Physical property sensor with active electronic circuit and wireless power and data transmission
First Claim
1. A wireless sensor, comprising:
- a power harvesting unit configured to receive an external energizing magnetic field generated by an external interrogator and store the energy generated thereby;
a transducing A-to-D converter unit comprising a passive electrical transducer configured to respond to variations in a physical property and a converter configured to measure a characteristic value of the passive electrical transducer and provide a digital signal that is indicative of the measured characteristic value;
a microcontroller unit electrically coupled to the power harvesting unit and the transducing A-to-D converter unit, wherein the microcontroller unit is configured to receive the digital signal from the transducing A-to-D converter unit; and
a transmitting coil configured to receive the digital signal from the microcontroller unit and transmit the digital signal to the external interrogator;
wherein, upon receiving a start signal, the transducing A-to-D converter unit charges a current through the passive electrical transducer until a reference voltage is reached and, upon reaching the reference voltage, the microcontroller unit receives the digital signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Wireless sensors configured to sense, record and transmit data are provided herein. In one aspect, the wireless sensor has a power harvesting unit; a transducing A-to-D converter unit, a microcontroller unit, and a transmitting coil. The power harvesting unit is configured to receive an external energizing magnetic field generated by an external interrogator and store the energy generated thereby. The transducing A-to-D converter unit has a passive electrical transducer configured to respond to variations in a physical property and a converter configured to measure a characteristic value of the passive electrical transducer and provide a digital signal that is indicative of the measured characteristic value. The microcontroller unit is electrically coupled to the power harvesting unit and the transducing A-to-D converter unit and is configured to receive the digital signal from the transducing A-to-D converter unit. The transmitting coil is configured to receive the digital signal and to transmit the digital signal to the external interrogator. Upon receiving a start signal, the transducing A-to-D converter unit charges a current through the passive electrical transducer until a reference voltage is reached and, upon reaching the reference voltage, the microcontroller unit receives the digital signal.
3 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A wireless sensor, comprising:
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a power harvesting unit configured to receive an external energizing magnetic field generated by an external interrogator and store the energy generated thereby; a transducing A-to-D converter unit comprising a passive electrical transducer configured to respond to variations in a physical property and a converter configured to measure a characteristic value of the passive electrical transducer and provide a digital signal that is indicative of the measured characteristic value; a microcontroller unit electrically coupled to the power harvesting unit and the transducing A-to-D converter unit, wherein the microcontroller unit is configured to receive the digital signal from the transducing A-to-D converter unit; and a transmitting coil configured to receive the digital signal from the microcontroller unit and transmit the digital signal to the external interrogator; wherein, upon receiving a start signal, the transducing A-to-D converter unit charges a current through the passive electrical transducer until a reference voltage is reached and, upon reaching the reference voltage, the microcontroller unit receives the digital signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A wireless sensor, comprising:
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a power harvesting unit configured to receive an external energizing magnetic field generated by an external interrogator and store the energy generated thereby; a transducing A-to-D converter unit comprising a passive electrical transducer configured to respond to variations in a physical property and a converter configured to measure a characteristic value of the passive electrical transducer and provide a digital signal that is indicative of the measured characteristic value; and a microcontroller unit electrically coupled to the power harvesting unit and the transducing A-to-D converter unit, wherein the microcontroller unit is configured to receive the digital signal from the transducing A-D converter unit; and wherein, upon receiving a start signal, the transducing A-to-D converter unit charges a current through the passive electrical transducer until a reference voltage is reached and, upon reaching the reference voltage, the microcontroller unit receives the digital signal; and wherein the power harvesting unit is further configured to receive the digital signal from the microcontroller unit and transmit the digital signal to the external interrogator.
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Specification