Transponder system and method

The present invention relates to an RF transponder system and to a method of detecting an RF identification device. Embodiments of the present invention relate to operation of a radio frequency transponder system having a radio frequency reader unit and a radio frequency identification device and, to a method of operating the radio frequency transponder system to detect the proximity of the radio frequency identification device to the radio frequency reader unit which is in a reduced power state.

A radio frequency (RF) transponder system typically comprises an RF reader unit and a radio frequency identification (RFID) device. The RFID device is commonly termed an RFID tag. Operation of the RF transponder system is generally characterised by multiple operating modes including excitations, response and read modes. The RF transponder system requires electrical power to operate in each of these modes. In particular, the RF reader unit must be powered during the excitation and read modes while the RFID device must be powered during the response mode. In many conventional RF transponder systems the RFID device is a passive device, i.e., the RFID device lacks an internal power source or physical connection to an external power source. The passive RFID device is powered remotely by the RF reader unit while the RFID device is free of contact with the RF reader unit. An example of a passive RFID device and its method of operation are disclosed in US Patent 4,730,188 to Milheiser. The RF reader unit is conventionally connected to an electrical power source, such as an ac power line, which powers the RF reader unit.

US 5,352,877 describes a non-contact transaction system with token presence detection. The transaction system of that document includes aportable electronic token and an external read/write unit which communicate by inductive coupling. The read/write unit transmits short pulses of an r.f: carrier when in its dormant or stand-by mode and, upon detecting the presence of a token, switches its r.f. on continuously to power up the token and construct a transaction.

An embodiment of the present invention seeks to provide an RF reader unit, which is powered by a self-contained portable power source integral with the RF reader unit, such as a small disposable or rechargeable battery. This enables the user to position the RF reader unit in a remote location which lacks access to an ac power line or an ac power outlet. A battery, however, has a finite life necessitating replacement of the battery in the RF reader unit at the end of its useful life, which is both costly and time consuming. Accordingly, it is desirable to reduce the power demands on the battery of the RF reader unit during operation of the RF transponder system, thereby extending the useful life of the battery.

A need exists for an effective method of operating an RF transponder system with a reduced electrical power demand. Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention seeks to provide an RF transponder system operable at a reduced electrical power state. An embodiment of the present invention seeks to provide a method of operating an RF transponder system in a power conserving manner, wherein the system transitions between a reduced power state and an increased power state as a function of the specific operating mode of the system. An embodiment of the present invention seeks to provide such a method, wherein the RF transponder system has an effective RFID device detection mode of operation at a reduced power state and has excitation, response and read modes of operation at an increased power state. Another embodiment of the present method seeks to provide such a method, wherein the power requirements of the RF transponder system are fully satisfied by a disposable or rechargeable battery residing in the RF reader unit of the system.

Aspects of the invention are specified in the independent and dependent claims.

An embodiment of the present invention provides    a method for detecting an RFID device in the presence of an RF reader unit comprising: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>providing an RF transponder system including an RFID reader unit and an RFID device, said RF transponder system having a detection mode and an excitation mode of operation, said RFID reader unit including an excitation signal generator circuit, an excitation mode activation circuit, and an RFID device detection circuit, wherein said excitation signal generator circuit has means for generating ring signals and means for generating excitation signals, said means for generating ring signals including an oscillator, said oscillator enabled by said excitation mode activation circuit when said RF transponder system is in said detection mode and said oscillator disabled by said excitation mode activation circuit when said RF transponder system is in said excitation mode;</li><li>operating said RF transponder system in said detection mode, wherein said detection mode includes;    enabling said oscillator by means of said excitation mode activation circuit;    drawing a reduced electrical current from a power source by an excitation signal generator circuit operating in a reduced power state;    generating a plurality of ring signals in said excitation signal generator circuit using said oscillator in response to said reduced electrical current;    transmitting said ring signals from said excitation signal generator circuit into a proximal space;    receiving said ring signals in an RFID device detection circuit in electrical communication with said excitation signal generator circuit;    evaluating said ring signals in said RFID device detection circuit to determine a variation in an RFID device detection parameter of said ring signals;    transitioning operation of said RF transponder system from said detection mode to said excitation mode when said RFID device detection parameter passes a variation threshold level caused by the presence of said RFID device in said proximal space, wherein said excitation mode includes;    disabling said oscillator by means of said excitation mode activation circuit in response to said RFID device detection parameter passing said variation threshold level;    transitioning said excitation signal generator circuit from said reduced power state to an increased power state wherein an increased electrical current substantially greater than said reduced electrical current is drawn by said excitation signal generator circuit from said power source in said increased power state;    generating an excitation signal in said excitation signal generator circuit while said oscillator is disabled and said excitation signal generator circuit is operating at said increased power state; and    transmitting said excitation signal from said excitation signal generator circuit into said proximal space to activate said RFID device;    transitioning operation of said RF transponder system from said excitation mode to response and read modes when said RFID device is activated; and    transitioning operation of said RF transponder system back to said detection mode upon completion of said response and read modes, wherein said detection mode is initiated by enabling said disabled oscillator by means of said excitation mode activation circuit.</li></ul>

