Systems and methods for powering and communicating with wireless sensor devices using building electrical wiring
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader comprising a radio-frequency (RF) transmitter configured to transmit interrogation signals to one or more RFID tags using electrical wiring as an RF antenna and to receive responses to the interrogation signals from the one or more RFID tags over the electrical wiring; and
a coupling circuit configured to impedance match the RFID reader to the electrical wiring to allow transmission and reception of signals transmitted and received through the electrical wiring from the RFID reader to and from the one or more RFID tags.
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Abstract
A system and method for powering and communicating with wireless sensors are provided. One system includes a radio-frequency (RF) transmitter configured to transmit at least one of RF power signals or RF communication signals and a coupling circuit configured to couple the RF transmitter to electrical wiring to allow transmission of the RF power signals or the RF communication signals through the electrical wiring. The system also includes a connector configured to couple the RF transmitter to a power outlet of the electrical wiring.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader comprising a radio-frequency (RF) transmitter configured to transmit interrogation signals to one or more RFID tags using electrical wiring as an RF antenna and to receive responses to the interrogation signals from the one or more RFID tags over the electrical wiring; and a coupling circuit configured to impedance match the RFID reader to the electrical wiring to allow transmission and reception of signals transmitted and received through the electrical wiring from the RFID reader to and from the one or more RFID tags. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system comprising:
a radio-frequency (RF) reader including; a transmitter configured to couple to a power outlet within a building to transmit at least one of RF power signals or RF communication signals to one or more of a plurality of wireless sensors mounted within a building through electrical wiring within the building to power and communicate with the one or more wireless sensors, wherein the one or more wireless sensors form a series of passive sensor tags and a coupling circuit configured to impedance match the output of the transmitter to the electrical wiring. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for powering and communicating with wireless sensors, the method comprising:
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attaching a coupling circuit to electrical wiring within a structure to couple a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader to the electrical wiring; wherein the coupling circuit impedance matches the radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader with the electrical wiring so that the electrical wiring can be used an RF antenna for the RFID reader to send communication signals to wireless sensors and to receive responses to the interrogation signals from the RFID tags transmitting from the RFID reader the communication signals to one or more wireless sensors through the electrical wiring; and receiving, at the RFID reader, responses to the communication signals from the wireless sensors. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification