SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WIRELESS TRANSDUCERS THROUGH INTEGRATED ON-CHIP ANTENNA

• US 20140103735A1
• Filed: 09/06/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: CHANG, Chieh-feng, RAJAGOPAL, Aditya, SCHERER, Axel
• Application Number:
  US14/020,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20140103735A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0017 transmitting optical signals transmission by light H04B10/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0707 the arrangement being capable of collecting energy from external energy sources, e.g. thermocouples, vibration, electromagnetic radiation G06K19/0702 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07775 the antenna being on-chip
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/042 PV modules or arrays of single PV cells supporting structures for PV modules H02S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

Novel methods and systems for wireless sensors are described. The systems can comprise an energy-harvesting unit, a transducer, and electronic control circuit, and an antenna. All elements can be integrated monolithically in a single system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an energy-harvesting unit configured to provide power to the system from electromagnetic radiation;

a transducer, configured to detect measureable quantities;

an electronic circuit; and

an antenna;

wherein the electronic circuit is configured to encode the measureable quantities and transmit them to the antenna, the antenna is configured to transmit the encoded measureable quantities, and wherein the energy-harvesting unit, the transducer, the electronic circuit and the antenna are monolithically integrated in the system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy-harvesting unit is an induction coil powered by radio-frequency radiation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy-harvesting unit is a photovoltaic unit powered by optical radiation.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the optical radiation is conveyed through an optical fiber.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transducer has functionalized electrodes to detect biological or chemical quantities.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit comprises a voltage-controlled oscillator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna operates in the frequency range of 1 to 100 GHz.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to operate in a frequency range which can be transmitted through material surrounding the system.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the frequency range is an absorption gap of the material surrounding the system.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the material is human biological tissue.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna radiation pattern is configured to transmit signals through a desired pattern.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is inside a human biological tissue and the desired pattern points in a direction outside the human biological tissue.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the desired pattern points in a direction avoiding a specific part of the human biological tissue.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a receiver, not monolithically integrated on the system.

17. A method to detect measureable quantities, the method comprising:

providing the device of claim 1;

detecting the transmitted encoded measureable quantities with a receiver.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the providing comprises inserting the device in a human body.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the detecting is carried out through an obstacle material between the device and the receiver.

15. A system comprising:

an energy-harvesting unit configured to provide power to the system from electromagnetic radiation;

a transducer, configured to detect measureable quantities;

an electronic circuit; and

an antenna;

wherein the electronic circuit is configured to encode the measureable quantities and transmit them to the antenna, the antenna is configured to transmit the encoded measureable quantities, and wherein the transducer, the electronic circuit and the antenna are monolithically integrated in the system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the energy-harvesting unit is an inductor coil.