Passive transponder with a charging circuit
View Patent ↗In one embodiment, a passive transponder comprising a first circuit comprising a first attenuator, the first circuit configured to receive a first signal from at least one base station and coupled to a first node, a first rectifier coupled to the first node, the first rectifier configured in a forward direction to charge a first capacitor, and the first capacitor coupled to the first rectifier, the first capacitor configured to receive a charge from the attenuator sufficient for powering the passive transponder.
1. A passive transponder comprising:
a first circuit comprising a first attenuator, the first circuit configured to receive a first signal from at least one base station and coupled to a first node;
a first rectifier coupled to the first node, the first rectifier configured in a forward direction to charge a first capacitor;
the first capacitor coupled to the first rectifier, the first capacitor configured to receive a charge from the first attenuator sufficient for powering the passive transponder; and
an immobilization unit having a first terminal coupled to the first node, the immobilization unit configured to control charging of the first capacitor by the first circuit;
the first circuit further comprising a first element comprising a Zener diode and a first switch, the first element configured to make the first circuit operate to a breakdown voltage of the Zener diode.
2. The passive transponder of claim 1 , wherein the first attenuator comprises a second switch coupled to a first resistor in parallel.
3. The passive transponder of claim 1 , wherein the first circuit has a resonance frequency of about 20 kHz to 13 MHz.
4. The passive transponder of claim 1 , wherein the first circuit has a Quality factor (Q-factor) above 10.
5. A system comprising:
a passive transponder comprising:
a first circuit comprising a first attenuator, the first circuit coupled to a first node;
a first rectifier coupled to the first node, the first rectifier configured in a forward direction to charge a first capacitor; and
the first capacitor coupled to the first rectifier, the first capacitor configured to receive a charge from the attenuator sufficient for powering the passive transponder;
an antenna comprising a first coil and a second capacitor, the antenna coupled to the first circuit and configured to receive a first signal from at least one base station; and
a controller coupled the passive transponder and configured to process the signal;
wherein:
the passive transponder further comprises an immobilization unit having a first terminal coupled the first node, the immobilization unit configured to control charging of the first capacitor by the first circuit; and
the first circuit further comprises a first element comprising a Zener diode and a first switch, the first element configured to make the first circuit operate to a breakdown voltage of the Zener diode.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first attenuator comprises a second switch coupled to a first resistor in parallel.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first circuit has a resonance frequency of about 20 kHz to 13 MHz.
8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first circuit has a Quality factor (Q-factor) above 10.
9. A passive transponder comprising:
a first circuit comprising a first attenuator and coupled to a first node;
a second circuit comprising a second attenuator and coupled to a second node;
a third circuit comprising a third attenuator and coupled to a third node, the first, second, and third circuits configured to receive data signals from at least one base station;
a first rectifier coupled to the first node;
a second rectifier coupled to the second node;
a third rectifier coupled to the third node, the first, second, and third rectifiers configured in a forward direction to charge a first capacitor utilizing a first received signal;
the first capacitor coupled to the first, second, and third rectifiers, the first capacitor configured to receive a charge sufficient for powering the passive transponder from at least one of the first, second, or third attenuators; and
an immobilization unit configured to control charging of the first capacitor by the first, second, and third circuits, the immobilization unit comprising:
a first terminal coupled the first node;
a second terminal coupled to the second node; and
a third terminal coupled to the third node.
10. The passive transponder of claim 9 , wherein at least two of the first, second, and third circuits are positioned essentially orthogonal to each other.
11. The passive transponder of claim 9 , wherein the first, second, and third circuits are positioned in one of an x spatial direction, y spatial direction, or z spatial direction so that at least one of the first, second, or third circuits are positioned in each direction.
12. The passive transponder of claim 9 , wherein the first capacitor is configured to receive a charge sufficient for powering the passive transponder from all of the first, second, and third attenuators.
13. The passive transponder of claim 9 , wherein the first capacitor is configured to receive a charge sufficient for powering the passive transponder from one of the first, second, and third attenuators with the highest voltage compared to the other attenuators in response to all of the first, second, and third circuits receiving the first signal.
14. The passive transponder of claim 9 , wherein the first, second, and third circuits have a resonance frequency that is about 20 kHz to 13 MHz.
15. The passive transponder of claim 14 , wherein the first, second, and third circuits have a resonance frequency that is about the same.