows data to be received from and sent to the transceiver60. For data received from the transceiver60(e.g., inbound data), the transceiver interface54provides the data to the processing module50for further processing and/or routing to the output interface56. The output interface56provides connectivity to an output device such as a display, monitor, speakers, etc., such that the received data may be displayed. The transceiver interface54also provides data from the processing module50to the transceiver60. The processing module50may receive the outbound data from an input device such as a keyboard, keypad, microphone, etc., via the input interface58or generate the data itself. For data received via the input interface58, the processing module50may perform a corresponding host function on the data and/or route it to the transceiver60via the transceiver interface54.

Transceiver60includes a host interface62, a digital receiver processing module64, an analog-to-digital converter66, a filtering/gain module68, a down-conversion module70, a low noise amplifier72, receiver filter module71, a transmitter/receiver (Tx/RX) switch module73, a local oscillation module74, a memory75, a digital transmitter processing module76, a digital-to-analog converter78, a filtering/gain module80, an IF mixing up-conversion module82, a power amplifier84, a transmitter filter module85, and an antenna86. The antenna86is shared by the transmit and receive paths as regulated by the Tx/Rx switch module73. The antenna implementation will depend on the particular standard to which the wireless communication device is compliant.

The digital receiver processing module64and the digital transmitter processing module76, in combination with operational instructions stored in memory75, execute digital receiver functions and digital transmitter functions, respectively. The digital receiver functions include, but are not limited to, demodulation, constellation demapping, decoding, and/or descrambling. The digital transmitter functions include, but are not limited to, scrambling, encoding, constellation mapping, modulation. The digital receiver and transmitter processing modules64and76may be implemented using a shared processing device, individual processing devices, or a plurality of processing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. The memory75may be a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that when the digital receiver processing module64and/or the digital transmitter processing module76implements one or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory storing the corresponding operational instructions is embedded with the circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. The memory75stores, and the digital receiver processing module64and/or the digital transmitter processing module76executes, operational instructions corresponding to at least some of the functions illustrated herein.

In operation, the transceiver60receives outbound data94from the host wireless communication device18-28via the host interface62. The host interface62routes the outbound data94to the digital transmitter processing module76, which processes the outbound data94in accordance with a particular wireless communication standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, Bluetooth, etc.) to produce digital transmission formatted data96. The digital transmission formatted data96will be a digital baseband signal or a digital low IF signal, where the low IF typically will be in the frequency range of one hundred kilohertz to a few megahertz.

The digital-to-analog converter78converts the digital transmission formatted data96from the digital domain to the analog domain. The filtering/gain module80filters and/or adjusts the gain of the analog baseband signal prior to providing it to the up-conversion module82. The up-conversion module82directly converts the analog baseband signal, or low IF signal, into an RF signal based on a transmitter local oscillation83provided by local oscillation module74. The power amplifier84amplifies the RF signal to produce an outbound RF signal98, which is filtered by the transmitter filter module85. The antenna86transmits the outbound RF signal98to a targeted device such as a base station, an access point and/or another wireless communication device.

The transceiver60also receives an inbound RF signal88via the antenna86, which was transmitted by a base station, an access point, or another wireless communication device. The antenna86provides the inbound RF signal88to the receiver filter module71via the Tx/Rx switch module73, where the Rx filter module71bandpass filters the inbound RF signal88. The Rx filter module71provides the filtered RF signal to low noise amplifier72, which amplifies the inbound RF signal88to produce an amplified inbound RF signal. The low noise amplifier72provides the amplified inbound RF signal to the down-conversion module70, which directly converts the amplified inbound RF signal into an inbound low IF signal or baseband signal based on a receiver local oscillation signal81provided by local oscillation module74. The down-conversion module70provides the inbound low IF signal or baseband signal to the filtering/gain module68. The filtering/gain module68may be implemented in accordance with the teachings of the present invention to filter and/or attenuate the inbound low IF signal or the inbound baseband signal to produce a filtered inbound signal.

The analog-to-digital converter66converts the filtered inbound signal from the analog domain to the digital domain to produce digital reception formatted data90. The digital receiver processing module64decodes, descrambles, demaps, and/or demodulates the digital reception formatted data90to recapture inbound data92in accordance with the particular wireless communication standard being implemented by transceiver60. The host interface62provides the recaptured inbound data92to the host wireless communication device18-28via the transceiver interface54.

