Excess radio-frequency (RF) power storage in RF identification (RFID) tags, and related systems and methods

• US 10,032,102 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fiber Mountain, Inc. (Green Lambda Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fiber Mountain, Inc. (Green Lambda Corp.)
• Inventors: Downie, John David, Nederlof, Leo, Sutherland, James Scott, Taylor, Mark Peter, Wagner, Richard Edward, Whiting, Matthew Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, TAE W
• Application Number:
  US13/837,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20130200165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 235492
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0704 the battery being rechargeable, e.g. solar batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0709 the source being an interrogation field
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

Excess radio-frequency (RF) power storage in RF identification (RFID) tags, and related systems and methods are disclosed. The RFID tag is configured to operate with RF power received in wireless RF signals from a RFID tag antenna if received RF power meets or exceeds an operational threshold power for the RFID tag. The RFID tag is also configured to store excess energy derived from excess received RF power in an energy storage device if the received RF power exceeds the operational threshold power for the RFID tag. Thus, when RF power received by the RFID tag is not sufficient for operation, the RFID tag can operate from power provided by previously stored excess energy in the energy storage device.

Claims

1. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, comprising:

an integrated circuit (IC);

an antenna electrically coupled to the IC, the antenna configured to receive RF power from received wireless RF signals;

an energy storage device coupled to the IC;

a power manager configured to receive the RF power received by the antenna;

the power manager further configured to;

operate the IC with the received RF power if the received RF power meets or exceeds an operational threshold power for the IC; and

store excess energy derived from excess received RF power in the energy storage device if the received RF power exceeds the operational threshold power for the IC; and

one or more data communications conductors in electrical contact with the IC and configured to releasably interconnect with one or more data communication conductors of a second RFID tag;

wherein the IC is further configured to exchange data with a second IC of the second RFID tag when the one or more data communications conductors are releasably interconnected with the one or more data communications conductors of the second RFID tag.

2. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the power manager is further configured to access the stored excess energy in the energy storage device to provide power to operate the IC if the received RF power from the antenna is less than the operational threshold power for the IC.

3. The RFID tag of claim 2, wherein the power manager is further configured to access the stored excess energy in the energy storage device if a voltage derived from the received RF power is less than an operational threshold voltage for the IC.

4. The RFID tag of claim 2, wherein the power manager is further configured to access the stored excess energy in the energy storage device if a current derived from received RF power is less than the operational threshold current for the IC.

5. The RFID tag of claim 2, wherein the power manager is further configured to access the stored excess energy in the energy storage device to provide power to operate the IC when the RFID tag is not receiving wireless RF signals from a RFID reader.

6. The RFID tag of claim 2, further comprising a power import/export switch coupled to the power manager, the power import/export switch having an energy storage setting and an energy access setting, the power manager further configured to:

set the power import/export switch to the energy storage setting to direct excess energy derived from the excess received RF power to the energy storage device if the received RF power exceeds the operational threshold power for the IC; and

set the power import/export switch to the energy access setting to access the stored excess energy in the energy storage device to provide power to operate the IC if the received RF power from the antenna is less than the operational threshold power for the IC.

7. The RFID tag of claim 2, wherein the IC is further configured to access the stored excess energy in the energy storage device to provide power to operate the IC to detect a condition relating to the RFID tag detected by a condition responsive device coupled to the IC.

8. The RFID tag of claim 2, further comprising a condition responsive device coupled to the IC, the condition responsive device configured to detect an occurrence of an event relating to the RFID tag to cause the IC to access the stored excess energy in the energy storage device to provide power to operate a visual indicator coupled to the IC.

9. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the power manager is configured to store the excess energy when a voltage derived from the excess received RF power exceeds an operational threshold voltage for the IC.

10. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the power manager is configured to store the excess energy when a current derived from the excess received RF power exceeds an operational threshold current for the IC.

11. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is comprised of a capacitor bank comprised of at least one capacitor.

12. The RFID tag of claim 11, wherein the at least one capacitor is comprised of a plurality of capacitors disposed in parallel to each other to provide for redundant capacitance in the energy storage device.

13. The RFID tag of claim 11, wherein the power manager is further configured to charge the capacitor bank with the excess energy derived from the excess received RF power exceeding the operational threshold power for the IC.

14. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising a power rectifier configured to receive the RF power from the antenna and rectify the received RF power into a rectified voltage.

15. The RFID tag of claim 14, wherein the power manager is configured to operate the IC with the rectified voltage if the rectified voltage meets or exceeds an operational threshold voltage for the IC.

16. The RFID tag of claim 14, wherein the power manager is configured to operate the IC with current derived from the power rectifier if the current meets or exceeds an operational threshold current for the IC.

17. The RFID tag of claim 14, further comprising a charge pump configured to receive the rectified voltage from the power rectifier and increase voltage of the rectified voltage stored in the energy storage device.

18. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator electrically coupled to the IC,

wherein the power manager is further configured to activate the visual indicator with received RF power from the antenna if the received RF power exceeds an operational threshold power.

