Remote measurement employing RFID

• US 20060244594A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valtrus Innovations Limited (f/k/a Dolya Holdco 9 Limited) (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Malone, Christopher G., Larson, Thane M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,330,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• 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

Abstract

A measurement system includes a transceiver and a transponder. The transceiver is configured to send and receive radio frequency signals. The transponder is configured to receive radio frequency signals from the transceiver and to send radio frequency signals to the transceiver. The transponder includes a sensor. The transceiver is configured to send an activation signal to the transponder thereby enabling the first transponder sensor to make a measurement and to hold the measurement.

Claims

1. A measurement system, comprising:

a transceiver configured to send and receive radio frequency signals;

a first transponder configured to receive radio frequency signals from the transceiver and to send radio frequency signals to the transceiver, the first transponder comprising a first transponder sensor;

wherein the transceiver is configured to send an activation signal to the first transponder thereby enabling the first transponder sensor to make a measurement and to hold the measurement.

2. The measurement system of claim 1, wherein the first transponder further includes a first transponder memory configured to store the measurement.

3. The measurement system of claim 2, wherein the transceiver is further configured to interrogate the first transponder in order to receive the measurement stored in the first transponder memory.

4. The measurement system of claim 3, wherein the first transponder further comprises an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the first transponder sensor such that the measurement is converted to a digital value before it is stored in the first transponder memory.

5. The measurement system of claim 4, wherein digital value stored in the first transponder memory is stored with a simple bit protocol, with identification bits that identify the first transponder and encoded with a conversion factor for determining an actual measured value.

6. The measurement system of claim 3, wherein the first transponder is an active transponder further comprising analog circuitry configured with a battery.

7. The measurement system of claim 3, wherein the first transponder is a passive transponder further comprising analog circuitry configured with a charge circuit and a capacitor such that radio frequency signals received from the transceiver supply energy to the charge circuit and a capacitor, and wherein the energy within the charge circuit and capacitor is supplied to the first transponder sensor for making the measurement.

8. The measurement system of claim 7, wherein the analog circuitry of the first transponder further comprises a capacitor ladder circuit such that radio frequency signals received from the transceiver build up energy over time.

9. The measurement system of claim 1, wherein the first transponder sensor is a Hall-effect sensor, and wherein the first transponder is placed adjacent a first measurement location emitting a magnetic field such that the Hall-effect sensor measures the magnetic field at the first measurement location.

10. The measurement system of claim 1, further comprising a second transponder, which further comprises:

a second transponder sensor; and

a second transponder memory;

wherein the transceiver is configured to activate the second transponder thereby enabling the second transponder sensor to make a measurement and to store the measurement in the second transponder memory.

11. A measurement system, comprising:

a transceiver configured to send and receive radio frequency signals;

a first transponder configured to receive radio frequency signals from the transceiver and to send radio frequency signals to the transceiver, the first transponder comprising a Hall-effect sensor for sensing a magnetic field.

12. The measurement system of claim 11, wherein the first transponder further comprises a first transponder memory for storing the sensed magnetic field.

13. The measurement system of claim 12, wherein the transceiver is configured to send an activation signal to the first transponder thereby enabling the Hall-effect sensor to make a measurement of a magnetic field and enabling the first transponder memory to store the measurement.

14. The measurement system of claim 11 further comprising a transceiver antenna coupled to the transceiver via which the radio frequency signals are communicated.

15. The measurement system of claim 14 further comprising a first transponder antenna coupled to the first transponder via which the radio frequency signals are communicated.

16. A measurement system comprising:

a transceiver configured to send and receive radio frequency signals; and

a transponder configured to send and receive radio frequency signals to and from the transceiver, the transponder including;

means for making a measurement; and

means for holding the measurement within the transponder.

17. The measurement system of claim 16, wherein the transponder further comprises an antenna and a sensor, and wherein the transceiver is configured to send an activation radio frequency signal to the transponder thereby enabling the sensor within the transponder to make the measurement.

18. The measurement system of claim 17, wherein the transponder further comprises a memory and wherein the transponder is configured to store the measurement in the memory within the transponder.

19. The measurement system of claim 18, wherein the transceiver further includes means for interrogating the transponder in order to receive the measurement stored in the memory.

20. The measurement system of claim 17, wherein the transponder further includes means for converting the measurement to a digital value after it is received from the sensor.

21. The measurement system of claim 20, wherein the transponder is a passive transponder further comprising analog circuitry configured with a charge circuit and a capacitor such that radio frequency signals received from the transceiver supply energy to the charge circuit and a capacitor, and wherein the energy within the charge circuit and capacitor is supplied to the sensor for making the measurement.

22. A transponder comprising:

a circuit configured to receive and send radio frequency signals; and

a Hall-effect sensor coupled to the circuit for sensing a magnetic field;

wherein the circuit provides power to the Hall-effect sensor to make a measurement of the magnetic field.

23. A method of making a measurement comprising:

sending radio frequency signals from a transceiver to a transponder;

making a measurement with a sensor within the transponder; and

holding the measurement within the transponder.

24. The method of claim 23, further including interrogating the transponder with the transceiver via radio frequency signals such that the transceiver receives the measurement made by the sensor.

25. A method of making a measurement comprising:

sending radio frequency signals from a transceiver to a transponder;

charging an analog circuit within the transponder from the radio frequency signals received from the transceiver; and

activating a sensor within the transponder using the charged analog circuit;

making a measurement with the sensor; and

interrogating the transponder with the transceiver via radio frequency signals such that the transceiver receives the measurement made by the sensor.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the sensor within the transponder makes and analog measurement and the method further comprising converting the analog measurement to a digital value.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising storing the measurement within a memory of the transponder.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein charging the analog circuitry further comprises using the radio frequency signals received from the transceiver to charge a charge circuit and a capacitor.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein charging the analog circuitry further comprises using the radio frequency signals received from the transceiver to charge a charge circuit and a capacitor ladder circuit such that radio frequency signals received from the transceiver build up energy over time.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising placing the transponder near a measurement location that is not readily accessible.