RFID reader

Abstract

An RFID reader comprises a receiver section for receiving an RF signal and a transmitter section for transmitting an RF signal. The reader is a multicarrier RFID reader and both the transmitted RF signal and the received RF signal comprise at least two frequencies.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A RFID reader, comprising:
 a receiver section for receiving an RF signal; and   a transmitter section for transmitting an RF signal, wherein the reader is a multicarrier RFID reader, wherein a transmitted RF signal and a received RF signal comprise at least two frequencies.   
   
   
       17 . The reader according to  claim 16 , wherein the receiver section comprises
 an input to receive an R-F signal,   a down converter stage to downconvert the RF signal to a baseband, and   a processor.   
   
   
       18 . The reader according to  claim 17 , wherein the downconverter stage further comprises a splitter to split the received RF signal into its component frequency signals; and wherein each component signal is downconverted. 
   
   
       19 . The reader according to  claim 18 , wherein a down converter is provided for each of the split RF signals. 
   
   
       20 . The reader according to  claim 17 , further comprising a baseband filter to filter out beat frequencies of the received, downconverted signal. 
   
   
       21 . The reader according to  claim 16 , wherein the transmitter section comprises a baseband signal generator, an upconverter stage and an RF output. 
   
   
       22 . The reader according to  claim 21 , wherein the upconverter stage further comprises a splitter to split a signal from the baseband signal generator into at least two frequencies; and wherein upconversion of each baseband signal is performed. 
   
   
       23 . The reader according to  claim 22 , wherein an up converter is provided for each of the split baseband signals. 
   
   
       24 . The reader according to  claim 22 , wherein the upconverter stage further comprises a summer to combine the upconverted signals for transmission. 
   
   
       25 . The reader according to  claim 22 , wherein the baseband signal is generated in a baseband digital signal processor. 
   
   
       26 . The reader according to  claim 16 , wherein the reader is a hand portable receiver. 
   
   
       27 . The reader according to  claim 16 , wherein a single antenna is used for transmission and reception of the RF signals. 
   
   
       28 . The reader according to  claims 16 , wherein the reader is a gate reader. 
   
   
       29 . The reader according to  claim 28 , wherein the gate reader comprises multiple antennas. 
   
   
       30 . The reader according to  claim 16 , wherein the reader incorporates frequency hopping functionality.