Abstract:
The universal electronic identification tag is for use with a variety of readers of different designs including a control reader which can be used to control the operations of the universal tag. A reader interrogates a tag by transmitting a carrier. The universal tag comprises a transducer, a modulator connected across the transducer, and a control means. The control means causes the modulator to drive the transducer with a plurality of different message waveforms after interrogation by a reader, the tag identity being embedded in each of the message waveforms. The message waveforms can be transmitted either simultaneously, sequentially, or both ways. A message waveform is comprised of a sequence of contiguous waveform segments, each waveform segment representing the value of an N-bit group, N being an integer. A waveform segment is a periodic signal characterized by the parameters frequency, phase, and amplitude. The waveform segments which represent the values of an N-bit group are differentiated by the values of at least one parameter.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to electronic identification systems which provide the means for the cooperative identification of objects by means of tags attached to or imbedded in the objects. More specifically, the invention relates to identification tags which can cooperate with a variety of types of tag readers.  
           [0002]    A key element of an electronic identification system is a means for communication between reader and tag and, since a tag usually has no independent source of power, a means of transferring power from reader to tag in a sufficient amount to permit the tag to perform its functions. These two functions can both be accomplished with electromagnetically-coupled readers and tags, the predominant technology presently in use. The reader establishes an alternating magnetic field in the vicinity of a tag and the tag extracts both information and power from the magnetic field. The efficient extraction of information and power from an alternating magnetic field mandates the use of a resonant circuit of some sort by the tag.  
           [0003]    The first close-coupled electronic identification systems, i.e. reader and tag in close proximity when communicating, consisted of readers which transmitted unmodulated carriers and tags which responded with signals that carried data. System capabilities have been extended in recent years with readers that use modulated carriers to transmit data to tags.  
           [0004]    The carrier frequencies used by electronic identification systems of the close-coupled variety have ranged from 100 kHz to 2 GHz in the past. Recent efforts at standardization point to a frequency in the 110 to 135 kHz range as being appropriate for worldwide use.  
           [0005]    The most significant difference in present-day close-coupled systems is whether the reader is or is not transmitting the carrier when the tag responds with data. Systems in which the reader transmits during the tag response are called “full-duplex” (FDX). Systems in which the reader is silent during the tag response are called “half duplex” (HDX). In an HDX system the reader transmission periods are interlaced with the tag response periods so as to minimize the energy storage requirements in the tag.  
           [0006]    A tag transmits data to a reader by modulating a carrier. The frequency of the tag&#39;s carrier can be the same as or different from the frequency of the reader&#39;s carrier. When the frequencies of the reader&#39;s carrier and the tag&#39;s carrier are the same, it may seem in some tag designs that the tag is not using a carrier. Instead, the tag is simply modulating the reader&#39;s carrier by absorbing more or less energy as a function of time from the alternating magnetic field established by the reader. A better understanding of the communication principles can be had, however, if the details of tag design are ignored in favor of the more-general view that the tag creates a modulated carrier with a frequency the same as or different from the frequency of the reader&#39;s carrier. The tag&#39;s carrier produces a separate alternating magnetic field which is superimposed on the alternating magnetic field established by the reader.  
           [0007]    There are a variety of ways in which the reader and tag can modulate their respective carriers with data. One can start with amplitude shift keying (ASK), phase shift keying (PSK), and frequency shift keying (FSK), the names of which indicate the carrier parameter that is modulated. These modulation types are typically used in binary versions wherein the parameter can take on either one of two values. It may become desirable in the future to use n-level forms of these modulation types in order to realize certain communication efficiencies.  
           [0008]    The next level of modulation complexity is to combine these basic types of modulation in a variety of ways as, for example, PSK/FSK wherein both the phase and the frequency of a carrier carries data.  
           [0009]    A different way of combining modulation types is to piggy-back one modulation type on another as, for example, when a subcarrier is frequency shift keyed in accordance with the bits in a message, and then the carrier is amplitude modulated by the FSKed subcarrier.  
           [0010]    The communications between reader and tag are in the form of messages consisting of a finite number of bits. Each message-bit is usually translated into one or more transmit bits prior to modulating a carrier. The typical translations include (besides the identity translation where the message bits are also the transmit bits):  
           [0011]    Manchester—0 translates into 01; 1 translates into 10;  
           [0012]    Miller—T(N,1)=T(N−1,2) EX.OR [Mbar(N−1) AND Mbar(N)] T(N,2)=T(N,1) EX.OR M(N)  
           [0013]    where M(N) is the N&#39;th message bit, Mbar(N) is M(N) inverted, and T(N,1), T(N,2) are the first and second transmit bits associated with the N&#39;th message bit.  
