Radio Frequency Identification Sensor Tag Apparatuses
A radio frequency identification device includes an integrated circuit including a receiver, a transmitter, and a microprocessor. The receiver and transmitter together define an active transponder. The integrated circuit is preferably a monolithic single die integrated circuit including the receiver, the transmitter, and the microprocessor. Because the device includes an active transponder, instead of a transponder which relies on magnetic coupling for power, the device has a much greater range.
1 . (canceled)
2 : A radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor tag apparatus, comprising:
a flexible substrate;
one or more antennas disposed adjacent the substrate;
a monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed adjacent the substrate and coupled to at least one of the antennas, comprising a radio frequency receiver, a transmitter, control logic, a memory for persistent storage of data, and a random number generator;
a thin, flexible battery coupled to supply power to the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit; and
a sensor for sensing a physical characteristic and having an output coupled to the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit.
3 : The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit further comprises an analog-to-digital converter having an input coupled to the sensor.
4 : The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the RFID tag has a thickness of less than forty thousandths of an inch.
5 : The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.
6 : The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit receiver is operable to receive spread spectrum modulated radio frequency signals.
7 : The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit transmitter is operable to communicate by backscatter reflection.
8 : The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit transmitter is operable to communicate spread spectrum modulated radio frequency signals by actively transmitting spread spectrum modulated radio frequency signals.
9 : The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the random number generator comprises a linear feedback shift register.
10 : The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the logic circuitry is operable to configure the linear feedback shift register to generate a random number responsive to a command received as a portion of a radio frequency signal received in the receiver.
11 : The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the monolithic the radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit receiver is operable to generate a random number using the random number generator and is further operable to transmit the random number by communicating signals from the transmitter, responsive to a command received in the receiver.
12 : The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the analog-to-digital converter is operable to provide a digital signal indicative of a sensed characteristic and the digital signal is stored in the memory.
13 : The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit is operable to transmit data indicative of a sensed characteristic by communicating signals from the transmitter, responsive to a command received in the receiver.
14 : The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the memory of the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit further comprises a non-volatile memory.
15 : The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the memory of the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit further comprises a readable and writeable memory.
16 : The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the memory of the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit further comprises unalterable indicia uniquely assigned to the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit.
17 : The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the memory of the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit further comprises a portion partitioned to form a user memory portion.
18 : The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the control logic of the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit further comprises one selected from the group of a microprocessor, a microcontroller, and combinations thereof.
19 : The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the flexible substrate has a thickness of less than ten thousandths of an inch.
20 : The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the RFID tag has a thickness of less than forty thousandths of an inch.