Patent ID: 7893816

Claim:
An at least partially self powered radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag for use in an RFID system, the RFID tag comprising: an antenna for receiving an RFID reader signal from an RFID reader, the RFID reader signal providing power for said RFID tag when the received RFID reader signal is sufficiently strong; an amplification circuit employing a power source independent of the RFID reader for amplifying the RFID reader signal which is active to produce an amplified signal in a first mode and inactive in a second mode; an amplifier control circuit for controlling operation of the amplification circuit whereby the amplification circuit is controlled to be active in the first mode if the received RFID reader signal has a level below a predetermined minimum; and a communication circuit for receiving the amplified signal and sending a response signal to the RFID reader based on the amplified signal in the first mode and for receiving the RFID reader signal and sending a response signal to the RFID reader based thereon in the second mode.