           [0014]    Electronic identification systems which utilize implantable or attachable tags have proliferated over the past decade to the point where users are seriously inconvenienced by the incompatible equipments produced by vendors who participate in this market. In general, tags supplied by one vendor cannot be read by the readers supplied by another vendor which means that users necessarily find themselves locked into the systems of one manufacturer. For large-scale applications of electronic identification to occur, some means for assuring equipment compatibility is essential.  
           [0015]    There are a number of avenues that can be followed in achieving equipment compatibility. The typical approach to achieving interoperability of equipments is the establishment of standards for this purpose. The establishment of standards has the disadvantage of tending to freeze technology and hinder the development of more advanced systems.  
           [0016]    Another approach is to make available “universal” tag readers which can read the tags that are presently being used, and which can be economically upgraded to reading tags that are developed in the future.  
           [0017]    A third approach is to make available “universal” tags which can be read by any reader that is presently being used, and which can be upgraded for use with readers of different designs that appear in the future.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
         [0018]    The universal electronic identification tag is for use with a variety of readers of different designs including a control reader which can be used to control the operations of the universal tag. A reader interrogates a tag by transmitting a carrier.  
           [0019]    The universal tag comprises a transducer, a modulator connected across the transducer, and a control means. The control means causes the modulator to drive the transducer with a plurality of different message waveforms after interrogation and while the carrier is present and also after interrogation and while the carrier is absent, the tag identity being embedded in each of the message waveforms.  
           [0020]    The presence of a carrier is determined by an alerting device which generates an alerting signal having a first value when a reader carrier is less than a predetermined magnitude and a second value when the reader carrier is greater than a predetermined magnitude. The control means causes the modulator to drive the transducer with a plurality of different message waveforms after the value of the alerting signal changes from the first value to the second value, the tag identity being embedded in each of the message waveforms. The control means also causes the modulator to drive the transducer with one or more different message waveforms when the value of the alerting signal changes from the second value to the first value, again with the tag identity being embedded in each of the message waveforms.  
           [0021]    A message waveform is comprised of a sequence of contiguous waveform segments, each waveform segment representing the value of an N-bit group, N being an integer. The waveform segments used to represent the values of an N-bit group in at least one message waveform are different from those used to represent an N-bit group in the other message waveforms.  
           [0022]    A waveform segment is a periodic signal characterized by the parameters frequency, phase, and amplitude. The waveform segments which represent the values of an N-bit group are differentiated by the values of at least one parameter.  
           [0023]    The control means causes the modulator to drive the transducer either simultaneously, sequentially, or simultaneously and sequentially with a plurality of message waveforms.  
           [0024]    The modulator comprises a plurality of driving circuits connected across the transducer. The control means causes the modulator to drive the transducer with one or more message waveforms using one of the driving circuits after interrogation by a reader. At least one of the driving circuits includes a resistive load across the transducer, the magnitude of the resistive load being determined by the message waveform. Another of the driving circuits injects charge into the transducer, the magnitude of the injected charge being determined by the message waveform. Still another of the driving circuits includes a reactive load across the transducer, the magnitude of the reactive load being determined by the message waveform.  
           [0025]    At least one of the driving circuits includes a first load and a second load connected in series across the transducer, the first load-being short-circuited for one polarity of the voltage across the transducer, the second load being short-circuited for the other polarity. The control means can be programmed so that only one of the loads is driven by a message waveform. Other programming options provide for the first and second loads to be driven in phase or out of phase.  
           [0026]    At least one of the driving circuits includes a first charge injector and a second charge injector connected in series across the transducer, the first charge injector being short-circuited for one polarity of the voltage across the transducer, the second charge injector being short-circuited for the other polarity of the voltage across the transducer. Here also, the control means can be programmed so that only one of the charge injectors is driven, the two charge injectors are driven in phase, or the two charge injectors are driven out of phase.  
           [0027]    Since the universal tag must operate with readers which transmit carriers with different frequencies, the control means is programmed to set the resonant frequency of the transducer to the frequency of the carrier being transmitted by a reader.  
           [0028]    A two-stage power developer connected across the transducer supplies power to the components comprising the tag, the power developer obtaining power from the voltage induced in the transducer by a reader&#39;s carrier, a first portion of the power supplied by the reader&#39;s carrier being supplied by the power developer directly to the tag components, a second portion of the power supplied by the reader&#39;s carrier being stored by the power developer and supplied to the tag components when the first portion is insufficient to power the tag.  
           [0029]    The power developer includes a voltage regulator for powering voltage-sensitive elements of the tag.  
           [0030]    An alternative power developer utilizes a battery for supplying power to the components comprising a tag. The power developer recharges the battery with power from the voltage induced in the transducer by a reader&#39;s carrier.  
           [0031]    A clock generator connected across the transducer supplies clock signals to the components comprising the tag. The clock generator includes an oscillator locked to the frequency of the voltage induced in the transducer by a reader&#39;s carrier. The clock generator includes a frequency memory which causes the frequency of the oscillator to be maintained at the frequency of the voltage induced in the transducer after the induced voltage disappears.  
