Wireless sensor including an RF signal circuit
A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag includes an antenna structure operable to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal, an RF signal circuit operable to, when enabled, produce the RF signal, a sensing element operably coupled to the antenna structure, a memory, and a processing module. When in a calibration mode, the processing module adjusts the input impedance until a measured power level is substantially equal to the desired input power level, and generates a first digital value based on the amount of the adjustment a power difference between a measured first input power level and a desired power level, and stores the first digital value in the memory, where the first digital value is representative of a known condition. In a sense mode, the processing module adjusts the input impedance until a second measured power level is substantially equal to the desired input power level, and generates a second digital value based on the amount of the adjustment a power difference between a measured first input power level and a desired power level, and the desired power level, and stores the second digital value in the memory, where the second digital value is representative of an unknown condition.
1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprises:
an antenna structure operable to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal;
an RF signal circuit operable to, when enabled, produce the RF signal;
a sensing element operably coupled to the antenna structure, wherein, in a calibration mode, the sensing element is exposed to a known condition and causes a first change in input impedance of the antenna structure while receiving the RF signal and wherein, in a sense mode, the sensing element is exposed to an unknown condition and causes a second change of the input impedance of the antenna structure while receiving the RF signal, and wherein a desired input power level occurs when the antenna structure is in resonance with the RF signal;
memory; and
a processing module operable to:
in the calibration mode:
measure receive the RF signal at a first input power level from the RF signal;
adjust the input impedance of the antenna structure until a measured power level of the RF signal is substantially equal to the desired input power level based on a comparison of first input power level and the desired input power level;
generate a first digital value based on an amount of the adjustment the power difference between the first input power level and the desired input power level; and
store the first digital value in the memory, wherein the first digital value is representative of the known condition; and
in the sense mode:
measure receive the RF signal at a second input power level from the RF signal;
adjust the input impedance of the antenna structure until a second measured power level of the RF signal is substantially equal to the desired input power level based on a comparison of second input power level and the desired input power level;
generate a second digital value based on an amount of the adjustment the power difference between the second input power level and the desired power level; and
store the second digital value in the memory, wherein the second digital value is representative of the unknown condition.
2. The RFID tag of claim 1 further comprises:
a power circuit operable to generate a power supply voltage, wherein the power circuit is coupled to the processing module, the RF signal circuit, and the memory.
3. The RFID tag of claim 2 , wherein the power circuit comprises one of:
an active power supply circuit; and
a passive power supply circuit that includes a power harvesting circuit and a power sourcing circuit.
4. The RFID tag of claim 1 , wherein the RF signal circuit comprises:
an oscillator to generate an oscillation; and
an antenna operably coupled to transmit the oscillation as the RF signal.
5. The RFID tag of claim 1 , wherein the sensing element is operable to sense a condition that comprises one or more of:
a moisture level;
pressure;
temperature;
liquid solution property;
a gas level; and
proximity.
6. The RFID tag of claim 1 further comprises:
a real time clock, wherein the processing module is further operable to:
time stamp the first digital value; and
time stamp the second digital value.
7. The RFID tag of claim 1 , wherein the processing module is further operable to adjust the input impedance in response to an RFID reader command.
8. The RFID tag of claim 1 , wherein the processing module is further operable to:
store the first input power level in the memory with the first digital value; and
store the second input power level in the memory with second first digital value.
9. The RFID tag of claim 8 further comprises:
a transmitter, wherein:
the antenna structure is operable to receive a second RF signal from an RFID reader;
the processing module is operable to:
extract a message from the second RF signal;
retrieve at least one of the first digital value, the second digital value, the first input power level, and the second input power level from the memory in response to the message; and
provide the at least one of the first digital value, the second digital value, the first input power level, and the second input power level to the transmitter for RF transmission to the RFID reader.
10. An active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprises:
a battery;
a power circuit operably coupled to generate a power supply voltage from the battery;
an antenna structure operable to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal;
an RF signal circuit operable to, when enabled, produce the RF signal;
a sensing element operably coupled to the antenna structure, wherein, in a calibration mode, the sensing element is exposed to a known condition and causes a first change in input impedance of the antenna structure while receiving the RF signal and wherein, in a sense mode, the sensing element is exposed to an unknown condition and causes a second change of the input impedance of the antenna structure while receiving the RF signal, and wherein a desired input power level occurs when the antenna structure is in resonance with the RF signal;
memory operably coupled to the power supply circuit; and
a processing module operably couple to the power supply circuit and to the memory, wherein the processing module is operable to:
in the calibration mode:
receive the RF signal at a first input power level;
adjust the input impedance of the antenna structure until a measured power level of the RF signal is substantially equal to the desired input power level;
generate a first digital value based on an amount of the adjustment; and
store the first digital value in the memory, wherein the first digital value is representative of the known condition; and
in the sense mode:
receive the RF signal at a second input power level;
adjust the input impedance of the antenna structure until a second measured power level of the RF signal is substantially equal to the desired input power level;
generate a second digital value based on an amount of the adjustment; and
store the second digital value in the memory, wherein the second digital value is representative of the unknown condition.
11. The active RFID tag of claim 10 , wherein the RF signal circuit comprises:
an oscillator to generate an oscillation; and
an antenna operably coupled to transmit the oscillation as the RF signal.
12. The active RFID tag of claim 10 , wherein the sensing element is operable to sense a condition that comprises one or more of:
a moisture level;
pressure;
temperature;
liquid solution property;
a gas level; and
proximity.
13. The active RFID tag of claim 10 further comprises:
a real time clock, wherein the processing module is further operable to:
time stamp the first digital value; and
time stamp the second digital value.
14. The active RFID tag of claim 10 , wherein the processing module is further operable to adjust the input impedance in response to an RFID reader command.
15. The active RFID tag of claim 10 , wherein the processing module is further operable to:
store the first input power level in the memory with the first digital value; and
store the second input power level in the memory with second first digital value.
16. The active RFID tag of claim 15 further comprises:
a transmitter, wherein:
the antenna structure is operable to receive a second RF signal from an RFID reader;
the processing module is operable to:
extract a message from the second RF signal;
retrieve at least one of the first digital value, the second digital value, the first input power level, and the second input power level from the memory in response to the message; and
provide the at least one of the first digital value, the second digital value, the first input power level, and the second input power level to the transmitter for RF transmission to the RFID reader.