WO1999034526A1

WO1999034526A1 - A transmitter and a method for transmitting data

Info

Publication number: WO1999034526A1
Application number: PCT/AU1998/001077
Authority: WO
Inventors: Graham Alexander Munro Murdoch; Stuart Colin Littlechild
Original assignee: Parakan Pty. Ltd.; Ilamon Pty. Ltd.; Magellan Technology Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1997-12-24
Filing date: 1998-12-24
Publication date: 1999-07-08
Also published as: EP1048126B1; US20050272383A1; DE69835452D1; DE69835452T2; JP2002500465A; AUPP111297A0; EP1048126A4; JP2006325233A; EP1048126A1; JP4310046B2

Abstract

An excitation reference source (Fc) is split through a 90 degree splitter. One output from the splitter is fed to the LO port of a mixer. Data is fed to the mixer's IF port and causes PRK modulation of the LO port's signal. The output of the mixer at the RF port is a PRK modulated quadrature signal. This is attenuated and added back onto the reference by a zero degree combiner ready for transmission to the transponder.

Description

TITLE: A TRANSMITTER AND A METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING DATA

Field of Invention

The invention relates to a transmitter and a method for transmitting data-

The invention has been developed primarily for the field of radio frequency

identification (RFID), and more particularly to a method for transmitting data to a

transponder with a single antenna, and will be described hereinafter with reference to

that application. This invention has particular merit when applied to passive

transponders where high speed data transmission is desirable.

Background of the Invention

Hitherto, high speed data has been transmitted to RFID transponders by

modulation of the excitation field. Generally pulse position modulation with 100%

depth amplitude modulation of the excitation field is used. The excitation field is

turned off for short intervals which are detected by the transponder's processing

circuitry. To achieve high data rates while maintaining the transmission of power the

intervals must be short and the duty cycle low. Typically a duty cycle of 10% is used

and the intervals are lμs long and the average time between intervals is lOμs. Short

intervals such as these have a wide bandwidth. Accordingly, both the interrogator and

the transponder require low Q factor, wide bandwidth antennae to transmit and receive

the data. Low Q factor antennae are not energy efficient and, as such, the interrogator

antenna will consume more power than a high Q factor antenna. Moreover, for

passive transponders a stronger excitation field is required to compensate for the less

efficient antenna. Additionally, regulations governing the magnitude of electromagnetic

emissions place upper limits on the strength of excitation fields that can be used and

the allowable bandwidth of an excitation field. The wide bandwidth of the prior art

pulse, modulation data results in limitations being placed on the maximum excitation

field strength.

Disclosure of the Invention

It is an object of the invention, at least in the preferred embodiment, to

overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method for

transmitting data from a first antenna, said method including the steps of:

providing a carrier signal;

imposing a low level phase modulation on the carrier signal in accordance with

a data signal to create a modulated signal;

providing the modulated signal to said first antenna for transmission.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a transmitter

including:

a first antenna;

oscillator means for providing a carrier signal; and

mixing means for imposing a low level phase modulation on the carrier signal

in accordance with a data signal to create a modulated signal, the mixing means also

providing the modulated signal to the first antenna for transmission.

Preferably, the modulated signal is received by a second antenna which in

response thereto, produces a first signal which is provided to receiver means, the receiver means deriving a second signal indicative of the data signal- Even more

preferably, the first signal is used to power the receiver means.

In a preferred form, the modulated signal includes the sum of the carrier signal

and an attenuated quadrature carrier signal which is modulated with the data signal.

This form of modulation is described herein as phase jitter modulation (PJM).

In a preferred form the antenna is a tunable coil. Preferably also, both the first

and second antennas have a high Q factor.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an

identification system including a transmitter as described above.