           [0032]    A digital-to-analog converter, which converts a number supplied by the control means to a voltage, supplies voltages to tag units which require voltages other than those provided by the power developer.  
           [0033]    A demodulator connected across the transducer determines whether the voltage appearing across the transducer is unmodulated or modulated with data and supplies the control means with a modulation indicator. If the voltage is modulated, the demodulator extracts and supplies the data to the control means.  
           [0034]    The control means executes any commands contained in the extracted data. For example, the control means causes the modulator to drive the transducer with a predetermined one or more of the plurality of message waveforms if the transducer voltage is unmodulated. If, however, the transducer voltage is modulated and the proper command is contained in the extracted data, the control means causes the modulator to drive the transducer with one or more of the plurality of message waveforms specified by the extracted data.  
           [0035]    The universal tag includes an EEPROM and an EEPROM programmer. The control means, in response to a command contained in the extracted data, modifies its behavior by causing the EEPROM programmer to replace data contained in the EEPROM with data contained in the extracted data.  
           [0036]    The control means appends an auxiliary message waveform to the message waveform intended for the control reader, when the control means causes the modulator to drive the transducer with one or more message waveforms after an interrogation by a reader. The auxiliary message waveform is derived from an auxiliary message constructed by the control means.  
           [0037]    A sensor circuit having an output which is an uncalibrated measure of an environmental parameter can be incorporated in the universal tag. A memory for storing sensor circuit calibration data is also provided. The control means constructs the auxiliary message intended for the control reader from the sensor output and the sensor circuit calibration data stored in the memory.  
           [0038]    The sensor circuit comprises a sensor having an output which is an analog measure of an environmental parameter and an analog-to-digital converter which converts the sensor output to a digital number. One version of the analog-to-digital converter comprises an oscillator having a frequency determined by the magnitude of the sensor output and a counter which counts the number of cycles of the oscillator output signal in a predetermined period of time, the cycle count being a measure of the frequency of the oscillator and the magnitude of the environmental parameter.  
           [0039]    The control means utilizes the auxiliary message communication capability to send status data to the control reader. The control means accumulates status data and stores the data in the memory. The control means constructs the auxiliary message from the status data stored in the memory. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0040]    [0040]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the universal electronic identification tag.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of the preferred embodiment of the universal tag power developer utilizing a rechargeable battery.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of an alternative embodiment of the universal tag power developer which includes a voltage regulator but which does not employ a battery.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4 is a schematic/block drawing of the preferred embodiment of the universal tag clock generator.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the universal tag modulator.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of a temperature sensor for use in a universal tag. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0046]    The universal-electronic identification tag is designed to operate with a variety of readers of differing designs. It achieves this capability by emulating the tags associated with this variety of readers.  
         [0047]    The function performed by every tag is to respond with a message waveform when the tag detects the presence of a reader carrier, the message waveform being derived from a message consisting of a finite number of bits stored in the tag. The process of generating a message waveform for transmission from a message may involve a number of steps. Typically, the message bits are translated into transmit bits. Each transmit bit selects one of two possible waveform segments for transmission. The selected waveform segments are concatenated and constitute the tag&#39;s message waveform.  
         [0048]    In general, tags of different designs would transmit different messages to identify the same object. The reason for the differences in the messages is the use of different message synchronizing schemes, different error-control algorithms, and different encryption techniques and the inclusion of additional data of various kinds. To successfully emulate a tag, the universal tag  1  must respond to an interrogation with the exact message that the emulated tag would use if it were being attached to the same object.  
         [0049]    The universal tag emulates a conventional tag by storing the transmit bits that would be associated with the conventional tag if the conventional tag were being used to tag the universal tag&#39;s object. In addition, the universal tag stores data that characterizes the waveform segments that the conventional tag uses in assembling its message waveform for transmission. By storing such data for each conventional tag of interest, the universal tag is able to respond to a reader&#39;s carrier by transmitting the message waveforms of all of the conventional tags of interest.  
         [0050]    A block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the universal tag  1  is shown in FIG. 1. The transducer  3  is the means for coupling the tag to a reader. If the coupling mechanism is an alternating magnetic field, the transducer is a coil and a capacitor connected in parallel. If the coupling mechanism is electromagnetic radiation, the transducer is an antenna. If the coupling mechanism is infrared or visible radiation, the transducer is a combination of an infrared or visible light detector and an infrared or visible light emitter. If the coupling mechanism is wave propagation in elastic media, the transducer in a device which converts electrical signals into corresponding deformations in the elastic media such as to generate propagating waves.  
         [0051]    The transducer  3 , in many cases, is a resonant device which must be tuned electrically to achieve maximum power transfer between reader and tag. The tunability is accomplished by using voltage-controlled capacitors or by switching in or out discrete values of capacitance or inductance.  
