Abstract:
A remote control device that is combined with a modified RFID circuit that allows an individual to enter information into different types of equipment. When an individual touches graphite contacts on the modified RFID circuit with his/her finger, the circuit will activate a RFID reader causing an action on another device.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/419,361 filed Oct. 18, 2002, which is owned by the assignee of the present application. 
     
    
     
       CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED Applications  
         [0002]    Reference is made to commonly assigned co-pending patent applications Docket No. F-632 filed herewith entitled “METHOD FOR FIELD PROGRAMMABLE RADIO FREQUENCY DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION DEVICES” in the names of Anand V. Chhatpar, Jeffrey D. Pierce, Brian M. Romansky, Thomas J. Foth, and Andrei Obrea; Docket No. F-635 filed herewith entitled “METHOD FOR FIELD PROGRAMMABLE RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TESTING DEVICES FOR TRANSMITTING USER SELECTED DATA” in the names of Thomas J. Foth, Brian M. Romansky, Jeffrey D. Pierce, Andrei Obrea, and Anand V. Chhatpar; Docket No. F637 filed herewith entitled “METHOD FOR FIELD PROGRAMMABLE RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION DEVICES TO PERFORM SWITCHING FUNCTIONS” in the names of Andrei Obrea, Brian M. Romansky, Thomas J. Foth, Jeffrey D. Pierce, and Anand V. Chhatpar; Docket No. F-638 filed herewith entitled “METHOD FOR FIELD PROGRAMMING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION LABELS” in the names of Thomas J. Foth, Brian M. Romansky, Jeffrey D. Pierce, and Anand V. Chhatpar; Docket No. F-639 filed herewith entitled “METHOD FOR FIELD PROGRAMMING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION RETURN FORMS” in the names of Jeffrey D. Pierce, Thomas J. Foth, Brian M. Romansky, Andrei Obrea, and Anand V. Chhatpar; and F-640 filed herewith entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FIELD PROGRAMMING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION DEVICES” in the names of Brian M. Romansky, Thomas J. Foth, Jeffrey D. Pierce, Andrei Obrea, and Anand V. Chhatpar.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    This invention pertains to electronic circuits and, more particularly, to programmable radio frequency identification devices that are used to control remote control devices.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Remote control devices have been developed to operate equipment, apparatuses and processes from a distance. The devices may be a remote control for a television set or a control panel for an electric power generating facility. Solid wire, radio frequency, infrared, audio and microwave communications are commonly used to carry control signals between the device and the equipment being controlled. The above devices are expensive. The above devices are also difficult to use in that the controls that form the user interface of the device are not configured in a manner that is optimal for the user.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    This invention overcomes the difficulties of the prior art by creating a user interface by using a pencil or conductive ink on a material equipped with a RFID type circuit, and having control information sent by the RFID circuit, to perform some function, i.e., act as a remote control device. The material may be any cellulose type product, i.e., paper, cardboard, chipboard, wood or plastic, fabric, animal hide, etc. The user interface may be drawn with a standard ink jet computer printer or laser printer to print lines on paper equipped with a RFID type circuit, by having the printed lines perform the function of wires.  
           [0006]    This invention accomplishes the foregoing by using the RFID serial number generation portion of the RFID circuit that is used when the RFID circuit is being read. In the prior art, the bits used to encode one&#39;s and zero&#39;s into the generation portion of the RFID circuit were typically fixed. This invention utilizes the serial number generation portion of the RFID circuit by exposing on a piece of paper all of the bits left open to represent a binary zero. A user may complete the RFID serial number storage portion of the RFID circuit by placing their finger on the connections to create binary ones.  