An embodiment of the present invention provides    an RF transponder system comprising an RF reader unit including, an excitation signal generator circuit, wherein said excitation signal generator circuit includes an oscillator having an enabled state and a disabled state, said excitation signal generator circuit having a reduced power state wherein said oscillator is in said enabled state for generating a plurality of ring signals exhibiting an RFID device detection parameter and having an increased power state when said oscillator is in said disabled state for generating an RF excitation signal when said oscillator is in said disabled state,    an excitation mode activation circuit coupled to said excitation signal generator circuit providing switching of said oscillator from said enabled state to said disabled state and correspondingly said excitation signal generator circuit from said reduced power state to said increased power state in response to said RFID device detection parameter of said ring signals passing a variation threshold level,    an RFID device detection circuit coupled to said excitation mode activation circuit and operable in said reduced power state of said excitation signal generator circuit when said oscillator is in said enabled state for determining when said RFID device detection parameter of said ring signals passes said variation threshold level, and    a power source providing a reduced electrical current to said excitation signal generator circuit in said reduced power state and providing an increased electrical current to said excitation signal generator circuit in said increased power state; and    an RFID device having a transponder circuit powered by said RF excitation signal wherein said RFID device causes said RFID device detection parameter of said ring signals to pass said variation threshold level when said RFID device is positioned in a proximal space relative to said RF reader unit, thereby causing said excitation mode activation circuit to switch said oscillator from said enabled state to said disabled stated and correspondingly causing said excitation signal generator circuit to generate said RF excitation signal initiating communication between said RF reader unit and said RFID device, said excitation mode activation circuit further providing switching of said oscillator from said disabled state to said enabled stated and correspondingly said excitation signal generator circuit from said increased power state to said reduced power state upon termination of communication between said RF reader unit and said RFID device.

It is noted that the duty cycle of the excitation signal generator circuit is substantially lower when operating in the reduced power state than when operating in the increased power state. As a result, the life of the power source is substantially extended and more electrical power is available to the other operations of the RF transponder system.

The present invention will be further understood from the drawings and the following detailed description.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example of a RF transponder system;</li><li>Figure 2 is a schematic view of an excitation signal generator circuit positioned in the RF reader unit of Figure 1; and</li><li>Figure 3 is a schematic view of an RFID device detection circuit and an excitation mode activation circuit positioned in the RF reader unit of Figure 1.</li></ul>

Referring initially to Figure 1, an illustrative RF transponder system utilised in practising an embodiment of a method of the present invention is shown and generally designated 10. The RF transponder system 10 comprises an RF reader unit 12 and a passive RFID device 14. The RF reader unit 12 includes an excitation signal generator circuit 16, an RFID device detection circuit 18, an excitation mode activation circuit 20, a response signal conditioner circuit 22, a response signal demodulation and detection circuit 24 and a power source 26. The power source 26 is typically a relatively small battery consisting of one or more disposable dry cells or rechargeable cells. The excitation signal generator circuit 16 includes a transmitter antenna coil 28 and the response signal conditioner circuit 22 includes a receiver antenna coil 30. An output device 32, such as a visual, audible or mechanical output, is coupled to the response signal demodulation and detection circuit 24. The circuits 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 of the RF reader unit 12 in combination are termed an exciter/reader (ER) circuit 34. Skilled artisans can appreciate that the RF reader unit 12 can be adapted to include a writer circuit (not shown) capable of writing programming instructions to the RFID device 14 by either contact or contactless means. The ER circuit 34 and writer circuit in combination are termed an exciter/reader/writer (ERW) circuit. Skilled artisans can further appreciate that the RF reader unit 12 can be adapted in accordance with the present invention to combine the functions of the transmitter antenna coil 28 and receiver antenna coil 30 in a single transmitter/receiver antenna coil.