As one of average skill in the art will appreciate, the wireless communication device ofFIG. 2may be implemented using one or more integrated circuits. For example, the host device may be implemented on a first integrated circuit, while the digital receiver processing module64, the digital transmitter processing module76and memory75are implemented on a second integrated circuit, and the remaining components of the transceiver60, less the antenna86, may be implemented on a third integrated circuit. As an alternate example, the transceiver60may be implemented on a single integrated circuit. As yet another example, the processing module50of the host device and the digital receiver processing module64and the digital transmitter processing module76may be a common processing device implemented on a single integrated circuit. Further, memory52and memory75may be implemented on a single integrated circuit and/or on the same integrated circuit as the common processing modules of processing module50, the digital receiver processing module64, and the digital transmitter processing module76.

The wireless communication device ofFIG. 2is one that may be implemented to include either a direct conversion from RF to baseband and baseband to RF or for a conversion by way of a low intermediate frequency. Thus, while one embodiment of the present invention includes local oscillation module74, up-conversion module82and down-conversion module70that are implemented to perform conversion between a low intermediate frequency (IF) and RF, it is understood that the principles herein may also be applied readily to systems that implement a direct conversion between baseband and RF.

FIG. 3is a schematic block diagram of an RFID reader30-34that includes an integrated circuit156and may further include a host interface module154. The integrated circuit156includes a protocol processing module140, an encoding module142, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)144, an RF front-end146, a digitization module148, a predecoding module150and a decoding module152, all of which together form the essential components of the RFID reader30-34. In another embodiment, the DAC144is removed from the transmit path, and as such, the power amplifier in the RF front end146takes digital power control input. The host interface module154may include a communication interface to a host device, such as a cellular telephone or other wireless communication device.

The protocol processing module140is operably coupled to prepare data for encoding in accordance with a particular RFID standardized protocol. In an exemplary embodiment, the protocol processing module140is programmed with multiple RFID standardized protocols to enable the RFID reader30-32to communicate with any RFID tag, regardless of the particular protocol associated with the tag. In this embodiment, the protocol processing module140operates to program filters and other components of the encoding module142, decoding module152, pre-decoding module150and RF front end146in accordance with the particular RFID standardized protocol of the tag(s) currently communicating with the RFID reader30-34.

In operation, once the particular RFID standardized protocol has been selected for communication with one or more RFID tags, the protocol processing module140generates and provides digital data to be communicated to the RFID tag to the encoding module142for encoding in accordance with the selected RFID standardized protocol. By way of example, but not limitation, the RFID protocols may include one or more line encoding schemes, such as Manchester encoding, FM0 encoding, FM1 encoding, etc. Thereafter, the encoded data is provided to the digital-to-analog converter144which converts the digitally encoded data into an analog signal. The RF front-end146modulates the analog signal to produce an RF signal at a particular carrier frequency that is transmitted via antenna160to one or more RFID tags.

Upon receiving an RF signal from one or more RFID tags, the RF front-end146converts the received RF signal into a baseband signal. The digitization module148, which may be a limiting module or an analog-to-digital converter, converts the received baseband signal into a digital signal. The predecoding module150converts the digital signal into an encoded signal in accordance with the particular RFID protocol being utilized. The encoded data is provided to the decoding module152, which recaptures data therefrom in accordance with the particular encoding scheme of the selected RFID protocol. The protocol processing module140processes the recovered data to identify the object(s) associated with the RFID tag(s) and/or provides the recovered data to the host device, as described in more detail below in connection withFIGS. 4 and 5, for further processing.

In an exemplary operation involving passive RFID tags, the RFID reader30-34first transmits an unmodulated, continuous wave (CW) RF signal to activate and provide power to all passive tags within the range of the antenna160. The protocol processing module140controls the timing of the CW transmission to ensure that the CW transmission is long enough to enable the tags to receive and decode a subsequent interrogation signal from the RFID reader30-34and to generate a response thereto. Thereafter, the RFID reader30-34generates and transmits an amplitude-modulated (AM) RF interrogation signal to the tags, requesting data from the RFID tags. After the AM signal has been transmitted for a predetermined length of time, the RF signal is again changed back to a CW signal to provide power to the tags and to allow backscattering of the signal by the tags with the requested data.

