System And Method For Powering An RFID Module Using An Energy Harvesting Element

• US 20130249301A1
• Filed: 03/21/2012
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Smoot, Lanny, Worrall, John David, Watson, Scott, Levin, Gordon, Kolaric, Vlatko
• Application Number:
  US13/425,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20130249301A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0707 the arrangement being capable of collecting energy from external energy sources, e.g. thermocouples, vibration, electromagnetic radiation G06K19/0702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling

Abstract

A system and method for powering a radio frequency identification (RFID) module includes an energy harvesting system configured to passively generate a voltage, a voltage regulator configured to regulate the passively generated voltage and a controllable port through which the passively generated voltage is provided to the RFID module.

Claims

1. A system for powering a radio frequency identification (RFID) module, comprising:

an energy harvesting system configured to passively generate a voltage;

a voltage regulator configured to regulate the passively generated voltage; and

a controllable port through which the passively generated voltage is provided to the RFID module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting system further comprises an energy harvesting element configured to passively generate the voltage using energy harvested from a radio frequency (RF) source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting system further comprises an energy harvesting element configured to passively generate the voltage using energy harvested from an infrared (IR) source.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting system further comprises an energy harvesting element configured to passively generate the voltage using energy harvested from an ultraviolet (UV) source.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising a rectifier configured to rectify the passively generated voltage from an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC).

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a supplemental voltage element configured to provide a supplemental voltage to the rectifier.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the passively generated voltage is generated by inductive magnetic coupling.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is contained in a wearable item.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wearable item is a wristband.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the wristband comprises a loop antenna coupled to the energy harvesting system.

11. A wearable radio frequency identification (RFID) assembly, comprising:

an RFID module configured to operate over a plurality of frequencies;

an energy harvesting system coupled to the RFID circuitry, the energy harvesting system configured to passively generate an alternating current (AC) voltage;

a rectifier configured to convert the AC voltage to a direct current (DC) voltage;

a voltage regulator configured to regulate DC voltage; and

a controllable port through which the passively generated voltage is provided to the RFID module.

12. The wearable RFID assembly of claim 11, wherein the energy harvesting system further comprises an energy harvesting element configured to passively generate the voltage using energy harvested from a radio frequency (RF) source.

13. The wearable RFID assembly of claim 12, wherein the wearable item is a wristband and the wristband comprises a loop antenna coupled to the RF source.

14. The wearable RFID assembly of claim 13, wherein the RF source comprises a radio broadcast using amplitude modulation (AM) at an approximate frequency of 1 MHz.

15. The wearable RFID assembly of claim 13, wherein the RF source comprises a radio broadcast using frequency modulation (FM) at an approximate frequency of 100 MHz.

16. The wearable RFID assembly of claim 13, further comprising a supplemental voltage element configured to provide a supplemental voltage to the rectifier.

17. A method for powering a radio frequency identification (RFID) module using an energy harvesting element, comprising:

passively generating a voltage using an energy harvesting source;

regulating the passively generated voltage; and

providing the passively generated voltage to the RFID module through a controllable port.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising passively generating the voltage from a radio frequency (RF) source.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising passively generating the voltage from an infrared (IR) source.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising passively generating the voltage from an ultraviolet (UV) source.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising rectifying the passively generated voltage from an alternating current (AC) to a direct current (DC).

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising generating a supplemental voltage and providing the supplemental voltage to the rectifier to offset an effect of diode forward bias voltage.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising locating the RFID module and the energy harvesting element in a wearable item.