Communication system with microradios

• US 8,185,052 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RadioFIDO LLC
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Brommer, Karl D., Brommer, Tracey H.
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US13/183,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20110275324A1
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 455/39, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/127.1, 455/343.1, 455/73, 455/78, 455/82, 455/83, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07756 the connection being non-galvanic, e.g. capacitive
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits

Abstract

A microradio is provided with a hysteretic switch to permit an optimum range increasing charging cycle, with the charging cycle being long relative to the transmit cycle. Secondly, an ensemble of microradios permits an n² power enhancement to increase range with coherent operation. Various multi-frequency techniques are used both for parasitic powering and to isolate powering and transmit cycles. Applications for microradios and specifically for ensembles of microradios include authentication, tracking, fluid flow sensing, identification, terrain surveillance including crop health sensing and detection of improvised explosive devices, biohazard and containment breach detection, and biomedical applications including the use of microradios attached to molecular tags to destroy tagged cells when the microradios are activated. Microradio deployment includes the use of paints or other coatings containing microradios, greases and aerosols. Moreover, specialized antennas, including microcoils, mini dipoles, and staircase coiled structures are disclosed, with the use of nano-devices further reducing the size of the microradios.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising an ensemble of microradios coupled to a radiative structure and parasitically powered from the environment, the microradios each including an oscillator, a storage device, a rectifier and a hysteretic switch to power the storage device during a charging cycle and to power said oscillator when the voltage on the storage device is above a predetermined level until such time as the charge on said storage device drops below a predetermined level.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said microradios are dispersed over said radiative structure by being entrained in an aerosol that contacts said radiative structure.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said ensemble of microradios is entrained in a paint or other coating and is dispersed by the application of said paint or other coating containing microradios to said structure.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said paint or other coating containing microradios is projected by a paint sprayer onto said structure.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said ensemble of microradios is entrained in a grease and wherein said microradios are dispersed by the application of said grease to said structure.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said structure is a naturally radiative structure.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said structure includes an antenna.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said ensemble of microradios is dispersed in a flowing fluid.

9. The system of claim 8, and further including a non-conductive conduit, said fluid flowing within said non-conductive conduit.

10. The system of claim 9, and further including energy projected towards said microradios entrained in said fluid;

and, a receiver for detecting emissions from said microradios so as to determine the position of said microradios in said non-conductive conduit.

11. The system of claim 1, and further including means for causing said ensemble of microradios to operate in a coherent fashion.

12. The system of claim 11, and further including a multi-user detector for separating out the signals from said coherently operated ensemble of microradios.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said microradios include nano elements.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said nano elements include nano-resonators.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said nano elements include electrodes, each having a nano-wire extending therefrom to function as an antenna.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said nano elements include a multi-wall nano-tube oscillator.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said nano elements include a doubly clamped diamond beam nano-mechanical resonator.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said nano elements include a three-terminal nano-tube rectifier.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein said nano elements include a single-electron transmitter.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said single-electron transmitter includes gold particles and C60 nano-particles.