RFID tag with remote sensors and/or removable batteries

• US 9,098,786 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zest Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelleflex Corporation
• Inventors: Mehring, Peter Arnold, Sardariani, Edmond
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUDORF, LAURA A
• Application Number:
  US13/607,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20140061315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/492, 340/10.5, 340/12.51, 340/13.26, 340/10.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0702 the arrangement including a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49817 with other than ancillary treating or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A system according to one embodiment includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag having a housing; an interface configured for detachable coupling to a connector that is coupleable or coupled to an external module having at least one of a battery and a remote sensor; a controller for processing data derived from an output of the remote sensor; a memory for storing the data derived from an output of the remote sensor and/or the processed data; and an antenna coupled to the controller for enabling backscatter communication.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an external module having a sensor;

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag comprising;

a housing;

an interface configured for detachable coupling to a connector that is coupleable or coupled to the external module;

a controller for processing data derived from an output of the sensor of the external module;

a memory for storing the data derived from the output of the sensor and/or the processed data; and

an antenna coupled to the controller for enabling backscatter communication; and

a barrier of an RF shielding material, the RFID tag being positioned on one side of the barrier, the external module being positioned on another side of the barrier.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a battery in the housing, the battery being for providing power to a real time clock.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising the external module having a battery, the external module being configured for providing battery power to the controller via the connector.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising the external module having a battery, the external module being configured for providing battery power to the controller via the connector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the external module also includes a battery, the external module being configured for providing battery power to a processor via the connector.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the external module includes a processor for processing signals from the sensor and sending the processed signals to the RFID tag.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the external module includes an interface configured for detachable coupling to a second connector that is coupleable or coupled to a second external module having at least one of a battery and a sensor.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the external module is disposable.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the external module is detachably coupleable to the connector.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the external module includes the connector.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least three external modules in communication with the RFID tag, the external modules each having a sensor and/or battery.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least three external modules in communication with the RFID tag, the external modules each having a sensor and optionally a battery.