System and method for receiving a signal to trigger a pyroelectric activation system

• US 7,233,256 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Issued: 06/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pinek IP LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Schmidt, Frank, Vossiek, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Jasmin, Lynda
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang, Yong Hang
• Application Number:
  US10/497,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20050116812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/870.3, 340/870.38, 340/538.15, 340/5.61
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/751 wherein the responder or reflector radiates a coded signal

Abstract

Activation system includes a reception device for receiving an activation signal (SIGA), and an activation circuit (4) for activating an electric circuit (5). A pyroelectric element (3) is connected to the reception device (1) and to the activation circuit (4). The pyroelectric element can be heated by the activation signal (SIGA) in such a way that a voltage high enough to actuate the activation circuit (4) is produced in the pyroelectric element.

Claims

1. An activation system, comprising

a receiving device (1) for receiving an activation signal (SIGA);

an activation circuit (4) for activating an electric circuit (5); and

at least one pyroelectric element (3) connected to the receiving device (1) and the activation circuit (4), said at least one pyroelectric element producing a voltage that actuates said activation circuit (4) when heated by the activation signal from said receiving device.

2. The activation system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one heating resistor (2) connected downstream from the receiving device (1) to heat said at least one pyroelectric element (3).

3. The activation system according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of signal converters (9) of different codings, each of which comprises at least one said heating resistor (2) and at least one said pyroelectric element (3).

4. The activation system according to claim 3, wherein the codings are determined by arrangements of electrodes on the respective pyroelectric element (3).

5. The activation system according to claim 3, wherein each said pyroelectric element includes a plurality of electrodes and wherein thermoelectric correlation is implemented between the activation signal (SIGA) and the voltage by means of the electrodes when charged by the pyroelectric element (3), as a result of which a correlation gain is generated.

6. The activation circuit according to claim 5, wherein the correlation gain is defined by the codings.

7. The activation system according to claim 5, wherein the correlation gain is generated by pulse compression.

8. The activation circuit according to claim 3, wherein addressing of the electric circuit (5) is defined by the codings.

9. The activation circuit according to claim 1, further comprising an energy storage device for operating the electric circuit (5).

10. The activation circuit according to claim 9, wherein the electric circuit comprises at least one transmitter (7) with a downstream transmission device (8).

11. The activation circuit according to claim 10, wherein the receiving device (1) and the transmission device (8) use different frequencies from each other.

12. A method of operating an activation system that includes a receiver for receiving an activation signal, an activation circuit for activating an electric circuit, and a pyroelectric element connected to the receiver and to the activation circuit, the method comprising the steps of heating the pyroelectric element with the activation signal from the receiver, the heated pyroelectric element producing a voltage that actuates the activation circuit.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of heating a resistor with the activation signal, wherein heat from the resistor heats the pyroelectric element.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the activation system includes a plurality of the pyroelectic elements that each have a respective arrangement of electrodes thereon that define different codings, the method further comprising the step of selectively heating the pyroelectric elements based on the different codings.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the activation system includes a plurality of the pyroelectic elements that each have a respective arrangement of electrodes thereon and wherein the activation signal is time modulated, the method further comprising the step of selectively heating the pyroelectric elements based on the time modulated activation signal.