TRANSPONDER TAG THAT IS OPERABLE BY A MOBILE TELEPHONE, PORTABLE OBJECT, MOBILE TELEPHONE, AND CORRESPONDING METHODS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transponder tag (10) that is operable by a mobile telephone, a mobile telephone for operating such a transponder tag (10), a method of operating the transponder tag (10), and a method for detecting the presence of a portable object. The transponder tag comprises a receiving unit (20) for receiving a wireless input signal. The transponder tag (10) is configured to obtain energy (EG) from the received input signal and to use the energy (EG) obtained from the input signal for transmitting by way of a wireless short-range connection a wireless output signal (SSR) that corresponds to a tag information (ITG) of the transponder tag (10). The receiving unit (20) is configured to receive a wireless input signal (STUP) at a frequency of at least one uplink band of a mobile telephone network. In this way, radiation energy of the mobile phone is used to achieve an energy-efficient and reliable operation of the transponder tag as long as the latter is located within a short distance of the mobile phone. This is useful for numerous applications. For example a person may use his/her mobile telephone to obtain a quick overview and/or a reliable confirmation that all his/her personnel belongings, e.g. keys or medical box, are “on board” at the moment the person leaves home.

Claims

1. A transponder tag (10), operable by a mobile telephone and comprising a receiving unit (20) for receiving a wireless input signal, wherein the transponder tag (10) is configured to obtain energy (EG) from the received input signal and to use said energy (EG) for transmitting by way of a wireless short-range connection a wireless output signal (SSR) that corresponds to a tag information (ITG) of the transponder tag (10), and wherein the receiving unit (20) is configured to receive a wireless input signal (STUP) at a frequency of at least one uplink band of a mobile telephone network.

2. The transponder tag (10) according to claim 1, wherein the transponder tag (10), in particular the receiving unit (20) and/or a transmitting unit (30) of the transponder tag (10), has a wireless operational range of 0.2 m to 2 m, in particular 0.3 m to 1.5 m, further in particular 0.4 m to 1.0 m.

3. The transponder tag (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the receiving unit (20), in particular an antenna (22) and/or an impedance matching network (24) thereof, is a multiband receiving unit and/or has a bandwidth of at least 20 MHz, in particular at least 50 MHz, further in particular at least 100 MHz.

4. The transponder tag (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving unit (20) comprises at least one omnidirectional antenna (22), in particular one or more dipoles and/or more circular polarized antennas, which further in particular are arranged in an antenna array.

5. The transponder tag (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving unit (20) is configured to receive the wireless input signal (STUP) at a UHF frequency and/or at a frequency that differs from the frequency band of the wireless short-range connection by at least 20 MHz, in particular at least 50 MHz, further in particular at least 100 MHz.

6. The transponder tag (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transponder tag (10) comprises a receiving antenna (22) and a separate transmission antenna (32) arranged in particular on opposite sides of the transponder tag (10).

7. The transponder tag (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one uplink band is a band of a cellular network, in particular of a GSM, UMTS or LTE network, further in particular of a 1800 MHz telecommunication band.

8. The transponder tag (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless short-range connection is based on low-energy technology, in particular Bluetooth BLE, ANT, ZigBee or RFID technology.

9. The transponder tag (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transponder tag (10) is configured for transmitting the wireless output signal (SSR) autonomously and/or asynchronously, in particular by one-way communication.

10. A portable object (40; 42), in particular an individualized object and/or personal item, comprising one or more transponder tags (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in particular the transponder tags (10) are arranged at different surfaces of the object (40; 42) and/or according to a periodical pattern, further in particular according to an array.

11. A mobile telephone (5) for operating a transponder tag, in particular the transponder tag (10) according to any one of the claims 1 to 9, the mobile telephone (5) comprising a transmission unit (7) for emitting a wireless signal (STUP) at a frequency of at least one uplink band of a mobile telephone network, wherein the transmission unit (7) is switchable to a frequency that corresponds to at least one receiving frequency of the transmission tag (10), in particular to a frequency of the 1800 MHz telecommunication band.

