Wireless control and/or data acquisition system in an integrated circuit package

• US 20030060185A1
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Dacus, Farron L., Bible, Steven R., Van Niekerk, Johannes A., Fisher, Richard J., St. Amand, Roger D.
• Application Number:
  US09/953,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20030060185A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/344
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/00 Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission

Abstract

A wireless control and/or data acquisition system in an integrated circuit comprises a digital device and a wireless device, e.g., a radio frequency (RF) device, an infrared device (IrDA), etc. A micro-electro-mechanical (MEM) device may also be included in the integrated circuit package. The MEM may be used as a sensor, non-volatile memory, a filter, a frequency determining resonator, and/or a control device in combination with the digital device. The digital device and RF device may have independent power and signal connections for signal isolation between the digital device and RF device. Standby and sleep modes for the digital device and RF device reduce power consumption and low voltage operation enables the use of a simple battery power source.

Claims

24-1. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a micro-electro-mechanical device adapted for connection to said digital device and within said integrated circuit package.

25-2. The system according to claim 24, wherein said micro-electro-mechanical device is a latching relay.

39. A method for wireless control of a digital system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a digital device and a wireless device in an integrated circuit package;

processing input data with the digital device; and

transmitting the processed input data with the wireless device.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the digital device and the wireless device are powered by a battery power supply.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of encrypting the input data before transmission.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the input data is a process variable selected from the group consisting of temperature, pressure, flow rate, vibration, pH, resistance, voltage and current.