An intelligent tracking system generally includes one or more tracking devices, some of which may be passive tracking devices. Each passive tracking device includes one or more transceivers and is energized by an energizing signal. Some of these passive tracking devices may operate in a first communication mode or a second communication mode based on the energizing signal. Some tracking devices may include encryption modules or authentication modules. Some of these devices may incorporate a bulk acoustic wave oscillator.

RFID readers may be configured to supply power to tags during frequency hops. When a reader is supplying power to a passive RFID tag via a first RF waveform having a first radio frequency and determines that it is to frequency-hop, the reader may determine whether the tag requires power during the hop. If so, the reader begins (or continues) to synthesize a second RF waveform with a second radio frequency while also synthesizing the first RF waveform, and frequency-hops by transitioning from transmitting the first RF waveform to transmitting the second RF waveform such that the power transmitted during the transition is sufficient for the tag to operate.

The disclosed technology relates generally to apparatuses comprising conductive polymers and more particularly to tags and tag devices comprising a redox-active polymer film, and methods of using and manufacturing the same. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a substrate and a conductive structure formed on the substrate which includes a layer of redox-active polymer film having mobile ions and electrons. The conductive structure further includes a first terminal and a second terminal configured to receive an electrical signal therebetween, where the layer of redox-active polymer is configured to conduct an electrical current generated by the mobile ions and the electrons in response to the electrical signal. The apparatus additionally includes a detection circuit operatively coupled to the conductive structure and configured to detect the electrical current flowing through the conductive structure.

A device for contactless communication with a terminal, the device comprising: an antenna for receiving a wireless signal emitted by the terminal; an embedded chip configured to generate data for communication to the terminal to perform a first function associated with the device; and a module separate from the chip configured to perform processes as part of a second function associated with the device, the module being connected to the antenna and comprising a power-harvesting unit configured to harvest power from the received wireless signal to power at least the module.

In accordance with an embodiment, a wireless tag reading apparatus includes an antenna, first and second power feeding ports, and a controller. The first power feeding port feeds electric power into the antenna so as to emit the first linearly polarized wave from the antenna. The second power feeding port feeds electric power into the antenna so as to emit the second linearly polarized wave from the antenna. The controller sets a ratio of a time of power feeding from the first power feeding port to a time of power feeding from the second power feeding port to take a value according to a ratio of the number of wireless tags existing in the direction of the first linearly polarized wave to the number of wireless tags existing in the direction of the second linearly polarized wave.

In an embodiment a method for supplying energy wirelessly through RFID comprises the steps of sending by an RFID reader device a request message to at least one RFID tag device, receiving by the at least one RFID tag device the request message, sending by the at least one RFID tag device an answer message to the RFID reader device and changing by the at least one RFID tag device its state into a high power mode, receiving by the RFID reader device the answer message, sending by the RFID reader device an energizing signal having an unmodulated constant wave at a predefined frequency during an adjustable amount of time, receiving by the at least one RFID tag device the energizing signal, converting said signal into energy and using the energy by the at least one RFID tag device, and changing by the at least one RFID tag device its state into an RFID operation mode at the end of the adjustable amount of time.

An RFID tag reading antenna includes a loop antenna including a first loop-shaped conductor having a peripheral length shorter than a ¼ wavelength in a communication frequency; and a split ring resonator including a second loop-shaped conductor having an opening smaller than an opening of the first loop-shaped conductor of the loop antenna and being arranged at a position away from a plane formed by the first loop-shaped conductor by a predetermined distance. In addition, the RFID tag reading antenna is coupled to an RFID tag as a communication partner, in a state where a distance from the RFID tag to the split ring resonator is shorter than a distance from the loop antenna to the split ring resonator.

A radiofrequency harvester circuit may be used in a battery-less RFID device. The harvester circuit includes an antenna unit that captures radiofrequency signals and harvesting circuitry coupled to the antenna unit for collecting energy from the radiofrequency signals captured by the antenna unit. The antenna unit is selectively tunable at a plurality of tuning bands that are scanned by selectively tuning the antenna unit at different frequency bands and sensing respective values indicative of the power of radiofrequency signals captured by the antenna unit at the frequency bands scanned. A highest value out of said respective values for the power of radiofrequency signals as well as the frequency band in the plurality of tuning bands of the antenna unit providing the aforesaid highest value are identified and the harvester circuit is operated with the antenna unit tuned at the frequency band providing the highest value thus identified.

Systems and methods for operating a marker. The methods comprise: storing energy collected by an energy harvesting element of the marker; using the stored energy to enable operations of the marker's communications element; receiving, by the marker's communications element, a marker deactivation signal transmitted from an external device; and causing either a resonator to be prevented from receiving transmit bursts emitted from an EAS system, a bias element's magnetic field to be normalized, or a resonator to be physically prevented from vibrating, in response to the marker deactivation signal's reception.

An intelligent tracking system generally includes one or more tracking devices, some of which may be passive tracking devices. Each passive tracking device includes one or more transceivers and is energized by an energizing signal. Some of these passive tracking devices may operate in a first communication mode or a second communication mode based on the energizing signal. Some tracking devices may include encryption modules or authentication modules. Some of these devices may incorporate a bulk acoustic wave oscillator.