Analysis of Stimulus by RFID

• US 20150226792A1
• Filed: 04/27/2015
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Photonics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: US Photonics, Inc.
• Inventors: Conner, Jacob, Giedd, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 9,483,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/14 by measuring variations in capacitance or inductance of electrical elements, e.g. by measuring variations of frequency of electrical oscillators
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/142 using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 19/10 Measuring moisture content, e.g. by measuring change in length of hygroscopic filament; Hygrometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0007 Frequency selective voltage or current level measuring measuring frequency G01R23/00; testing attenuation in line transmission systems H04B3/48; monitoring testing in transmission systems H04B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 23/02 Arrangements for measuring frequency, e.g. pulse repetition rate; Arrangements for measuring period of current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/32 in circuits having distributed constants , e.g. having very long conductors or involving high frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2872 related to electrical or environmental aspects, e.g. temperature, humidity, vibration, nuclear radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07783 the coil being planar
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07788 the antenna being of the capacitive type
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0779 the antenna being foldable or folded

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a stimulus monitoring process. The process includes exposing an RFID device to an environment. The RFID has characteristics that alter based on exposure to the environment, which in turn alter a response signal emanating from the RFID device in response to an interrogation signal.

Claims

1. A stimulus monitoring process comprising:

exposing an RFID device to an environment, wherein said RFID device comprises;

a substrate composed of a first material;

an inductor having an inductance;

a conductive trace, integrated with said substrate, having a substantially elastic connection with said inductor;

a capacitor, supported by said substrate, with a voltage potential;

a deformable brace, supported by said substrate and positioned proximate to said inductor, constructed from a second material structurally, selectively deformable in response to a predetermined external stimulus such that upon exposure to said stimulus said inductor is dimensionally altered by said brace, disproportionately to a response by said first material to said external stimulus, to substantially alter said inductance; and

an antennae complex, in electrical communication with said inductor supported by said substrate and isolated from said second material, initially adapted to accept a predetermined, base frequency and transmit a response signal, measurably distinct from said base frequency when affected by said inductance as altered by said brace,

wherein said substantially elastic connection is adapted to maintain inductor circuit connectivity notwithstanding said substantially disproportionate dimensional alterations of said second material relative to said first material;

associating an item with said RFID device such that said item and said RFID device receive comparable exposure to said environment.

transmitting an interrogation signal, having characteristics informed by said predetermined base frequency, proximate to said item;

receiving said response signal from said RFID device; and

comparing said response signal to said predetermined base signal to produce a deviation value.

2. The process of claim 1 further comprising utilizing said deviation value to calculate a property of said item.

3. The process of claim 2 further comprising adjusting a use of said item based on said deviation value.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein said exposing step includes exposing an RFID device with said second material comprising a time decay material to said environment, wherein said time decay material is adapted to decay at a decay rate substantially disproportionate to a decay rate of said first material.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein said exposing step includes exposing an RFID device with said second material comprising a temperature-sensitive material to said environment, wherein said temperature-sensitive material includes a coefficient of expansion substantially disproportionate to a coefficient of expansion of said first material.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein said exposing step includes exposing an RFID device with said second material comprising a hydrosensitive material to said environment, wherein said hyrdo-sensitive material is adapted to dimensionally alter said brace upon absorption of water molecules to a degree substantially disproportionate to absorption of water molecules of said first material.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein said exposing step includes exposing an RFID device with said capacitor isolated from said second material.

8. A stimulus monitoring process comprising:

exposing an RFID device to an environment, wherein said RFID device comprises;

a substrate composed of a first material;

an inductor, supported by said substrate, having an inductance;

a capacitor, supported by said substrate, with a voltage potential, wherein said capacitor includes a first electrode;

a second electrode; and

an insulator, positioned between said first electrode and said second electrode, composed of a dielectric material;

a conductive trace, integrated with said substrate, having a substantially elastic connection with said capacitor;

a deformable brace, distinct from said insulator and supported by said substrate and positioned proximate to said capacitor, constructed from a second material structurally, selectively deformable in response to a predetermined external stimulus such that upon exposure to said stimulus said capacitor is dimensionally altered by said brace, disproportionately relative to both a response by said first material to said external stimulus and said insulator to said external stimulus, to substantially alter said voltage potential; and

an antennae complex, in electrical communication with said inductor supported by said substrate and isolated from said second material, initially adapted to accept a predetermined, base frequency and transmit a response signal, measurably distinct from said base frequency when affected by said voltage potential as altered by said brace,

wherein said substantially elastic connection is adapted to maintain capacitor circuit connectivity notwithstanding said substantially disproportionate dimensional alterations of said second material relative both to said first material and said insulator;

associating an item with said RFID device such that said item and said RFID device receive comparable exposure to said environment.

transmitting an interrogation signal, having characteristics informed by said predetermined base frequency, proximate to said item;

receiving said response signal from said RFID device; and

comparing said response signal to said predetermined base signal to produce a deviation value.

9. The process of claim 8 further comprising utilizing said deviation value to calculate a property of said item.

10. The process of claim 9 further comprising adjusting a use of said item based on said deviation value.

11. The process of claim 8 wherein said exposing step includes exposing an RFID device with said second material comprising a time decay material to said environment, wherein said time decay material is adapted to decay at a decay rate substantially disproportionate to a decay rate of said first material.

12. The process of claim 8 wherein said exposing step includes exposing an RFID device with said second material comprising a temperature-sensitive material to said environment, wherein said temperature-sensitive material includes a coefficient of expansion substantially disproportionate to a coefficient of expansion of said first material.

13. The process of claim 8 wherein said exposing step includes exposing an RFID device with said second material comprising a hydrosensitive material to said environment, wherein said hyrdo-sensitive material is adapted to dimensionally alter said brace upon absorption of water molecules to a degree substantially disproportionate to absorption of water molecules of said first material.

14. The process of claim 8 wherein said exposing step includes exposing an RFID device with said inductor isolated from said second material.