The RF front-end146may include filters, a frequency synthesizer or local oscillation module, power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, up-conversion modules, down-conversion modules and other RF components, as desired. In addition, the RF front-end146may further include transmit blocking capabilities such that the energy of the transmitted RF signal does not substantially interfere with the receiving of a back-scattered or other RF signal received from one or more RFID tags via the antenna160. The antenna160may be a single antenna or an antenna array.

The processing module140may be a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of the circuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module may have an associated memory element, which may be a single memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embedded circuitry of the processing module. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information. Note that when the processing module140implements one or more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory element storing the corresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Further note that, the memory element stores, and the processing module140executes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/or functions illustrated inFIGS. 3-10below.

By integrating the RFID reader30-34onto a single integrated circuit156, the cost of the RFID reader30-34is significantly reduced, thereby enabling RFID reader technology to be implemented on a wireless communication device at low cost.

Referring now toFIG. 4A, there is illustrated an exemplary wireless communication device22,26incorporating both a transceiver60and an RFID reader30,32in accordance with the present invention. The transceiver60includes antenna86, a transceiver RF front-end212, a transceiver baseband processing module210and a transceiver host interface62. The transceiver RF front-end212includes various RF components, such as filters, an up-conversion module, a down-conversion module, a local oscillation module, low noise amplifiers and power amplifiers, as can be seen inFIG. 2. The transceiver baseband processing module210includes various transmitter and receiver processing modules, as can also be seen inFIG. 2.

The RFID reader30,32includes antenna160, RFID front-end146, an RFID baseband processing module220and an RFID host interface154. The RFID front-end146corresponds to the RF front-end146illustrated inFIG. 3. The RFID baseband processing module220includes various baseband processing components, such as encoding modules, decoding modules and protocol processing modules, as can be seen inFIG. 3.

The transceiver host interface62and RFID host interface154each provide a respective communication interface to the host processing module50of the host wireless communication device22,26. Thus, host processing module50provides outbound transceiver data to the transceiver60and receives inbound transceiver data from the transceiver60via the transceiver host interface62. In addition, the host processing module50provides outbound RFID data to the RFID reader30,32and receives inbound RFID data from the RFID reader30,32via the RFID host interface154. In one embodiment, the host processing module50includes a transceiver host processing module230for processing outbound and inbound transceiver data and an RFID host processing module232for processing outbound and inbound RFID data. The transceiver host processing module230and RFID host processing module232may be implemented as separate protocol blocks in software or as two separate processor chips. In another embodiment, the host processing module50is shared between the transceiver60and RFID reader30,32, as will be described in more detail below in connection withFIGS. 4B,5and6.

The host processing module50is operable in two modes: a transceiver mode and an RFID mode. In transceiver mode, the host processing module50receives inbound transceiver data from and/or provides outbound transceiver data to the transceiver60via the transceiver host interface62. In RFID mode, the host processing module50receives inbound RFID data from and/or provides outbound RFID data to the RFID reader30,32via the RFID host interface154. In one embodiment, the host processing module50operates in only one mode at a time. In other embodiments, the host processing module50is capable of simultaneously operating in both transceiver mode and RFID mode. For example, as shown inFIG. 4, the transceiver host processing module230and RFID host processing module232are capable of simultaneously communicating with the transceiver60and RFID reader30,32, respectively. As a result, transceiver data is able to be transmitted and/or received over antenna86while RFID data is being transmitted and/or received over antenna160. In this way, the wireless communication device22,26is equipped with RFID capabilities without disrupting normal transceiver operation.

The host processing module50further includes an interface234for enabling communication between the transceiver60and the RFID reader30,32. For example, the interface234enables RFID data captured by the RFID reader30,32to be communicated to a network device, such as a base station, an access point and/or another wireless communication device, via transceiver60. In addition, the interface234enables transceiver data received from a wireless network to be communicated to the RFID reader30,32. For example, the transceiver data may include signaling or other commands to the RFID reader30,32, or it may include data to be written via the RFID reader30,32into an RFID tag.