12. The mobile telephone (5) according to the preceding claim, comprising a user control interface (8) for enabling the user to control the point in time for emitting the wireless signal (STUP) and/or the frequency of the emitted wireless signal (STUP).

13. A method of operating a transponder tag (10), in particular a transponder tag (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 9, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a wireless input signal (STUP) at a frequency of an uplink band of a mobile telephone network; obtaining energy (EG) from the received wireless input signal (STUP); and using the obtained energy (EG) for transmitting a wireless output signal (SSR) that corresponds to a tag information (ITG) of the transponder tag (10) from the transponder tag (10) to a mobile telephone (5) via a short-range wireless connection.

14. A method for detecting the presence of at least one portable object (40; 42) in a wireless operational range (6) of a mobile telephone (5), the method comprising the steps of: attaching the transponder tag (10) to the portable object (40; 42); operating a mobile telephone (5) for emitting a wireless signal (STUP) at a frequency of at least one uplink band of a mobile telephone network; operating the transponder tag (10) according to the preceding claim; receiving the tag information (ITG) of the transponder tag (10) via the short-range wireless connection; and presenting the tag information (ITG) to the user of the mobile telephone (5) for indicating the presence of the at least one portable object (40; 42).

15. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the step of operating the mobile telephone (5) comprises: switching the frequency of the emitted wireless signal (STUP) to a frequency that corresponds to at least one receiving frequency of the transmission tag (10) and/or emitting the wireless signal (STUP) under user control, in particular by user selecting the frequency of the emitted wireless signal (STUP).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] Below, the present invention is described in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments and the attached drawings, wherein:

[0072] FIG. 1 shows a simplified illustration of a cellular telecommunication system, a mobile telephone and a key with a transponder tag according to the invention;

[0073] FIG. 2 a simplified block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the transponder tag according to the invention and according to FIG. 1;

[0074] FIG. 3 a simplified perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the transponder tag according to FIG. 2 with multiple receiving antennas;

[0075] FIG. 4 a simplified flow diagram illustrating the method according to the invention for operating the transponder tag according to FIG. 2;

[0076] FIG. 5 a simplified block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the mobile phone according to the invention and according to FIG. 1 with a user controlled transmitting unit;

[0077] FIG. 6 a simplified top view illustrating an embodiment of the transponder tag according to FIG. 2 with a dual band receiving antenna;

[0078] FIG. 7 a simplified perspective view illustrating a portable object with multiple transponder tags according to FIG. 6;

[0079] FIG. 8 a simplified illustration showing the presentation of tag information on a display of the mobile telephone according to FIG. 5;

[0080] FIG. 9 a simplified block diagram illustrating a further embodiment of the transponder tag according to FIG. 2 with a RFID transceiver; and

[0081] FIG. 10 a simplified block diagram illustrating a further embodiment of the transponder tag according to FIG. 9 with a switch for backscatter modulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0082] The embodiments described herein are meant as illustrative examples and shall not limit the invention.

[0083] FIG. 1 shows a simplified illustration of a cellular telecommunication network 1, a mobile telephone 5 with a button 8 and a key 40 with a transponder tag 10 according to the invention.

[0084] The key 40 is an example of a portable object in the sense of the invention, i.e. a personal item intended to be carried around with the transponder tag 10 attached thereto. The mobile telephone 5 is activated to determine information related to the transponder tag 10, specifically to the key 40, and to present this information to the user of the mobile telephone 5, for example the presence or absence of the key 40 in the near vicinity of the mobile telephone 5.

[0085] The cellular telecommunication network 1 is schematically indicated by three base stations 3, which are connected to a wide area network 2, schematically indicated by a cloud symbol. Each of the base stations 3 comprises a radiation cell 4 surrounding the base station 3, schematically indicated by a dashed cloud symbol. The radiation cells 4 define a cellular structure, namely a substantially two-dimensional field of radiation cells. A number of mobile telephones 5 (schematically indicated by small mobile telephones in the radiation cells), are wirelessly connected to their assigned base station 3. The mobile telephones 5 may communicate with each other via the base stations 3 and, as the case may be, via the wide area network 2. Connections to a fixed-wire network and to the internet are also possible (not shown). For example, the cellular telecommunication network 1 is a GSM telecommunication network and the diameter of the radiation cell 4 is typically between 1 km and 20 km.

