Device and Method for Supplying Energy to an Rfid Component

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes a device and method for powering an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) component using an energy storage unit. The system harvests energy through an antenna from an alternating electromagnetic field during a first time interval and stores it. Later, when the RFID component is in an environment where the electromagnetic field is insufficient to power it directly, the stored energy is used to keep the RFID component operational. This enables temporary, autonomous operation of the RFID device and allows for the powering of attached sensors and the acquisition and storage of sensor data without the need for continuous external energy sources such as batteries.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Supply power to RFID tags embedded in concrete or hidden places for construction monitoring, such as tracking temperature and moisture during drying.
• Facilitate sensor-based RFID applications in remote or difficult-to-access locations where battery replacement is impractical, such as environmental or structural monitoring.
• Enable periodic or event-driven data logging with RFID tags (e.g., temperature, pressure, or acceleration data) and later retrieval via standard RFID readers.
• Inventory and asset tracking systems requiring temporary autonomous sensing, such as cold chain monitoring for perishable goods.
• Healthcare applications, such as patient or drug monitoring, where autonomous sensor operation and data logging are advantageous and continuous external power is unavailable.
• Smart packaging, where condition monitoring (e.g., freshness, exposure) is needed without the complexity of embedded batteries.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables RFID-based sensor systems to operate without batteries, reducing maintenance and allowing deployment in hard-to-access locations.
• Supports a wide range of sensor types and input interfaces (analog, digital, SPI, I2C, etc.), increasing flexibility for diverse applications.
• Maintains the functionality of RFID components and sensor systems during periods when no external electromagnetic field (e.g., RFID reader) is present.
• Allows for scheduled or autonomous data collection, independent of reader presence, supporting event-driven and time-based monitoring regimes.
• Compatible with standard RFID tags and readers, facilitating easy integration into existing RFID infrastructures and workflows.
• Provides the ability to report energy status, so users can know in advance how much autonomous operation time is available before the system needs recharging from an RFID reader.
• Reduces operational and environmental costs by eliminating the need for disposable or replaceable batteries.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a device for supplying energy to an RFID component, comprising an antenna and an energy store. The energy store stores energy that is induced into the antenna by an alternating electromagnetic field during a first time interval. Furthermore, the energy store supplies the RFID component with energy to maintain the functionality of the RFID component during a later second time interval if an energy induced by an alternating electromagnetic field during the later second time interval is not sufficient to supply the RFID component.