MOSCAP-based circuitry for wireless communication devices, and methods of making and using the same

• US 9,742,466 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2016
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ensurge Micropower ASA
• Original Assignee: Thin Film Electronics ASA
• Inventors: Mukherjee, Somnath
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US15/146,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20160329931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 455 411
• 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: H01L 2223/6677 for antenna, e.g. antenna included within housing of semiconductor device antennas per se H01Q
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/66 High-frequency adaptations
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/94 Metal-insulator-semiconductors, e.g. MOS
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/14 Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19041 being a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19105 in a side-by-side arrangement on a common die mounting substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0031 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/22 Capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A wireless (e.g., near field or RF) communication device, and methods of manufacturing and using the same are disclosed. The wireless communication device includes a receiver and/or transmitter, a substrate with an antenna thereon, an integrated circuit, and one or more continuity sensors. The antenna receives and/or backscatters a wireless signal. The integrated circuit processes the wireless signal and/or information therefrom, and/or generates the wireless signal and/or information therefor. The continuity sensor(s) are configured to sense or determine the presence of a chemical or substance in the package or container, and thus a continuity state of a package or container on which the communication device is placed or to which the communication device is fixed or adhered. The continuity sensor(s) are electrically connected to a set of terminals of the integrated circuit different from the set of terminals to which the antenna is electrically connected.

Claims

1. A non-linear capacitor, comprising:

a) a first electrode, comprising a printed doped polysilicon body having source and drain terminals electrically connected to a common node;

b) a dielectric layer in contact with the first electrode, and

c) a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode by the dielectric layer, comprising a printed doped polysilicon gate;

wherein said capacitor is configured to generate intermodulation components from (i) a main carrier signal from a first source at a first frequency of from 1 MHz to 10 GHz and a first power and (ii) a sub-carrier signal from a second source at a second frequency and a second power, the intermodulation components having different frequencies from the first frequency and substantially less power than the first power.

2. The non-linear capacitor of claim 1, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a silicon oxide.

3. The non-linear capacitor of claim 1, wherein the dielectric layer has a substantially constant thickness.

4. The non-linear capacitor of claim 1, further comprising a substrate, wherein the first electrode is on the substrate, the dielectric layer is on the first electrode, and the second electrode is on the dielectric layer.

5. A wireless device, comprising:

a) the non-linear capacitor of claim 1; and

b) an antenna, wherein a first end, pole or terminal of the antenna is electrically connected to the first electrode of the non-linear capacitor, and a second end, pole or terminal of the antenna is electrically connected to the second electrode of the non-linear capacitor.

6. The wireless device of claim 5, further comprising a receiver electrically connected to the non-linear capacitor when the wireless device receives a wireless signal, and a transmitter or signal generator electrically connected to the non-linear capacitor when the wireless device backscatters a wireless signal.

7. The wireless device of claim 6, further comprising a battery that supplies power to the receiver and the transmitter or signal generator.

8. The wireless device of claim 5, further comprising a switch electrically connected to one of the first and second electrodes of the non-linear capacitor.

9. The wireless device of claim 8, further comprising a power supply or ground potential, electrically connected to the other one of the first and second electrodes of the non-linear capacitor.

10. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the switch has a first state when the wireless device receives a wireless signal, and the switch has a second state when the wireless device backscatters a wireless signal.

11. The wireless device of claim 10, further comprising a decoder and/or demodulator electrically connected to the non-linear capacitor when the wireless device receives a wireless signal, and an encoder or signal generator electrically connected to the non-linear capacitor when the wireless device backscatters a wireless signal.

12. The wireless device of claim 5, further comprising an oscillator coupled to electrically functional circuitry in the wireless device.

13. The wireless device of claim 5, further comprising a memory configured to store at least identification data or code.

14. The wireless device of claim 5, further comprising a sensor configured to detect a state of the wireless device or an environmental parameter.

15. A method of processing a wireless signal, comprising:

a) receiving the wireless signal at the wireless device of claim 5; and

b) processing the wireless signal using the wireless device.

16. A method of generating a wireless signal, comprising:

a) generating a modulated signal in the wireless device of claim 5; and

b) mixing the modulated signal with another signal having a higher frequency than the modulated signal using the non-linear capacitor; and

c) backscattering, transmitting or broadcasting the mixed, modulated signal using the antenna.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the non-linear capacitor comprises a MOSCAP device, and the modulated signal has a frequency greater than a cut-off frequency of a transistor corresponding to the MOSCAP device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the modulated signal has a frequency of y Hz, and the mixed, modulated signal has a frequency of x±

n*y Hz, where x is a frequency of the other signal having the higher frequency, n is an integer of 1 or 2, and x>

>

n*y.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising electrically connecting a modulator configured to generate the modulated signal to the non-linear capacitor when the wireless device backscatters the mixed, modulated signal.

20. The non-linear capacitor of claim 1, wherein the first frequency is from 10 MHz-1 GHz.

21. The non-linear capacitor of claim 20, wherein the second frequency is from 1 KHz to <

10,000 KHz.

22. The non-linear capacitor of claim 1, wherein the non-linear capacitor is configured to operate at a frequency higher than a cut-off frequency of an otherwise identical transistor in which the source and drain terminals are electrically connected to different nodes.

23. The non-linear capacitor of claim 1, wherein the non-linear capacitor carries a displacement current, but not a conduction current using charge carriers.