RFID readable device with smart surface access

• US 8,981,792 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2011
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics SRL (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Girlando, Giovanni
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOAI AN D
• Application Number:
  US13/306,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20120139557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 324/629, 324/600, 235/440, 235/439, 235/435
• US Class Current: 324/629
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/73 for taking measurements, e.g. using sensing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A monitoring system includes an array of concatenated sensing nodes, with each sensing node being configured to have at least one of near-field and far-field RF coupling circuitry to interface with an adjacent sensing node. A respective device is coupled to each of the sensing nodes. A reader device is configured to have at least one of near-field and far-field RF coupling circuitry to interface with the array of concatenated sensing nodes to read data from the devices.

Claims

1. A monitoring system comprising:

an array of concatenated sensing nodes, with each sensing node being configured to have at least one of near-field and far-field RF coupling circuitry to interface with an adjacent sensing node;

with each node comprising a plurality of inductors and a plurality of capacitors, and with at least one of said plurality of capacitors being coupled to an adjacent node;

a respective device coupled to each of said sensing nodes; and

a reader device configured to have at least one of near-field and far-field RF coupling circuitry to interface with said array of concatenated sensing nodes to read data from said devices.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein each device comprises a tag.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein each device comprises a sensor.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said array of concatenated sensing nodes is configured so that data transfer therethrough is based on near-field RF coupling.

5. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said array of concatenated sensing nodes is configured so that data transfer therethrough is based on far-field RF coupling.

6. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said array of concatenated sensing nodes is configured so that data transfer therethrough is based on both near-field RF coupling and far-field RF coupling.

7. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein each device comprises a passive sensor;

and wherein said reader device is configured to power said passive sensors based on near-field coupling.

8. The monitoring system of claim 7, wherein each passive sensor includes an identification and data exchange function that is powered by said reader device, with said reader device reading the data directly from said passive sensor providing the data to be read.

9. The monitoring system of claim 7, wherein each passive sensor includes an identification and data exchange function that is powered by said reader device, with said reader device reading the data indirectly from said passive sensor providing the data to be read.

10. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein each device comprises an active sensor that is self-powered;

and wherein said reader device is configured to transfer data to or receive data from each sensor.

11. The monitoring system of claim 10, wherein each active sensor is coupled to a corresponding sensing node via both near-field RF coupling and far-field RF coupling.

12. A surface monitoring system comprising:

an array of concatenated sensing nodes, with each sensing node being configured to have at least one of near-field and far-field RF coupling circuitry to interface with an adjacent sensing node;

with each node comprising a plurality of inductors and a plurality of capacitors, and with at least one of said plurality of capacitors being coupled to an adjacent node; and

a respective device coupled to each of said sensing nodes.

13. The surface monitoring system of claim 12, wherein each device comprises at least one of a tag and a sensor.

14. The surface monitoring system of claim 12, wherein said array of concatenated sensing nodes is configured so that data transfer therethrough is based on near-field RF coupling.

15. The surface monitoring system of claim 12, wherein said array of concatenated sensing nodes is configured so that data transfer therethrough is based on far-field RF coupling.

16. The surface monitoring system of claim 12, wherein said array of concatenated sensing nodes is configured so that data transfer therethrough is based on both near-field RF coupling and far-field RF coupling.

17. A method of operating a monitoring system comprising;

providing an array of concatenated sensing nodes, with each sensing node being configured to have at least one of near-field and far-field RF coupling circuitry to interface with an adjacent sensing node;

with each node comprising a plurality of inductors and a plurality of capacitors, and with at least one of the plurality of capacitors being coupled to an adjacent node;

providing a respective device coupled to each of the sensing nodes; and

providing a reader device configured to have at least one of near-field and far-field RF coupling circuitry to interface with the array of concatenated sensing nodes to read data from the devices.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each device comprises a tag.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein each device comprises a sensor.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the array of concatenated sensing nodes is configured so that data transfer therethrough is based on near-field RF coupling.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the array of concatenated sensing nodes is configured so that data transfer therethrough is based on far-field RF coupling.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the array of concatenated sensing nodes is configured so that data transfer therethrough is based on both near-field RF coupling and far-field RF coupling.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein each device comprises a passive sensor;

and wherein the reader device is configured to power the passive sensors based on near-field coupling.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein each device comprises an active sensor that is self-powered;

and wherein the reader device is configured to transfer data to or receive data from each sensor.