Self-charging RFID tag with long life
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, comprising:
- a rechargeable solid state battery;
control circuitry coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery;
a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery; and
a primary battery; and
a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry,wherein the control circuitry is able to selectively draw power from the rechargeable solid state battery and not the primary battery,wherein if a voltage produced by the supplemental power source is greater than the voltage output from the first regulator, the supplemental power source primarily charges the rechargeable battery,wherein if the voltage produced by the supplemental power source is less than the voltage from the first regulator, energy from the first regulator is used to recharge the rechargeable battery.
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Abstract
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a rechargeable solid state battery, control circuitry coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery, and a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery.
74 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, comprising:
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a rechargeable solid state battery; control circuitry coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery; a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery; and a primary battery; and a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is able to selectively draw power from the rechargeable solid state battery and not the primary battery, wherein if a voltage produced by the supplemental power source is greater than the voltage output from the first regulator, the supplemental power source primarily charges the rechargeable battery, wherein if the voltage produced by the supplemental power source is less than the voltage from the first regulator, energy from the first regulator is used to recharge the rechargeable battery.
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2. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, comprising:
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a rechargeable solid state battery; control circuitry coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery; a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery, wherein the power source captures energy from radio frequency waves; and a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry of the device, wherein the line coupled to the rechargeable battery is also coupled to the second regulator, wherein the first and second regulators are present on a single chip, wherein excess current on the line coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery is directed to the rechargeable solid state battery if a voltage of the rechargeable solid state battery is less than the voltage on the line coupled thereto. - View Dependent Claims (3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 48, 49)
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4. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, comprising:
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a rechargeable solid state battery; control circuitry coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery; and a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery wherein the power source captures energy from radio frequency waves; and a supplemental power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery, a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry, wherein if a voltage produced by the supplemental power source is greater than the voltage output from the first regulator, the supplemental power source primarily charges the rechargeable battery, wherein if the voltage produced by the supplemental power source is less than the voltage from the first regulator, energy from the first regulator is used to recharge the rechargeable battery, with the proviso that neither the power source nor the supplemental power source are batteries. - View Dependent Claims (6, 13)
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19. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, comprising:
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a primary battery; a rechargeable solid state battery; control circuitry coupled to the primary battery and to the rechargeable solid state battery; a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery and for providing power to the control circuitry; a supplemental power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery; and a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry, wherein if a voltage produced by the supplemental power source is greater than the voltage output from the first regulator, the supplemental power source primarily charges the rechargeable battery, wherein if the voltage produced by the supplemental power source is less than the voltage from the first regulator, energy from the first regulator is used to recharge the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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21. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device for use with a vehicle, comprising:
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a housing adapted for coupling to a vehicle; control circuitry coupled to the housing; a primary battery; a rechargeable solid state battery; control circuitry coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery; a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery; a memory for storing information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle; control circuitry coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery; a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery, wherein the power source captures energy from radio frequency waves; and a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry of the device, wherein the control circuitry is able to selectively draw power from the rechargeable solid state battery and not the primary battery. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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39. A method for tracking ownership of a moveable object, the method comprising:
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coupling a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag to the object, the REID tag comprising; control circuitry; a primary battery for providing power to the control circuitry; a rechargeable solid state battery for providing power to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is able to selectively draw power from the rechargeable solid state battery and not the primary battery; a power source for recharging the battery; a memory for storing information relating to the object; and a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry, wherein if a voltage produced by the supplemental power source is greater than the voltage output from the first regulator, the supplemental power source primarily charges the rechargeable battery, wherein if the voltage produced by the supplemental power source is less than the voltage from the first regulator, energy from the first regulator is used to recharge the rechargeable battery; and adding information about at least one of an owner of the object, a location of the object, and a sensor reading to the memory in anticipation of or in response to moving the object from one location to another location. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for retrieving information about a vehicle, the method comprising:
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transmitting a query to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag coupled to the vehicle, the query containing a security code, the RFID tag comprising; control circuitry; a rechargeable solid state battery for providing power to the control circuitry; a power source for recharging the battery; a supplemental power source for recharging the battery; and a memory for storing information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle, a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry, wherein if a voltage produced by the supplemental power source is greater than the voltage output from the first regulator, the supplemental power source primarily charges the rechargeable battery, wherein if the voltage produced by the supplemental power source is less than the voltage from the first regulator, energy from the first regulator is used to recharge the rechargeable battery; receiving information relating to the vehicle or the owner, the information received depending on the security code.
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47. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag comprising; control circuitry; a primary battery for providing power to the control circuitry; a rechargeable solid state battery for providing power to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is able to selectively draw power from the rechargeable solid state battery and not the primary battery; a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery; a supplemental power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery; a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry of the device; and a memory, wherein the control circuitry is able to selectively draw power from the rechargeable solid state battery and not the primary battery, wherein the line coupled to the rechargeable battery is also coupled to the second regulator, wherein if a voltage produced by the supplemental power source is greater than the voltage output from the first regulator, the supplemental power source primarily charges the rechargeable battery, wherein if the voltage produced by the supplemental power source is less than the voltage from the first regulator, energy from the first regulator is used to recharge the rechargeable battery.
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Specification