19. The RFID tag of claim 18, wherein the power manager is configured to activate the visual indicator with received RF power from the antenna if the received RF power exceeds a visual indicator threshold power greater than the operational threshold power.

20. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator electrically coupled to the IC,

wherein the power manager is further configured to activate the visual indicator with power provided by stored energy in the energy storage device if the received RF power from the antenna is less than an operational threshold power.

21. The RFID tag of claim 18, further comprising a current limiter configured to limit current of the RF power provided to the visual indicator.

22. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising one or more energy sharing conductors coupled to the energy storage device;

wherein the energy storage device is further configured to provide power from stored energy to a second RFID tag when the one or more energy sharing conductors are physically connected to one or more energy sharing conductors of the second RFID tag.

23. The RFID tag of claim 1 comprised of a passive RFID tag.

24. The RFID tag of claim 1 comprised of a semi-active RFID tag comprised of a battery for operation, wherein the energy storage device is comprised of the battery.

25. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to receive the wireless RF signals comprising RF power from a RFID reader.

26. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising a memory accessible to the IC, the IC configured to store information associated with the RFID tag in the memory.

27. The RFID tag of claim 1 disposed in a communications component.

28. The RFID tag of claim 27, wherein the communications component is comprised of at least one of a connector and an adapter.

29. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the one or more communications conductors are electrically connected to the one or more communications conductors of the second RFID tag, and wherein the IC is further configured to communicate with the second IC of the second RFID tag when the one or more communications conductors are electrically connected to the one or more communications conductors of the second RFID tag.

30. A method of providing power for radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag operation, comprising:

receiving wireless RF signals including RF power by an antenna coupled to an integrated circuit (IC);

operating the IC with the received RF power if the received RF power meets or exceeds an operational threshold power for the IC;

storing excess energy derived from excess received RF power in an energy storage device if the received RF power exceeds the operational threshold power for the IC; and

the IC communicating data with a second IC of a second RFID tag when one or more data communications conductors in electrical contact with the IC are releasably interconnected with one or more communications conductors of the second RFID tag.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising accessing the stored excess energy in the energy storage device to provide power to operate the IC if the received RF power from the antenna is less than the operational threshold power for the IC.

32. The method of claim 31, comprising:

setting a power import/export switch to an energy storage setting to direct excess energy derived from the excess received RF power to the energy storage device if the received RF power exceeds the operational threshold power for the IC; and

setting the power import/export switch to an energy access setting to access the stored excess energy in the energy storage device to provide power to operate the IC if the received RF power from the antenna is less than the operational threshold power for the IC.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising directing the excess received RF power from the received RF power to a charge pump to increase a voltage of the excess energy derived from the excess received RF power stored in the energy storage device.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising activating a visual indicator coupled to the IC with received RF power from the antenna greater than an operational threshold power.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising activating a visual indicator coupled to the IC with power provided by stored energy in the energy storage device if the received RF power from the antenna is not greater than the operational threshold power.

36. The method of claim 30, further comprising activating a visual indicator coupled to the IC with power provided by stored energy in the energy storage device if the received RF power from the antenna is less than an operational threshold power.

37. The method of claim 30, further comprising the energy storage device providing power from stored energy to a second RFID tag when one or more energy sharing conductors coupled to the energy storage device are physically connected to one or more energy sharing conductors of the second RFID tag.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein the IC communicating with the second IC of the second RFID tag comprises the IC communicating with the second IC of the second RFID tag when the one or more communications conductors coupled to the IC are electrically connected to the one or more communications conductors of the second RFID tag.

39. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag connection system, comprising:

a first fiber optic connector including;

a first integrated circuit;

a first antenna electrically coupled to the first integrated circuit, the first antenna configured to receive RF power from received wireless RF signals;

a first energy storage device coupled to the first integrated circuit;

a first power manager configured to receive the RF power received by the first antenna, the first power manager further configured to;

operate the first integrated circuit with the received RF power if the received RF power meets or exceeds an operational threshold power for the first integrated circuit; and

store excess energy derived from excess received RF power in the first energy storage device if the received RF power exceeds the operational threshold power for the first integrated circuit; and

at least one first data communication conductor in electrical contact with the first integrated circuit and accessible from an exterior of the first fiber optic connector; and

a second fiber optic connector configured to physically connect with the first fiber optic connector, the second fiber optic connector including;

a second integrated circuit;

a second antenna electrically coupled to the second integrated circuit, the second antenna configured to receive RF power from received wireless RF signals;

a second energy storage device coupled to the second integrated circuit;

a second power manager configured to receive the RF power received by the second antenna, the second power manager further configured to;

operate the second integrated circuit with the received RF power if the received RF power meets or exceeds an operational threshold power for the second integrated circuit; and

store excess energy derived from excess received RF power in the second energy storage device if the received RF power exceeds the operational threshold power for the integrated circuit; and

at least one second data communication conductor in electrical contact with the second integrated circuit and accessible from an exterior of the second fiber optic connector; and

wherein when the first fiber optic connector is physically connected the second fiber optic connector, the at least one first data communication conductor is physically connected to the at least one second data communication conductor such that the first integrated circuit can exchange data with the second integrated circuit.