RFID-Based Devices and Methods for Interfacing with a Sensor

• US 20130099897A1
• Filed: 10/25/2012
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: FORSTER, Ian J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,286,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure

Abstract

A sensor is provided with an RFID reader, RFID chip, and an antenna electrically coupled to the RFID chip and configured to received signals from and transmit signals to the RFID reader. A sensing material is also electrically connected to the RFID chip and has a variable electrical property. The RFID chip is configured to modulate a signal received by the antenna and drive the sensing material using the modulated signal.

Claims

1. A sensor, comprising:

an RFID reader;

an RFID chip;

an antenna electrically connected to the RFID chip and configured to receive signals from and transmit signals to the RFID reader; and

a sensing material electrically connected to the RFID chip and having a variable electrical property, wherein the RFID chip is configured to modulate a signal received by the antenna and drive the sensing material using the modulated signal.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the sensing material comprises a resonator and the variable electrical property comprises resonant frequency.

3. The sensor of claim 2, wherein the resonator comprises an inductor and a capacitor.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the RFID chip is configured to receive a signal from the sensing material, an input impedance of the RFID chip is modulated based at least in part on the signal from the sensing material, and the RFID chip backscatters a signal to the RFID reader via the antenna.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the RFID chip is configured to directly analyze the condition of the sensing material and send a signal to the RFID reader via the antenna.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to have an impedance which remains substantially uniform during use of the sensor.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a UHF antenna.

8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the RFID chip is configured to modulate the signal received by the antenna by reducing the frequency thereof.

9. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the RFID chip is configured to modulate the signal received by the antenna by increasing the frequency thereof.

10. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the RFID chip is configured to drive the sensing material using a modulated signal having a defined voltage and a varying frequency.

11. A method for operating a sensor, comprising:

providing a sensor including an RFID chip, an antenna electrically connected to the RFID chip, and a sensing material electrically connected to the RFID chip and having a variable electrical property;

sending a signal to the RFID chip via the antenna;

modulating the signal to generate a modulated signal; and

driving the sensing material using the modulated signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said providing a sensor includes providing a sensing material comprising a resonator and the variable electrical property comprises resonant frequency.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said providing a sensor includes providing a sensing material comprising an inductor and a capacitor.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

sending a signal from the sensing material to the RFID chip, thereby modulating an input impedance of the RFID chip based at least in part on the signal from the sensing material; and

backscattering a signal from the RFID chip via the antenna.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

directly analyzing the condition of the sensing material; and

sending a signal based at least in part on the condition of the sensing material via the antenna.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said providing a sensor includes providing an antenna having an impedance which remains substantially uniform during use of the sensor.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said providing a sensor includes providing an antenna comprising a UHF antenna.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said modulating the signal includes reducing the frequency of the signal.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said modulating the signal includes increasing the frequency of the signal.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein said driving the sensing material includes driving the sensing material using a modulated signal having a defined voltage and a varying frequency.