Transcription of RFID Patent Update
1 1 rfid Patent UpdateRoger StewartSourland Mountain AssociatesPatent Overview Patented rfid Components Numerical Analysis of rfid Patents Trends Geographical Distribution Qualitative Analysis of rfid Patents Databases Classification Quality Assignment Summary & Future OptionsCommonly PatentedRFID System Components rfid Tags Power transfer & regulation Clock synchronization Memory Backscatter Modulation Protocols Antennas rfid Readers Forward Link RF Transmission Backscatter Link ReceiverTag AntennaBasic Tag ComponentsPowerRectifier /RegulatorClockExtractorMemoryModulatorL ogicSilicon chipTag AntennaTag PowerPowerRectifier /RegulatorClockExtractorMemoryModulatorL ogicSilicon chipPower TransferAC Power SourceDC PowerAC PowerAC DC Power ConverterWIREDAC PowerTagWIRELESSR eaderTag AntennaPowerRectifier /RegulatorClockExtractorMemoryModulatorL ogicTag ClockSilicon chipClock ExtractionReader ClockTagClock 1 Clock 2 Clock 3 Clock 4 Clock 5 Clock 6 Clock 7 Clock 8 Clock 9 Clock 10 Clock 10 ReaderTag AntennaPowerRectifier /RegulatorClockExtractorMemoryModulatorL ogicTag LogicSilicon chipAnti-CollisionReaderTagsTag AntennaPowerRectifier /RegulatorClockExtractorMemoryModulatorL ogicTag MemorySilicon chipPowerRectifier /RegulatorClockExtractorMemoryModulatorL ogicTag
2 Communication & ModulationSilicon chipTag AntennaTransport Modulation Forward link communication Output RF power is modulated between full and fractional power (AM modulation) Modulation depth 30% to 95% Amplitude Shift Keying and PR-ASK PIE encoding Backscatter link communication FMO or Miller encoded in C1G2 FSK used in C0G1 and others FM1 used in C1G1 Host InterfaceTransmitterReceiverLogicReader AntennaAC DC Power ConverterBasic Reader ComponentsPowerReaderHost ComputerInterrogatorMultiple rfid tagsCentral data baseCommunications NetworkWorkstationWorkstationWorkstation WorkstationAttenuator or AmplifierAttenuator or AmplifierDemodulatorModulatorProcessorPo wer supplyReceiverTransmitterAntennaReceive / transmit switch1371 PackagingData Handling3111 InterrogatorMultiple rfid tagsCentral data
3 BaseCommunications NetworkWorkstationWorkstationWorkstation WorkstationAttenuator or AmplifierAttenuator or AmplifierDemodulatorModulatorProcessorPo wer supplyReceiverTransmitterAntennaReceive / transmit switch1313711 PackagingData Handling331111112003 rfid Patent MapReadersAttenuator or AmplifierAttenuator or AmplifierDemodulatorModulatorProcessorPo wer supplyReceiverTransmitterAntennaReceive / transmit switch17411161 Packaging14 Data Handling2 TagsNumerical Patent Overview 4,279 rfid patents listed in High Impact Patent Database Intermec Patent portfolio 140 patents -- one of the largest rfid portfolios Intermec not obligated to provide any limited "free" licenses Patent infringement lawsuit already underway against Matrics/Symbol Widespread concern about licensing terms Only one of 20 rfid Patent portfolios with key blocking patents Checkpoint Motorola Micron Alien Lucent Sarnoff BTG Others likely to watch and copy what Intermec doesRFID Patent Activitytrends in yearly USA rfid patents filingsNumber of Patents per year010020030040050060019651970197519801 985199019952000200511 Micron Technology, Inc.
4 (Boise, ID)10 Intermec IP Corp.(Woodland Hills, CA, Beverly Hills, CA)8 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Akron, OH) 7 International Business Machines Corporation(Armonk, NY)7 NCR Corporation(Dayton, OH) 6 Moore North America, Inc.(Grand Island, NY, Stamford, CT) 5 Symbol Technologies, Inc.(Holtsville, NY)5X-Cyte, Inc.(San Jose, CA) 5 Xerox Corporation(Stamford, CT) 4 Gilbarco Inc.(Greensboro, NC) 4 Hewlett-Packard(Houston, TX, CO, CA)4 Marconi Communications Inc.(Warrendale, PA)4 Metrologic Instruments Inc.(Blackwood, NJ) 4 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd(Balmain, AU)33M Innovative Properties Company(St. Paul, MN)3 BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation(Wilmington, DE) 3 Brady Worldwide, Inc.