The passive RFID device 14 includes a transponder circuit 36 mounted on a support 38 such as a card. As noted above, a passive RFID device having a transponder circuit mounted on a support is commonly termed an RFID tag. The transponder circuit 36 is a conventional circuit such as described in U.S. Patent 4,730,188 to Milheiser. The transponder circuit 36 generally includes a transmitter/receiver antenna coil 40 and a capacitor 42 coupled to a coil interface 44. A controller 46 is coupled to the coil interface 44 and to a memory 48. Skilled artisans can appreciate that the RFID device 14 can be adapted to separate the functions of the transmitter/receiver antenna coil 40 into separate transmitter and receiver antenna coils in the manner of the ER circuit 34.

The RF transponder system 10 has multiple modes of operation, including a detection mode, an excitation mode, a response mode and a read mode. The detection mode is the initial operating mode, wherein the RFID device 14 has a substantially passive function and the RF reader unit 12 has a substantially active function. The RF reader unit 12 employs the RFID device detection circuit 18 in cooperation with the excitation signal generator circuit 16 to actively seek detection of the RFID device 14 in a space 49 away from, but proximal to, the RF reader unit 12. When the RF reader unit 12 detects the RFID device 14 in the proximal space 49, the system 10 transitions the RF reader unit 12 to the excitation mode, wherein the excitation mode activation circuit 20 signals the excitation signal generator circuit 16 to generate an RF excitation signal 50. The RF excitation signal 50 is transmitted by the transmitter antenna coil 28 of the RF reader unit 12 and received by the transmitter/receiver antenna coil 40 of the RFID device 14. Upon receipt of the RF excitation signal 50, the system 10 transitions the RFID device 14 to the response mode, wherein the RFID device 14 is activated. When the RFID device 14 is in the response mode, the transponder circuit 36 generates an RF response signal 52, typically containing data associated with the RFID device 14, which is of interest to a user of the RF transponder system 10. The RF response signal 52 is transmitted by the transmitter/receiver antenna coil 40 of the RFID device 14 and is received by the receiver antenna coil 30 of the RF reader unit 12. The system 10 then transitions the RF reader unit 12 to the read mode, wherein the RF response signal 52 is processed by the ER circuit 34 and the data contained in the RF response signal 52 is communicated to the output device 32.

An example of a method in accordance with the invention for performing the detection mode of operation, enables the RF reader unit 12 to automatically detect whether the RFID device 14 is in the proximal space 49 while the system 10 is substantially in a reduced power state. Upon detection of the RFID device 14 in the proximal space 49, the system 10 transitions to an increased power state for the remaining excitation, response and read modes of operation. Referring to Figure 2, the excitation signal generator circuit 16 employed in the practice of the present invention is shown in greater detail. The excitation signal generator circuit 16 comprises in sequence an oscillator 54, a first Schmitt trigger 56, a pulse shaping circuit 58, a second Schmitt trigger 60, an antenna coil driver circuit 62, the transmitter antenna coil 28, and a ring signal processing circuit 64. The oscillator 54 is an astable multivibrator including an amplifier 66, a pair of resistors 68a, 68b, and a capacitor 70. A diode 72 and a resistor pair 74a, 74b are positioned in the excitation signal generator circuit 16 ahead of the oscillator 54. The pulse shaping circuit 58 includes a capacitor 76, a clock 78, a diode 80 and a resistor 82. The antenna coil driver circuit 62 includes a plurality of inverters 84a, 84b, 84c, 84d, 84e, 84f positioned in parallel. The ring signal processing circuit 64 has an RC network which includes a first capacitor 86, a resistor 88 and a second capacitor 90 in series. The ring signal processing circuit 64 also has a diode 92.

