RFID device and system for setting a level on an electronic device

• US 8,068,012 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2009
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zest Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelleflex Corporation
• Inventors: Mehring, Peter Arnold
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US12/350,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20100171598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/10.5, 340/572.1, 340/660, 340/664, 340/12.51, 340/13.26, 307/130, 307/131
• US Class Current: 340/10.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/004 with electronic identification means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication

Abstract

A system in one embodiment includes an electronic device; and a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device in direct electrical communication with the electronic device for selectively setting a voltage or current on the electronic device to one of at least three different levels. A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device in another embodiment includes an antenna; a processor in communication with the antenna; and an interface in communication with the processor, the interface being adapted for direct electrical communication with an electronic device for selectively setting a voltage or current on the electronic device to one of at least three different levels. Additional systems and methods are also presented.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an electronic device; and

a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device in direct electrical communication with the electronic device for selectively setting a voltage or current on the electronic device to one of at least three different levels.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein an analog signal is used to communicate the level setting from the RFID device to the electronic device.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein pulse width modulation is used to communicate the level setting from the RFID device to the electronic device.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the voltage or current level controls an operation of the electronic device.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the RFID device receives instructions from an RFID reader to set the voltage or current level on the electronic device, the RFID device setting or changing the voltage or current level on the electronic device in response to the instructions.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device emits at least one of an audible and a visual output, wherein a state of the at least one audible and visual output is determined by the voltage or current level set on the electronic device.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes or controls an electric motor, wherein a state of the electric motor is determined by the voltage or current level set on the electronic device.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the level set on the electronic device is based at least in part on one or more sensor readings.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a signal from the RFID device to the electronic device for selectively setting the voltage or current on the electronic device persists beyond a duration of an RF instruction to the RFID device.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the RFID device is able to set the level on the electronic device in the absence of RF energy sufficient to power the RFID device.

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

an antenna;

a processor in communication with the antenna; and

an interface in communication with the processor, the interface being adapted for direct electrical communication with an electronic device for selectively setting a voltage or current on the electronic device to one of at least three different levels.

12. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein an analog signal is used to communicate the level setting from the RFID device to the electronic device.

13. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein pulse width modulation or frequency modulation is used to communicate the level setting from the RFID device to the electronic device.

14. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the voltage or current level controls an operation of the electronic device.

15. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the processor receives instructions from an RFID reader to set the voltage or current level on the electronic device, the processor sending a signal to the electronic device via the interface in response to the instructions.

16. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein the level set on the electronic device is based at least in part on a sensor reading.

17. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein a signal is used to communicate the setting from the RFID device to the electronic device, wherein the signal used to communicate the setting from the RFID device to the electronic device persists beyond a duration of an RF instruction that instructs the RFID device to send the signal, wherein the signal is operative to set the voltage or current on the electronic device.

18. The device as recited in claim 11, wherein a signal is used to communicate the setting from the RFID device to the electronic device, wherein the signal persists in the absence of RF energy sufficient to power the processor.

19. A method for setting at least one of a voltage and a current level on an electronic device, comprising:

receiving, via an air interface, instructions to set one of at least three different voltage or current levels on an electronic device;

in response to the instructions, outputting an electrical signal to the electronic device for setting the voltage or current level on the electronic device.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the signal is an analog signal for communicating the level setting from an RFID device to the electronic device.

21. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the signal includes pulse width modulation or frequency modulation for communicating the level setting from an RFID device to the electronic device.

22. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the electronic device emits at least one of an audible and a visual output, wherein a state of the at least one audible and visual output is determined by the voltage or current level set on the electronic device.

23. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the electronic device includes or controls an electric motor, wherein a state of the electric motor is determined by the voltage or current level set on the electronic device.

24. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the level set on the electronic device is based at least in part on one or more sensor readings.

25. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the signal output to the electronic device persists beyond a duration of an RF instruction that instructs an RFID device to send the signal, wherein the signal is operative to set the voltage or current on the electronic device.

26. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the signal persists in the absence of RF energy sufficient to power a processor.

27. A method for setting at least one of a voltage and a current level on an electronic device based on one or more sensor readings, comprising:

receiving one or more sensor values;

selecting one of at least three different voltage or current levels to set on an electronic device based on the one or more sensor values;

using a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device, causing the voltage or current level on the electronic device to be set at the selected level.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the one or more sensor values are derived from a sensor on the RFID device.

29. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the one or more sensor values are derived from a sensor remote from the RFID device.

30. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the one or more sensor values are derived from multiple sensors.

31. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein a reader receives the one or more sensor values and selects the level based thereon, the reader sending instructions to the RFID device for causing the voltage or current level on the electronic device to be set at or changed to the selected level.

32. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the level set on the electronic device is based at least in part on a historical plurality of readings from a sensor.

33. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein a signal is used to communicate the setting from the RFID device to the electronic device, wherein the signal persists beyond a duration of an RF instruction that instructs the RFID device to send the signal, wherein the signal is operative to set the voltage or current level on the electronic device.

34. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein a signal is used to communicate the setting from the RFID device to the electronic device, wherein the signal persists in the absence of RF energy sufficient to power a processor.