           [0007]    An additional advantage of this invention is that this invention provides a remote control device that is combined with a modified RFID circuit that makes it easy to enter information into different types of equipment. When an individual touches contacts on the modified RFID circuit with his/her finger, the circuit will signal a RFID reader causing an action on another device. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art RFID circuit;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2A is a drawing of a circuit  24  that replaces memory array  21  of FIG. 1 showing how programming of the bits may be accomplished by making the bits externally available for programming RFID circuit  10 ;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2B is a drawing of a circuit  300  that is an alternate representation of circuit  24 , that replaces memory array  21  of FIG. 1 showing how programming of the bits may be accomplished by making the bits externally available for programming RFID circuit  10 ;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a drawing showing sensor circuit  25  of FIG. 2A in greater detail;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a drawing showing how a modified RFID circuit attached to a label may be used as a remote control device; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a drawing showing circuit  325  of FIG. 4 in greater detail.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the reference character  10  represents a prior art RFID circuit. Circuit  10  may be the model MCRF 200 manufactured by Microchip Technology, Inc. of 2355 West Chandler Blvd, Chandler, Ariz. 85224. RFID reader  11  is connected to coil  12 , and  12  is coupled to coil  13 . Coil  13  is connected to modulation circuit  14 . Modulation circuit  14  is connected to clock generator  15  and rectifier  16 . Modulation control  17  is coupled to modulation circuit  14 , clock generator  15  and counter  18 . Counter  18  is coupled to column decode  20 . Row decode  19  is coupled to memory array  21 , and array  21  is coupled to modulation control  17 . It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that a battery may be used to supply power to circuit  10 .  
         [0015]    Reader  11  has a transmitter mode and a receiver mode. During the transmit mode of reader  11 , reader  11  transmits a radio frequency signal for a burst of time via coil  12 . After the transmission of a signal by reader  11 , reader  11  turns into a receiver. Coil  12  is inductively linked with coil  13 , and coil  13  receives the radio frequency signal from coil  12  and converts the aforementioned signal into inductive energy, i.e., electricity. When coil  13  has sufficient energy, coil  13  will cause clock generator  15  to generate timing pulses which drive counter  18 . Counter  18  drives row decode  19  which causes memory array  21  to read the fixed bit data pattern stored in memory array  21  one bit at a time. As the data bits are being read by array  21 , the data bits are transmitted to modulation control circuit  17 . Control circuit  17  sends the data bits to reader  11  via modulation circuit  14  and coils  13  and  12 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2A is a drawing of a circuit  24  that replaces memory array  21  of FIG. 1 showing how programming of the bits may be accomplished by making the bits externally available for programming RFID circuit  10 . A plurality of sensor circuits  25  is contained in circuit  24 . Sensor circuits  25  are labeled SC 1  SC 2  SC 3  . . . SC n . Line  29  is connected to SC 1  and graphite contact  52  and line  30  is connected to SC 2  and graphite contact  53 . Line  31  is connected to SC 3  and graphite contact  54  and line  32  are connected to SC n  and graphite contact  55 . There is a sensor circuit  25  for each graphite contact. The description of FIG. 4 will describe how information may be entered into circuit  24  via graphite contacts  52 - 55 . SC 1  has an input  33 , which enables the data output  34 . Input  33  is connected to one of the n lines  37 , and data output  34  is connected to data line  36  and pull up resistor  35 . Data line  36  is connected to modulation control  17  (FIG. 1).  
         [0017]    When counter  18  selects the value 1, column decode  20  will enable line  33 , which will cause the same logic level that is on graphite contact  52  to be placed on data output  34 . When line  33  is not selected, the value on graphite contact  52  does not have any influence on the data output line  34 . Enable outputs  33  for SC 1  . . . SC n  are bundled together in lines  37  so that only one line  37  is turned on at a time. Lines  37  are connected to column decode  20 . Column decode  20  is connected to counter  18 , and counter  18  is connected to row decode  19 . Counter  18  generates a sequence of numbers from 1 through n to enable a different line  37  in sequential order. Thus, data line  36  will receive the data outputs  34  from SC 1  . . . SC n  at different times.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2B is a drawing of a circuit  300  that is an alternate representation of circuit  24 , that replaces memory array  21  of FIG. 1 showing how programming of the bits may be accomplished by making the bits externally available for programming RFID circuit  10 . Circuit  300  includes AND gates  301 ,  302 ,  303  and  304  and OR gate  305 .  