Preferably, the system is for identifying luggage.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The prior art and a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be

described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in

which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a prior art transponder circuit;

Figure 2 illustrates representative waveforms associated with the prior art

circuit of Figure 1;

Figures 3(a) to 3(c) are frequency spectra associated with the waveforms of the

prior art circuit of Figure 1;

Figures 4(a) and 4(b) are phasor diagrams for waveforms produced in

accordance with the invention;

Figures 5(a) to 5(c) are frequency spectra associated with the invention; Figures 6(a) and 6(b) respectively illustrate methods of encoding and decoding data in accordance with the invention;

Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of a preferred circuit for encoding the data

signal for transmission; and

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a preferred circuit for decoding the data

signal in the transponder.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

Passive RFID transponders that incorporate a single antenna are interrogated

by an interrogator using an excitation field. This field is received by the transponder's

antenna and the voltage induced on the antenna is rectified and used to power the

transponder. Often it is necessary for the transponder to receive data transmitted from

its interrogator. For single antenna transponders the received messages must be

received by the same antenna that is used to receive the excitation signal used to

power the transponder. In prior art systems the excitation signal is amplitude

modulated to convey messages from the interrogator to the transponder.

Figure 1 shows a prior art transponder where the antenna L is tuned by a

capacitor C and data is transmitted to the transponder by amplitude modulation. The

voltage VI induced in the transponder's antenna coil is magnified by the antenna's

tuning, rectified by the rectifiers and stored on the DC storage capacitor Cdc for use

by the transponder's electronic circuits. The antenna voltage is peak level detected by

the diode envelope detector Dl, CI and Rl to give the envelope voltage V2.

Figures 2(a) and 2(b) illustrate waveforms associated with the prior art circuit

of Figure 1. More particularly, Figure 2(a) shows the excitation voltage VI with amplitude intervals to giving pulse position modulation. To deliver the maximum

power to the transponder, a low duty cycle is used, typically 10: 1. Figure 2(b) shows

the envelope of the voltage V2 induced in the antenna. The antenna's transient

response results in a finite rise and fall time for V2. The transient time of the antenna

must be sufficiently short to allow narrow pulses to pass without significant distortion.

The antenna's transient response time constant Ts and bandwidth BW are related by

Ts=l/(B W.π). Accordingly, to pass short pulses the bandwidth of the antenna must be

broad. For example, to pass lμs pulses a bandwidth of at least 1 MHz is required.

Figures 3(a) to 3(c) are frequency spectra associated with the prior art circuit of

Figure 1. Figure 3(a) shows a typical data spectrum. For data at 100 kbps the first

zero of the frequency spectrum occurs at 100 kHz. Figure 3(b) shows the data

spectrum when encoded as pulse position modulation PPM where narrow low duty

cycle pulses are used. The spectrum for this type of encoding is much broader than

the original data spectrum. For lμs pulses with a 10:1 duty cycle the first amplitude

zero of the frequency spectrum occurs at 1 MHz. Figure 3(c) shows the spectrum of

the excitation signal when modulated with the PPM signal whose spectrum is shown

at Figure 3(b). The modulated spectrum is double sided and accordingly, for lμs

pulses with a 10:1 duty cycle the width of the main spectral lobe is 2 MHz. Clearly

the bandwidth of the PPM modulated excitation signal is much broader than the

original data spectrum.

To pass the inherently broad band PPM excitation signal both the interrogator

and transponder antenna must have a wide bandwidth. Consequently the interrogator

and transponder antennae must have a low Q and will operate with a low efficiency. In the interrogator the generation of 100% amplitude modulated PPM requires that

excitation signal be completely quenched for each pulse. This requires a wide band

low efficiency antenna. Narrow band antennae would operate with high efficiency but

are unable to respond to the narrow amplitude pulses of PPM. Similarly the

transponder antenna bandwidth must be broad band enough to pass the modulated

excitation signal. Broad band antennae are inherently low Q and are poor collectors of

energy from an excitation field.

In this preferred embodiment of the invention data is imposed as a low level

signal having a modulated quadrature component. Most preferably this modulation is

phase modulation although in other embodiments use is made of amplitude

modulation. In the present embodiment the low level signal appears as a tiny phase

jitter in the excitation field. There is no change in the amplitude of the excitation field

and hence the transmission of power to the transponder is unaffected. This form of

modulation will be termed phase jitter modulation or, for convenience, PJM.

There are many methods of producing small modulated phase shifts. For

example, by passing the signal through a phase shifter such as an RC or tuned circuit,

or through a variable length delay line.

