Self-powered active RFID tag
AssigneeHubbell Incorporated
InventorsMichael Williams, Roy Itzler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical device includes an electrical cable and a connector coupled to the electrical cable. The connector is configured to receive electrical current from an external power source. The connector includes an RFID tag, and an electrical storing device configured to store electrical energy from the external power source and provide electrical energy to the RFID tag when the connector is disconnected from the external power source. The RFID tag transmits a signal independent of the connector being coupled to the external power source.
Claims20
An electrical device comprising:
- an electrical cable configured to removably connect to an external power source;
- and
- a connector coupled to the electrical cable and configured to receive electrical current from the external power source, the connector including,
- an RFID tag, and
- an electrical storing device configured to store electrical energy from the external power source and provide electrical energy to the RFID tag when the connector is disconnected from the external power source;
- wherein the RFID tag transmits a signal independent of the connector being coupled to the external power source;
- and
- wherein an impedance of the electrical storing device is less than an impedance of the RFID tag.
A method of outputting a signal from an RFID tag, the method comprising:
- connecting an electrical device to an external power source, wherein,
- the electrical device includes a connector and an electrical cable configured to convey electrical energy from the external power source to the connector, and
- the connector includes an electrical storage device configured to store electrical energy from the external power source;
- outputting a first wireless signal from an RFID tag of the electrical device while the electrical device is connected to the external power source;
- disconnecting the electrical device from the external power source;
- and
- outputting a second wireless signal from the RFID tag while the electrical device is disconnected to the external power source;
- wherein an impedance of the electrical storing device is less than an impedance of the RFID tag.
A connector for an electrical device, the connector comprising:
- an RFID tag configured to transmit a wireless signal, wherein the RFID tag is electrically coupled to a conductor to receive electrical energy from an external power source;
- and
- an electrical storing device electrically connected to the RFID tag;
- wherein:
- the connector is configured to be selectively connected to an external power source via a conductor,
- the RFID tag is configured to receive electrical energy from the electrical storing device when the connector is disconnected from the external power source,
- an impedance of the electrical storing device is less than an impedance of the RFID tag
- the RFID tag is configured to transmit the wireless signal independent of being connected to the external power source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.