Method and apparatus for sensing and transmitting a body characteristic of a host
First Claim
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1. A temperature sensing transponder, comprising:
- an antenna portion operable to receive an interrogation signal from a reader and to transmit a data signal to the reader, said data signal including identification information and temperature information;
an integrated circuit operatively associated with said antenna portion having a memory portion containing an identifier uniquely associated with the transponder and an integrated temperature sensor portion, said integrated temperature sensor portion including a temperature sensor and said temperature sensor including first and second bipolar junction transistor portions such that said temperature sensor is operable to generate an analog temperature signal which corresponds to a temperature of said temperature sensor, said integrated circuit operable to receive said interrogation signal from said antenna portion, and generate said data signal for transmission by said antenna portion,wherein said integrated circuit includes data related to said integrated temperature sensor portion, said data stored in said integrated circuit prior to said integrated circuit being operatively associated with said antenna portion, andwherein said first bipolar junction transistor portion contains a bipolar junction transistor and said second bipolar transistor portion contains a plurality of bipolar junction transistors.
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Abstract
A passive transponder including an integrated sensor is disclosed. The transponder receives an interrogation signal from a scanner, and is operable to transmit identification information and body characteristic information to a scanner. The scanner is operable to receive the identification and body characteristic information and display and/or store the information. The sensor is integrated into the transponder. If temperature is to be sensed, the transponder determines the temperature of the host using the temperature dependent characteristics of the P-N junction of the integrated circuit.
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Citations
114 Claims
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1. A temperature sensing transponder, comprising:
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an antenna portion operable to receive an interrogation signal from a reader and to transmit a data signal to the reader, said data signal including identification information and temperature information; an integrated circuit operatively associated with said antenna portion having a memory portion containing an identifier uniquely associated with the transponder and an integrated temperature sensor portion, said integrated temperature sensor portion including a temperature sensor and said temperature sensor including first and second bipolar junction transistor portions such that said temperature sensor is operable to generate an analog temperature signal which corresponds to a temperature of said temperature sensor, said integrated circuit operable to receive said interrogation signal from said antenna portion, and generate said data signal for transmission by said antenna portion, wherein said integrated circuit includes data related to said integrated temperature sensor portion, said data stored in said integrated circuit prior to said integrated circuit being operatively associated with said antenna portion, and wherein said first bipolar junction transistor portion contains a bipolar junction transistor and said second bipolar transistor portion contains a plurality of bipolar junction transistors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A temperature sensing transponder, comprising:
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an antenna portion operable to receive an interrogation signal from a reader and to transmit a data signal to the reader, said data signal including identification information and temperature information; an integrated circuit operatively associated with said antenna portion having a memory portion containing an identifier uniquely associated with the transponder and an integrated temperature sensor portion, said integrated circuit operable to receive said interrogation signal from said antenna portion, and generate said data signal for transmission by said antenna portion, wherein said integrated circuit includes data related to said integrated temperature sensor portion, said data stored in said integrated circuit prior to said integrated circuit being operatively associated with said antenna portion; wherein said integrated circuit includes a selection circuit operable to select between a first and a second communication mode; wherein, when said first communication mode is selected, said integrated circuit generates a first signal for inclusion in said data signal containing identification information and a second signal for inclusion in said data signal containing temperature information; and wherein, when said second communication mode is selected, said integrated circuit generates a single signal for inclusion in said data signal containing identification and temperature information. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for transmitting identification and temperature information from a transponder, comprising:
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retrieving identification information from a memory within said transponder; sensing an analog temperature signal from a temperature sensor within said transponder, said temperature sensor having first and second bipolar junction transistor portions operated at a substantially constant ratio of emitter current densities which is greater than 1;
1, said analog temperature signal corresponding to a difference in base-emitter voltages between said first and second bipolar junction transistor portions;determining a calibrated digital temperature of said transponder, said calibrated temperature based on said analog temperature signal; formatting said identification information and said calibrated digital temperature into a data structure; and transmitting said data structure. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for identifying an object and a temperature associated therewith, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an interrogation signal from a reader; detecting said interrogation signal at a transponder; determining a selected communication mode at said transponder; transmitting an encoded identification and calibrated temperature signal from said transponder to said reader, wherein said encoded identification and calibrated temperature signal contains identification and calibrated temperature information in a first transmission-structure when a first communication mode is selected, and said encoded identification and calibrated temperature signal contains identification and calibrated temperature information in a second transmission structure when a second communication mode is selected; receiving said encoded identification and calibrated temperature signal at said reader; and decoding identification information and temperature information at said reader, wherein at least said identification information is contained in a standardized format within said encoded identification and calibrated temperature signal, and wherein said temperature information is the actual temperature of said object. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A system for identifying an object and a temperature associated therewith, comprising:
