RF TRANSMITTER DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME

• US 20110021160A1
• Filed: 07/22/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stichting Imec Nederland
• Original Assignee: Stichting Imec Nederland
• Inventors: Visser, Hubregt Jannis, Vullers, Ruud
• Granted Patent: US 8,447,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/68
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0037 for power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A radio frequency (RF) transmitter device arranged for supplying RF energy is disclosed. In one aspect, the RF transmitter device has a reception unit for receiving information on detected living beings. The RF transmitter device is arranged for adapting its transmit power according to the received information. A method for adapting the transmit power of the RF transmitter device while it is supplying energy to a sensor network is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) transmitter device arranged for supplying energy by RF transmission, comprising:

a reception unit configured to receive information on a detected living being; and

a control unit configured to adapt a transmit power of the transmitter according to the received information.

2. The RF transmitter of claim 1, wherein the reception unit is further configured to identify a detector from which the information is received.

3. The RF transmitter of claim 2, wherein the information is received via a wireless link between the detector and the RF transmitter.

4. The RF transmitter of claim 1, wherein the information indicates whether a living being is present within an area covered by the transmitter.

5. The RF transmitter of claim 1, wherein the living being is a human being.

6. The RF transmitter of claim 1, wherein the RF transmitter device is configured to transmit power at various levels including a low and a high level, wherein the control unit is configured to switch the transmit power from the high level to the low level upon receiving information indicating the presence of a living being within the area covered by the transmitter.

7. The RF transmitter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the reception unit and the control unit comprises a computing device configured with computer executable instructions.

8. A network of RF transmitters comprising two or more RF transmitters of claim 1.

9. The network of RF transmitters of claim 8, wherein the two or more RF transmitters are configured to communicate with each other.

10. The network of RF transmitters of claim 9, wherein the two or more RF transmitters are configured to exchange information on a detected living being.

11. A system comprising a RF transmitter device as of claim 1 and a sensing unit configured to detect living beings and being arranged for communication with the RF transmitter device, wherein the reception unit receives information on detected living beings from the sensing unit.

12. The system as of claim 11, wherein the sensing unit is powered by RF energy transmitted by the RF transmitter.

13. A method of adapting the transmit power of a RF transmitter device used for supplying RF energy to a plurality of sensing devices, the method comprising:

detecting with a sensing unit whether a living being is present;

transmitting information on the detecting of a living being to the RF transmitter device; and

adapting the transmit power of the RF transmitter device according to the information.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising switching off the transmit power if a living being is detected.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the information indicates whether a living being is present within an area covered by the transmitter.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the living being is a human being.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the RF transmitter device is configured to transmit power at various levels including a low and a high level, wherein adapting the transmit power of the RF transmitter device according to the information comprises switching the transmit power of the RF transmitter device from the high level to the low level upon receiving information indicating the presence of a living being within the area covered by the transmitter.

19. A radio frequency (RF) transmitter device arranged for supplying RF energy, comprising:

means for receiving information on detected living beings; and

means for adapting a transmit power of the transmitter according to the received information.

20. The RF transmitter of claim 19, further comprising means for detecting whether a living being is present.