METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REMOTE POWER DISTRIBUTION AND NETWORKING FOR PASSIVE DEVICES

• US 20100311340A1
• Filed: 06/09/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Maryam, Rofougaran, Ahmadreza
• Granted Patent: US 8,588,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/32225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/73204 the bump connector being embedded into the layer connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/73 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A Method and system for remote power distribution and networking for passive devices is provided. In this regard, a sensor comprising a leaky wave antenna may be powered utilizing energy from a radio frequency signal received via the leaky wave antenna. The sensor may be operable to recover a baseband signal from the received radio frequency signal. The sensor may be operable to generate one or more sensor readings in response to the received baseband signal. The sensor may be operable to communicate the sensor reading to a source of the received radio frequency signal via a backscattered signal. The backscattered signal may be generated by controlling spacing between surfaces of the leaky wave antenna. The backscattered signal may be generated by switching a load in and out of a receive path of the sensor and/or by switching between a plurality of feed points of the leaky wave antenna.

Claims

1. A method for communication, the method comprising:

in a sensor comprising a leaky wave antenna, wherein said sensor is powered utilizing energy from a radio frequency signal received via said leaky wave antennas;

recovering a baseband signal from said received radio frequency signal;

generating one or more sensor readings in response to said received baseband signal; and

communicating said sensor reading to a source of said received radio frequency signal via a backscattered signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating said backscattered signal by controlling spacing between surfaces of said leaky wave antenna.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising controlling said spacing between surfaces of said leaky wave antenna via a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) switch.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating said backscattered signal by switching a load in and out of a receive path of said sensor.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating said backscattered signal by switching between a plurality of feed points of said leaky wave antenna.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said radio frequency signal comprises a frequency that is at or near 60 GHz.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said sensor and said leaky wave antenna are integrated within and/or on an integrated circuit.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said leaky wave antenna is integrated within and/or on an integrated circuit package.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating said backscattered signal by controlling an input impedance of said sensor.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said backscattered signal is modulated at a frequency of 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz.

11. A system for communication, the method comprising:

one or more circuits and/or processors in a sensor comprising a leaky wave antenna, wherein said sensor is powered utilizing energy from a radio frequency signal received via said leaky wave antennas, said one or more circuits and/or processors being operable to;

recover a baseband signal from said received radio frequency signal;

generate one or more sensor readings in response to said received baseband signal; and

communicate said sensor reading to a source of said received radio frequency signal via a backscattered signal.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits and/or processors generate said backscattered signal by controlling spacing between surfaces of said leaky wave antenna.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said one or more circuits and/or processors control said spacing between surfaces of said leaky wave antenna via a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) switch.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits and/or processors generate said backscattered signal by switching a load in and out of a receive path of said sensor.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits and/or processors generate said backscattered signal by switching between a plurality of feed points of said leaky wave antenna.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said radio frequency signal comprises a frequency that is at or near 60 GHz.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein said sensor and said leaky wave antenna are integrated within and/or on an integrated circuit.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein said leaky wave antenna is integrated within and/or on an integrated circuit package.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said one or more circuits and/or processors generate said backscattered signal by controlling an input impedance of said sensor.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein said backscattered signal is modulated at a frequency of 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz.