Sensor with a wireless power supply and method for a wireless power supply

• US 20030069051A1
• Filed: 10/21/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Guntram Scheible, Philippe Pretre
• Original Assignee: Guntram Scheible, Philippe Pretre
• Inventors: Scheible, Guntram, Pretre, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US10/277,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069051A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type

Abstract

A sensor with a wireless power supply includes, as a sensor unit, a resonant circuit having a capacitance and a coil, the coil being used not only for measurement but also for reception of electromagnetic waves for supplying power to the sensor. In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor has a filter for frequency separation of the sensor signal into a supply component and payload signal component. In such a case, the sensor can be supplied during a measurement. In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor has a changeover switch for time separation of the sensor signal into the supply component and the payload signal component. In such a case, the sensor is supplied on an alternating cycle with a measurement.

Claims

1. A sensor, comprising:

a wireless power supply for receiving power through electromagnetic waves;

a sensor unit having a resonant circuit for non-contacting measurement, said resonant circuit receiving the electromagnetic waves and forming a sensor signal;

a separating unit connected to said sensor unit for receiving the sensor signal, said separating unit separating the sensor signal into a supply component and a payload signal component; and

a supply circuit connected to said separating unit for supplying energy contained in the supply component to said separating unit.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said separating unit has a frequency separation filter separating the sensor signal into:

a first frequency component corresponding to the supply component; and

a second frequency component corresponding to the payload signal component.

3. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said separating unit has a changeover switch time separating the sensor signal into the supply component and the payload signal component.

4. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein said separating unit has means for clocked switching said changeover switch.

5. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein said separating unit has a clocked switch connected to said changeover switch and switching said changeover switch.

6. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein said separating unit has means for analyzing the sensor signal and for switching said changeover switch dependent upon a result of an analysis of the sensor signal.

7. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein said separating unit has an analysis device analyzing the sensor signal and switching said changeover switch dependent upon a result of an analysis of the sensor signal.

8. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said supply circuit has means for storing a portion of the energy contained in the supply component.

9. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein said supply circuit has an energy storage device storing a portion of the energy contained in the supply component.

10. A wireless powered sensor supplied with power through electromagnetic waves, comprising:

a sensor unit having a resonant circuit for non-contacting measurement, said resonant circuit receiving the electromagnetic waves and forming a sensor signal;

a separating unit connected to said sensor unit for receiving the sensor signal, said separating unit separating the sensor signal into a supply component and a payload signal component; and

a supply circuit connected to said separating unit for supplying energy contained in the supply component to said separating unit.

11. A method for supplying wireless power to a sensor, which comprises:

providing a sensor with a sensor unit having a resonant circuit including a capacitance and a coil;

forming a measurement signal with the sensor unit;

receiving, with the coil, electromagnetic waves for supplying power to the sensor and forming a supply signal with the coil;

creating a sensor signal by superimposing the supply signal on the measurement signal; and

separating the sensor signal into a payload signal component and a supply component with a separating unit.

12. The method according to claim 11, which further comprises frequency separating the sensor signal with a filter into the payload signal component and the supply component.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the separating unit frequency-separates the sensor signal with a filter into the payload signal component and the supply component.

14. The method according to claim 11, which further comprises time separating the sensor signal with a changeover switch into the payload signal component and the supply component.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein a changeover switch time-separates the sensor signal into the payload signal component and the supply component.