         [0019]    One of the inputs of AND gate  301  is connected to column decode  20  and the other input to AND gate  301  is connected to one of the ends of resistor  322 , one of the ends of diode  306  and one of the ends of diode  314 . The other end of resistor  322  is connected to ground. The other end of diode  306  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  310 , and the other end of toggle switch  310  is connected to row decode  19 . The other end of diode  314  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  318 , and the other end of toggle switch  318  is connected to row decode  19 .  
         [0020]    One of the inputs of AND gate  302  is connected to column decode  20 , and the other input to AND gate  302  is connected to one of the ends of resistor  323 , one of the ends of diode  307  and one of the ends of diode  315 . The other end of resistor  323  is connected to ground. The other end of diode  307  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  311 , and the other end of toggle switch  311  is connected to row decode  19 . The other end of diode  315  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  319 , and the other end of toggle switch  319  is connected to row decode  19 .  
         [0021]    One of the inputs of AND gate  303  is connected to column decode  20 , and the other input to AND gate  303  is connected to one of the ends of resistor  324 , one of the ends of diode  308  and one of the ends of diode  316 . The other end of resistor  324  is connected to ground. The other end of diode  308  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  312 , and the other end of toggle switch  312  is connected to row decode  19 . The other end of diode  316  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  320 , and the other end of toggle switch  320  is connected to row decode  19 .  
         [0022]    One of the inputs of AND gate  304  is connected to column decode  20 , and the other input to AND gate  304  is connected to one of the ends of resistor  325 , one of the ends of diode  309  and one of the ends of diode  317 . The other end of resistor  325  is connected to ground. The other end of diode  309  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  313 , and the other end of toggle switch  312  is connected to row decode  19 . The other end of diode  317  is connected to one of the terminals of toggle switch  321 , and the other end of toggle switch  321  is connected to row decode  19 .  
         [0023]    Column decode  20  and row decode  19  function by taking the selected output at logic one, i.e., a high level and keeping all the other outputs at logic zero, i.e., a low level. The output of AND gates  301 - 304  are connected to the input of OR gate  305 , and the output of OR gate  305  is data that is connected to the input of modulation circuit  17 . If switches  310 ,  311 ,  312  and  313 , respectively, remain open, AND gates  301 - 304 , respectively, will have a “zero” output. If switches  310 ,  311 ,  312  and  313 , respectively, are closed, AND gates  301 - 304 , respectively, will have a “one” output. The output of AND gates  301 - 304 , respectively, will be read when switches  318 - 321 , respectively, are closed.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a drawing showing sensor circuit  25  of FIG. 2A in greater detail. The negative input of comparator  41  is connected to line  29 , and the positive input of comparator  41  is connected to line  38 . Comparator  41  may be a LM339N comparator. One end of line  38  is connected to a 2-3 volt reference voltage, and the other end of line  38  is connected to one of the ends of resistor  39 . The other end of resistor  39  is connected to the positive input of comparator  41  and one of the ends of resistor  40 . The other end of resistor  40  is connected to the input of NAND gate  42 , the output of comparator  41  and one of the ends of resistor  43 . The other end of resistor  43  is connected to a source voltage to act as a pull up resistor. The other input to NAND gate  42  is enable output  33 . The output of gate  42  is data output  34 . Resistor  39  may be 47,000 ohms, and resistor  40  may be 470,000 ohms. Resistor  43  may be 1,000 ohms. Comparator  41  has a positive feedback to provide a small amount of hysteresis  
         [0025]    Sensor circuit  25  is a differential circuit that accommodates variations in the conductivity of the conductive material. The conductive material may be used as a voltage divider to produce V ref  on line  38  under the same conditions experienced by paper in  on line  29 . Thereby, nullifying the effects of varying resistance in the conductive material. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that sensor circuit  25  may replace switches  310 - 313  and  318 - 321  of FIG. 2B.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a drawing showing how a modified RFID circuit attached to a label may be used as a remote control device. Circuit  325  is attached to a label or Post-it®  326  containing an adhesive. Label  326  is adhered to a document  327  that contains information. Circuit  325  will be more fully described in the description of FIG. 5. Circuit  325  includes graphite contacts  328 ,  329  and  330 . A number will be stored in circuit  325  (FIG. 5) at the time of the circuit&#39;s manufacture.  
