Radio frequency interface device

• US 10,594,164 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2016
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Gabriel, Nicholas T., Bonifas, Andrew P., Hable, Brock A., Jesme, Ronald D., Amell, Nicholas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Tuan
• Application Number:
  US15/576,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20180351412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/50 using additional energy repeaters between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature an RF interface device. The RF interface device comprises an RF receiver, a wireless reader and an output component. The RF receiver is configured to receive power wirelessly. The wireless reader is configured to interrogate a wireless device. The wireless reader is further configured to provide power to the wireless device.

Claims

1. An RF interface device to be used with a mobile device having an RF reader, comprising:

an RF receiver configured to receive power wirelessly from the RF reader,

a wireless reader configured to interrogate a wireless sensor, the wireless reader further configured to provide power to the wireless sensor and receive a sensor signal from the wireless sensor,

an output component electrically coupled to the wireless reader and configured to generate an output signal based on the received sensor signal and send the output signal to the RF reader, and

an attachment device,

wherein the RF receiver supplies power to the wireless reader,

wherein the wireless sensor is a non-RF-compliant sensor,

wherein the RF interface device is configured to be attached to the mobile device via the attachment device.

2. The RF interface device of claim 1, wherein the sensor signal is an analog sensor signal.

3. The RF interface device of claim 2, wherein the wireless reader is further configured to convert the received analog sensor signal to a digital signal.

4. The RF interface device of claim 1, wherein the attachment device comprises an adhesive.

5. The RF interface device of claim 1, wherein the RF receiver is configured to receive power wirelessly via an RF reader.

6. The RF interface device of claim 5, wherein the RF receiver is further configured to receive a command from the RF reader.

7. The RF interface device of claim 6, wherein the wireless reader is configured to initiate an interrogation to the wireless sensor in response to the command received from the RF reader.

8. The RF interface device of claim 6, wherein the wireless reader is configured to change an operation mode in response to the received command.

9. A system to be used with a mobile device having an RF reader, comprising:

a wireless device, and

a passive RF interface device, comprising;

an RF transceiver configured to receive power from the RF reader,

an attachment device, and

a wireless reader configured to interrogate the wireless device, the wireless reader further configured to provide power to the wireless device,

wherein the wireless device is a non-RF-compliant device,

wherein the passive RF interface device is configured to be attached to the mobile device via the attachment device,

wherein the wireless reader is further configured to receive a wireless signal from the wireless device, and wherein the RF transceiver is electrically coupled to the wireless reader and configured to transmit a signal indicative of the received wireless signal to the RF reader.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the attachment device comprises an adhesive.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless device comprises a plurality of sensing elements.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the RF interface device is configured to provide power to the plurality of sensing elements.

13. A system, comprising:

an RF reader, and

an RF interface device, comprising;

an RF transceiver configured to receive power wirelessly from the RF reader,

an attachment device, and

a wireless reader configured to interrogate a wireless device, the wireless reader further configured to provide power to the wireless device,

wherein the wireless device is a non-RF-compliant device,

wherein the RF interface device is attached to the RF reader via the attachment device,

wherein the RF transceiver is electrically coupled to the wireless reader and configured to transmit a signal indicative of the received wireless signal to the RF reader.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the attachment device comprises an adhesive.