In an exemplary operation, upon receiving an RF signal from one or more RFID tags at antenna160, the RFID RF front-end146converts the received RF signal into a baseband signal, which is thereafter converted into a digital baseband signal. The digital baseband signal is provided to the RFID baseband processing module220to recapture RFID data therefrom in accordance with a particular RFID protocol used by the RFID tag that generated that RF signal. The RFID baseband processing module220may further process the RFID data to identify the object(s) associated with the RFID tag(s). The recovered RFID data is further provided to the RFID host processing module232via RFID host interface154. Upon receiving the RFID data, the RFID host processing module232provides the RFID data to the transceiver host processing module230via interface234. The transceiver host processing module230formats the RFID data in accordance with a particular wireless communication protocol associated with the transceiver60and provides the formatted RFID data to the transceiver baseband processing module210via the transceiver host interface62. The transceiver baseband processing module210processes the formatted RFID data in accordance with a particular wireless communication standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, Bluetooth, etc.) to produce a digital near baseband signal. The digital near baseband signal is converted from the digital domain to the analog domain and provided to the transceiver RF front end212for up-conversion to produce an outbound RF signal that is transmitted by the antenna86to a network device, such as a base station, an access point and/or another wireless communication device.

FIG. 4Billustrates another exemplary wireless communication device22,26in which the transceiver60and RFID reader30,32are at least partially integrated in accordance with the present invention. As inFIG. 4A, the transceiver60includes antenna86and transceiver RF front-end212, while RFID reader30,32includes antenna160and RFID RF front end146. However, the RFID reader30,32and transceiver60share a common baseband processing module350, a common host interface158and the host processing module50.

The common baseband processing module350is operable in two modes: a transceiver mode and an RFID mode. In transceiver mode, the baseband processing module350processes inbound or outbound transceiver data, while in RFID mode, the baseband processing module350processes inbound or outbound RFID data. In one embodiment, the baseband processing module350operates in only one mode at a time. In other embodiments, the baseband processing module350is capable of simultaneously operating in both transceiver mode and RFID mode.

Host processing module50provides outbound transceiver data to the transceiver60and receives inbound transceiver data from the transceiver60via the common host interface158. In addition, the host processing module50provides outbound RFID data to the RFID reader30,32and receives inbound RFID data from the RFID reader30,32via the common host interface158.

In an exemplary operation, upon receiving an RF signal from one or more RFID tags at antenna160, the RFID RF front-end146converts the received RF signal into a baseband signal, which is thereafter converted into a digital baseband signal. The digital baseband signal is provided to the common baseband processing module350to recapture RFID data therefrom in accordance with a particular RFID protocol used by the RFID tag that generated that RF signal. In one embodiment, the common baseband processing module232processes the RFID data to identify the object(s) associated with the RFID tag(s). In another embodiment, the common baseband processing module reformats the RFID data in accordance with a particular wireless communication protocol associated with the transceiver60and provides the formatted RFID data in the analog domain to the transceiver RF front end212for up-conversion to produce an outbound RF signal that is transmitted by the antenna86to a network device, such as a base station, an access point and/or another wireless communication device. In yet another embodiment, instead of or in addition to providing the RFID digital data to the transceiver RF front end212and/or processing the RFID digital data, the recovered RFID digital data is provided to the host processing module50via the common host interface158for further processing, storage and/or display.

FIG. 5is a schematic block diagram illustrating another exemplary wireless communication device22,26in which the RFID reader functionality is integrated with the transceiver functionality. For example, as can be seen inFIG. 5, the RFID baseband processing module220and transceiver baseband processing module210are combined in baseband processing module350. The transceiver baseband processing module210and RFID baseband processing module220may be implemented as separate protocol blocks in software or as two separate processor chips. In addition, the RFID baseband processing module220and transceiver baseband processing module210share the host processing module50.

The combined baseband processing module350is operable in two modes: a transceiver mode and an RFID mode. In transceiver mode, the baseband processing module350processes inbound or outbound transceiver data, while in RFID mode, the baseband processing module350processes inbound or outbound RFID data. In one embodiment, the baseband processing module350operates in only one mode at a time. In other embodiments, the baseband processing module350is capable of simultaneously operating in both transceiver mode and RFID mode.

Furthermore, inFIG. 5, both the transceiver and RFID reader are shown sharing the RF front end305, DAC330, ADC332and antenna320. The RF front end305is also operable in both transceiver mode and RFID mode. In transceiver mode, the RF front end305is operable to convert near baseband transceiver signals generated by the baseband processing module350into outbound RF transceiver signals for transmission via antenna320and to convert RF transceiver signals received via antenna320into inbound near baseband transceiver signals for transmission to the baseband processing module350. In RFID mode, the RF front end305is operable to convert near baseband RFID signals generated by the baseband processing module350into outbound RF RFID signals for transmission via antenna320and to convert RF RFID signals received via antenna320into inbound near baseband RFID signals for transmission to the baseband processing module350.

