Method, system and devices for data acquisition
First Claim
1. A system for acquisition of data, the system comprising:
- a plurality of RFID devices, each RFID device comprising a processor, a receiver circuit, a transmitter circuit, and a timer device;
at least one second device that communicates with said RFID devices, said second device being one of the group consisting of i) a router ii) a master device,wherein each said RFID device is configured to transfer data, on RF channel, to said second device,wherein said second device is configured to transfer an acknowledge message, on the RF channel, to each said RFID device responsive to receipt of the transferred data,wherein each RFID device has an active mode and a power saving mode,wherein in the power saving mode of the RFID device its capability to receive data on the RF channel is lower than in a monitoring and/or receiving period of the active mode, the timer device of each RFID device switching off an operating voltage of the processor, the receiver circuit, and the transmitter circuit in the power saving mode, the timing device remaining active during the power saving mode, andwherein at least one of the RFID devices and the second device monitor RF signal strength on the RF channel, and the transfer of said data and/or acknowledge message is dependent on the value of the indicated signal strength.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to acquisition of data from RFID devices (132-136), such as sensor data. Prior art systems of active RFID devices have a problem of high average power consumption, and therefore, the energy source of the RFID devices needs to be replaced or charged frequently. The present invention provides a new solution wherein the RFID device has a power saving mode in which the receiver of the RFID device has a decreased ability to receive/detect RF signals. The RFID device may include a timer which is functional during the power saving mode, and the receiver of the RFID device will turn into active mode at a point of time based on the time value of the timer. Signal strength of an RF channel is indicated with a receiver, and transmission of data is dependent on the indication of the signal strength.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for acquisition of data, the system comprising:
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a plurality of RFID devices, each RFID device comprising a processor, a receiver circuit, a transmitter circuit, and a timer device; at least one second device that communicates with said RFID devices, said second device being one of the group consisting of i) a router ii) a master device, wherein each said RFID device is configured to transfer data, on RF channel, to said second device, wherein said second device is configured to transfer an acknowledge message, on the RF channel, to each said RFID device responsive to receipt of the transferred data, wherein each RFID device has an active mode and a power saving mode, wherein in the power saving mode of the RFID device its capability to receive data on the RF channel is lower than in a monitoring and/or receiving period of the active mode, the timer device of each RFID device switching off an operating voltage of the processor, the receiver circuit, and the transmitter circuit in the power saving mode, the timing device remaining active during the power saving mode, and wherein at least one of the RFID devices and the second device monitor RF signal strength on the RF channel, and the transfer of said data and/or acknowledge message is dependent on the value of the indicated signal strength. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 37, 38)
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14. An RFID device for wireless transmission of data, wherein the data comprises at least identification information identifying a source of the data, wherein the RFID device comprises
a processor, a transmitter circuit for transmitting data on RF channel, and a receiver circuit for receiving on RF channel an acknowledge message, a timer device operatively connected to control an operating voltage of the processor, the receiver circuit, and the transmitter circuit, wherein the RFID device has an active mode and a power saving mode, wherein in the power saving mode of the RFID device its capability to receive messages is lower than in a monitoring and/or receiving period of the active mode, the timer device of each RFID device switching off the operating voltage of the processor, the receiver circuit, and the transmitter circuit in the power saving mode, the timing device remaining active during the power saving mode, the RFID device monitors RF signal strength on the RF channel during the active mode, and the transfer of said data by the RFID device is dependent on the value of the indicated signal strength.
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25. A method for transferring data from an RFID device to a second device of a data acquisition system, comprising:
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for a RFID device comprising a processor, a receiver circuit, a transmitter circuit, and a timer device, selectively operating the RFID device in each of an active mode and a power saving mode wherein in the power saving mode the RFID device has no capability to receive information from an RF channel when compared to the capability in a monitoring and/or receiving period of the active mode, activating the RFID device from the power saving mode into the active mode, monitoring signal strength of the RF channel in the active mode, comparing the indicated signal strength with a predetermined value, transmitting data from the RFID device on the basis of the result of the comparison, and using the timer device of the RFID device to set the RFID device into the power saving mode, wherein the timer device of each RFID device switching off an operating voltage of the processor, the receiver circuit, and the transmitter circuit in the power saving mode, the timing device remaining active during the power saving mode.
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Specification