Referring to Figure 3, an example of the RFID device detection circuit 18 and excitation mode activation circuit 20 of Figure 1 according to the present invention are shown in greater detail. The RFID device detection circuit 18 of Figure 1 comprises a sample and hold circuit 94 and a timing circuit 96. The sample and hold circuit 94 comprises in sequence a capacitor 98, a pair of unbalanced biasing resistors 100a, 100b, a first operational amplifier 102, an analog switch 104, a storage capacitor 106, a second operational amplifier 108, a ring signal change circuit 110 and a CMOS Schmitt trigger 112. The ring signal change circuit 110 includes a pair of resistors 114a, 114b and a capacitor 116. The timing circuit 96 comprises a sample time delay generator 118, a positive sample length pulse generator 120 and a negative sample length pulse generator 122. The sample time delay generator 118 is a first Schmitt trigger 124 positioned after a resistor 126 and a capacitor 128. The positive sample length pulse generator 120 is a second Schmitt trigger 130 positioned after a resistor 132 and a capacitor 134. The negative sample length pulse generator 122 is a third Schmitt trigger 136. The preferred excitation mode activation circuit 20 is a logic flip/flop switch as shown.

An example of a method of the present invention is described hereafter with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3. The detection mode of operation is characterized below by numerous operating parameters, but the present invention is not limited to any specific values for these parameters. The specific values or ranges of values for the operating parameters provided in the following description exemplify a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring initially to Figure 1, the RF transponder system 10 automatically initiates the detection mode of operation upon powering the system 10 and continuously maintains the detection mode of operation as long as no RFID device 14 is in the proximal space 49 of the RF reader unit 12. Referring additionally to Figure 2 in conjunction with Figure 1, the detection mode is powered by drawing a reduced electrical current from the power source 26 to the oscillator 54. The reduced electrical current demand on the power source 26 during the detection mode of operation is generally in the range of about 10 to about 30 microamps. A preferred power source 26 is a battery of 4 AA cells constituting a stored energy value of 1 amp-hr with a potential of 6 V. A representative value of the total current drain from the power source 26 is 40 microamps at 6 V, which corresponds to an extended battery life of 1 year. The oscillator 54 produces the ring generating pulses at a selected ring generating pulse rate which is sufficiently high to enable rapid detection of a nearby RFID device 14 in the manner described herein. An example of a selected ring generating pulse rate is 50 Hz. The ring generating pulses pass through the first Schmitt trigger 56 where the ring generating pulses are formed into square waves designated 138, as shown in Figure 2 downstream of the first Schmitt trigger 56. The square-waved ring generating pulses 138 are routed through the pulse shaping circuit 58 and the antenna coil driver circuit 62, which optimize the shape of the ring generating pulses to a selected width. The second Schmitt trigger 60 is provided between the pulse shaping circuit 58 and the antenna coil driver circuit 62 as a buffer to maintain the shape of the ring generating pulses in the pulse shaping circuit 58. The optimized ring generating pulses 140 have an appearance as shown in Figure 2 downstream of the antenna coil driver circuit 62.

The optimal pulse width of the shaped ring generating pulse 140 is preferably selected as a function of the frequency to which the LC networks of the excitation signal generator circuit 16 and transponder circuit 36, respectively, are tuned. For example, the LC networks of the circuits 16, 36 are conventionally tuned to a frequency of 125 Khz. An example of an optimal selected pulse width is 2 microseconds which is sufficient to drive the transmitter antenna coil 28, yet advantageously results in reduced power consumption from the power source 26.

