Frequency-based wireless monitoring and identification using spatially inhomogeneous structures
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsNeil Gershenfeld, Richard Fletcher
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Wireless tags have a plurality of non-equivalent current pathways, each of which responds differently to an interrogation signal and collectively represent encoded information. The element is subjected to the signal, stimulating the current pathways, each of which contributes to an overall element response. The individual contributions and, hence, the information may be recovered from this overall response. The response of each of the pathways to the signal may vary in terms of one or more of resonant frequency, amplitude, damping, and Q factor.
Claims49
A method of sensing information, the method comprising:
- a. providing a device responsive to a wireless electromagnetic signal and having plurality of non-equivalent current pathways, each of the pathways responding differently to the signal and collectively representing the information, wherein the device comprises a pair of parallel, electrically conductive loops and at least one conductive crossbar sandwiched therebetween, with a dielectric material intervening between the at least one crossbar and the loops;
- b. subjecting the device to the wireless electromagnetic signal;
- and
- c. recovering the information based on interaction between the device to the signal.
A device responsive to a wireless electromagnetic signal and having a plurality of non-equivalent current pathways representing information, each of the pathways responding differently to the signal to convey the information, wherein the non-equivalent current pathways comprise a pair of parallel, electrically conductive loops and at least one conductive crossbar sandwiched therebetween, with a dielectric material intervening between the at least one crossbar and the loops.
A method of sensing information, the method comprising:
- a. providing a device responsive to a wireless electromagnetic signal and having a plurality of non-equivalent current pathways, each of the pathways responding differently to the signal and collectively representing the information, wherein the device comprises a pair of parallel, electrically conductive elements each patterned to form a single structure having at least two open loops, the elements being electrically connected so as to share a backbone current path and opposed so as to substantially overlap spatially, with a dielectric material sandwiched between the opposed elements;
- b. subjecting the device to the wireless electromagnetic signal;
- and
- c. recovering the information based on interaction between the device to the signal.
A method of sensing information, the method comprising:
- a. providing a device responsive to a wireless electromagnetic signal and having a plurality of non-equivalent current pathways, each of the pathways responding differently to the signal and collectively representing the information;
- b. subjecting the device to the wireless electromagnetic signal;
- and
- c. recovering the information based on interaction between the device to the signal, wherein the device comprises a plurality of pairs of stacked, electrically conductive elements and:
- each element is patterned to form a single structure having at least one open loop;
- each pair of elements is electrically connected so as to share a backbone current path;
- the elements of each element pair are opposed so as to substantially overlap spatially;
- a dielectric material is sandwiched between the elements of each element pair;
- the element pairs are electrically coupled without direct connection therebetween;
- and
- each element pair exhibits a separately detectable electrical response corresponding to information associated therewith.
A device responsive to a wireless electromagnetic signal and having a plurality of non-equivalent current pathways representing information, each of the pathways responding differently to the signal to convey the information, wherein the non-equivalent current pathways comprise:
- a. a pair of parallel, electrically conductive elements each patterned to form a single structure having at least two open loops, the elements being electrically connected so as to share a backbone current path and opposed so as to substantially overlap spatially;
- and
- b. a dielectric material sandwiched between the opposed elements.
A device responsive to a wireless electromagnetic signal and having a plurality of non-equivalent current pathways representing information, each of the pathways responding differently to the signal to convey the information, wherein the non-equivalent current pathways comprise a plurality of pairs of stacked, electrically conductive elements and:
- each element is patterned to form a single structure having at least one open loop;
- each pair of elements is electrically connected so as to share a backbone current path;
- the elements of each element pair are opposed so as to substantially overlap spatially;
- a dielectric material is sandwiched between the elements of each element pair;
- the element pairs are electrically coupled without direct connection therebetween;
- and
- each element pair exhibits a separately detectable electrical response corresponding to information associated therewith.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.