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an interrogator operable to send an interrogation signal and operable to receive a responsive identification and temperature signal; and a transponder, having an integrated temperature sensor and a selection circuit, operable to detect said interrogation signal and operable to transmit said identification and temperature signal in response to said interrogation signal, wherein, when a first communication mode is selected at said selection circuit, said identification and temperature signal includes a first telegram containing identification information and a second telegram containing temperature information, wherein said temperature information includes an actual temperature of the object, and wherein, when a second communication mode is selected at said selection circuit, said identification and temperature signal includes at least one telegram containing identification information and temperature information, wherein said temperature information includes an actual temperature of the object. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
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79. A system for identifying an object and a temperature associated therewith, comprising:
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an interrogator operable to send an interrogation signal and operable to receive a responsive identification and temperature signal; and a transponder, having an integrated temperature sensor having a first bipolar junction transistor portion and a second bipolar junction transistor portion operated at a substantially constant ratio of emitter current densities, operable to detect said interrogation signal and operable to transmit said identification and temperature signal in response to said interrogation signal, wherein said identification and temperature signal includes a telegram containing identification information and temperature information, wherein said temperature information includes an actual temperature of the object, said temperature information based on a difference in base-emitter voltages between said first bipolar junction transistor portion and said second bipolar junction transistor portion, and wherein said constant ratio of emitter current densities is greater than 1;
1. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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86. A method for transmitting identification and body characteristic information from a passive transponder, comprising:
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retrieving identification information from a memory within the transponder; determining a calibrated body characteristic value from a sensor within said transponder, said calibrated body characteristic value based on a sensed value from said sensor and at least one calibration value determined prior to said sensor being incorporated into said passive transponder; formatting said identification information into a first data structure and formatting said calibrated body characteristic value into a second data structure; transmitting said first data structure; and transmitting said second data structure. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94)
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95. A transponder which is operable to sense a body characteristic of a host animal, comprising:
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an antenna portion operable to receive an interrogation signal from a reader and to transmit a data signal to the reader, said data signal including identification information and body characteristic information; and an integrated circuit having a memory portion containing an identifier uniquely associated with the transponder, a selection circuit operable to select between a first and a second communication mode, and a sensor portion, said integrated circuit operable to receive said interrogation signal from said antenna portion, and generate said data signal for transmission by said antenna portion, wherein when said first communication mode is selected, said integrated circuit generates said data signal in a first auto transmission format, containing identification information and temperature information, and wherein, when said second communication mode is selected, said integrated circuit generates said data signal in a second auto transmission format, containing identification and temperature information. - View Dependent Claims (96, 97, 98, 99)
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100. A system for identifying an object and a body characteristic associated therewith, comprising:
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an interrogator operable to send an interrogation signal and operable to receive a responsive identification and body characteristic signal; and a transponder, including in integrated circuit having an integrated sensor having a first bipolar junction transistor portion and a second bipolar junction transistor portion operated at a substantially constant ratio of emitter current densities, operable to detect said interrogation signal and operable to transmit said identification and body characteristic signal in response to said interrogation signal, wherein said identification and body characteristic signal includes a first telegram containing identification information and a second telegram containing body characteristic information, and wherein said body characteristic information is based on a difference in base-emitter voltages between said first bipolar junction transistor portion and said second bipolar junction transistor portion, and wherein said constant ratio of emitter current densities is greater than 1;
1. - View Dependent Claims (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110)
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111. A system for identifying an object and a temperature associated therewith, comprising:
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an interrogator operable to send an interrogation signal and operable to receive a responsive identification and temperature signal; and a passive transponder, including an integrated circuit operatively associated with an antenna, said integrated circuit having an integrated temperature sensor, and said integrated circuit including calibration data related to said integrated temperature sensor, said calibration data stored in said integrated circuit prior to said integrated circuit being operatively associated with said antenna and used to create said temperature signal, wherein said passive transponder is operable to detect said interrogation signal and operable to transmit said identification and temperature signal in response to said interrogation signal. - View Dependent Claims (112, 113, 114)
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Specification