         [0052]    The demodulator  5  is connected across the transducer  3  and performs two functions. First, it determines whether a received reader carrier is modulated or not. Second, if the carrier is modulated and the source of the carrier is a control reader (i.e. a reader which can exercise control over the universal tag), the demodulator  5  extracts the data modulated on the carrier. As part of the demodulation process, the demodulator  5  extracts a bit-timing signal from the received modulated carrier. The clock signals produced by the clock generator are synchronized to the bit-timing signal when it is available.  
         [0053]    The clock generator  7  is connected across the transducer  3  and utilizes the received carrier in generating all of the clock frequencies required in the tag. The clock generator  7  includes a voltage-controlled oscillator which is phase-locked to the received carrier. The voltage-controlled oscillator includes a memory whereby the oscillator maintains its phase-locked frequency if the carrier disappears. This capability is necessary in emulating an HDX tag where the reader carrier is periodically turned on and off. The clock frequencies which are generated by the clock generator  7  are specified by data stored in memory. If frequencies different from those stored in memory are required to emulate new tags, they may be added to those stored in memory by the control reader.  
         [0054]    The clock generator  7  also continually measures the frequency of the reader&#39;s carrier by counting cycles for a predetermined period of time. The frequency of the reader carrier is used to tune the transducer  3 . The measured value of the carrier frequency is maintained by the clock generator  7  in a register.  
         [0055]    The power developer  9  is connected across the transducer  3  and is the source of power for the tag. The power developer  9  may be simply a battery. If the battery is rechargeable, the power developer  9  also includes circuitry which recharges the battery with power that is available from the transducer  3  when the reader is transmitting a carrier.  
         [0056]    The power developer  9  can also be without a battery in which case a portion of the power available from the transducer  3  is used to power the tag when the tag signals are being transmitted at the same time that the reader is transmitting its carrier. Another portion of the power available from the transducer  3  when a reader is transmitting is stored and used to power the tag when the reader is not transmitting its carrier.  
         [0057]    The modulator  11  is connected across the transducer  3  and generates the message waveforms which are transmitted to a reader in response to a reader&#39;s transmission of its carrier.  
         [0058]    The microprocessor  13  controls the operations of all units of the tag  1  by means of commands placed on the control bus  15  and transmits data to and receives data from the units by means of the data bus  17 .  
         [0059]    PH sensor circuit  19  and acceleration sensor circuit  21  produce analog outputs. The analog-to-digital (A/D) converter  23  makes digital representations of the analog sensor circuit outputs available to the microprocessor via the data bus  17 .  
         [0060]    Temperature sensor circuit  25  produces a digital value for temperature and interfaces directly with the data bus  17 .  
         [0061]    The digital-to-analog (D/A) converter  27  generates an analog voltage in response to a command and data from the microprocessor  13  for use either in the tag or in a nearby device. For example, a precise voltage is required to power the temperature-sensing element of the temperature sensor circuit  25 . Reasonably precise voltages are also required by the EEPROM programmer  35  in programming the EEPROM  33 . Specific voltages are also required in implementing the modulator  11 .  
         [0062]    Temporary storage of sensor circuit outputs is provided in RAM  29 . Permanent storage for data which need never be altered is provided in laser PROM  31  wherein a bit is stored by vaporizing or not vaporizing a fuse with a laser beam. Data which the user may wish to change during the life of-the tag is stored in EEPROM  33 . The means for changing the data in EEPROM  33  is provided by EEPROM programmer  35 .  
         [0063]    The power developer  9  is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. The AC voltage appearing across the transducer  3  as a result of a reader transmitting a carrier is converted into a DC voltage by the full-wave rectifier  111  and recharges the battery  113  through diode  115 . The battery  113  is the source of power for all of the tag components. The capacitor  117  reduces the harmonic level in the voltage appearing at point  119 . The resistor  121  serves to discharge the capacitor  117  when the reader&#39;s carrier is no longer being transmitted. The diode  115  prevents the battery  113  from-discharging through the circuitry connected to point  119  when the reader stops transmitting its carrier.  
         [0064]    The charging of the capacitor  121  through the resistor  123  as the capacitor  117  charges up produces an alerting signal which, when it reaches a threshold level, initializes the microprocessor  113  and enables the microprocessor to begin executing its stored program. The values of the capacitor  121  and the resistor  123  are chosen such that the alerting signal reaches the threshold level at the same time that the voltage at point  119  reaches the level needed to reliably operate the tag electronics. When the reader stops transmitting its carrier, the capacitor  121  discharges through resistors  121  and  123  and the alerting signal drops below the threshold level thereby signaling the microprocessor that the transmission of the carrier has ceased.  
         [0065]    The power developer  9  can also be implemented without a battery as shown in FIG. 3. The battery  113  in FIG. 2 is replaced by the resistor  125  and the capacitor  127  in FIG. 3. Power available at point  119  through diode  129  powers the tag while a carrier is present. Power available from capacitor  127  through diode  131  powers the tag when an HDX reader is not transmitting its carrier. The capacitance of the capacitor  127  is made large enough to support the power demands of the tag during those periods of time that an HDX reader is not transmitting a carrier. The diodes  129  and  131  prevent charge from flowing between capacitors  117  and  127 .  
         [0066]    A voltage regulator consisting of the Zener diode  151 , the resistor  153 , and the n-p-n bipolar transistor  155  provides a regulated voltage for the clock generator  7 , the sensors  19 ,  21 , and  25 , the A/D converter  23 , and the D/A converter  27 .  
         [0067]    The master clock signal, which is divided down to obtain the various clock frequencies required by the tag, is generated as shown in FIG. 4. The phase detector  201  accepts inputs from the transducer  3  and the frequency divider  202  and produces a higher or lower output voltage depending on whether the frequency divider  202  signal is more than or less than 90 degrees out of phase with the transducer  3  signal. The frequency divider  202  divides the output signal from the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO)  203  by an integer.  
         [0068]    When the alerting signal generated in the power developer  9  exceeds a threshold level, the microprocessor  13  closes switch  205  which causes capacitor  207  to charge to a voltage through resistors  209  and  211  such that the signal out of the frequency divider  202  has the same frequency as the transducer  3  signal and is 90 degrees out of phase with respect to the transducer  3  signal. Thus, the frequency of the VCO  203  is locked to an integer multiple of the frequency of the transducer  3  signal.  
         [0069]    When the alerting signal generated in the power developer  9  drops below the threshold level, the microprocessor  13  opens the switch  205  which causes the capacitor  207  to maintain the voltage it had just prior to opening the switch  205  and causes the VCO  203  to maintain its frequency at a constant value until the switch  205  closes again.  
         [0070]    The modulator  11  is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5. After initialization by the first alerting signal, the microprocessor  13  supplies control data stored in EEPROM  33  to each of the three waveform generators  301 ,  303 , and  305 .  
         [0071]    In the case of binary modulation schemes, the data for each waveform generator defines two waveform segments, one that is associated with the transmission of a “0” and another that is associated with the transmission of a “1”.  
         [0072]    For example, the transmission of an FSK signal originating in waveform generator  301  would be specified by the microprocessor  13  commanding waveform generator  301  to select the three clock signals with frequencies f(A), f(B), and f(C) from those available from clock generator  7 , the clock signal with frequency f(A) being associated with the transmission of a “0”, the clock signal with frequency f(B) being associated with the transmission of a “1”, and the clock signal with frequency f(C) being the bit-timing clock signal.  
         [0073]    The waveform generator  301 , when enabled by the microprocessor  13 , outputs to the combiner  307  the clock signal with frequency f(A) or f(B) when the microprocessor commands a “0” or “1” respectively to be transmitted. The commanded clock signal is maintained at the output for a bit period as specified by the clock signal with frequency f(C).  
         [0074]    The transmission of a PSK signal originating in waveform generator  301  would be specified by the microprocessor  13  commanding waveform generator  301  to select the two clock signals with frequencies f(D) and f(E) from those available from clock generator  7 , the clock signal with frequency f(D) and 0-degrees phase being associated with the transmission of a “0”, the clock signal with frequency f(D) and 180-degrees phase being associated with the transmission of a “1”, and the clock signal with frequency f(E) being the bit-timing clock signal.  
         [0075]    The waveform generator  301 , when enabled by the microprocessor  13 , outputs to the combiner  307  the clock signal with frequency f(D) with 0- or 180-degrees phase when the microprocessor commands a “0” or “1” respectively to be transmitted. The commanded clock signal is maintained at the output for a bit period as specified by the clock signal with frequency f(E).  
         [0076]    The transmission of an ASK signal originating in waveform generator  301  would be specified by the microprocessor  13  commanding waveform generator  301  to select the two clock signals with frequencies f(F) and f(G) from those available from clock generator  7 , the clock signal with frequency f(F) and scaled to amplitude A(A) being associated with the transmission of a “0”, the clock signal with frequency f(F) and scaled to amplitude A(B) being associated with the transmission of a “1”, and the clock signal with frequency f(G) being the bit-timing clock signal.  
         [0077]    The waveform generator  301 , when enabled by the microprocessor  13 , outputs to the combiner  307  the clock signal with frequency f(F) and amplitude A(A) or A(B) when the microprocessor commands a “0” or “1” respectively to be transmitted. The commanded clock signal is maintained at the output for a bit period as specified by the clock signal with frequency f(G).  
