Self-charging RFID tag with long life

• US 7,724,145 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zest Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelleflex Corporation
• Inventors: Batra, Naresh, Olah, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees; Edny
• Application Number:
  US11/458,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20080018466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 235375-385
• US Class Current: 340/572.8
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0702 the arrangement including a battery
• 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: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card

Abstract

A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a rechargeable solid state battery, control circuitry coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery, and a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery.

Claims

1. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, comprising:

a rechargeable solid state battery;

control circuitry coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery;

a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery; and

a primary battery; and

a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry,

wherein the control circuitry is able to selectively draw power from the rechargeable solid state battery and not the primary battery,

wherein if a voltage produced by the supplemental power source is greater than the voltage output from the first regulator, the supplemental power source primarily charges the rechargeable battery,

wherein if the voltage produced by the supplemental power source is less than the voltage from the first regulator, energy from the first regulator is used to recharge the rechargeable battery.

2. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, comprising:

a rechargeable solid state battery;

control circuitry coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery;

a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery, wherein the power source captures energy from radio frequency waves; and

a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry of the device,

wherein the line coupled to the rechargeable battery is also coupled to the second regulator,

wherein the first and second regulators are present on a single chip, wherein excess current on the line coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery is directed to the rechargeable solid state battery if a voltage of the rechargeable solid state battery is less than the voltage on the line coupled thereto.

3. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the second regulator more tightly controls an output voltage thereof than the first regulator.

5. A device as recited in claim 2, further comprising a supplemental power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery.

7. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the control circuitry does not draw power from the primary battery when the power source is generating power.

8. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the control circuitry does not draw power from the primary battery when the rechargeable solid state battery has sufficient energy to power the control circuitry.

9. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the supplemental power source generates electricity from at least one of kinetic energy and thermal energy.

10. A device as recited in claim 2, further comprising a power manager for controlling recharging and consumption of the rechargeable solid state battery.

11. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the power source generates electricity from light.

12. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the power source generates electricity from at least one of thermal energy and kinetic energy.

14. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the rechargeable solid state battery may be recharged more than about 100,000 times.

15. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the rechargeable solid state battery has less than about a 1% capacity loss per year.

16. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the rechargeable solid state battery is capable of maintaining at least about a 50% charge for 10 years.

17. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the rechargeable solid state battery lies substantially along a plane, wherein a ratio of a cross sectional area of the rechargeable solid state battery in a direction parallel to the plane to a cross sectional area of the device in the direction parallel to the plane is between about 1:

4 and 1;

1.

18. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the rechargeable solid state battery lies substantially along a plane, wherein a ratio of a cross sectional area of the rechargeable solid state battery in a direction parallel to the plane to a cross sectional area of the device in the direction parallel to the plane is between about 1:

2 and 1;

1.

29. A device as recited in claim 2, further comprising a housing adapted for coupling to a vehicle;

and a memory for storing information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle.

30. A device as recited in claim 29, wherein the memory stores a vehicle identification number, a license plate number associated with the vehicle, a name of the owner of the vehicle, and a government-issued registration number associated with the vehicle.

31. A device as recited in claim 29, wherein the memory stores information relating to an insurance policy associated with the vehicle.

32. A device as recited in claim 29, wherein the memory stores information relating to a service history of the vehicle.

33. A device as recited in claim 29, wherein access to portions of the information stored in the memory is selectively allowed or denied based on information received from an inquiring entity.

34. A device as recited in claim 29, wherein the memory stores information relating to a toll payment account associated with the at least one of the vehicle and the owner.

35. A device as recited in claim 29, wherein the device is permanently coupled to the vehicle by a manufacturer of the vehicle.

36. A device as recited in claim 29, wherein the device is permanently coupled to the vehicle by a dealer of the vehicle.

37. A device as recited in claim 29, further comprising a display device, the display device displaying at least a portion of the information relating to the at least one of the vehicle and the owner.

38. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, comprising:

a plurality of REID devices as recited in claim 29, and

an RFID reader in communication with the RFID devices.

48. A device as recited in claim 2, with the proviso that the rechargeable solid state battery and the primary battery are not coupled in series.

49. A device as recited in claim 29, wherein the memory stores information selected from a group consisting of a vehicle identification number, a license plate number associated with the vehicle, a name of the owner of the vehicle, and a government-issued registration number associated with the vehicle.

4. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, comprising:

a rechargeable solid state battery;

control circuitry coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery; and

a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery wherein the power source captures energy from radio frequency waves; and

a supplemental power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery,

a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry,

wherein if a voltage produced by the supplemental power source is greater than the voltage output from the first regulator, the supplemental power source primarily charges the rechargeable battery,

wherein if the voltage produced by the supplemental power source is less than the voltage from the first regulator, energy from the first regulator is used to recharge the rechargeable battery,

with the proviso that neither the power source nor the supplemental power source are batteries.

6. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein the output of the power source is substantially electrically isolated from the supplemental power source, wherein the output of the power source and an output of the supplemental power source are coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery for charging the rechargeable solid state battery.

13. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein the power source generates electricity from at least one of thermal energy and kinetic energy.

19. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, comprising:

a primary battery;

a rechargeable solid state battery;

control circuitry coupled to the primary battery and to the rechargeable solid state battery;

a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery and for providing power to the control circuitry;

a supplemental power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery; and

a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry,

wherein if a voltage produced by the supplemental power source is greater than the voltage output from the first regulator, the supplemental power source primarily charges the rechargeable battery,

wherein if the voltage produced by the supplemental power source is less than the voltage from the first regulator, energy from the first regulator is used to recharge the rechargeable battery.

20. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, comprising:

a plurality of RFID devices as recited in claim 19; and

an RFID reader in communication with the RFID devices.

24. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein the power source generates electricity from light.

25. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein the power source generates electricity from thermal energy.

26. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein the power source generates electricity from kinetic energy.

27. A device as recited in claim 19, wherein the control circuitry draws power from the power source when the power source is generating electricity.

28. A device as recited in claim 27, wherein the control circuitry remains in an active state when drawing power from the power source.

21. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device for use with a vehicle, comprising:

a housing adapted for coupling to a vehicle;

control circuitry coupled to the housing;

a primary battery;

a rechargeable solid state battery;

control circuitry coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery;

a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery;

a memory for storing information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle;

control circuitry coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery;

a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery, wherein the power source captures energy from radio frequency waves; and

a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry of the device,

wherein the control circuitry is able to selectively draw power from the rechargeable solid state battery and not the primary battery.

22. A device as recited in claim 21, wherein the housing is adapted for permanent coupling to the vehicle.

23. A device as recited in claim 22, wherein the housing is integrated into a portion of the vehicle.

39. A method for tracking ownership of a moveable object, the method comprising:

coupling a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag to the object, the REID tag comprising;

control circuitry;

a primary battery for providing power to the control circuitry;

a rechargeable solid state battery for providing power to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is able to selectively draw power from the rechargeable solid state battery and not the primary battery;

a power source for recharging the battery;

a memory for storing information relating to the object; and

a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry,

wherein if a voltage produced by the supplemental power source is greater than the voltage output from the first regulator, the supplemental power source primarily charges the rechargeable battery,

wherein if the voltage produced by the supplemental power source is less than the voltage from the first regulator, energy from the first regulator is used to recharge the rechargeable battery; and

adding information about at least one of an owner of the object, a location of the object, and a sensor reading to the memory in anticipation of or in response to moving the object from one location to another location.

40. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein the object is a vehicle.

41. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein the object is a transportation container.

42. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein the object is an animal.

43. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein the object is an article of manufacture.

44. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein the object is a container for articles of manufacture.

45. A method as recited in claim 39, wherein the tag is coupled to the object at about a point of manufacture of the object.

46. A method for retrieving information about a vehicle, the method comprising:

transmitting a query to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag coupled to the vehicle, the query containing a security code, the RFID tag comprising;

control circuitry;

a rechargeable solid state battery for providing power to the control circuitry;

a power source for recharging the battery;

a supplemental power source for recharging the battery; and

a memory for storing information relating to at least one of the vehicle and an owner of the vehicle,

a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable solid state battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry,

wherein if a voltage produced by the supplemental power source is greater than the voltage output from the first regulator, the supplemental power source primarily charges the rechargeable battery,

wherein if the voltage produced by the supplemental power source is less than the voltage from the first regulator, energy from the first regulator is used to recharge the rechargeable battery;

receiving information relating to the vehicle or the owner, the information received depending on the security code.

47. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, the RFID tag comprising;

control circuitry;

a primary battery for providing power to the control circuitry;

a rechargeable solid state battery for providing power to the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is able to selectively draw power from the rechargeable solid state battery and not the primary battery;

a power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery;

a supplemental power source for recharging the rechargeable solid state battery;

a first regulator and a second regulator coupled to the power source, the first regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to the rechargeable battery, the second regulator regulating a voltage on a line coupled to a control circuitry of the device; and

a memory,

wherein the control circuitry is able to selectively draw power from the rechargeable solid state battery and not the primary battery,

wherein the line coupled to the rechargeable battery is also coupled to the second regulator,

wherein if a voltage produced by the supplemental power source is greater than the voltage output from the first regulator, the supplemental power source primarily charges the rechargeable battery,

wherein if the voltage produced by the supplemental power source is less than the voltage from the first regulator, energy from the first regulator is used to recharge the rechargeable battery.