The ring generating pulses 140 are routed to the transmitter antenna coil 28, where each pulse causes the voltage appearing across the coil 28 to produce a ring signal at a frequency which is a function of the tuned LC network of the excitation signal generator circuit 16, i.e., the transmitter antenna coil 28 and the capacitor 70. As noted above, an exemplary value of the tuned frequency is 125 KHz . The ring signals 142 have an appearance as shown in Figure 2 downstream of the transmitter antenna coil 28. Each ring signal 142 is routed through the ring signal processing circuit 64 where the ring signal is rectified and filtered. Filtering and rectifying removes the majority of the high frequency components from the ring signal, leaving only the positive portion of the ring signal waveform. The filtered ring signals 144 have an appearance as shown in Figure 2 downstream of the ring signal processing circuit 64. The filtered ring signals 144 constitute the output of the excitation signal generator circuit 16 when the RF transponder system 10 is in the detection mode of operation.

The filtered ring signals 144 from the excitation signal generator circuit 16 are input to the RFID device detection circuit 18 for evaluation. In particular, referring to Figure 3, the output of the excitation signal generator circuit 16 is input to the sample and hold circuit 94 which evaluates samples of the filtered ring signals 144 in accordance with sampling parameters dictated by the timing circuit 96. The specific sampling parameters dictated by the timing circuit 96 are the position on the waveform of the filtered ring signal 144 where the sample is taken, termed the "time delay", and the total length of the sample, termed the "sample length". An example of a sample 146 of the filtered ring signal has an appearance as shown in Figure 3. The values of the sampling parameters are defined by periodic sample length pulses created by the timing circuit 96.

The timing circuit 96 receives input pulses from the oscillator 54 of the excitation signal generator circuit 16, which are substantially identical to the ring generating pulses outputted from the oscillator 54 to the first Schmitt trigger 56. The sample time delay generator 118 delays routing each input pulse of the timing circuit 96 to the positive sample length pulse generator 120 by a selected time delay after the onset of the corresponding ring signal. An example of the time delay is 200 microseconds. The delayed input pulse is routed to the positive sample length pulse generator 120 and the negative sample length pulse generator 122, which generate a positive sample length pulse and a negative sample length pulse, respectively, in response to the delayed input pulse. An example of positive and negative sample length pulses 148, 150, each with a sample length of 20 microseconds, have an appearance as shown in Figure 3 at the output of the timing circuit 96.

Operation of the sample and hold circuit 94 proceeds upon receipt of the filtered ring signals 144 from the excitation signal generator circuit 16. The voltage of the ring signals are biased by the unbalanced biasing resistors 100a, 100b. For example, the unbalanced biasing resistors 100a, 100b reduce a typical voltage of a ring signal from 10 V to 4 V. The biased ring signal and the negative sample length pulse 150 from the timing circuit 96 are both routed to the first operational amplifier 102. The negative sample length pulse 150 is amplified by the amplifier 102 for the duration of the sample length, thereby outputting a sample signal from the amplifier 102 in response to the biased ring signal and negative sample length pulse 150. An example of the gain of the amplifier 102 is x100. This increase enables the sample and hold circuit 94 to route the sample signal through the closed analog switch 104 and rapidly charge the storage capacitor 106, while drawing increased electrical current from the power source 26 for only a very short time equal to the sample length. Closing of the analog switch 104 in synchronization with high speed operation of the amplifier 102 is enabled by routing the positive sample length pulse 148 from the timing circuit 96 to the analog switch 104. It is noted that when the first operational amplifier 102 is operating at its lower speed, the amplifier 102 performs a signal buffering function.

The sample signal delivered to the storage capacitor 106 is retained for transmission to the second operational amplifier 108. The second operational amplifier 108 provides a buffer between the storage capacitor 106 and the ring signal change circuit 110. The second operational amplifier 108 also has a gain which magnifies any changes in the voltage of the sample signal received by the amplifier 108. Such changes correspond to changes in the filtered ring signal 144. The amplified sample signal is outputted from the amplifier 108 and routed to the Schmitt trigger 112, which has an upper voltage threshold level and a lower voltage threshold level. An exemplary upper voltage threshold level is 4 V and an exemplary lower voltage threshold level is 2 V. When a signal, which is being inputted to the Schmitt trigger 112, changes from a level above the upper voltage threshold level to a level below the lower voltage threshold level, the signal change effects a change in the output state of the Schmitt trigger 112. The gain of the second operational amplifier 108 is selected to ensure that a change in the filtered ring signal 144 will produce a change of sufficient magnitude in the amplified sample signal to effect a change in the output state of the Schmitt trigger 112. An exemplary gain of the amplifier 108 is x40.

