Radio Frequency Identification Sensor Tag Apparatuses

Abstract

A radio frequency identification device includes an integrated circuit including a receiver, a transmitter, and a microprocessor. The receiver and transmitter together define an active transponder. The integrated circuit is preferably a monolithic single die integrated circuit including the receiver, the transmitter, and the microprocessor. Because the device includes an active transponder, instead of a transponder which relies on magnetic coupling for power, the device has a much greater range.

1 . (canceled)  
     
     
         2 : A radio frequency identification (RFID) sensor tag apparatus, comprising: 
 a flexible substrate;    one or more antennas disposed adjacent the substrate;    a monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed adjacent the substrate and coupled to at least one of the antennas, comprising a radio frequency receiver, a transmitter, control logic, a memory for persistent storage of data, and a random number generator;    a thin, flexible battery coupled to supply power to the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit; and    a sensor for sensing a physical characteristic and having an output coupled to the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit.    
     
     
         3 : The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit further comprises an analog-to-digital converter having an input coupled to the sensor.  
     
     
         4 : The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the RFID tag has a thickness of less than forty thousandths of an inch.  
     
     
         5 : The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.  
     
     
         6 : The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit receiver is operable to receive spread spectrum modulated radio frequency signals.  
     
     
         7 : The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit transmitter is operable to communicate by backscatter reflection.  
     
     
         8 : The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit transmitter is operable to communicate spread spectrum modulated radio frequency signals by actively transmitting spread spectrum modulated radio frequency signals.  
     
     
         9 : The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the random number generator comprises a linear feedback shift register.  
     
     
         10 : The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the logic circuitry is operable to configure the linear feedback shift register to generate a random number responsive to a command received as a portion of a radio frequency signal received in the receiver.  
     
     
         11 : The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the monolithic the radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit receiver is operable to generate a random number using the random number generator and is further operable to transmit the random number by communicating signals from the transmitter, responsive to a command received in the receiver.  
     
     
         12 : The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the analog-to-digital converter is operable to provide a digital signal indicative of a sensed characteristic and the digital signal is stored in the memory.  
     
     
         13 : The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit is operable to transmit data indicative of a sensed characteristic by communicating signals from the transmitter, responsive to a command received in the receiver.  
     
     
         14 : The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the memory of the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit further comprises a non-volatile memory.  
     
     
         15 : The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the memory of the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit further comprises a readable and writeable memory.  
     
     
         16 : The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the memory of the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit further comprises unalterable indicia uniquely assigned to the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit.  
     
     
         17 : The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the memory of the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit further comprises a portion partitioned to form a user memory portion.  
     
     
         18 : The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the control logic of the monolithic radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit further comprises one selected from the group of a microprocessor, a microcontroller, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 : The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible substrate has a thickness of less than ten thousandths of an inch.  
     
     
         20 : The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the RFID tag has a thickness of less than forty thousandths of an inch.