Data carrier device
A passive data carrier device ( 100 ) comprises an input port ( 110 ) for receiving a finite duration radio frequency input signal of defined time and frequency spectral characteristics. The data carrier device ( 100 ) comprises at least one branch ( 130 ) having combinations of passive RF elements, such as band filters ( 134 ) and time delays ( 136 ), optionally together with powder dividers ( 120 ) and combiners ( 140 ). The input signal is processed by the device ( 100 ) to form an output signal having time and frequency spectral characteristics different from the input signal. The data carrier device ( 100 ) has potential application in an RF identification system.
1. A passive data carrier device comprising:
at least one input port adapted for receiving a finite duration radio frequency (“RF”) input signal of defined time and frequency spectral characteristics;
M branches, each having an input terminal connected to an input port of said at least one input port and comprising passive RF elements for processing said input signal; and
at least one output port, each being connected to a branch of said M branches, wherein
each of said M branches comprises a combination of R k RF band filters and S k RF time delays, k=1 to M, where R k , S k are positive integers and at least one of R k and S k is larger than one if M is equal to one and both R k and S k are equal to or larger than one if M is a positive integer larger than one,
the combination of said R k RF band filters and S k RF time delays being different for different branches of said M branches, and
a processed RF output signal at said at least one output port has time and frequency spectral characteristics different from said RF input signal.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each of said M branches comprises a combination of N k pairs of a RF band filter and a RF time delay, k=1 to M, where N k is a positive integer larger than one if M is equal to one and N k is a positive integer equal to or larger than one if M is a positive integer larger than one.
3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein M is a positive integer larger than one.
4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein R k , S k are positive integers larger than one.
5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein M is a positive integer larger than one.
6. The device according to claim 5 , further comprising a RF power divider having an input terminal connected to said at least one input port and having M output terminals, where each output terminal is connected to the input terminal of a respective branch of said M branches.
7. The device according to claim 6 , further comprising a RF power combiner having M input terminals, where each input terminal is connected to an output terminal of a respective branch of said M branches, and an output terminal connected to said at least one output port.
8. The device according to claim 6 , further comprising a RF power combiner having M input terminals, where each input terminal is connected to an output terminal of a respective branch of said M branches, and an output terminal connected to a termination.
9. The device according to claim 6 , further comprising M terminations, where each termination is connected to an output terminal of a respective branch of said M branches.
10. The device according to claim 5 , further comprising a RF power combiner having M input terminals, where each input terminal is connected to an output terminal of a respective branch of said M branches, and an output terminal connected to said at least one output port.
11. The device according to claim 5 , further comprising a RF power combiner having M input terminals, where each input terminal is connected to an output terminal of a respective branch of said M branches, and an output terminal connected to a termination.
12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein said termination is selected from a group consisting of:
an energy dissipater;
an energy absorber;
an open circuit; and
a short circuit.
13. The device according to claim 5 , further comprising M terminations, where each termination is connected to an output terminal of a respective branch of said M branches.
14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein said termination is selected from a group consisting of:
an energy dissipater;
an energy absorber;
an open circuit; and
a short circuit.
15. The device according to claim 1 , wherein R k , S k are positive integers larger than one.
16. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said RF band filters are selected from a group consisting of:
a RF band pass filter; and
a RF band reject filter.
17. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said input port being a combined input and output port.
18. A radio frequency identification tag comprising:
at least one passive data carrier device according to claim 1 ; and
at least one antenna connected to said at least one passive data carrier device.
19. The identification tag according to claim 18 , wherein each antenna of said at least one antenna is connected to a respective combined input and output port of said at least one passive data carrier device.
20. The identification tag according to claim 18 , wherein said at least one antenna is an antenna system comprising:
at least one receiving antenna, where each receiving antenna is connected to a respective input port of said at least one passive data carrier device; and
at least one transmitting antenna, where each transmitting antenna is connected to a respective output port of said at least one passive data carrier device.
21. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said M branches are free of any active RF elements.