[0086] The mobile telephone 5 is also connected to the cellular telecommunication network 1 via a wireless connection, i.e. the mobile telephone 5 is within the radiation cell 4 of at least one of the base stations 3 and exchanges telecommunication signals with this base station 3.

[0087] The wireless connection in the direction away from the mobile telephone 5 is called an “uplink” connection or an uplink signal STUP (indicated by arrows pointing away from the mobile telephone 5). The uplink signal STUP is intended for transmitting data from the mobile telephone 5 to the base station 3, but since the mobile telephone 5 also radiates in other directions, this uplink signal STUP also reaches the transponder tag 10. The opposite direction, i.e. from the base station 3 to the mobile telephone 5 is called downlink connection.

[0088] The wireless connection in the direction away from the mobile telephone 5 is called an “uplink” signal STUP (indicated by arrows pointing away from the mobile telephone 5). The uplink signal STUP is intended for transmitting data from the mobile telephone 5 to the base station 3, but since the mobile telephone 5 also radiates in directions different from the nearest base station 3, this uplink signal STUP reaches the transponder tag 10 as well.

[0089] The transponder tag 10 is connected to the mobile telephone 5 by a wireless short-range connection for transmitting a wireless output signal SSR from the transponder tag 10 to the mobile telephone 5 (indicated by an arrow pointing towards the mobile telephone 5). In this example, the short-range wireless connection is a low power Bluetooth connection, also called BLE or smart Bluetooth connection.

[0090] The mobile telephone 5 has a wireless operational range 6, which surrounds the mobile telephone 5 like a sphere (schematically indicated by the dotted line). The transponder tag 10 is located within the wireless operational range 6 of the mobile telephone 5 and hence the transponder tag 10 is able to receive sufficient energy from the mobile telephone 5 to activate the transponder tag 10 and to transmit a signal from the transponder tag 10 to the mobile telephone 5 via the short-range wireless connection SSR.

[0091] In this example, the wireless operational range 6 is approximately 1.5 meter (drawing is not to scale), such that transponder tags 10 located in the near vicinity of the mobile telephone 5 and thus in the near vicinity of the user. Thus the transponder tag 10 is reliably detectable and the wirelessly transmitted tag information is unambiguously readable.

[0092] In operation, the mobile telephone 5 emits an uplink signal, either automatically and/or periodically or, as an alternative, initially and/or on user request, and notifies the networking system 1 of the presence of the mobile telephone 5 within a cell of the networking system 1.

[0093] If the user queries for tag information, for example if he wishes to confirm that his keys are nearby somewhere in his coat, he may initiate a search for the tag 10 by pushing the button 8. Accordingly, the mobile telephone 10 transmits an uplink signal STUP for energizing the transponder tag 10, in this example at a transmission power of 0.5 Watt ERP, which provides a wireless operational range of approx. 1.5 m. Having been energized, the transponder tag 10 transmits the wireless output signal SSR. After having received the wireless output signal SSR from the transponder tag 10, the mobile telephone 10 displays the tag information on its display.

[0094] FIG. 2 shows a simplified block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the transponder tag 10 according to the invention and according to FIG. 1.

[0095] The transponder tag 10 comprises a receiving unit 20, a rectifying unit 12, an intermediate storage unit 14, a controlling unit 16 and a transmitting unit 30. For example, the rectifying unit 12 is implemented by a zero-bias Schottky diode such as an Avago HSMS-285C.

[0096] The receiving unit 20 comprises a receiving antenna 22 and a receiving impedance matching network 24 such as an LC circuit and the transmitting unit 30 comprises a transmitting antenna 32 and a transmitting impedance matching network 34. In another example the receiving unit 20 may also be used for transmitting the short-range signal instead of the transmitting unit 30, if the frequency of the receiving unit 20 is matched appropriately (indicated by the dotted and dashed lines).

[0097] The receiving unit 20, in particular the first antenna 22 and the first impedance matching networking 24, is configured to receive the wireless input signal STUP at a UHF frequency of an uplink band of a cellular network, in this example of a GSM and also of an LTE network.

[0098] The wireless short-range connection is based on low energy technology, in this example a Bluetooth BLE technology. The frequency of the wireless Bluetooth short-range connection at 2400 MHz differs from the frequency of the 1800 MHz uplink band of a cellular network by approximately 600 MHz.

[0099] The controlling unit 16 comprises a non-volatile memory unit 18, which is configured to store tag information ITG of the transponder tag 10. The controlling unit 16 may be implemented by a microprocessor, in particular a digital and/or programmable processor.

[0100] FIG. 3 shows a simplified perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the transponder tag 10 according to FIG. 2 with multiple receiving antennas 22.

[0101] The receiving antenna 22 is an omnidirectional and multiband antenna that is configured as an assembly of three parts, each adapted to receive a wireless input signal at a different receiving frequency. Each part is configured as a folded dipole. In another example, the receiving antenna 22 is implemented as one or more spiral antennas.

[0102] In this example, the substrate of the transponder tag 10 is FR4 and the antennas are made from copper wire. However, other metals such as copper or aluminum, in particular in form of tape or printed conductive ink, may also be used.

[0103] The receiving antenna 22 and the transmission antenna 32 are arranged on opposite sides of the transponder tag 10. This reduces interference between the antennas to a minimum.

[0104] FIG. 4 shows a simplified flow diagram illustrating the method according to the invention for operating the transponder tag according to FIG. 2.

[0105] In this example, the method performs a number of steps, depicted as blocks 100, 110, 120, 130 and 140. The steps are explained by the following instructions, wherein the reference signs refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2: [0106] Block 100: receiving a wireless input signal STUP at a frequency of an uplink band of a mobile telephone network 1. [0107] Block 110: obtaining energy EG from the received wireless input signal STUP. [0108] Block 120: collecting the obtained energy EG by using an intermediate storage unit 14. [0109] Block 130: activating the transponder tag 10 by use of the collected energy from the intermediate storage unit 14. [0110] Block 140: transmitting a wireless output signal SSR that corresponds to tag information ITG of the transponder tag 10 from the transponder tag 10 to a mobile telephone 5 via the short-range wireless connection and returning to block 100.

[0111] Thus, according to the above method, as long as the transponder tag 10 receives sufficient energy, the transponder tag 10 operates autonomously and asynchronously and continuously transmits the wireless output signal SSR to the mobile telephone 5 via a one-way communication.

[0112] FIG. 5 shows a simplified block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a mobile phone 5 according to the invention and according to FIG. 1 with a user-controlled transmitting unit 7 and a user control interface 8.

[0113] The mobile telephone 5, also called a smart phone, is a personal device for all kinds of daily activities such as making phone calls, exchanging messages and e-mails, or accessing personal information, for example consulting a calendar or taking notes. The mobile telephone 5 comprises a telecommunication unit 7, which comprises a sender, a receiver and a telecommunication antenna.

[0114] In operation, the transmission unit 7 emits a wireless signal STUP at a frequency of at least one uplink band of a mobile telephone network. The transmission unit 7 is switchable to a frequency that corresponds to at least one receiving frequency of the transmission, in this example to a frequency of the 1800 MHz telecommunication band.

[0115] FIG. 6 shows a simplified top view illustrating an embodiment of the transponder tag according to FIG. 2 with a dual band receiving antenna 22.

[0116] Each of antennas 22 is built as a meandering symmetrical dipole with broadened, square-like outer end portions. Each dipole 22 is adapted to a specific frequency of an uplink band of a mobile telephone network 1. The angle of approximately 90° between the dipoles helps to reduce interference between the two antennas 22.