Detection of an RFID device 14 by the RF reader unit 12 is enabled by the fact that the ring signal has a characteristic slow decay rate which is substantially constant within the LC network of the excitation signal generator circuit 16 when no RFID device 14 is in the proximal space 49 of the RF reader unit 12. The slow decay rate is attributable to the relatively high Q value of the LC network. For example, the Q value of the LC network is preferably in a range from about 40 to about 100. The number of cycles for which the 125 KHz ring signal lasts before substantially decaying roughly corresponds to the Q value of the LC network. Thus, a typical 125 KHz ring signal substantially decays after about 100 cycles when the LC network has a Q value of about 100.

When an RFID device 14, having a transponder circuit 36 which is tuned to the same frequency as the excitation signal generator circuit 16, is brought into the proximal space 49 of the RF reader unit 12, the RFID device 14 absorbs a substantial portion of the energy from the ring signal causing the ring signal to decay at a substantially faster rate within the LC network of the excitation signal generator circuit 16. As a result, the ring signal will exhibit a lower voltage at a given time delay when the RFID device 14 is in the proximal space 49 than when no RFID device 14 is present in the proximal space 49. The amplified sample signal exhibits a corresponding change, which effects a change in the output state of the Schmitt trigger 112 in the manner set forth above. An example of a change in the voltage of the amplified signal is from 5 V with the RFID device 14 absent from the proximal space 49 to 1 V with the RFID device 14 present in the proximal space 49.

In general, the sensitivity of the RF reader unit 12 to the presence of the RFID device 14 in the proximal space 49 increases directly with the increasing Q value of the LC network. Thus, the sensitivity of the RF reader unit 12 is a function of the specific design of the excitation signal generator circuit 16 and in particular the LC network. The sensitivity of the RF reader unit 12 is also a function of the specific design of the RFID device detection circuit 18. Accordingly, it is within the purview of the skilled artisan to construct an RF reader unit 12 having a desired sensitivity for the purpose of practicing the present method by employing the teaching herein. An RF reader unit 12 capable of detecting an RFID device 14 in a proximal space 49 having a radius of about 4 inches from the transmitter antenna coil 28 of the RF reader unit 12 is generally sufficient for most conventional applications, although greater radii up to 12 inches or more are possible within the scope of the present invention.

The excitation mode activation circuit 20, shown in Figure 3 as the flip/flop switch, is coupled to the output of the Schmitt trigger 112. Accordingly, the flip/flop switch 20 receives an activation signal outputted from the Schmitt trigger 112 which corresponds to the change in the output state of the Schmitt trigger 112. As noted above, the output state of the Schmitt trigger 112 changes when a predetermined voltage threshold level is passed, indicating a substantially faster decay rate of the ring signal. The flip/flop switch 20 effectively toggles the RF transponder system 10 between the reduced power state and the increased power state. Specifically, the flip/flop switch 20 communicates a state change to the excitation signal generator circuit 16 upon receipt of the activation signal, thereby transitioning the excitation signal generator circuit 16 to the excitation mode of operation. The excitation signal generator circuit 16 generates an RF excitation signal 50 during the excitation mode by routing 125 KHz square wave signals to the antenna coil drive circuit 62 through the diode 80. The RF excitation signal 50 having the form of a continuous 125 KHz sine wave is generated across the transmitter antenna coil 28 in response to the square wave signals. The flip/flop switch 20 also produces a logic signal that is routed through the diode 72 to disable the oscillator 54 and discontinue the ring generating pulses. The excitation mode of operation requires the increased power state, wherein the excitation signal generator circuit 16 draws increased electrical current from the power source 26. The increased electrical current demand on the power source 26 is generally about 60 milliamps.

After transitioning to the excitation mode, operation of the RF transponder system 10 continues through the response and read modes, which typically also require operation in the increased power state. Completion of the excitation, response and read modes is communicated to the flip/flop switch 20 which automatically resets, returning the RF transponder system 10 to the detection mode of operation at the reduced power state, which is the default mode of operation for the RF transponder system 10. Return of the RF transponder system 10 to the detection mode of operation is preferably time delayed after the flip/flop switch 20 resets to permit dissipation of the RF excitation signals 50, which could otherwise interfere or obscure the ring signals.

