SENSOR TAG AND METHOD OF PROVIDING SERVICE USING THE SAME

• US 20140138432A1
• Filed: 11/15/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: PARK, Ji Man, PARK, Dong-Hwan, BANG, Hyochan, KIM, SunJin
• Granted Patent: US 9,110,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0704 the battery being rechargeable, e.g. solar batteries
• 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: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/886 using energy harvesting, e.g. solar, wind or mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A sensor tag includes: a tag chip that receives a supply of a driving voltage that is generated from a radio frequency (RF) signal that is received from a reader and that transmits sensor data to the reader according to a request from the reader; at least one sensor that receives a supply of a necessary driving voltage from the tag chip and that measures corresponding sensor data; and a micro controller unit (MCU) that receives a supply of a necessary driving voltage from the tag chip and that transfers sensor data that is measured from the at least one sensor to the tag chip.

Claims

1. A sensor tag that communicates with a reader, comprising:

a tag chip that receives a driving voltage that is generated from a radio frequency (RF) signal that is received from the reader and that transmits sensor data to the reader according to a request from the reader;

at least one sensor that receives a supply of a necessary driving voltage from the tag chip and that measures corresponding sensor data; and

a micro controller unit (MCU) that receives a necessary driving voltage from the tag chip and that transfers sensor data that is measured from the at least one sensor to the tag chip.

2. The sensor tag of claim 1, wherein the tag chip comprises a data storage memory that stores sensor data that is measured from the at least one sensor.

3. The sensor tag of claim 1, wherein the MCU comprises a data storage memory that stores sensor data that is measured from the at least one sensor.

4. The sensor tag of claim 1, wherein the tag chip and the MCU are formed into one chip.

5. The sensor tag of claim 1, further comprising an energy harvest device that charges a DC voltage and that supplies the DC voltage to the at least one sensor and the MCU.

6. The sensor tag of claim 5, wherein the energy harvest device comprises:

a solar cell that converts light energy from the sun to a DC voltage;

a charging battery that charges a DC voltage that is converted by the solar cell;

a DC-DC converter that converts and supplies a DC voltage that is charged at the charging battery to a driving voltage necessary for the at least one sensor and the MCU; and

a switch that selectively connects the charging battery and the DC-DC converter.

7. The sensor tag of claim 6, wherein the switch connects the charging battery and the DC-DC converter when the switch receives a control signal from the outside or when a DC voltage of the charging battery exceeds a threshold voltage.

8. The sensor tag of claim 6, wherein the energy harvest device further comprises a battery that charges a DC voltage, and

the switch selectively connects the DC-DC converter to the battery or the charging battery.

9. The sensor tag of claim 5, wherein the energy harvest device comprises:

a rectifier that rectifies the RF signal to a DC voltage;

a charging battery that charges the rectified DC voltage;

a DC-DC converter that converts and supplies a DC voltage that is charged at the charging battery to a driving voltage necessary for the at least one sensor and the MCU; and

a switch that selectively connects the charging battery and the DC-DC converter.

10. The sensor tag of claim 9, wherein the switch connects the charging battery and the DC-DC converter when the switch receives a control signal from the outside or when a DC voltage of the charging battery exceeds a threshold voltage.

11. The sensor tag of claim 9, wherein the energy harvest device further comprising a regulator that stabilizes the rectified DC voltage and that transfers the DC voltage to the charger.

12. The sensor tag of claim 1, wherein the MCU sequentially operates the at least one sensor.

13. The sensor tag of claim 12, wherein the MCU comprises an analog and digital interface that is connected to the at least one sensor.

14. The sensor tag of claim 1, wherein the MCU downloads and stores at least one of a program and a protocol for controlling the tag chip and the at least one sensor.

15. A method of providing a service using a sensor tag in a terminal, the method comprising:

transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal that requests sensor data to the sensor tag;

receiving sensor data from the sensor tag operating by a driving voltage that is generated from the RF signal;

acquiring location information and time information of the terminal; and

providing a service that couples the sensor data, the location information, and the time information of the terminal,

wherein the sensor tag comprises a tag chip, a micro controller unit (MCU), and at least one sensor, and

a voltage necessary for the MCU and the at least one sensor is supplied from a driving voltage that is generated from the RF signal by the tag chip, and sensor data of the at least one sensor is stored at the tag chip or the MCU by the MCU.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing of a service comprises encrypting the sensor data into location information and time information of the terminal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the tag chip or the MCU downloads and stores at least one of a program and a protocol for controlling the at least one sensor.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing of a service comprises transmitting the sensor data to a wireless network according to a wireless communication protocol.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing of a service comprises providing an individual characterized service by coupling the sensor data and the location information, the time information, and individual information of the terminal.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensor tag further comprises an energy harvest device that charges a DC voltage and that supplies the DC voltage to the MCU and the at least one sensor, as needed.