         [0078]    In the case of quaternary modulation schemes, the data for each waveform generator defines four waveform segments, each waveform segment being associated with one of the bit combinations “00”, “01”, “10”, and “11”.  
         [0079]    For example, the transmission of a four-level FSK signal originating in waveform generator  301  would be specified by the microprocessor  13  commanding waveform generator  301  to select the five clock signals with frequencies f(A), f(B), f(C), f(D), and f(E) from those available from clock generator  7 , the clock signal with frequency f(A) being associated with the transmission of a “00” pair, the clock signal with frequency f(B) being associated with the transmission of a “01” pair, the clock signal with frequency f(C) being associated with the transmission of a “10” pair, the clock signal with frequency f(D) being associated with the transmission of a “11” pair, and the clock signal with frequency f(E) being the bit-pair-timing clock signal.  
         [0080]    The waveform generator  301 , when enabled by the microprocessor  13 , outputs to the combiner  307  the clock signal with frequency f(A), f(B), f(C), or f(D) when the microprocessor commands a “00”, “01”, “10”, or “11”respectively to be transmitted. The commanded clock signal is maintained at the output for a bit-pair period as specified by the clock signal with frequency f(E).  
         [0081]    The transmission of a four-level PSK signal originating in waveform generator  301  would be specified by the microprocessor  13  commanding waveform generator  301  to select the two clock signals with frequencies f(F) and f(G) from those available from clock generator  7 , the clock signals with frequency f(F) and 0-degrees, 90-degrees, 180-degrees, and 270-degrees phase being associated with the transmission of a “00”, “01”, “10”, or “11” respectively, and the clock signal with frequency f(G) being the bit-pair-timing clock signal.  
         [0082]    The waveform generator  301 , when enabled by the microprocessor  13 , outputs to the combiner  307  the clock signal with frequency f(F) with  0-, 90-, 180 -, or 270-degrees phase when the microprocessor commands a “00”, “01”, “10”, or “11” respectively to be transmitted. The commanded clock signal is maintained at the output for a bit-pair period as specified by the clock signal with frequency f(G).  
         [0083]    The transmission of an ASK signal originating in waveform generator  301  would be specified by the microprocessor  13  commanding waveform generator  301  to select the two clock signals with frequencies f(H) and f(J) from those available from clock generator  7 , the clock signals with frequency f(H) and with scaled amplitudes A(A), A(B), A(C), and A(D) being associated with the transmissions of a “00”, “01”, “10”, and “11” respectively, and the clock signal with frequency f(J) being the bit-pair-timing clock signal.  
         [0084]    The waveform generator  301 , when enabled by the microprocessor  13 , outputs to the combiner  307  the clock signal with frequency f(H) with amplitudes A(A), A(B), A(C), or A(D) when the microprocessor commands a “00”, “01”, “10”, or “11” respectively to be transmitted. The commanded clock signal is maintained at the output for a bit-pair period as specified by the clock signal with frequency f(J).  
         [0085]    Waveform segments based on quaternary mixed-modulation schemes can also be generated by the waveform generators  301 ,  303 , and  305 .  
         [0086]    For example, the transmission of a four-level FSK/PSK signal originating in waveform generator  301  would be specified by the microprocessor  13  commanding waveform generator  301  to select the three clock signals with frequencies f(A), f(B), and f(C) from those available from clock generator  7 , the clock signal with frequency f(A) and phases 0 and 180 degrees being associated with the transmission of a “00” and “01” bit pair respectively, the clock signal with frequency f(B) and phases 0 and 180 degrees being associated with the transmission of a “10” and “11” bit pair respectively, and the clock signal with frequency f(C) being the bit-pair-timing clock signal.  
         [0087]    The waveform generator  301 , when enabled by the microprocessor  13 , outputs to the combiner  307  the clock signal with frequency f(A) or f(B) and with phases 0 or 180 degrees when the microprocessor commands a “00”, “01”, “10”, or “11” respectively to be transmitted. The commanded clock signal is maintained at the output for a bit-pair period as specified by the clock signal with frequency f(C).  
         [0088]    The transmission of a four-level FSK/ASK signal originating in waveform generator  301  would be specified by the microprocessor  13  commanding waveform generator  301  to select the three clock signals with frequencies f(D), f(E), and f(F) from those available from clock generator  7 , the clock signal with frequency f(D) and amplitudes A(A) and A(B) being associated with the transmission of a “00” and “01” bit pair respectively, the clock signal with frequency f(E) and amplitudes A(A) and A(B) being associated with the transmission of a “10” and “11” bit pair respectively, and the clock signal with frequency f(F) being the bit-pair-timing clock signal.  