The flip/flop switch 20 has been described above and shown in Figure 1 as being directly coupled to the excitation signal generator circuit 16, enabling communication therebetween. In accordance with an alternate embodiment, however, it may be desirable to utilize a microcomputer (not shown), including a microprocessor, provided in the ER circuit 34, as an interface between the flip/flop switch 20 and the excitation signal generator circuit 16 and as an interface between the flip/flop switch 20 and the response signal demodulation and detection circuit 24. The microprocessor serves as a controllerto communicate operating instructions to the excitation signal generator and response signal demodulation and detection circuits 16, 24 in response to the state of the flip/flop switch 20. Conversely, the microprocessor communicates state instructions to the flip/flop switch 20 in response to the operational activities of the excitation signal generator and response signal demodulation and detection circuits 16, 24. A microcomputer conventionally contained in the response signal demodulation and detection circuit 24 can be employed to perform these functions.

Practice of the present method advantageously results in a substantially shortened duty cycle of the RF transponder system 10 during the detection mode of operation relative to the duty cycle of the system 10 during the excitation mode of operation. The duty cycle is defined herein as the percentage of the total system operating time that the excitation signal generator circuit 16 actively draws electrical current from the power source 26. In an illustrative case, the oscillator 54 of the excitation signal generator circuit 16 draws the bulk of the electrical current from the power source 26 while in the detection mode. The oscillator 54 is active for 2 microsecond periods to produce ring generating pulses at a frequency of 50 Hz. Under these conditions the duty cycle of the detection mode is calculated as 0.01%. By comparison, the antenna coil driver circuit 62 of the excitation signal generator circuit 16 typically draws the bulk of the electrical current from the power source 26 while in the excitation mode. The antenna coil driver circuit 62 is active for 4 microsecond periods to produce the excitation signal at a frequency of 125 KHz. The duty cycle of the excitation mode is calculated as 50%. In the above-recited example, the duty cycle of the detection mode is 5000 times lower than the duty cycle of the excitation mode. As a result, the detection mode places relatively little electrical current demand on the power source 26.

Where the power source 26 of the RF transponder system 10 is a conventional battery, the present illustrative method substantially extends the life of the power source 26 and renders substantially more electrical power available to the other operational modes of the RF transponder system 10. The present illustrative method also renders substantially more electrical power available to the output device 32, which can be significant energy consumer. In one common application of the RF transponder system 10, the output device 32 functions as a door unlocking mechanism. By maintaining the electrical current demand of the system 10 very low in the detection mode, substantially more door unlocking operations can be performed by the output device 32 during the life of the power source 26.

The present invention has been described above with reference to an illustrative embodiment, wherein a specific signal processing technique termed a sample and hold technique is used to determine a variation in an RFID device detection parameter of the ring signal. The sample and hold technique evaluates the decay rate of the ring signal wave form as the primary RFID device detection parameter to indicate the presence of the RFID device 14 in the proximal space 49 of the RF reader unit 12. It is apparent, however, that the skilled artisan can modify the RFID device detection circuit 18 within the scope of the present invention, thereby enabling use of other signal processing techniques to evaluate alternate RFID device detection parameters which likewise indicate the presence of the RFID device 14 in the proximal space 49. For example, it is within the purview of the skilled artisan following the precepts of the present invention to modify the RFID device detection circuit 18, thereby enabling use of a voltage averaging technique rather than the above-described sample and hold technique to determine the presence of the RFID device 14 in the proximal space 49. An appropriately modified RFID device detection circuit performs the voltage averaging technique by determining the running average voltage of the ring signal which corresponds to the area under the curve of the ring signal wave form. The RFID device detection circuit amplifies and monitors changes in the average voltage. As in the manner of the sample and hold technique, a sudden and substantial change in the average voltage of the ring signal indicates the presence of the RFID device 14 in the proximal space 49 of the RF reader unit 12.