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US 12,711,335 B2Granted
Methods and systems related to remote measuring and sensing
AssigneeWilliam Marsh Rice University
InventorsAydin Babakhani, Seyed Mohammad Kazem Pour, Mahdi Forghani, Yuxiang Sun, Yaswanth Kumar Cherivirala
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Abstract
Remote measuring and sensing. Some example embodiment related to optical energy harvesting by identification device, such as infrared identification device (IRID devices). Other embodiments relate to RFID device localization using low frequency source signals. Yet still other embodiments related to energy harvesting by RFID in electric fields in both conductive and non-conductive environments.
Claims18
A passive optoelectronic device on a substrate, the passive optoelectronic device comprising:
- a photodetector configured to receive ambient optical energy incident upon the photodetector and convert the ambient optical energy into electrical energy at a first voltage, the ambient optical energy having a wavelength of less than 1.2 microns;
- a voltage regulator electrically coupled to the photodetector, wherein the voltage regulator is configured to convert the electrical energy to a second voltage different than the first voltage;
- a sensor electrically coupled to the voltage regulator and powered by the electrical energy, wherein the sensor is configured to create sensor data;
- a first waveguide that defines a first end, a second end, and a length between the first end and the second end, the first waveguide has an internal volume of silicon;
- a first grating coupler optically coupled to the first end of the first waveguide, the first grating coupler having a plurality of ridges parallel to each other, and the ridges transverse to the length of the first waveguide;
- a second grating coupler optically coupled to the second end of the first waveguide, the second grating coupler having a plurality of ridges parallel to each other, and the ridges of the second grating coupler transverse to the length of the first waveguide;
- a modulator electrically coupled to the voltage regulator, the modulator disposed between the first and second grating couplers, the modulator configured to modulate optical waves that propagate through the first waveguide, and towards the second grating coupler, using the electrical energy from the photodetector;
- and
- a driver circuit electrically coupled to the modulator, wherein the driver circuit configured to selectively change a state of the modulator responsive to the sensor data, wherein, the optical waves that propagate through the first waveguide, and towards the second grating coupler, are coupled out of the first waveguide into air or free space and transmitted to a reader device.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving a light by a photodetector exposed on an outer surface of a passive optoelectronic device;
- generating an electrical current from the light;
- powering a sensor from the electrical current, the sensor creates sensor data based on the electrical current;
- and
- wirelessly transmitting the sensor data from the passive optoelectronic device to a receiving device remote from the passive optoelectronic device, wherein the wirelessly transmitting comprises:
- receiving a first infrared light by an optical coupler defined on the passive optoelectronic device;
- coupling the first infrared light to a first waveguide of the passive optoelectronic device, and propagating the first infrared light along a first portion of the first waveguide;
- and then
- modulating the first infrared light responsive to data to create modulated infrared light;
- propagating the modulated infrared light along a second portion of the first waveguide distinct from the first portion;
- and
- coupling the modulated infrared light out of the first waveguide and towards the receiving device.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.