Analysis of stimulus by RFID

• US 9,581,625 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2015
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Photonics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: US Photonics, Inc.
• Inventors: Conner, Jacob, Giedd, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Claude J
• Application Number:
  US14/697,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20150233986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/14 by measuring variations in capacitance or inductance of electrical elements, e.g. by measuring variations of frequency of electrical oscillators
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/142 using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 19/10 Measuring moisture content, e.g. by measuring change in length of hygroscopic filament; Hygrometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0007 Frequency selective voltage or current level measuring measuring frequency G01R23/00; testing attenuation in line transmission systems H04B3/48; monitoring testing in transmission systems H04B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 23/02 Arrangements for measuring frequency, e.g. pulse repetition rate; Arrangements for measuring period of current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/32 in circuits having distributed constants , e.g. having very long conductors or involving high frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2872 related to electrical or environmental aspects, e.g. temperature, humidity, vibration, nuclear radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• 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 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• 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 19/07783 the coil being planar
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07788 the antenna being of the capacitive type
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0779 the antenna being foldable or folded

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an RFID device. The RFID device includes a brace affixed to an inductor or capacitor. The brace is constructed from a material structurally responsive to a predetermined stimulus, such that stimulus-responsive structural alterations to the brace structurally alters the inductor, capacitor, or other RFID subcomponent of the RFID circuit capable of generating a current alteration, which in turn alters the signal frequency of the RFID.

Claims

1. An RFID device comprising:

a substrate composed of a first material;

an inductor having an inductance and multiple conductive, repeating subfeatures;

a conductive trace, integrated with said substrate, having an elastic connection with said inductor;

a capacitor, supported by said substrate, with a voltage potential;

a deformable brace, intercalated within said inductor between at least one pair of said repeating subfeatures, constructed from a second material structurally, selectively deformable in response to a predetermined external stimulus such that upon exposure to said stimulus said inductor is dimensionally altered by said brace, disproportionately to a response by said first material to said external stimulus, to substantially alter said inductance; and

an antennae complex, in electrical communication with said inductor supported by said substrate and isolated from said second material, initially adapted to accept a predetermined, base frequency and transmit a response signal, measurably distinct from said base frequency when affected by said inductance as altered by said brace,

wherein said elastic connection is adapted to maintain inductor circuit connectivity notwithstanding said substantially disproportionate dimensional alterations of said second material relative to said first material.

2. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein said second material includes a time decay material adapted to decay at a decay rate substantially disproportionate to a decay rate of said first material.

3. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein said second material includes a temperature-sensitive material having a coefficient of expansion substantially disproportionate to a coefficient of expansion of said first material.

4. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein said second material includes a hyrdo-sensitive material adapted to dimensionally alter said brace upon absorption of water molecules to a degree substantially disproportionate to absorption of water molecules of said first material.

5. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein said brace includes a unidirectional brace.

6. The RFID device of claim 1 wherein said capacitor is isolated from said second material.

7. An RFID device comprising:

a device substrate composed of a first material;

an inductor, supported by said substrate, having an inductance;

a plate capacitor, supported by said substrate, with a voltage potential, wherein said capacitor includes at least a first electrode;

at least a second electrode; and

discrete primary insulator, positioned between said first electrode and said second electrode such that said primary insulator lacks physical connection with any ancillary insulator separating any third electrode from said first electrode and said second electrode, composed of a dielectric material;

a conductive trace, integrated with said substrate, having an elastic connection with said capacitor;

a deformable brace, distinct from said insulator and supported by said substrate and positioned proximate to said capacitor, constructed from a second material structurally, selectively deformable in response to a predetermined external stimulus such that upon exposure to said stimulus said capacitor is dimensionally altered by said brace, disproportionately relative to both a response by said first material to said external stimulus and said insulator to said external stimulus, to substantially alter said voltage potential; and

an antennae complex, in electrical communication with said inductor supported by said substrate and isolated from said second material, initially adapted to accept a predetermined, base frequency and transmit a response signal, measurably distinct from said base frequency when affected by said voltage potential as altered by said brace,

wherein said elastic connection is adapted to maintain capacitor circuit connectivity notwithstanding said substantially disproportionate dimensional alterations of said second material relative both to said first material and said insulator.

8. The RFID device of claim 7 wherein said second material includes a time decay material adapted to decay at a decay rate substantially disproportionate to a decay rate of said first material.

9. The RFID device of claim 7 wherein said second material includes a temperature-sensitive material having a coefficient of expansion substantially disproportionate to a coefficient of expansion of said first material.

10. The RFID device of claim 7 wherein said second material includes a hyrdo-sensitive material adapted to dimensionally alter said brace upon absorption of water molecules to a degree substantially disproportionate to absorption of water molecules of said first material.

11. The RFID device of claim 7 wherein said brace includes a unidirectional brace.

12. The RFID device of claim 11 wherein said capacitor is isolated from said second material.

13. An RFID device comprising:

a substrate composed of a first material;

an inductor having an inductance and an inductor length defined as the Euclidean distance between lead points of said inductor;

a conductive trace, integrated with said substrate, having an elastic connection with said inductor;

a capacitor, supported by said substrate, with a voltage potential;

a deformable brace, in which said inductor is at least partially embedded to subsume at least 20% of said inductor length, constructed from a second material structurally, selectively deformable in response to a predetermined external stimulus such that upon exposure to said stimulus said inductor is dimensionally altered by said brace, disproportionately to a response by said first material to said external stimulus, to substantially alter said inductance; and

an antennae complex, in electrical communication with said inductor supported by said substrate and isolated from said second material, initially adapted to accept a predetermined, base frequency and transmit a response signal, measurably distinct from said base frequency when affected by said inductance as altered by said brace,

wherein said elastic connection is adapted to maintain inductor circuit connectivity notwithstanding said substantially disproportionate dimensional alterations of said second material relative to said first material.

14. The RFID device of claim 13 wherein said inductor is at least partially embedded in said brace to subsume at least 20% of said inductor length.

15. The RFID device of claim 14 wherein said inductor is at least partially embedded in said brace to subsume at least 30% of said inductor length.

16. The RFID device of claim 15 wherein said inductor is at least partially embedded in said brace to subsume at least 40% of said inductor length.

17. The RFID device of claim 16 wherein said inductor is at least partially embedded in said brace to subsume at least 50% of said inductor length.

18. The RFID device of claim 17 wherein said inductor is at least partially embedded in said brace to subsume at least 75% of said inductor length.

19. The RFID device of claim 18 wherein said inductor is at least partially embedded in said brace to subsume at least 90% of said inductor length.

20. The RFID device of claim 19 wherein said inductor is at least partially embedded in said brace to subsume at least 100% of said inductor length.