         [0089]    The waveform generator  301 , when enabled by the microprocessor  13 , outputs to the combiner  307  the clock signal with frequency f(D) or f(E) and with amplitudes A(A) or A(B) when the microprocessor commands a “00”, “01”, “10”, or “11” respectively to be transmitted. The commanded clock signal is maintained at the output for a bit-pair period as specified by the clock signal with frequency f(F).  
         [0090]    The transmission of a four-level PSK/ASK signal originating in waveform generator  301  would be specified by the microprocessor  13  commanding waveform generator  301  to select the two clock signals with frequencies f(G) and f(H) from those available from clock generator  7 , the clock signal with frequency f(G), phase 0 degrees, and amplitudes A(A) and A(B) being associated with the transmission of a “00” and “01” bit pair respectively, the clock signal with frequency f(G), phase 180 degrees, and amplitudes A(A) and A(B) being associated with the transmission of a “10” and “11” bit pair respectively, and the clock signal with frequency f(H) being the bit-pair-timing clock signal.  
         [0091]    The waveform generator  301 , when enabled by the microprocessor  13 , outputs to the combiner  307  the clock signal with frequency f(G) with phases 0 and 180 degrees and with amplitudes A(A) or A(B) when the microprocessor commands a “00”, “01”, “10”, or “11” respectively to be transmitted. The commanded clock signal is maintained at the output for a bit-pair period as specified by the clock signal with frequency f(H).  
         [0092]    Up to three different waveform segments can be generated simultaneously by the waveform generators  301 ,  303 , and  305 . If fewer than three different waveform segments are required at one time, the microprocessor  13  only enables the waveform generators that are needed.  
         [0093]    The sequence of transmit bits corresponding to the message associated with a waveform segment group are transmitted one by one or pair by pair by the microprocessor commanding the appropriate waveform generator  301 ,  303 , or  305  to generate the appropriate waveform segment during each bit period. The sequence of waveform segments that are tied together into a message waveform represent a complete message (i.e. synchronization bits, data bits, error control bits, etc.).  
         [0094]    The microprocessor  13  can be programmed to cause the waveform generators  301 ,  303 , and  305  to generate their message waveforms simultaneously or in sequence. In either case, the combiner  307  adds the outputs of the three waveform generators together and outputs the result to the three drivers  309 ,  311 , and  313 . The driver  309  conditions the combiner  307  output to drive the voltage-controlled resistors  315  and  317  which can be realized by field-effect transistors. The driver  311  conditions the combiner  307  output to drive the voltage-controlled charge injectors  319  and  321  which can be realized by bipolar transistors. And the driver  313  conditions the combiner  307  output to drive the voltage-controlled reactive load  323 . A voltage-controlled capacitive load can be realized by a voltage-controlled capacitor or by a bank of capacitors which can be connected together in arbitrary combinations by switches. The inductance of an inductive load can be realized by a coil with a ferrite core or by a bank of inductors which can be connected together in arbitrary combinations by switches.  
         [0095]    The diodes  325  and  327  are placed across the transducer so that the voltage-controlled resistor  315  and the voltage-controlled charge injector  319  are short-circuited when the transducer line  329  is high with respect to transducer line  331 . Similarly, the voltage-controlled resistor  317  and the voltage-controlled charge injector  321  are short-circuited when the transducer line  331  is high with respect to transducer line  329 .  
         [0096]    The voltage-controlled resistors  315  and  317  are used to emulate FDX tags by loading the transducer  3  in accordance with the driver  309  message waveforms. The transducer  3  thereby creates a message signal that is superimposed on the signal being received by the transducer  3  and which can be detected by the FDX reader.  
         [0097]    The voltage-controlled resistors  315  and  317  can be driven either in or out of phase. In-phase driving causes the resistances of both voltage-controlled resistors to increase and decrease in synchronism with the driving signal. Out-of-phase driving causes one voltage-controlled resistor to increase and the other to decrease as the driving signal increases and vice versa. The microprocessor  13  selects the desired mode of operation by commands issued to the drivers  309 ,  311 , and  313 .  
         [0098]    It may be desirable in some situations to set the resistance of one of the voltage-controlled resistors at a high value and to accomplish the variable loading of the transducer only with the other voltage-controlled resistor.  
         [0099]    The voltage-controlled charge injectors  319  and  321  are used to emulate HDX tags by injecting current into the transducer  3  in accordance with the driver  309  message waveforms. The transducer  3  thereby emulates the message signal transmitted by an HDX tag.  
         [0100]    The voltage-controlled charge injectors  319  and  321  can be driven either in or out of phase in the same manner as the voltage-controlled resistors  315  and  317 . It may also be desirable in the case of the voltage-controlled charge injectors to turn one of the voltage-controlled charge injectors off in some situations and accomplish the charge injection only with the other voltage-controlled charge injector.  
         [0101]    The voltage-controlled reactive load  323  provides a way of emulating an FDX tag by varying the resonant frequency of the transducer.  
