RFID TAG WITH REMOTE SENSORS AND/OR REMOVABLE BATTERIES

• US 20140061315A1
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zest Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelleflex Corporation
• Inventors: Mehring, Peter Arnold, Sardariani, Edmond
• Granted Patent: US 9,098,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/492
• 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: Y10T 29/49817 with other than ancillary treating or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system according to one embodiment includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag having a housing; an interface configured for detachable coupling to a connector that is coupleable or coupled to an external module having at least one of a battery and a remote sensor; a controller for processing data derived from an output of the remote sensor; a memory for storing the data derived from an output of the remote sensor and/or the processed data; and an antenna coupled to the controller for enabling backscatter communication.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag comprising;

a housing;

an interface configured for detachable coupling to a connector that is coupleable or coupled to an external module having at least one of a battery and a remote sensor;

a controller for processing data derived from an output of the remote sensor;

a memory for storing the data derived from an output of the remote sensor and/or the processed data; and

an antenna coupled to the controller for enabling backscatter communication.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a battery in the housing, the battery being for providing power to a real time clock.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising the external module, the external module having the battery, the external module being configured for providing battery power to the controller via the connector.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising the external module, the external module having the battery, the external module being configured for providing battery power to the controller via the connector.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising the external module, the external module having the sensor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the external module also includes a battery, the external module being configured for providing battery power to the processor via the connector.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the external module includes a processor for processing signals from the sensor and sending the processed signals to the RFID tag.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the external module includes an interface configured for detachable coupling to a second connector that is coupleable or coupled to a second external module having at least one of a battery and a sensor.

9. The system of claim 5, further comprising a barrier of an RF shielding material, the RFID tag being positioned on one side of the barrier, the external module being positioned another side of the barrier.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the external module is disposable.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the external module is detachably coupleable to the connector.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein the external module includes the connector.

32. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least three external modules in communication with the RFID tag, the external modules each having a sensor and/or battery.

33. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least three external modules in communication with the RFID tag, the external modules each having a sensor and optionally a battery.

13. An external module, comprising:

an enclosure;

a sensor coupled to the enclosure; and

a connector having a jack that is detachably coupleable to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

14. The external module of claim 13, further comprising a battery coupled to the sensor, the external module being configured for providing battery power to the RFID tag via the connector.

15. The external module of claim 13, further comprising a processor for processing signals from the sensor and sending the processed signals to the RFID tag.

16. The external module of claim 13, wherein the external module includes an interface configured for detachable coupling to a second connector that is coupleable or coupled to a second external module having at least one of a battery and a sensor.

17. The external module of claim 13, wherein the external module is disposable.

18. The external module of claim 13, wherein the external module is detachably coupleable to the connector.

19. The external module of claim 13, wherein the external module includes the connector.

20. A method, comprising:

mounting an Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag on a barrier; and

positioning an external module that is coupled to the RFID tag on another side of the barrier.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the external module has a sensor.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the external module has a battery, the external module being configured for providing battery power to the RFID tag via a connector.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the external module has a sensor and a battery, the external module being configured for providing sensor reading and battery power to the RFID tag via a connector.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising coupling the external module to the RFID tag.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the RFID tag comprises:

a housing;

an interface configured for detachable coupling to a connector that is coupleable or coupled to the external module having at least one of a battery and a sensor;

a controller for processing data derived from an output of the remote sensor;

a memory for storing the data derived from an output of the remote sensor and/or the processed data; and

an antenna coupled to the controller for enabling backscatter communication.

26. A method, comprising:

detaching a first external module from physical communication with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag;

attaching a second external module to the RFID tag.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first and second external modules each have a sensor, wherein the sensor of the second external module is calibrated.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising sending the first external module for calibration.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the first and second external modules each have a battery, wherein the battery of the first external module is discharged below a predetermined level, wherein the battery of the second external module is not discharged below the predetermined level.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first and second external modules each have a sensor.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the RFID tag comprises:

a housing;

an interface configured for detachable coupling to a connector that is coupleable or coupled to the external module having at least one of a battery and a sensor;

a controller for processing data derived from an output of the remote sensor;

a memory for storing the data derived from an output of the remote sensor and/or the processed data; and

an antenna coupled to the controller for enabling backscatter communication.