Field-portable impedance reader and methods of making the same
View Patent ↗A field-portable impedance reader is provided. The impedance reader comprises a reader antenna, an impedance compensator, a calibrator, and a synchronous sampler. The impedance reader further comprises a digital processor that receives and processes signals from the synchronous sampler. Further, a wireless system comprising the impedance reader of the invention is provided.
1. A field-portable impedance reader, comprising:
a first layer comprising a reader antenna;
a second layer comprising radio frequency electronics and intermediate frequency electronics; and
a third layer comprising a digital direct synthesizer, a reference analog to digital converter, a sample analog to digital converter, and a digital signal processor,
wherein the first, second and third layers are disposed in a housing.
2. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 1 , wherein the third layer further comprises a synchronous sampler, and wherein the synchronous sampler comprises a master oscillator, a coherent clock generator, or both.
3. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 2 , wherein the digital direct synthesizer is in communication with the master oscillator, the coherent clock generator, or both.
4. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 1 , wherein the digital direct synthesizer is in communication with the reader antenna.
5. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 1 , wherein the digital signal processor comprises the reference analog to digital converter and the sample analog to digital converter.
6. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 1 , wherein the field-portable impedance reader is configured to monitor sensing data in real-time.
7. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 1 , wherein the field-portable impedance reader is inductively coupled to a resonant sensor.
8. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 7 , wherein the field-portable impedance reader is configured to read real and imaginary impedance spectra of the resonant sensor.
9. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 7 , wherein the field-portable impedance reader is configured to read real and imaginary impedance spectra of the resonant sensor and simultaneously calculate at least two parameters of a sensor impedance response.
10. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 7 , wherein the field-portable impedance reader is configured to read real and imaginary impedance spectra of the resonant sensor and configured to simultaneously calculate F p , F z , F 1 , F 2 , Z p , Z 1 , and Z 2 from the resonant sensor.
11. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the field-portable impedance reader comprises an adaptor is configured to receive a resonant sensor.
12. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 11 , wherein the resonant sensor is a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor.
13. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 1 , wherein the digital signal processor is in operative association with a memory, a controller, a radio transceiver, or combinations thereof.
14. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature compensator.
15. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 14 , wherein the temperature compensator is integral with an impedance compensator disposed in the third layer.
16. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 1 , further comprising a glob top.
17. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 1 , further comprising a universal serial bus (USB) interface.
18. The field-portable impedance reader of claim 1 , wherein dimensions of the housing are in a range from about 2×2×1 cm 3 to about 15×15×5 cm 3 .
19. A wireless system, comprising a field-portable impedance reader of, wherein the field-portable impedance reader comprises:
a first layer comprising a reader antenna;
a second layer comprising radio frequency electronics and intermediate frequency electronics; and
a third layer comprising a digital direct synthesizer, a reference analog to digital converter, a sample analog to digital converter, and a digital signal processor,
wherein the first, second and third layers are disposed in a housing.
20. The wireless system of claim 19 , further comprising a portable digital device comprising a portable computer processor, a handheld digital assistant, a cellular phone, or combinations thereof.
21. The wireless system of claim 20 , wherein the portable digital device is capable of near-field communications.