Patent Abstract:
A method for controlling operation of a transmitter in an electronic article surveillance (EAS) system is described that includes coupling each of a plurality of transmit channels to a corresponding antenna, configuring a modulator within each transmit channel to output a modulated signal to the corresponding antenna, providing feedback of each modulated signal, and adjusting operation of each modulator based on the feedback. An EAS transmitter and an EAS system are also described.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application relates to and claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/570,032, filed May 11, 2004, titled “Closed Loop Transmitter Control for Switching Acoustic-Magnetic Power Amplifier in an EAS System”, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates generally to signal generation within an electronic article surveillance system and, more particularly, to a system and method for amplifier control within a transmitter configured to transmit signals for reception by EAS tags.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     In acoustomagnetic or magnetomechanical electronic article surveillance, or “EAS,” a detection system may excite an EAS tag by transmitting an electromagnetic burst at a resonance frequency of the tag. When the tag is present within the electromagnetic field created by the transmission burst, the tag begins to resonate with an acoustomagnetic or magnetomechanical response frequency that is detectable by a receiver in the detection system.  
         [0006]     Transmitters used in these detection systems may include linear amplifiers using feedback control or switching amplifiers using open loop control. Linear amplifiers provide good transmitter current regulation with feedback control, but are expensive because of poor power efficiency, typically around forty-five percent (45%). Previous switching amplifiers provide good power efficiency, typically around eighty-five percent (85%), but transmitter current levels can fluctuate due to the open loop control and variable load conditions.  
         [0007]     Controller components of the prior art attempt to mitigate this current fluctuation by providing a low bandwidth pulse width adjustment based on measured currents from previous transmission bursts. In one example, further described below with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , transmitter component hardware provides a single pulse width modulator that controls a single half bridge amplifier with multiple loads connected in parallel across the amplifier output. In this configuration, the antenna with the lowest impedance receives more current than antennas with higher impedance, resulting in different levels of transmission, or power, being output from each of the antennas. Furthermore, the current sensing hardware in such prior art systems is such that only the current supplied to a single load can be sensed at any given time. Specifically, the current applied to a load is estimated after the entire transmission burst is completed by averaging the current samples.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In one embodiment, a method for controlling a transmitter in an electronic article surveillance system is provided. The method may comprise coupling each of a plurality of transmit channels of the transmitter to a corresponding antenna, configuring a modulator within each transmit channel to output a modulated signal to the corresponding antenna, providing feedback of each modulated signal, and adjusting operation of each modulator based on the feedback.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment, a transmitter for an electronic article surveillance system is provided. The transmitter may comprise a plurality of antennas configured for transmission of signals and a plurality of transmit channels. Each transmit channel is coupled to a corresponding one of the antennas, and each comprises an amplifier configured to supply a signal to its antenna, a modulator configured to supply a modulated signal to the amplifier, a sensing circuit configured to sense an amount of current applied to the antenna by the amplifier, and a controller configured to receive the sensed current amount from the sensing circuit. The controller is configured to control operation of the modulator based on the sensed current amount.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment, an electronic article surveillance system is provided that may comprise at least one tag, at least one receiver configured to receive emissions from the tag, and at least one transmitter comprising a plurality of transmit channels. Each transmit channel may be configured to transmit signals to cause the tag to resonate when the tag is in a vicinity of the transmit channel. Each transmit channel may be independently configured to utilize feedback to control an output power of the transmit channel. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     For a better understanding of various embodiments of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description which should be read in conjunction with the following figures wherein like numerals represent like parts.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a known transmitter utilized in electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a control function utilized within the transmitter of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a transmitter incorporating independent feedback control for each antenna load constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an exemplary control function embodiment for use with the transmitter of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of an EAS system capable of incorporating the transmitter of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     For simplicity and ease of explanation, the invention will be described herein in connection with various embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the features and advantages of the invention may be implemented in a variety of configurations. It is to be understood, therefore, that the embodiments described herein are presented by way of illustration, not of limitation.  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a transmitter  10  for an electronic article surveillance (EAS) system. Specifically, the transmitter  10  may include a plurality of antennas  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  respectively, that transmit a signal received from an amplifier  20 . A controller  30  within the transmitter  10  may be configured to provide a low bandwidth pulse width adjustment based on current measurements taken during previous transmission bursts. In this embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the controller  30  may include a single pulse width modulator  32  that controls the amplifier  20 , which in one embodiment, may be a single half bridge amplifier, with the antennas  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  connected in parallel across amplifier output  22 .  
