Transducer and interrogator device
First Claim
1. A passive actuator device for supplying power to an external device in response to an impinging magnetic powering field, comprising:
- an inductive coil adapted to receive a magnetic powering field transmitted from an interrogator, said coil providing an induced powering signal when in the presence of the magnetic field,a first portion of said powering signal supplying power to said actuator device,a plurality of output terminals for connection to the external device, anda circuit operable upon being energized by the first portion of the powering signal to provide selectively a further portion of said powering signal as supply power to at least one of said output terminals to thereby supply power to the external device.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transducer and interrogator device is disclosed in which the interrogator provides power and information to the transducer via a magnetic field. The transducer is a passive actuator device that includes an inductive pickup coil that, when subjected to the interrogator'"'"'s magnetic field, powers the passive actuator and an external electrical device. The magnetic field produced by the interrogator can be modulated in such a manner as to provide identification, commands, or other information to the passive actuator without substantially reducing the power transferred to the passive actuator. Modulation can be by amplitude, phase, frequency, pulse width, or pulse position. An antiphase magnetic field can also be generated to cancel far field radiation. The passive actuator can include a logic circuit to demodulate any received data from the interrogator via the magnetic field, which data can be used to control the operation of the external device. The passive actuator can also include a circuit for transmitting information back to the interrogator using the power extracted from the interrogator'"'"'s magnetic field. Transmission can be either by a modulated electromagnetic signal generated by an oscillator internal to the passive actuator or by coupled impedance signalling using the passive actuator'"'"'s pickup coil.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A passive actuator device for supplying power to an external device in response to an impinging magnetic powering field, comprising:
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an inductive coil adapted to receive a magnetic powering field transmitted from an interrogator, said coil providing an induced powering signal when in the presence of the magnetic field, a first portion of said powering signal supplying power to said actuator device, a plurality of output terminals for connection to the external device, and a circuit operable upon being energized by the first portion of the powering signal to provide selectively a further portion of said powering signal as supply power to at least one of said output terminals to thereby supply power to the external device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A passive actuator device adapted to be influenced by a magnetic field that is transmitted from an interrogator and that is modulated in accordance with a data communication, said device comprising:
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receiver means including an inductive coil adapted to receive the magnetic field and provide an induced powering signal when in the presence of the magnetic field, a first portion of said powering signal providing a source of power to said actuator device, logic means coupled to said receiver means and adapted to demodulate the powering signal to thereby extract the data communication, said logic means being further adapted to provide a control signal in accordance with the data communication, and switch means responsive to said control signal and being adapted to direct a further portion of said powering signal to an external electric or electromechanical device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for remote actuation of an external device, comprising:
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a passive actuator device and an inductive powering device adapted to remotely power said actuator device, said powering device generating a first near field, a first far field, a second near field and a second far field, said passive actuator device comprising; an inductive coil adapted to extract power from said near fields when in relatively close proximity to said powering device and to thereby provide a powering signal, wherein said actuator device is configured such that a first portion of the powering signal supplies electrical power used by said actuator device, and a circuit operable upon being energized by the first portion of the powering signal to provide selectively a further portion of the powering signal as supply power to the external device, and said powering device comprising; a field generating means having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being adapted to generate the first fields, the second portion being adapted to generate the second fields, wherein; the first portion generates the first far field substantially antiphase with respect to the second far field generated from the second portion such that the first far field and the second far field substantially cancel each other at a predetermined distance from the generating means. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification