RFID tag spatial-recognition hardware using antenna multiplexing — the known NFC/RFID object-identification hardware family (D1-D9 blind spot).
A system to determine the placement of multiple RFID tags uses multiple antennae. The RF communication (or NFC) includes read and/or read/write communication with the RFID tags.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS(1) FIG. 1 illustrates an RFID interrogator.(2) FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a system to multiplex antennae for communication in accordance with one or more implementations.(3) FIGS. 3-4 illustrate systems for spatial recognition of RFID tag placement in accordance with one or more implementations.(4) FIG. 5 illustrates a method for spatial recognition of RFID tag placement in accordancewith one or more implementations.DETAILED DESCRIPTION(5) The typical radio-frequency identification (RFID) system comprises, by way of non-limiting example, two parts: an RFID interrogator, and an RFID tag. As used herein, the terms “RF” and “RFID” may be used to referto “radio-frequency” and “radio-frequency identification,” respectively. The term “RF communication” may be used interchangeably with the terms “Near Field Communication” or “NFC”herein. The terms “RFID interrogator” and “RFID reader” may be used interchangeably. The RFID interrogator is a reader/writer circuit that transmits electromagnetic radio-frequency (RF) signals at a given frequency for detection by and/or information transfer to the RFID tag. “RF signals” may also be referred to as “alternating current signals” or “AC signals” herein. The transmitted signal is received, modulated, and transmitted by the RFID tag. The RFID interrogator receives the modulated signal from the RFID tag and deciphers the information encoded thereon. The RFID tag may be placed on or implanted within an i
1. A system to determine spatial placement of one or more radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags using multiplexed antennae for Near Field Communication (NFC), the system comprising: a radio-frequency (RF) reader circuit having a receiver, the RF reader circuit being configured to establish NFC through radio-frequency identification (RFID) with a first radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag; an antenna-selecting component configured toselectively establish electrical coupling such that the RF reader circuit operates in oneof the following states at a given time: a first state wherein the receiver is configuredto receive information from the first RFID tag through a first antenna having a first location; or a second state wherein the receiver is configured to receive information from the first RFID tag through a second antenna having a second location; a controller configured to determine placement of one or more RFID tags by controlling the antenna-selecting component such that the controller is configured to determine whether placement of the first RFID tag is closer to the first location or the second location; one or more physical processors configured by machine-readable instructions to: associate individual ones of the one or more RFID tags with individual players of a video game based on the placement of individual ones of the one or more RFID tags, such that: the first RFID tag is associated witha first player of the video game based on the placement of the first RFID being closer tothe first location, and the first RFID tag is associated with a second player based on the placement of the first RFID being closer to the second location; wherein the antenna-selecting component includes: a first alternating-current shorting circuit configured to selectively establish electrical coupling for alternating current between an antenna-matching network and the first antenna such that either i) information is received, at the receiver, from the first RFID tag through the first antenna, or ii) electrical coupling is selectively shorted; and a second alternating-current shorting circuit configured to selectively establish electrical coupling for alternating current between the antenna-matching networkand the second antenna such that either i) information is received, at the receiver, fromthe first RFID tag through the second antenna, or ii) electrical coupling is selectively shorted; and wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the placement of first RFID tag is closer to the first location or the second location by controllingthe first alternating-current (AC) shorting circuit and the second alternating-current (AC) shorting circuit.
14. A computer-implemented method for determining spatial placement of one or more radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags using multiplexed antennae for Near Field Communication (NFC), the method comprising: establishing NFC between a radio-frequency (RF) reader circuit comprising a receiver and a first radio-frequency identification(RFID) tag by controlling an antenna-matching network; selectively establishing electrical coupling such that the RF reader circuit operates in one of the following states at a given time: a first state wherein the receiver is configured to receive information from thefirst RFID tag through a first antenna having a first location; or a second state whereinthe receiver is configured to receive information from the first RFID tag through a second antenna having a second location; and determining placement of the first RFID tag by selectively enabling NFC through the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein placement determination includes determining whether the first RFID tag is closer to the first location or the second location; associating individual ones of the one or more RFID tags with individual players of a video game based on the placement of individual ones of the one ormore RFID tags, including: associating the first RFID tag with a first player of the video game when the first RFID is closer to the first location, and associating the first RFIDtag with a second player when the first RFID is closer to the second location; selectively establishing electrical coupling for alternating current between the antenna-matching network and the first antenna such that information is received, at the receiver, from the first RFID tag through the first antenna; and selectively establishing electrical coupling for alternating current between the antenna-matching network and the second antenna such that information is received, at the receiver, from the first RFID tag through the second antenna.