         [0019]     To provide control of the pulse width modulator  32 , current sense circuits  34 ,  36 ,  38 , and  40  respectively, may be electrically connected to each respective antenna  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  and configured to sense an amount of current delivered to each respective antenna  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18 . The current sense circuits  34 ,  36 ,  38 , and  40  each provide a measure of current applied to the antennas  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  to a muxing circuit  42 . The muxing circuit  42  may be controlled by a control algorithm component  44 . The control algorithm component  44  determines which current sense circuit output is to be switched through muxing circuit  42  for processing by an analog-to-digital converter  46 . Therefore, and in a sequence controlled by the control algorithm component  44 , an amount of current applied to each antenna  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  is fed back through the A/D converter  46  and the control algorithm component  44  to control operation of the pulse width modulator  32 .  
         [0020]     However, in such a configuration the antennas  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  function as a current divider, and the antenna with the lowest impedance receives more current than the antennas having higher impedances. The result is that each antenna  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  typically has a slightly different impedance and therefore transmits a different amount of power. This may be undesirable in an EAS system transmitter. Furthermore, the current sensing hardware in such a system (i.e., the current sense circuits  34 ,  36 ,  38 , and  40  and the muxing circuit  42 ) is such that only the current applied to a single load (antenna) can be sensed at any one time. The current applied to each load is estimated after the transmission burst is completed by averaging the current samples received at the control algorithm  44 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the functionality of the control algorithm component  44 . Specifically, a sample buffer  60  receives samples of the sensed current that is applied to the antennas  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  from the A/D converter  46  (all shown in  FIG. 1 ). As described above, sample buffer  60  receives samples relating to a single one of antennas  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  at any one time. The samples are then processed to determine an amplitude of the samples by a envelope detector  62  as is known.  
         [0022]     The amplitude of the sensed current sample is then input into a pulse width modulator control update equation  68 . The pulse width modulator (PWM) control values  70  receives inputs relating to a transmit frequency, phase of the transmit signal, and a desired current output of the PWM hardware. A calculation component  72  may be configured to determine minimum PWM control values  70 , sometimes referred to as state variables, for the loads being driven by the PWM hardware, via amplifier  20  (shown in  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of an embodiment of a multiple channel transmitter  100  for an EAS system that addresses the different antenna impedances and resultant variations in transmit power described above. In the illustrated embodiment, four independent transmitter channels  102 ,  104 ,  106  and  108  are illustrated, but it is understood that any number of transmitter channels may be utilized as necessary for a given EAS system application. In addition, while described with respect to transmitter channel  102  below, it is to be understood that transmitter channels  104 ,  106 , and  108  may be similarly configured. In addition, any embodiments that utilize less than or more than four transmitter channels may be similarly configured.  
         [0024]     In an exemplary embodiment, the transmitter  100  utilizes real-time feedback control of individual switching power amplifiers. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, each transmitter channel, for example transmitter channel  102 , may include an independent switching amplifier  110  provided with real-time feedback control of the pulse width modulator  112 . Such a configuration provides the power efficiency and low cost of switching amplifiers, with a level of current regulation similar to that commonly associated with linear amplifiers. Because the power generated within each independent transmitter channel in this embodiment is approximately one fourth the power generated within a transmitter using a single channel (and amplifier) to drive four antennas (e.g., transmitter  10  shown in  FIG. 1 ), the electronic components utilized within transmitter channels  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108 , are smaller, dissipate less power, and are less expensive in total than the electronic components utilized in production of transmitter  10 .  
         [0025]     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the transmitter channel  102  may include a current sensing circuit  114  configured to measure, or sense, an amount of current that the amplifier  110  supplies to drive the load provided by antenna  116 . In one embodiment, current sensing circuit  114  may be configured to output a voltage. The current sensing circuit  114  provides a feedback signal  118  (e.g., a voltage), which may be input into an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)  120  and converted to a digital signal  122 . This digital signal  122  may be input into a control algorithm component  124 . Control algorithm component  124 , includes, for example, a processing chip, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller or digital signal processor (DSP) and the programming associated therewith. In alternative embodiments, the control algorithm component  124  may be implemented using combinations of discrete electronic components.  
         [0026]     Operation of an embodiment of a control algorithm component  124  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the digital signal  122 , which is representative of the current sensed at the output of the amplifier  110 , may be input into the control algorithm component  124 . The control algorithm component  124  may be configured to determine the magnitude of the feedback signal. In the illustrated embodiment, magnitude of the digital signal  122  may be determined using an envelope detector  130  as is known. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other known detectors may be used.  
