An antenna method and apparatus for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader includes an RFID reader, a plurality of radio ports of the RFID reader, and a plurality of linearly polarized antenna elements coupled to the radio ports, wherein the RFID reader directs the radio ports to sequentially communicatively connect only one antenna element at a time to the RFID reader such that only one antenna element is operable to transmit/receive at any instant in time. The antenna elements are mounted in an alternating vertically polarized and horizontally polarized configuration.

One embodiment of the present invention includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader configured to detect radio frequency (RF) interference in and/or outside a band of RFID operation. The RFID reader includes a receive channel for receiving incoming RF signals; and hardware for detecting interference in and/or outside a band of RFID operation. A method for mitigating radio frequency (RF) interference in and/or outside a band of RFID operation, according to one embodiment, includes detecting interference in and/or outside a band of RFID operation; and controlling an aspect of operation of the RFID reader for mitigating the detected interference.

Multiple stationary radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID) readers are deployed overhead in a venue and are operated to read RFID tags. A mobile RFID reader is also operated in the venue for reading the RFID tags. The mobile reader is located in the venue, and a host server synchronizes the operation of the stationary readers with the operation of the mobile reader, determines when the mobile reader is in substantially simultaneous, synchronous operation with the stationary readers, and responsively modifies the operation of the stationary and mobile RFID readers to optimize the RFID reading performance.

An electrical activity sensor attachable to a power cable of an electrical device for detecting an impulse generated in the power cable in response to a change in electrical power state of the electrical device, the electrical activity sensor comprising an antenna assembly comprising an antenna element operable to magnetically couple with an electrical pulse generated in the power cable to induce an electrical signal in response to a change in electrical power state of the electrical device; and at least one dipole type antenna configured operate as a half wave dipole in the operating frequency range of the antenna element and to magnetically couple to the antenna element wherein the dipole type conductor is operable to wirelessly transmit data representative of the power state change of the electrical device to a remote reader.

A system for determining a location within an area defined by a grid of radio-frequency (RF) tag circuits includes RF exciters that are configured to emit unmodulated RF energy. The grid of the RF tag circuits are configured to receive the unmodulated RF energy from one or more of the RF exciters and to emit modulated RF energy. Each RF tag circuit may store information associated with a location of the RF tag circuit within the area and the modulated RF energy emitted from each RF tag circuit may carry the information.

A multi-protocol RFID interrogating system employs a synchronization technique (step-lock) for a backscatter RFID system that allows simultaneous operation of closely spaced interrogators. The multi-protocol RFID interrogating system can communicate with backscatter transponders having different output protocols and with active transponders including: Title 21 compliant RFID backscatter transponders; IT2000 RFID backscatter transponders that provide an extended mode capability beyond Title 21; EGO™ RFID backscatter transponders, SEGO™ RFID backscatter transponders; ATA, ISO, ANSI AAR compliant RFID backscatter transponders; and IAG compliant active technology transponders. The system implements a step-lock operation, whereby adjacent interrogators are synchronized to ensure that all downlinks operate within the same time frame and all uplinks operate within the same time frame, to eliminate downlink on uplink interference.

A system includes a processor configured to receive requests from a wireless device in wireless communication with the processor, the requests corresponding to one or more aspects of a refueling process. The processor is also configured to collect vehicle data corresponding to the one or more aspects of the refueling process and respond to the requests by sending the data relating to the one or more aspects of the refueling process.

An external data retrieval apparatus includes a transceiver, and a processing system coupled to the transceiver. The processing system obtains a plurality of measures over a period of time. The measures relate to a quality of a communications channel between the data retrieval apparatus and an active implantable medical device. The processing system determines a trend in the plurality of measures over the period of time, and then determines a preferred time during which to retrieve data based on the trend.

An electronic label system including a control unit and a plurality of electronic label units is provided. The control unit transmits wireless power. The electronic label units are coupled to the control unit. The electronic label units respectively output a plurality of state information to the control unit, so that the control unit monitors operation states of the electronic label units according to the state information. The state information is transmitted to the control unit when a state of the electronic label units is varied. The control unit transmits the wireless power to the electronic label units by using wireless communications, and the electronic label units are charged with the wireless power. Furthermore, a wired communication interface is used as the communication interface between the net unit and the electronic label units in the electronic label system, so that the cost of the electronic label system is reduced.

Communication between a wireless base-station and a microwave reflector link are enhanced by feeding back a portion of the transmitter signal, adjusted for phase and amplitude, to cancel ambient reflection blocker signals being received at the base-station. The microwave reflector link does not utilize a transmitter gain stage, but communicates data back to the base-station in response to modulating the reflections of its antenna (e.g., in gain and/or phase). The disclosure aids in the proper amplification and processing of reflection signals from the microwave reflector link, by canceling out the blocking signals which arise as background objects reflect transmitter signal energy back to the base-station.