Manufacture of LPRF device wake up using wireless tag
A method is disclosed for manufacturing a wireless transceiver ( 5008 ) having a low power radio frequency (LPRF) component ( 5010 ) that powers down to conserve energy and powers up in response to a signal; and a second receiver ( 5014 ) that provides the signal via line ( 5018 ) in response to receipt of a radio frequency broadcast. The broadcast is targeted to activate particular transceivers by including in the broadcast identifications such as class designations, in which case the transceivers power up and form networks. A transceiver may include one or more identifications and may include a unique identification of the transceiver itself. The LPRF component is a Bluetooth radio, but the overall transceiver itself only draws about 10 to 15 μA while actively awaiting and screening for a targeted broadcast.
1. A method of manufacturing a wireless transceiver, the method comprising the step of hardwiring within a housing of the wireless transceiver:
(a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and
(b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component in order to power up the LPRF communications component;
(c) wherein the second receiver is adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of hardwiring within the housing of the wireless transceiver a reader component in physical connection to the LPRF communications component for data exchange therebetween, the reader component used for reading wireless tags that are disposed externally to and in proximity of the wireless transceiver.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver draws on the order of magnitude of tens of microamps of electric current when awaiting for and receiving the radio frequency broadcast.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LPRF communications component draws on the order of magnitude of tens of milliamps of electric charge when powered up and receiving transmissions.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LPRF communications component draws approximately 10 milliamps of electric current when powered down to a standby mode.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LPRF communications component draws approximately no electric current when powered down to an off state.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second receiver draws about 10 to 15 microamps of electric current when awaiting for and receiving the radio frequency broadcast.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein one of the group of a modified FSK radio, PM radio, and AM radio comprises the second receiver.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second receiver generates the electronic signal by providing power to voltage regulators that supply power to the LPRF communications component.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LPRF communications component is programmed to power down to an off state when no longer actively transmitting or receiving.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein a wireless tag comprises the second receiver, the wireless tag including:
(a) a radio frequency detector component,
(b) a memory component, and
(c) an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) component.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the memory component stores an identification in read/write memory or in read only memory.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the ASIC component permanently stores an identification.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency broadcast, to which the second receiver responds by providing the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component, includes therein an identification that is stored within the wireless transceiver.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the identification is permanently stored within the wireless transceiver and uniquely identifies the wireless transceiver.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second receiver responds to a radio frequency broadcast by providing the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component only if the radio frequency broadcast includes the identification.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the identification represents a class of wireless transceivers.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the identification represents a class of wireless tags.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the identification uniquely identifies the wireless transceiver.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the identification represents a selected plurality of wireless transceivers.
21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor component physically connected to the LPRF communications component for data exchange therebetween.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the sensor component includes a motion detector.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the sensor component includes a digital camera.
24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the sensor component includes a microphone.
25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the sensor component includes a thermometer.
26. The method of claim 21 , wherein the sensor component includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.
27. The method of claim 1 , further comprising an external network communications component physically connected to the LPRF communications component for data exchange therebetween.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the external network communications component comprises a satellite transceiver.
29. The method of claim 27 , wherein the external network communications component comprises a cellular transceiver.
30. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second receiver includes an antenna.
31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the LPRF communications component includes an antenna.
32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the antenna of the LPRF communications component is different from that of the second receiver.
33. The method of claim 31 , wherein the antenna of the LPRF communications component is the same as that of the second receiver.
34. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second receiver includes an energy source.
35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the LPRF communications component includes an energy source.
36. The method of claim 35 , wherein the energy source of the LPRF communications component is different from that of the second receiver.
37. The method of claim 35 , wherein the energy source of the LPRF communications component is the same as that of the second receiver.
38. The method of claim 1 , wherein a transceiver comprises the second receiver.
39. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless transceiver draws approximately 10 to 15 microamps of electric current when awaiting for and receiving the radio frequency broadcast.
40. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LPRF communications component draws approximately 40 milliamps of electric charge when powered up and receiving transmissions.
41. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency of the broadcast is approximately 2.4 GHz.
42. A wireless transceiver comprising:
(a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and
(b) a second receiver that is configured to screen a radio frequency broadcast and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component in order to power up the LPRF communications component;
(c) wherein said second receiver is adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast.
43. An asset-tracking system having a wireless transceiver that may be used to read one or more wireless tags (WTs) that are disposed externally to and in proximity thereof, the wireless transceiver comprising:
(a) a low power radio frequency (LPRF) communications component capable of powering down to conserve energy and capable of powering up in response to an electronic signal, the LPRF communications component including a transmitter and a first receiver; and
(b) a second receiver that is configured to provide a radio frequency broadcast and provide, on the basis of specific data identified therein, the electronic signal to the LPRF communications component in order to power up the LPRF communications component;
(c) wherein said second receiver is adapted to draw less current than the LPRF communications component while awaiting receipt of and listening for a radio frequency broadcast; and
(d) wherein the asset-tracking system utilizes class-based, ad hoc hierarchical networks.