In an exemplary operation, upon receiving an RF signal from one or more RFID tags at antenna320, the RF front-end305converts the received RF signal into a near baseband RFID signal, which is thereafter converted into a digital baseband RFID signal by ADC332. The digital baseband RFID signal is provided to the RFID baseband processing module220within baseband processing module350via multiplexer342to recapture RFID data therefrom in accordance with a particular RFID protocol used by the RFID tag that generated that RF signal. The recovered RFID data is further provided to the host processing module50. Upon receiving the RFID data, the host processing module50provides the digital RFID data to the transceiver baseband processing module210within the combined baseband processing module350. The transceiver baseband processing module210processes the RFID data in accordance with a particular wireless communication protocol to produce a digital near baseband transceiver signal, and provides the digital near baseband transceiver signal to the DAC330via multiplexer340for conversion into an analog near baseband transceiver signal. The analog near baseband transceiver signal is provided to the RF front end305for up-conversion to produce an outbound RF transceiver signal that is transmitted by the antenna320to a network device, such as a base station, an access point and/or another wireless communication device.

FIG. 6is a schematic block diagram illustrating yet another exemplary wireless communication device22,26in which some components of the RFID reader are shared with the transceiver. For example, as can be seen inFIG. 6, the RFID baseband processing module220and transceiver baseband processing module210share the host processing module50and memory318. Bus arbiter316facilitates access to the memory318by host processing module50, RFID baseband processing module220and transceiver baseband processing module210. In an exemplary operation, RFID data received by the host processing module50from the RFID baseband processing module220is stored in memory318via bus arbiter316. The host processing module50provides the memory address of the stored RFID data to the transceiver baseband processing module210for use in retrieving the stored RFID data via bus arbiter316.

In addition to the host processing module50and memory318, the transceiver and RFID reader can further share a frequency synthesizer310and an antenna320. The shared frequency synthesizer310includes a local oscillator312that is capable of generating in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) RF carrier signals (hereinafter termed local oscillation signals) in multiple frequency bands and a synthesizer control314that selects a particular frequency band for input to either the transceiver RF front end212or RFID RF front end146.

FIG. 7is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary multi-band synthesizer310in accordance with the present invention. The multi-band synthesizer310includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO)412, a hopping sequence generator410, a divide-by-2 block430, a divide-by-8 block460, a filter450, multipliers440and470and a direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDFS)480. The hopping sequence generator410controls the frequency output of the VCO412. The output420produced by the VCO412is input to the divide-by-2 block430and multiplied by multiplier440to the output422of the divide-by-2 block430. The output of the multiplier440is input to the filter450, and the output of the filter450is input to the divide-by-8 block460. The output465of the divide-by-8 block460is input to the multiplier470for multiplication with the output of the DDFS480.

The VCO412, divide-by-two block430, divide-by-8 block460and DDFS480allows the synthesizer310to easily generate in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) carrier signals in multiple frequency bands. For example, RF carrier signals420in a first frequency band are produced by tapping the output of the VCO412, RF carrier signals422in a second frequency band are produced by tapping the output of the divide-by-two block430, RF carrier signals465in a third frequency band are produced by tapping the output of the divide-by-8 block460, RF carrier signals475in a fourth frequency band are produced by tapping the output of the multiplier470and RF carrier signals485in a fifth frequency band are produced by tapping the output of the DDFS480.

FIG. 8is a schematic block diagram of an exemplary shared antenna architecture of the wireless communication device in accordance with the present invention. The shared antenna architecture includes a transceiver module500for operating in transceiver mode and an RFID module550for operating in RFID mode. The transceiver module500includes a power amplifier510and a low noise amplifier515, while the RFID module550also includes a power amplifier560and a low noise amplifier555. In transceiver mode, an analog signal from the transceiver baseband processing module is provided to the transceiver module500. The analog signal is input to power amplifier510for amplification thereof. The amplified signal produces an RF signal at antenna320. Likewise, in RFID mode, an analog signal from the RFID baseband processing module is provided to the RFID module550. The analog signal is input to power amplifier560for amplification thereof. The amplified signal produces an RF signal at antenna320. In a similar manner, when the antenna320receives an RF signal, in transceiver mode, the received RF signal is coupled to low noise amplifier515, while in RFID mode, the received RF signal is coupled to low noise amplifier555.

