Light activated RFID tag

• US 7,791,481 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2008
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amtech Systems LLC (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TC License Limited
• Inventors: Youn, Tai, Burnett, Matthew, Johnson, Charles A, Gravelle, Kelly, Landt, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): TROST IV, WILLIAM GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US12/017,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20080174436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0704 the battery being rechargeable, e.g. solar batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) device is arranged for use with a remote interrogator unit. The RFID device comprises an integrated circuit configured to send, in response to a signal received from the remote interrogator unit or automatically, a responsive signal which includes identification information. A communication antenna is electrically coupled to the integrated circuit and is provided for wireless communication with the remote interrogator unit. At least one photovoltaic cell is provided for converting radiation into electrical energy and providing power to the integrated circuit. The photocell may be designed to form all or part of the RF antenna of the RFID device.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification device (RFID) arranged for use with a remote interrogator unit, said RFID device comprising:

a. an integrated circuit configured to send, in response to a signal received from a remote interrogator unit, a responsive signal which includes identification information; and

,

b. an array of photovoltaic cells serving as a power supply by converting light radiation into electrical energy and supplying power to the integrated circuit, said array of photovoltaic cells being arranged in a geometry to serve as a communication antenna electrically coupled to said integrated circuit to provide for wireless communication with the remote interrogator unit.

2. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said integrated circuit includes a memory arranged for storing for retrieval therefrom said identification information.

3. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said integrated circuit includes a memory that is read/write to enable writing identification information to the RFID device and reading said identification information from said RFID device.

4. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said device is arranged for attachment to the windshield of a vehicle.

5. The RFID device of claim 1, further comprising a flexible substrate having an obverse surface, said array of photovoltaic cells being deposited on said obverse surface of said flexible substrate.

6. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said array of photovoltaic cells is in the form of an aperture antenna.

7. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said array of photovoltaic cells is in the form of a dipole antenna.

8. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said array of photovoltaic cells is in the form of a folded dipole antenna.

9. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a backup power supply arranged to receive the signal from the remote interrogator and use energy rectified from the signal to send a signal back to the remote interrogator unit.

10. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a backup power supply comprising a battery.

11. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said device is arranged for attachment to an item needing to be tracked.

12. The RFID device of claim 11, wherein said item is a vehicle.

13. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said integrated circuit comprises a semiconductor chip.

14. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said light radiation is artificial light.

15. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said light radiation is infrared light.

16. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said light radiation is visible light.

17. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said light radiation is black light.

18. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said light radiation is solar radiation.

19. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said array of photovoltaic cells are arranged in series.

20. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said array of photovoltaic cells are situated about at least one aperture.

21. The RFID device of claim 20, wherein each photovoltaic cell structure generates approximately 7 volts of energy under full sunlight.

22. The RFID device of claim 1, said RFID device being approximately the size of a credit card.

23. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said RFID device is adapted to be affixed to a glass surface.

24. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said RFID device comprises a passive RFID tag.

25. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said RFID device comprises an active RFID tag.

26. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein said RFID device comprises a semi-passive RFID tag.

27. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein communication between said RFID device and the remote interrogator unit is initiated utilizing TTF protocol.

28. The RFID device of claim 1, wherein communication between said RFID device and the remote interrogator unit is initiated utilizing RTF protocol.

29. A system for tracking a plurality of movable objects, the system comprising:

a. at least one movable object to be tracked;

b. a radio frequency identification (RFID) device coupled to the moving object;

c. a remote interrogator unit arranged for use with said RFID device; and

,

d. said RFID device being configured to identify said at least one moveable object and to store identification information associated with said at least one moveable object, said RFID device comprising an integrated circuit configured to send, in response to a signal received from said remote interrogator unit, a responsive signal which includes said identification information, said RFID device further comprising an array of photovoltaic cells serving as a power supply by converting light radiation into electrical energy and supplying power to the integrated circuit, said array of photovoltaic cells being arranged in a geometry to serve as a communication antenna electrically coupled to said integrated circuit to provide for wireless communication with the remote interrogator unit.