SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RFID-BASED REMOTE MATERIAL ANALYSIS

• US 20170030868A1
• Filed: 10/14/2016
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Inventors: FORSTER, Ian James
• Granted Patent: US 10,634,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02475 Tissue characterisation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/04 Analysing solids using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/12 by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves measuring frequency or resonant frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04, G01H13/00; acoustic resonators G10K11/04; vibration or shock testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2437 Piezoelectric probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2481 Wireless probes, e.g. with transponders or radio links
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

This application generally relates to systems and methods of using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices to remotely analyze objects and structures, and more particularly, this application relates to systems and methods of using RFID devices to remotely analyze properties and conditions of a surface of objects and structures.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a physical property of a structure comprising:

a structure;

a resonator circuit provided in proximity to the structure, the resonator circuit including;

i. a RFID monitored resonator receiving an acoustic waveform;

ii. an inductor

iii. a RFID element

iv. an oscillator

v. a piezoelectric capacitive element in electrical communication and configured as an oscillator circuit;

an intermediate connection structure;

a RF transceiver;

an ultrasonic transducer; and

a controller that coordinates the actions of the ultrasonic transducer and receives information from the RF transceiver.

2. The system of claim 1, where the RFID element is an integrated circuit.

3. The system of claim 1, where the RF transceiver can be a RF interrogator.

4. The system of claim 1, where the controller can trigger the RF transceiver to send an interrogating RF signal to the RFID-monitored resonator activates the RFID element.

5. The system of claim 1, where the controller triggers the ultrasonic transducer to send an acoustic sound wave towards the surface of the structure and the RFID-monitored resonator.

6. The system of claim 5, where the ultrasonic acoustic wave is at a frequency of approximately 30 to 40 KHz and can be directed by the controller towards the surface as well as the RFID-monitored resonator.

7. The system of claim 5, where energy from the acoustic sound wave vibrates and/or causes mechanical perturbations in the piezoelectric capacitive element.

8. The system of claim 7 where the vibrations and/or mechanical perturbations can cause the piezoelectric capacitive element to change capacitance, generate an electric signal, or a combination of both.

9. The system of claim 8, where the vibrations and/or mechanical perturbations alter at least one of the frequency of the oscillator circuit in the RFID-monitored resonator, the amplitude or frequency response of the oscillation present in the oscillator circuit, or both.

10. The system of claim 2, where the integrated circuit monitors at least one of properties of an oscillation or signals, are present in the oscillator circuit.

11. The system of claim 2, where the integrated circuit can produce and transmit a modulated RF signal that is modulated with information regarding a signal present in the oscillator circuit.

12. The system of claim 1, where the RFID element can analyze a signal, by performing digital signal processing on the signal before transmitting the modulated RF signal to the RF transceiver.

13. The system of claim 12, where the RF transceiver can receive the modulated RF signal from the RFID-monitored resonator and demodulate the modulated RF signal to recover information.

14. The system of claim 13, where the information can be sent to the controller for analysis, digital signal processing of the information, and/or presentation of information to a user.

15. The system of claim 14, where the user can be located remotely form the structure being monitored and analyzed.

16. The system of claim 1, where the intermediate connection structure is attached to the surface of the structure to be monitored by an adhesive.

17. The system of claim 1, where the intermediate connection structure is used for attaching the piezoelectric capacitive element to the surface of the structure to be analyzed.

18. The system of claim 1, where the intermediate connection structure is temporarily attached to the surface of the structure to be monitored.

19. The system of claim 15 and claim 16, where the intermediate connection structure may be rigid or pliable to conform to a surface of the structure.

20. The system of claim 19 where, the intermediate connection structure can be made of plastic, cellulosic materials or a polymer or combinations thereof.