5 (Milwaukee, WI)3 Harris Corporation(Melbourne, FL)3 Koninklijke Philips Electronics (Eindhoven, NL) 3 Lincoln Global, Inc.(Monterey Park, CA) 3 Micro Beef Technologies, Ltd.(Amarillo, TX) 3 PSC Scanning, Inc.(Eugene, OR) 2 Access Business Group International LLC(Ada, MI) 2 Amerasia International Technology, Inc.(Princeton Junction, NJ)2 Automotive Technologies International Inc.(Denville, NJ) 2 Creative Kingdoms, LLC(Germany, Rhode Island)2 HID Corporation(Irvine, CA)2 Hill-Rom Services, Inc.(Wilmington, DE) 2 Hitachi, Ltd.(Tokyo, JP)2 Lucatron AG(Baar, CH)2 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.(Osaka, JP) 2 Microchip Technology Incorporated(Chandler, AZ) 2 New Flyer Industries(Manitoba, CA) 2RF Code, Inc.
6 (Mesa, AZ) 2 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft(Munich, DE)2 Sierra Design Group(Reno, NV)2 Thermal Solutions, Inc.(Grand Forks, ND, Wichita, KS)2 TRW Inc.(Lyndhurst, OH) Companies not yet heard from in 2003 Impinj Checkpoint Motorola TI Philips2003 rfid Patent Assignments2003 Patent Assignments 42CT-2DE-33313111MA-2MD-14221NH-1NJ-6164 1RI-2172VT-1332455542CT-2DE-33313111MA-2 MD-14221NH-1NJ-61641RI-2172VT-13324555 Country# PatentsCountry# Zealand1 Australia2 South Africa1 Singapore2 Sweden1 Taiwan1 Qualitative Analysis rfid Patent Databases "High Impact rfid " Patent Database 1stlevel USPTO database word searches (4,279 patents) between 1974 and 2003 derived from word searches 2ndlevel review of only some 2003 patents Excellent summaries of 80 2003 issued patents No quality ratings or legal review Summary info & analysis presented in WORD format Sourland Mountain rfid Patent Database 1stlevel USPTO database word searches (4,000 patents) 2ndlevel sort based on abstract & figure review (300 patents) 3rdlevel review by multiple technical & legal experts (top 30) Benefits from the technical & legal review & comment.
7 20 technical experts 10 Patent lawyers at 7 different companies & organizations Summary info in EXCEL database formatRFID Patent Classifications Tag Chip memory frequency synchronization power extraction, regulation & management Tag Structure chip packaging batteries & energy storage manufacturing Antennas readers & tags impedance transformation & resonance Protocols anti- collision protocols wireless data transport security Reader low-noise transmitters & receivers Systems exotic reader/tag combinations range & location sensing testing Applications libraries retail securityDataTechnical Quality RatingsA The most significant blocking rfid patents.
8 They usually include a breakthrough technical specification and will be extremely difficult or impossible to work Important patents with key technical innovation that appear to be difficult to work around when designing certain rfid Useful patents with significant technical innovation but narrower scope. While they have technical merit, there are alternative solutions that could be implemented if Secondary patents that -- while perhaps useful for some special products -- appear only marginally useful in mainstream rfid applications. All quality ratings assume that the patents will be proven valid. Patent Assignments Primarily based on the Patent itself.
9 Updated to reflect the sale or exclusive licensing of the Patent to another party based on the claims of the other party. The details of such assignments are of course unknown to anyone except the direct parties to the assumed Agreement. Patent Numbering Why are most of the patents organized under USA Patent numbers? Although many of the key rfid patents originated in non-USA countries, virtually all worldwide rfid patents are issued USA Patent numbers at some point. Faster and easier to use a single reference number for each Ownership SummaryCompanyA-PatentsB-PatentsC- Patent sTotalIntermec713923%Checkpoint181010%Mo torola35610%Micron1 577%Avid22--5%Lucent1325%BTG--323%TI1--2 2%Sarnoff11--2%3M1----2%Alien1----2%Marc oni--212%Northrup--212%Tadiran1----2%Tek 1----2%U of Pittsburgh1----2%Others--202519%Summary & Future Options The Current Situation Key Patent holders are offered nothing and are demanding high licensing fees Widespread rfid litigation almost certain If Patent holders win, licensing fees could approach 50% Even if Patent holders ultimately lose.
10 Litigation will take years 270 different vendors, 20 major Patent owners, over 4,000 patents Testing even a few of these patents in court will cost millions of dollars Uncertainty will delay both rfid manufacturing & adoption by users All rfid manufactures equally exposed Both litigation and licensing costs are passed on to users Change the product and interface specifications Patent problems mostly unrelated to any particular specification Performance degradation Increased costs of non-optimal design Specification changes are unlikely to alter the legal outcome significantly Enlist Government or Consortium Help Can anyone force companies to surrender it's patents without compensation?