[0117] FIG. 7 shows a simplified perspective view illustrating a medicine container 42 as a portable object with multiple transponder tags 10 according to FIG. 6.

[0118] The medicine container 42 is an individualized object and a personal item carrying one or more transponder tags 10, which are arranged at each of the different surfaces of the medicine container 42 (only 3 transponder tags 10 visible). This arrangement of the transponder tags 10 guarantees an optimal positioning of the at least one of the transponder tags 10 in relation to the mobile telephone 5 (see FIG. 1), irrespective of the orientation of the medicine container 42.

[0119] FIG. 8 shows a simplified illustration showing the presentation of tag information ITG on a display 9 of the mobile telephone 5 according to FIG. 5.

[0120] The mobile telephone has a button 8 as a user control interface to enable the user to control the point in time for emitting the wireless signal and the frequency of the emitted wireless signal.

[0121] In this example, the display 9 shows a scenario “hiking”, as indicated in the header of the display 9. This scenario includes a list of 4 pictograms representing 4 portable objects, which the user has configured in advance according to his personal preferences and needs, in this case: a bunch of keys, the medicine container 42 according to FIG. 7, sunglasses and a pocket knife.

[0122] After the user has pushed the button 8, an application program on the mobile telephone 5, the mobile telephone 5 and the transponder tag 10 (see FIG. 1) perform the method according to the invention, and the tag information ITG is presented on the display 9. The tag information ITG shows for each of the objects, whether the respective object is recognized as present in the wireless operational range of the mobile telephone (indicated by differently filled circles). In this case the bunch of keys and the pocket knife are found present; the medicine container 42 is missing, and the presence of the sunglasses is uncertain. In addition, the display 9 also indicates the received signal strength (indicated by filled bars of increasing size). Thus, the user is also informed about doubtful cases, in this case the sunglasses.

[0123] FIG. 9 shows a simplified block diagram, which illustrates an embodiment of the transponder tag 10 according to FIG. 2, wherein the wireless short-range connection is based on RFID technology, i.e. the transmitter unit of the transponder tag 10 is configured to be operated by RFID technology. The transmitter unit combines transmitting and receiving functionality and is therefore called a transceiver. Thus, the transponder tag 10 comprises a transceiver 50 with a transceiver antenna 52 and a transceiver impedance matching network 54.

[0124] In operation, the transceiver antenna 52 of the transponder tag 10 receives a carrier signal SCR from the mobile phone 5 (shown in FIG. 1) and backscatters (reflects) at least a part of the received signal back to the mobile phone as short range signal SSR. The carrier signal SCR together with the wireless short-range signal SSR provides a far-field coupling between the mobile phone and the transponder tag 10 and the tag antenna 52 is energized by carrier signal SCR (an RF signal) from the mobile telephone and hence the mobile telephone provides the energy for the communication connection.

[0125] The transmission of information from the transponder tag 10 to the mobile telephone is accomplished by modulating the backscattered signal by changing the impedance of the transceiver 50, in particular by changing the impedance of the transceiver antenna 52 and/or the transceiver impedance matching network 54. The transceiver 50 is further connected to the controlling unit 16 such that the controlling unit 16 (e.g. integrated circuit (IC) and/or the microprocessor) controls the modulation of the backscattered signal according to the stored tag information IGT.

[0126] FIG. 10 shows a simplified block diagram illustrating a further embodiment of the transponder tag 10 according to FIG. 9 with a switch 56 for modulating the backscattered signal.

[0127] In this example the switch 56 is a wideband switch, which uses a CMOS process to provide high isolation and low insertion loss, for example an ADG902 RF from Analog Devices. The switch 56 is directly connected to the transceiver antenna 52, which in this case is schematically illustrated as a simple dipole antenna. On the other hand the switch 56 is connected to the controlling unit 16 for receiving control commands. Thus, the controlling unit 16 controls the modulation of the backscattered signal by switching between isolating resp. conducting states according to the stored tag information IGT.