MEMS Sensor Enabled RFID System and Method for Operating the Same

• US 20110163850A1
• Filed: 01/04/2011
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Zhang, Yang, McLaughlin, Scott, Bachman, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,618,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0702 the arrangement including a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

An apparatus provides environmental monitoring of an item and includes an RFID tag, and a passive switch for sensing an environmental parameter to which the item is subjected, and coupled to the RFID tag so that a measurement of the sensed environmental parameter can be stored, the RFID tag for providing remote readout of the sensed environmental parameter. A method provides environmental monitoring of an item and includes the steps of sensing an environmental parameter to which the item is subjected with activation of a passive switch, storing a measurement of the sensed environmental parameter upon the event of activation of the passive switch, and providing remote readout of the measurement of the sensed environmental parameter with an RFID tag.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing environmental monitoring of an item comprising:

an RFID tag; and

a passive switch for sensing an environmental parameter to which the item is subjected, and coupled to the RFID tag so that a measurement of the sensed environmental parameter can be stored, the RFID tag for providing remote readout of the sensed environmental parameter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 where the passive switch senses temperature, pressure, humidity, or acceleration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a memory element coupled to the switch to store the sensed environmental parameter.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a switch into which the cantilever indicates whether a threshold value of the sensed environmental parameter has been reached or exceeded.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 where the switch comprises a MEMS bi-material cantilever and where the sensed environmental parameter is temperature.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 where the threshold value of the sensed environmental parameter is a maximum permitted temperature.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 where the threshold value of the sensed environmental parameter is a minimum permitted temperature.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of switches for sensing a corresponding plurality of environmental parameters to which the item is subjected, the plurality of switches being coupled to the RFID tag for recordal of the plurality of environmental parameters and to provide remote readout of the sensed plurality of environmental parameters.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a flexible printed circuit board on which the RFID tag and passive switch are mounted, the passive switch being fabricated directly on the flexible printed circuit board for temperature, humidity, acceleration or orientation sensing.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 where the plurality of switches are arranged and configured to sense whether a temperature range has been maintained at all times for the monitored item.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 where the tag is arranged and configured to provide a readout if any past event characterized by at least one of a plurality of sensed environmental parameters signified that a predefined environmental condition has been exceeded.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 where the passive switch is integrated directly into the RFID tag.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a high resolution active sensors of an environmental parameter coupled to the RFID tag and activated by the passive switch.

12. A method for providing environmental monitoring of an item comprising:

sensing an environmental parameter to which the item is subjected with activation of a passive switch;

storing a measurement of the sensed environmental parameter upon the event of activation of the passive switch; and

providing remote readout of the measurement of the sensed environmental parameter with an RFID tag.

13. The method of claim 12 where the item is a biological or medical item and further comprising storing information in the RFID tag specifically relating to the biological or medical item to provide the information combined with stored sensed environmental parameters to which the item has been subject for inventory monitoring or distribution of blood, organs and biological materials.

14. The method of claim 12 where providing remote readout of the measurement of the sensed environmental parameter with an RFID tag comprises providing an environmental history of individual, perishable items over a prolonged time during transportation and distribution.

15. The method of claim 12 where the environmental history is stored and further comprising adjusting when the sensed environmental parameter is measured and stored in real time to save energy consumption.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising rejecting any item experiencing a hostile environment for an extended period of time through an RFID screening conducted by a recipient of the item.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

sensing a plurality of environmental parameters to which the item is subjected with selective activation of at least one of a corresponding plurality of passive switches;

storing a corresponding plurality of measurements of the sensed environmental parameters upon activation of at least one of a corresponding plurality of passive switches; and

providing remote readout of the plurality of measurements of the sensed environmental parameters with an RFID tag,

where the plurality of switches are arranged and configured to sense whether a predetermined environmental parametric range has been maintained at all times for the monitored item.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 where the passive switch is integrated into a flexible PCB with the RFID tag.