         [0027]    Document  327  will be associated with label  326 . When an individual touches record graphite contact  328  with his/her finger, circuit  325  will cause modified circuit  10  (FIG. 1) to signal RFID reader  331  causing computer  332  to turn on microphone  333 . The person touching contact  328  may speak, and microphone  333  will send the spoken message to computer  332 . Computer  332  will associate the message with the number stored in circuit  325 . Computer  332  may display the spoken message on monitor  334 . The person touching contact  328  may remove his/her finger from contact  328  and touch play graphite contact  330 . RFID reader will cause computer  332  to have the previously spoken message transmitted via speaker  335 . If the person touching contact  330  wants to keep the transmitted message, he/she will stop touching contact  330  with his/her finger and touch save contact  339  with his/her finger. RFID reader will cause computer  332  to save the previously spoken message and associate the message with the number stored in circuit  325 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 is a drawing showing circuit  325  of FIG. 4 in greater detail. Circuit  325  is essentially the same circuit shown as circuit  10  of FIG. 1 with circuit  340  replacing memory array  21  of FIG. 1. One of the inputs of AND gate  341  is connected to column decode  20 , and the other input to AND gate  341  is connected to one of the ends of resistor  349  and one of the ends of diode  346 . The other end of diode  346  is connected to one of the ends of graphite contact  328 . The other end of resistor  349  is connected to ground. The other end of contact  328  is connected to row decode  19 .  
         [0029]    One of the inputs of AND gate  342  is connected to column decode  20 , and the other input to AND gate  342  is connected to one of the ends of resistor  350  and one of the ends of diode  347 . The other end of diode  347  is connected to one of the ends of graphite contact  329 . The other end of resistor  350  is connected to ground. The other end of contact  329  is connected to row decode  19 .  
         [0030]    One of the inputs of AND gate  343  is connected to column decode  20 , and the other input to AND gate  343  is connected to one of the ends of resistor  351  and one of the ends of diode  348 . The other end of diode  348  is connected to one of the ends of graphite contact  330 . The other end of resistor  351  is connected to ground. The other end of contact  330  is connected to row decode  19 .  
         [0031]    The output of AND gates  341 ,  342  and  343  is connected to the input of OR gate  352 , and the output of OR gate  352  is data that is connected to the input of modulation circuit  17 . If contacts  328 ,  329  and  330  are not touched, they will remain open, AND gates  341 - 343 , respectively, will have a “zero” output. If contacts  328 ,  329  and  330  are touched, they will be closed, respectively, and when column decode  20  provides a “one” output to one of AND gates  341 ,  342  and  343 , that AND gate that received an input from column decode  20  and was touched will have a “one” output. AND gates  341 ,  342  and  343 , supply their outputs to the inputs of OR gate  352  which provides its output to the input of modulation circuit  17 . This causes modulation circuit  17  to transmit a “one” or a “zero” out of RFID circuit  10  in accordance with the output of AND gates  341 ,  342  and  343 .  
         [0032]    It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that the output of circuit  340  may be combined with the output of a read only memory device in which a unique number is stored. Thus, when RFID circuit  10  is read the unique number is read along with the status of contacts  328 ,  329  and  330 .  
         [0033]    The above specification describes a new and improved circuit and RFID type circuit that is used to control remote control devices. It is realized that the above description may indicate to those skilled in the art additional ways in which the principles of this invention may be used without departing from the spirit. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.