FIG. 9is a logic diagram of a method600for operating the wireless communication device in accordance with the present invention. The process begins at steps605and610, where a wireless communication device is provided with both a transceiver and an RFID reader. The process then proceeds to decision step615, at which either transceiver mode or RFID mode is selected. If transceiver mode is selected (Y branch of step615), the process proceeds to step620, where an outbound RF signal is generated by the transceiver. The process then proceeds to steps625and630, where an inbound RF signal is received and processed at the transceiver. However, if RFID mode is selected (N branch of step615), the process proceeds to step635, where an outbound RF signal is generated by the RFID reader. The process then proceeds to steps640and645, where an inbound RF signal is received and processed at the RFID reader. The process ends at step650, where the processed RF signal is provided by the transceiver or RFID reader to the host device.

FIG. 10Ais a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary wireless communication device22,26capable of simultaneously operating in transceiver mode and RFID mode using a shared antenna architecture in accordance with the present invention. Instead of using separate power amplifiers and low noise amplifiers for the transceiver and RFID reader, inFIG. 9, a power amplifier760and low noise amplifier765are shared by the transceiver and RFID reader. Power amplifier760and low noise amplifier765each represent one or more thereof. The transceiver produces a phase modulated RF signal770, while the RFID reader produces an amplitude modulated RF signal776. These two signals770and776can be combined by amplitude modulating the phase modulated RF signal770produced by the transceiver at the power amplifier710to produce a combined amplified outbound RF signal772. The combined amplified outbound RF signal772can be transmitted via antenna310to RFID tags, other RFID readers and network devices, such as base stations, access points or other wireless communication devices.

At the receiving device, the received RF signal710is processed in accordance with the particular standard employed by the receiving device. For example, if the receiving device is an RFID tag, the RFID tag will ignore any phase modulation in the received RF signal and process only the amplitude modulated component of the received RF signal. Likewise, if the receiving device is a network device, the network device will ignore any amplitude modulation in the received RF signal and process only the phase modulated component of the received RF signal.

The wireless communication device is further capable of receiving a combined inbound RF signal774that includes both phase modulated component and an amplitude modulated component. The combined inbound RF signal774can be generated by a single device or multiple devices. For example, the combined inbound RF signal774can include both a phase modulated RF signal generated by a network device and an amplitude modulated RF signal generated by an RFID tag or another RFID reader. The combined inbound RF signal774is received at the low noise amplifier765and the resulting amplified combined inbound RF signal775is provided to both the transceiver RF front end212and the RFID RF front end146. The transceiver front end212ignores the amplitude modulated component of the amplified combined inbound RF signal775, converts any phase modulated component of the amplified combined inbound RF signal775to a near baseband signal and provides the near baseband signal to the transceiver baseband processing module210for further processing. In a similar manner, the RFID front end ignores the phase modulated component of the amplified combined inbound RF signal775, converts any amplitude modulated component of the amplified combined inbound RF signal775to a near baseband signal and provides the near baseband signal to the RFID baseband processing module220for further processing.

FIG. 10Bis a schematic block diagram illustrating another exemplary wireless communication device22,26capable of simultaneously operating in transceiver mode and RFID mode using a shared antenna architecture in accordance with the present invention. Instead of amplitude modulating the phase modulated signal at the power amplifier760, as shown inFIG. 10A, inFIG. 10B, an amplitude modulated signal752produced by the RFID baseband processing module220is combined with a phase modulated signal750produced by the transceiver baseband processing module210at baseband combiner710. The combined baseband signal755is input to a shared transmitter RF front end712for up-conversion to produce a combined RF signal715. The combined RF signal715is input to the power amplifier760to produce the combined amplified outbound RF signal772, which is transmitted via shared antenna320.

On the receiver side, when the antenna320receives a combined inbound RF signal774that includes both a phase modulated component and an amplitude modulated component, the combined inbound RF signal774is input to the low noise amplifier765and the resulting amplified combined inbound RF signal775is provided to a shared receiver RF front end714. The shared receiver RF front end714converts the amplified combined inbound RF signal775to a near baseband signal777and provides the near baseband signal777to baseband splitter720. The baseband splitter720separates the near baseband signal777into a phase modulated baseband signal780and an amplitude modulated baseband signal782. The baseband splitter710further provides the phase modulated baseband signal780to the transceiver baseband processing module210for further processing and provides the amplitude modulated baseband signal782to the RFID baseband processing module220for further processing.