         [0102]    The occurrence of a first alerting signal initializes the microprocessor  13  whereupon the microprocessor  13  initializes the clock generator  7  and inquires of the demodulator as to whether the voltage appearing across the transducer  3  is modulated. If the transducer signal is unmodulated, the microprocessor executes an emulation program stored in the EEPROM  33 . The microprocessor causes each waveform generator  301 ,  303 , and  305  to select the clock signals from those supplied by the clock generator  7  having specified frequencies, phases, and amplitudes. Thus, each waveform generator is made ready to emulate a particular FDX tag by generating the message waveform associated with the particular FDX tag.  
         [0103]    The microprocessor loads each of the waveform generators with the transmit bits for the message associated with the FDX tag that the waveform generator will be emulating. The microprocessor also sets up the drivers  309 ,  311 , and  313  so that the voltage-controlled devices  315 ,  317 ,  319 ,  321 , and  323  will be driven in a manner characteristic of the FDX tags being emulated. The microprocessor then issues a start command to the waveform generators, and each waveform generator generates a message waveform with the bit periods timed in accordance with the bit-timing signal specified for each waveform generator.  
         [0104]    The resulting signals are added together in the combiner  307 , and the combined signal drives the voltage-controlled devices  315 ,  317 ,  319 ,  321 , and  323  through the drivers  309 ,  311 , and  313 . Thus, in this embodiment, as many as three emulated message signals can be transmitted simultaneously. The reader extracts the data from the emulated message signal that it is designed to receive.  
         [0105]    The message signals are transmitted by the tag at least twice so that the reader can extract all of the data in a message even though it misses a portion of the first message signal transmitted.  
         [0106]    The process described above for emulating FDX tag message signals is executed for HDX tag message signals when the microprocessor  13  receives the second alerting signal. The FDX tag emulation is aborted if it has not been completed when the second alerting signal occurs.  
         [0107]    The tag emulation process can be programmed to take place sequentially rather than simultaneously as described above. In the sequential process, the microprocessor  13  would start waveform generator  301 . The waveform generator  301  would generate the message waveform at least twice and then signal the microprocessor that it had completed its message generation function. The microprocessor would then repeat this process with waveform generators  303  and  305 . The microprocessor  13  could optionally repeat the overall sequential transmission for as long as the reader carrier was present.  
         [0108]    The control reader can change the tag emulation process by replacing the tag emulation program stored in EEPROM  33 . The control reader does this by modulating its carrier with an EEPROM reprogram command together with the tag emulation program. The demodulator  5  recognizes the modulated carrier, extracts the data, and alerts the microprocessor  13 . The microprocessor then causes the EEPROM programmer  35  to reprogram the EEPROM with the new data.  
         [0109]    The temperature sensor  25  is shown in more detail in FIG. 6. The current flowing through the large-area diode  401  is a measure of temperature. The current flows into the multivibrator circuit  403  which oscillates at a frequency monotonically related to the input current. The square-wave output of the multivibrator circuit  403  feeds into a counter  405  which counts the cycles for a predetermined period of time thereby obtaining a digital measure of the frequency of the multivibrator and the temperature of the diode. The counter  405  is cleared and immediately starts counting when a symmetric square-wave clock signal from the clock generator  7  rises and stops counting when the clock signal falls.  
         [0110]    The microprocessor  13  may read the contents of the counter whenever the clock signal is low. The microprocessor  13  can be programmed to either read the counter only once or read the counter a number of times and average the results.  
         [0111]    The sensors  19 ,  21 , and  25  on different tags located in the same environment will in general provide different measured values for the environmental parameters. For each sensor, one or more calibration constants which define a calibration equation that relates the measured parameter value to the true value is stored in the EEPROM  33 .  
         [0112]    The microprocessor  13  can send data to the control reader by appending an auxiliary data message to the tag identification message which is intended for the control reader. The auxiliary data message includes its own error-control bits and may also be separately encrypted. The auxiliary data message may also be transformed into a message waveform based on waveform segments that are different from those that form the basis of the tag identification message waveform.  
         [0113]    The auxiliary data can be either status data or sensor data. Status data is the data concerning operations in the tag that is available to the microprocessor  13 . For example, the microprocessor can keep track of the number of times the tag is interrogated by a reader and could communicate this data to the control reader as auxiliary data. The microprocessor can also monitor the operations of the tag components and inform the control reader of malfunctions by way of the auxiliary data communication channel.  
         [0114]    Sensor data can either be incorporated in the auxiliary data message as measured data together with the associated calibration constants or as true data, the true data being obtained by the microprocessor solving the calibration equations for the true values of the environmental parameters.  
         [0115]    The calibration constants are preferably measured at the time a tag is manufactured and stored in the EEPROM  33  at that time. The calibration constants can be measured and stored in memory at some later time if desired—for example, after being delivered to a user.