Granted Patent B2

US 8,143,999 · App. 12/094,308 · Granted Mar 27, 2012

Abstract

Claims (21)

1. Circuit for a data carrier, which data carrier comprises sensor means for providing a sensor signal that represents an environment parameter and communication means for contactless communication with an interrogator station, said circuit comprising:

first connection means for connecting the circuit to the communication means for communicating with the interrogator station, and for receiving radio frequency power from the interrogator station;

second connection means for establishing an electronic connection of the circuit to the sensor means, wherein the second connection means are realized by the first connection means; and

sensor signal processing means for receiving said sensor signal via the first connection means, for processing said received sensor signal, and for providing an output based upon the received sensor signal, to the interrogator station via the first connection means;

wherein a first connection pad and a second connection pad constitute the first connection means, the respective pads coupling the circuit for simultaneously communicating with both the communication means and the sensor means; and

a circuit configured and arranged to short-circuit radio frequency signals coupled to the connection pads from the communication means, during a sensing period in which the signal processing means is receiving a signal from the sensor means, via the respective pads.

2. Circuit as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor signal processing means comprise a capacitor that is connected to the first connection pad and a first switching transistor that is connected in series with the capacitor and connected to the second connection pad, and

the sensor signal processing means are configured and arranged to provide a conductivity control signal to the control electrode of the first switching transistor for controlling the conductivity mode of said first switching transistor.

3. Circuit as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the sensor signal processing means comprise a timing stage configured and arranged for generating and providing the conductivity control signal during a measurement time period t, such that the first switching transistor is driven into its conducting mode during said measurement time period t.

4. Circuit as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the timing stage is configured and arranged to provide said conductivity signal between a lower time period limit t 1 , defined by a charging time constant of the capacitor, and an upper time period limit t 0 , defined by a power consumption determined by electrical characteristics of the circuit.

5. A method of interrogating a sensor signal from sensor means in a data carrier, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a sensor signal, via first connection means of the circuit of the data carrier, by providing a conductivity control signal to a control electrode of a first switching transistor for controlling the conductivity mode of the first switching transistor, wherein a timing for the providing of the conductivity signal is applied, such that the conductivity control signal drives the first switching transistor into its conducting mode during a measurement time period t, and wherein the timing is subject to a lower time period limit t 1 , defined by a charging time constant of a capacitor, and an upper time period limit t 0 , defined by a power consumption determined by electrical characteristics of the circuit;

processing the received sensor signal received via the first connection means to provide an output based on the received sensor signal;

communicating the output to an interrogation station, via the first connection means and communication means of the data carrier connected to the first connection means;

converting the received sensor signal into a representation signal representative of the sensor signal, and providing the representation signal as the output; providing power for the steps of receiving, processing and communicating by communicating a radio frequency signal to the data carrier; and

short-circuiting the radio frequency signal received on the first connection means, while receiving the sensor signal via the first connection means.

6. A communications circuit comprising

a sensor configured and arranged to provide a sensor signal corresponding to a sensed environmental characteristic;

a contactless communications circuit configured and arranged to communicate with a read/write station for communicating data signals, and including an inductive circuit for receiving inductive power from the interrogator station via a radio frequency signal generated by the read/write station;

a signal processor circuit connected to the sensor and to the contactless communications circuit via a common circuit connector, the signal processor circuit configured and arranged to receive power from the contactless communication circuit via the common connection, and receive and process the sensor signal via the common connection, and provide an output responsive to the processed sensor signal to the read/write station via the common connection and the wireless communication circuit, wherein the common circuit connector is configured and arranged to simultaneously receive the radio frequency signal and the sensor signal;

a capacitor-based circuit connected to the common circuit connector and configured and arranged to, in response to the sensor signal, short-circuit the radio frequency signal and store a charge using the sensor signal during a predefined time period; and the signal processor circuit being further configured and arranged to provide the output, based on the stored charge, after the predetermined time period.

Assignments (12)