FIG. 10Cis a schematic block diagram illustrating yet another exemplary wireless communication device22,26capable of simultaneously operating in transceiver mode and RFID mode using a shared antenna architecture in accordance with the present invention. InFIG. 10C, the baseband processing modules and RF front ends are separated between the RFID reader and transceiver such that a phase modulated baseband signal742produced by transceiver baseband processing module210is input to a transmitter RF front end732of the transceiver for up-conversion to the phase modulated RF signal770, and an amplitude modulated baseband signal744produced by RFID baseband processing module220is input to a transmitter RF front end734of the RFID reader for up-conversion to the amplitude modulated RF signal776. The amplitude modulated RF signal776is combined with the phase modulated RF signal770at RF combiner730. The combined RF signal746is input to the power amplifier760to produce the combined amplified outbound RF signal772, which is transmitted via shared antenna320.

On the receiver side, when the antenna320receives a combined inbound RF signal774that includes both a phase modulated component and an amplitude modulated component, the combined inbound RF signal774is input to the low noise amplifier765and the resulting amplified combined inbound RF signal775is provided to RF splitter740, which separates the amplified combined inbound RF signal775into a phase modulated inbound RF signal762and an amplitude modulated inbound RF signal764. The RF splitter740further provides the phase modulated inbound RF signal762to a receiver RF front end236of the transceiver for down-conversion to the phase modulated baseband signal780. The RF splitter740further provides the amplitude modulated inbound RF signal764to a receiver RF front end238of the RFID reader for down-conversion to the amplitude modulated baseband signal782.

FIG. 10Dis a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplary shared transmitter RF front end712capable of simultaneously operating in transceiver mode and RFID mode in accordance with the present invention. InFIG. 10D, the phase modulated baseband signal742produced by transceiver baseband processing module210and the amplitude modulated baseband signal744produced by RFID baseband processing module220is input to a shared transmitter RF front end712. At the shared transmitter RF front end712, the phase modulated baseband signal742is combined with the amplitude modulated baseband signal744at combiner790and the combined baseband signal745is mixed with a local oscillation signal at mixer795to up-convert the combined baseband signal745to the combined RF signal746, which is provide to the power amplifier and antenna for amplification and transmission thereof. A similar architecture can be used to implement a shared receiver RF front end for down-converting combined inbound RF signals, and separating the combined inbound baseband signal into its amplitude modulated and phase modulated components.

FIG. 11is a logic diagram of a method800for simultaneously operating the wireless communication device in transceiver mode and RFID mode in accordance with the present invention. The method begins at step805, where a wireless communication device is provided with a transceiver and RFID reader integrated by a shared antenna architecture. The process then proceeds to step810, where a phase modulated outbound RF signal is generated by the transceiver. At step815, the phase modulated outbound RF signal is amplitude modulated by the RFID reader to produce a combined outbound RF signal. The combined outbound RF signal may be transmitted via a shared antenna to RFID tags, other RFID readers and network devices.

The process then proceeds to step820, where an inbound RF signal is received at the wireless communication device. The inbound RF signal may have both an amplitude modulated component generated by an RFID tag or RFID reader and a phase modulated component generated by a network device. The process then proceeds to steps825,830and840, where the inbound RF signal is amplified and provided to both the transceiver and the RFID reader within the wireless communication device. At step835, the transceiver processes the amplified inbound RF signal to recover inbound transceiver digital data from the phase modulated component of the amplified inbound RF signal. Likewise, at step845, the RFID reader processes the amplified inbound RF signal to recover inbound RFID digital data from the amplitude modulated component of the amplified inbound RF signal. The process ends at step850, where the inbound digital data from both the transceiver and RFID reader are provided to the host device.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the term “substantially,” as may be used herein, provides an industry-accepted tolerance to its corresponding term and/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to twenty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermal noise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a few percent to magnitude differences. As one of ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate, the term “operably coupled”, as may be used herein, includes direct coupling and indirect coupling via another component, element, circuit, or module where, for indirect coupling, the intervening component, element, circuit, or module does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As one of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two elements in the same manner as “operably coupled”.

The preceding discussion has presented a wireless communication device incorporating a low-cost RFID reader and method of operation thereof. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, other embodiments may be derived from the teaching of the present invention without deviating from the scope of the claims.