Radio frequency identification tag device with sensor input

• US 6,720,866 B1
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Sorrells, Peter, Poulin, Shannon, Alexander, Sam, Furey, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BANGACHON, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US09/280,466
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.4, 340/10.41, 340/10.42, 340/10.5, 340/10.33, 340/10.34, 340/5.61, 340/870.28, 340/870.26, 340/825.49, 340/5.8, 340/539, 340/870.31, 340/825.36, 375/306, 375/303, 342/42, 342/44, 701/117, 701/35
• US Class Current: 340/10.4
• 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 radio frequency identification tag device having a sensor input which modifies a tag data word bitstream read by an interrogator/tag detector. The sensor input may be a switch contact(s), digital and/or analog. The sensor input may be voltage, current, pressure, temperature, resistance, acceleration, moisture, gas and the like. Power from the radio frequency interrogator/tag reader may be used to power the circuits of the radio frequency tag device, which in turn may supply power to any sensor connected thereto.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification tag device having a sensor input, comprising:

a radio frequency tuned circuit;

a logic circuit having a data register;

a radio frequency switch circuit for loading and unloading said radio frequency tuned circuit;

a sensor input circuit;

at least one dual function input, wherein said at least one dual function input is coupled to said sensor input circuit and said logic circuit so that the at least one dual function input may be used for programming or testing when in a first function and as another sensor input circuit when in a second function; and

a power converter circuit for converting radio frequency power into direct current power for powering said circuits of said radio frequency identification tag device;

wherein,

said sensor input circuit being used to modify the data register contents, and said logic circuit using the data register contents to control said radio frequency switch circuit.

2. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, further comprising a header value in said data register, wherein the header value controls said radio frequency switch circuit.

3. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, further comprising an identification value in said data register, wherein the header value controls said radio frequency switch circuit.

4. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, further comprising a parity value in said data register, wherein the parity value controls said radio frequency switch circuit.

5. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, further comprising a checksum value in said data register, wherein the checksum value controls said radio frequency switch circuit.

6. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, wherein the data register contents are modified by inverting the bit pattern therein.

7. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency switch circuit is controlled by a serial data word bitstream.

8. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, wherein said sensor input circuit is an analog input circuit.

9. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 8, wherein said sensor input circuit is an analog to digital converter.

10. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, wherein said sensor input circuit is a digital input circuit having a first input level and a second input level.

11. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 10, wherein the data register contains a binary bit pattern when said digital input circuit is at the first input level, and an inverted binary bit pattern when said digital input circuit is at the second input level.

12. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 10, wherein said digital input circuit senses the first and second input levels as first and second voltages, respectively.

13. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 10, wherein said digital input circuit senses the first and second input levels as first and second currents, respectively.

14. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 10, wherein said digital input circuit senses the first and second input levels as first and second resistances, respectively.

15. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, wherein said sensor input circuit is a plurality of sensor input circuits.

16. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 15, wherein said plurality of sensor input circuits are a plurality of inputs of an analog input multiplexer.

17. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 16, further comprising an analog to digital converter having an analog input connected to said analog input multiplexer output and a digital output value stored in the data register.

18. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, further comprising a power output from said power converter circuit for powering a sensor.

19. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, further comprising an un-packaged integrated circuit die.

20. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, further comprising an integrated circuit package.

21. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, further comprising at least one integrated circuit package on a printed wiring board.

22. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency tuned circuit comprises an inductor and capacitor.

23. The radio frequency identification tag device of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency tuned circuit comprises a radio frequency antenna.

24. A system for identifying and reading a sensor value, said system comprising:

a radio frequency identification tag device having a sensor input, a radio frequency tuned circuit, a logic circuit having a data register, a radio frequency switch circuit for loading and unloading said radio frequency tuned circuit, at least one dual function input, wherein said at least one dual function input is coupled to said sensor input circuit and said logic circuit so that the at least one dual function input may be used for programming or testing when in a first function and as another sensor input circuit when in a second function; and

a power converter circuit for converting radio frequency power into direct current power for powering said circuits of said radio frequency identification tag device;

wherein, said sensor input circuit being used to modify the data register contents, and said logic circuit using the data register contents to control said radio frequency switch circuit;

a sensor for measuring a process value, said sensor connected to said at least one dual function input;

a radio frequency interrogator for generating radio frequency power at a frequency compatible with said tuned circuit; and

an identification tag reader connected to said radio frequency interrogator;

said identification tag reader detecting amplitude variations of the radio frequency power for determining the data register contents of said radio frequency tag device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the process value is selected from the group consisting of speed of a vehicle, amount of gasoline in the vehicle tank, mileage of the vehicle and identification of the vehicle.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the process value is selected from the group consisting of pressure, temperature and weight.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the process value is selected from the group consisting of body temperature, blood chemistry and heart rate.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein said sensor is a plurality of sensors, said sensor input is a plurality of sensor inputs and the process value is a plurality of process values.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the plurality of process values are amount of gasoline in a vehicle gas tank, mileage of the vehicle and identification of the vehicle.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the process value is selected from the group consisting of voltage, current, resistance, frequency, pressure, temperature, acceleration, vibration, moisture content, gas percentage, density, flow rate, light intensity, sound intensity, radiation, magnetic flux and pH.