In this embodiment, to produce the signal at the interrogator, a small portion of

the excitation signal is phase shifted 90 degrees to give a quadrature signal. This is

then PRK modulated with the data signal and added back onto the original excitation

signal before being transmitted to the transponder. The resultant signal can be

amplitude limited to remove any residual amplitude component. At the transponder

these tiny phase shifts in the excitation induce corresponding antenna voltage phase shifts that are unaltered by any circuit impedances or power regulation circuitry

connected to the transponder's antenna.

Figure 4(a) is a phasor diagram of the excitation signal Fc and the modulated

quadrature signal PRK. The amplitude of the respective signals are given by their

phasor lengths. The phase deviation THETA caused by the modulated quadrature

signal is, for low level signals, extremely small and is given by:

THETA = arctan (2xMag(PRK)/Mag(Fc))

For a 40 dB attenuated PRK signal THETA = 1.2 degrees and for a 60 dB

attenuated PRK signal THETA = 0.12 degrees. Both of these are extremely small

phase deviations of the excitation signal.

Phase quadrature modulation is recovered using a local oscillator (LO) signal,

with a fixed phase with respect to the excitation signal, to down convert the modulated

data to baseband in a mixer or multiplier. In the transponder the LO signal must be

derived from the modulated excitation signal. The preferred method of extracting a

LO signal from the modulated excitation signal uses a Phase Locked Loop PLL in the

transponder to generate the LO signal. The LO signal is generated by a low loop

bandwidth PLL which locks to the original excitation signal's phase but is unable to

track the high speed modulated phase shifts. The quadrature data signal is down

converted and detected in a mixer or multiplier driven with the LO signal. Depending

upon the type of phase detector used in the PLL, and the propagation delays through

the circuit, the phase of the LO with respect to the excitation signal can be anywhere

between 0° and 360°. If a conventional XOR phase detector is used in the PLL then

the output of the PLL oscillator will be at nominally 90 degrees to the excitation signal and will be in phase with the data modulated phase quadrature signal. A 90° phase

between the LO and the excitation signal is not necessary for the effective detection of

quadrature phase modulation. An XOR mixer has a linear phase to voltage conversion

characteristic from 0° to 180° and 180° to 360°. Hence it gives the same output

amplitude irrespective of the phase angle except around 0° and 180° where there is a

gain sign change.

The average output voltage DC level from a mixer is a function of the average

phase difference between its inputs. It is more convenient for circuit operation for the

average output to be around midspan and hence an LO with a phase angle of around

90° is more convenient. The phase of the LO signal can be simply adjusted using

fixed phase delay elements. Hence a 0° or 180° phase detector can be used and a

further 90° (roughly) of phase shift can be achieved with a fixed delay element-

Figure 4(b) is a phasor diagram of the modulated excitation signal and a

quadrature local oscillator signal in the transponder used to demodulate the data

signal. The local oscillator signals phase is at 90 degrees with respect to the excitation

signal's phase.

For phase modulation the data bandwidth is no broader than the original

double sided data bandwidth. When attenuated the level of the modulated data

spectrum is extremely low with respect to the excitation signal amplitude making

conformance to regulatory emission limits significantly easier than with the prior art-

Figures 5(a) to 5(c) are representative frequency spectra that explain the

operation of the invention. More particularly, Figure 5(a) is a typical data spectrum.

For data at 100 kbps the first zero of the frequency spectrum occurs at 100 kHz. Figure 5(b) is a representative frequency spectrum of the data when modulated onto a

quadrature version of the excitation signal. The spectrum for this type of modulation

is the same as the double sided spectrum of the original data spectrum- In the

invention the modulated quadrature signal is attenuated and added to the original

excitation signal. Figure 5(c) shows the spectrum of the excitation signal Fc plus the

attenuated modulated quadrature signal whose spectrum is shown in Figure 5(b). The

attenuation level is given by the difference between the amplitude of the excitation

signal and the amplitude of the data sidebands.

Since the spectrum of the transmitted excitation signal is equal to the original

double sided data spectrum, narrow band high Q interrogator and transponder

antennae are used to respectively transmit and receive the modulated excitation signal.

Consequently, the interrogator's excitation antenna operates with high efficiency and

the transponder's antenna likewise receives energy with high efficiency- In other

embodiments use is made of low Q antennae.

Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show methods of modulating and demodulating

according to this invention. Turning first to Figure 6(a), the portion of the main

excitation signal is phase shifted 90 degrees to produce a quadrature signal. The

quadrature signal is then modulated with data. The preferred form of modulation is

phase reverse keying PRK. The PRK modulated quadrature signal is attenuated and

then added back to the main excitation signal. Although shown in a particular order

the sequence phase shift, modulation and attenuation are done in other orders in

alternative embodiments. This method of modulation produces low level data side

bands on the excitation signal where the sidebands are in phase quadrature to the excitation signal. The data signal appears as a low amplitude phase jitter on the

excitation signal. In some embodiment the signal is further amplitude limited to

remove any residual amplitude component.

Figure 6(b) illustrates a method for demodulating the data modulated on to the

excitation signal. A LO signal is generated by a low loop bandwidth phase lock loop

PLL. The PLL locks on to the excitation signals phase and is unable to follow the

high speed phase jitter caused by the data modulation. For the standard PLL phase

detector the PLL oscillator will lock at a fixed phase with respect to the excitation

signal's phase. This oscillator signal is then used as a LO to demodulate the

quadrature sideband data signal in the multiplier. A low pass filter LPF filters out

high frequency mixer products and passes the demodulated data signal.

Figure 7 shows an example circuit for encoding the data signal for

transmission. An excitation reference source Fc is split through a 90 degree splitter.

One output from the splitter is fed to the LO port of a mixer. Data is fed to the

mixer's IF port and causes PRK modulation of the LO port's signal. The output of the

mixer at the RF port is a PRK modulated quadrature signal- This is attenuated and

added back onto the reference by a zero degree combiner ready for transmission to the

transponder.

Figure 8 shows an example circuit for decoding the data signal in the

transponder. The transponder antenna voltage is squared up by a schmitt trigger, the

output of which feeds a type 3 PLL. A type 3 phase detector is a positive edge

triggered sequence phase detector which will drive the PLL oscillator to lock at 180°

with respect to the input phase. With a low loop bandwidth the PLL is able to easily filter off the sidebands on the input signal The output of the schmitt is passed through

a chain of invertors designed to add a fixed delay to the input signal. The delay is

approximately chosen so that the phase of the output from the delay chain is not 0° or

180° with respect to the LO. A preferred phase value is 90° for circuit convenience.

The output of the VCO acts as the LO to demodulate the Phase Jitter Modulated data.

The data is demodulated in an exclusive OR gate, the output of which is low pass

filtered and detected with a floating comparator.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific example

it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that it may be embodied in many other

forms.

Claims

CLAIMS:-

1. A method for transmitting data from a first antenna, said method including the

steps of:

providing a carrier signal;

imposing a low level phase modulation on the carrier signal in accordance with

a data signal to create a modulated signal; and

providing the modulated signal to said first antenna for transmission.

2. A method according to claim 1 including the step of receiving the modulated

signal with a second antenna which, in response thereto, produces a first signal which

is provided to receiver means, the receiver means deriving a second signal indicative

of the data signal.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the first signal is used to power the

receiver means.

4. A method according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein both the first and second

antennas have a high Q factor.

5. A method according to claim 1 including the step of deriving the modulated

signal from the sum of the carrier signal and an attenuated quadrature carrier signal

which is modulated with the data signal-

6. A transmitter including:

a first antenna;

oscillator means for providing a carrier signal; and mixing means for imposing a low level phase modulation on the carrier signal

providing the modulated signal to the first antenna for transmission.

7. A transmitter according to claim 6 wherein the modulated signal is received by

a second antenna which, in response thereto, produces a first signal which is provided

to receiver means, the receiver means deriving a second signal indicative of the data

signal.

8. A transmitter according to claim 7 wherein the first signal is used to power the

receiver means.

9. A transmitter according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein both the first and

second antennas have a high Q factor.

10. A transmitter according to claim 6 wherein the modulated signal includes the

sum of the carrier signal and an attenuated quadrature carrier signal which is

modulated with the data signal.

11. A transmitter according to claim 6 wherein the antenna is a tunable coil.

12. A method for transmitting data from an antenna substantially as herein

described with reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the

accompanying drawings.

13. A transmitter substantially as herein described with reference to the

embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings-

14. An identification system including a transmitter as defined in any one of

claims 6 to 11.

15. A system according to claim 14 for identifying luggage.