         [0027]     In addition, the magnitude of the digital signal  122  (output  140 ) may be input into a proportional, integral, derivative, or “PID”, controller  150 . In the embodiment illustrated, a desired current amplitude, represented by set point  152 , may be subtracted from the computed current amplitude (output  140 ), producing an error signal  154 . The error signal  154  may then be multiplied by a proportional gain constant  160 , or Kp, to produce the proportional control value  162 , or Cp. The error signal  154  may also input into an integrator equation, shown as discrete integrator  170  in  FIG. 4 , whose output  172  is multiplied by the integral gain constant  174 , or Ki, to produce the integral control value  176 , or Ci. Finally, the error signal  154  may also be input into a differentiator equation, shown as discrete differentiator  180  in  FIG. 4 , whose output  182  may be multiplied by the derivative gain constant  184 , or Kd, to produce the differential control value  186 , or Cd.  
         [0028]     The three control component values  162 ,  176 , and  186 , or Cp, Ci, and Cd, may be summed to produce a overall control value  190 , or C. This control value  190  may be limited by a limiting function embodied within limiter  192  to an allowable input range of the pulse width modulator  112 . The resulting control signal  194  may be input into the pulse width modulator  112  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Implementation of discrete integral and differentiator equations on digital signal processors and other processing components generally is known to those skilled in the art. Also, selection of suitable gain constants Kp, Ki, and Kd may be dependent on other parameters of the system, such as variable gains in the current sense circuit  114  and the amplifier  110  due to variations in discrete electronic components.  
         [0029]     Although described as a digital signal processor (DSP), the signal processing described herein is capable of being performed on microprocessors, microcontrollers, and other processing topologies, for example, fuzzy and/or neural control structures, observer/estimator or state space control structures, and other topologies, without altering the essence of the embodiments herein described. Also, advances in semiconductor integration have produced a variety of integrated circuits that integrate, for example, muxing, analog to digital conversion, and modulation within a single processor chip.  
         [0030]     In operation, the control signal  194  generated by the control algorithm component  124  is therefore based upon an amount of current sensed at the antenna  116  by the current sense circuit  114  (both shown in  FIG. 3 ). This control signal  194  may be input into the pulse width modulator  112  (shown in  FIG. 3 ), which generates a pulse modulated signal having a pulse width dependent upon the parameters of the control signal  194 . The pulse modulated signal generated may then be amplified by the amplifier  110  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and used to drive the transmission antenna  116 . The transmission pulse output results in a current applied to the antenna  116 . The current may again be sensed by current sensing circuit  114 , which provides feedback to the control algorithm component  124 . In this way, feedback is utilized to set the width of the transmitted signal pulse output by the amplifier  110 .  
         [0031]     The EAS system transmitter  100  described with respect to  FIGS. 3 and 4  provides independent real-time control of the amount of current applied to multiple antenna loads. As such, an EAS transmitter can be configured so that a desired amount of transmit power can be individually controlled for each antenna of the transmitter  100  through simultaneous, independent, current monitoring of all transmit channels  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108 . As compared to, for example, transmitter  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), cost of the transmitter is reduced to due semiconductor integration and also due to the reduction in power (both generated and dissipated) associated with separate transmit channels. A net effect of higher integration and smaller, less expensive power components is that the total cost of using multiple independent transmit channels and loads is less than using a single channel to supply power for multiple loads. In addition, the transmitter configurations described herein also result in advantages with respect to circuit protection, thermal management, and current regulation as compared to known transmitter configurations.  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of an EAS system  200  which is capable of incorporating the embodiments of transmitter  100  described herein. Specifically, EAS system  200  may include a first antenna pedestal  202  and a second antenna pedestal  204 , each of which may include a number of antennas (e.g., antenna  16 ). The antennas within antenna pedestals  202  and  204  may be connected to a control unit  206  that may include transmitter  100  and receiver  210 . Within control unit  206  a controller  212  may be configured for communication with an external device. In addition, controller  212  may be configured to control the timing of transmissions from transmitter  100  and expected receptions at receiver  210  such that the antenna pedestals  202  and  204  can be utilized for both transmission of signals to an EAS tag  220  and reception of frequencies generated by EAS tag  220 . System  200  is representative of many EAS systems and is meant as an example only. For example, in an alternative embodiment, control unit  206  may be located within one of the antenna pedestals  202  and  204 . In still another embodiment, additional antennas which only receive frequencies from the EAS tags  220  may be utilized as part of the EAS system  200 . Also a single control unit  206 , either within a pedestal or located separately, may be configured to control multiple sets of antenna pedestals.  
         [0033]     As a result of incorporating the embodiments described herein, the performance of the transmitters (e.g., transmitter  100 ) in EAS systems (e.g., EAS system  200 ) is improved to provide an increase in power efficiency and to allow the independent sensing of multiple antenna loads. At the same time, such transmitters provide reliable transmitter current levels under variable load conditions and also provide redundant fault handling at a low cost.  
         [0034]     It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the various embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that the scope of the various embodiments of the invention are not to be interpreted as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but only in accordance with the appended claims when read in light of the forgoing disclosure.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6