Method and system for remote monitoring and control utilizing radio frequency devices

• US 20040212479A1
• Filed: 04/28/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Inventors: Anderson, Gordon A., Gilbert, Ronald W., Steele, Kerry D.
• Application Number:
  US10/425,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20040212479A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.34
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/08 Sensors using Radio Frequency Identification [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0205 by means of a monitoring system capable of detecting and responding to faults

Abstract

A method and device for remote monitoring of conditions and control of objects that includes an antenna configured to receive and send radio frequency signals, a receiver configured to receive the radio frequency signal and to operate from the power of the received radio frequency signals, a microcontroller coupled to the receiver and configured to respond to the radio frequency signals to report a condition and to control an associated object. The microcontroller may be powered by the radio frequency signal or may receive power from a stored energy source or an external power source.

Claims

1. A radio frequency device, comprising:

an antenna configured to receive and send radio frequency signals;

a receiver circuit coupled to the antenna and configured to operate from the power of the received radio frequency signals; and

a microcontroller having at least one input coupled to the receiver circuit and at least one output control pin, the microcontroller configured to operate on the power of the radio frequency signal received at the receiver circuit and to generate output control signals in response to a condition.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the condition comprises control signals in the radio frequency signal received at the receiver circuit.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the condition comprises a condition of an object associated with the microcontroller.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the condition comprises reception of input signals from one or more sensors.

5. A system for input and output control, comprising:

an antenna configured to receive and send radio frequency signals;

a receiver circuit coupled to the antenna and configured to operate from the power of the radio frequency signal received at the antenna for two-way radio frequency communication; and

a microcontroller having at least one input pin coupled to the receiver circuit and at least one output control pin, the microcontroller configured to generate at least one signal in response to a received radio frequency signal, the at least one signal comprising one of either a control signal and a response signal, the response signal comprising data regarding a monitored condition of an object electronically coupled to the microcontroller, the object configured to be responsive to the control signal from the microcontroller.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising an sensor coupled to the object and to the microcontroller and configured to detect a condition of the object and to send at least one condition signal to the microcontroller responsive to the detected condition of the object.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the microcontroller is configured to disable the object when the microcontroller no longer receives sufficient power from the radio frequency signal to operate.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the receiver circuit and the microcontroller are configured to operate from the power of the received radio frequency signal.

9. A system for remote tracking and controlling, comprising:

an object;

an interrogation device configured to send and receive the radio frequency signals; and

a radio frequency device coupled to the object comprising an antenna configured to receive a radio frequency signal, a receiver circuit coupled to the antenna and configured to operate from the power of radio frequency signal to establish a two-way radio frequency communication link, and a microcontroller having a plurality of input pins and at least one output control pin, the microcontroller configured to receive at least one input signal on at least one input pin from at least one associated sensor and to generate at least one output control signal to the object on at least one output control pin responsive to the input signals.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the microcontroller is configured to receive at least one digital signal from the at least one sensor.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the microcontroller is configured to respond to control signals received on the antenna and to generate output control signals to the object responsive thereto for controlling the operation of the object.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the receiver circuit is configured to modulate the radio frequency signal and reflect the same via the antenna to the interrogator.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate on the power from the received radio signal.