Patent ID: 8624711

Claim:
A radio frequency identification device operating method comprising: providing a radio frequency identification device comprising a selectively tunable circuit element having reconfigurable electrical characteristics to modify a wireless communications range of the radio frequency identification device, wherein the selectively tunable circuit element comprises a receiving antenna and a backscatter transmitting antenna, the radio frequency identification device additionally comprising a receiver electrically coupled to the receiving antenna, and a transmitter electrically coupled to the backscatter transmitting antenna, the receiver and the transmitter being configured to wirelessly communicate with a remote interrogator; communicating using the radio frequency identification device in a tuned state, wherein the tuned state provides a first desired receiver range of the radio frequency identification device; and after the communicating, detuning the radio frequency identification device to provide a reduced communications range of the radio frequency identification device compared with the communicating in the tuned state, wherein the detuning comprises reconfiguring the electrical characteristics of the selectively tunable circuit element in response to a command from the remote interrogator, the reduced communication range providing a second desired receiver range of the radio frequency identification device, wherein changing the communications range of the radio frequency identification device comprises changing a range of the receiving antenna and changing a range of the backscatter transmitting antenna.