Ambient RF Harvesting Chip for Long-Range Location Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional RFID location tracking methods, such as passive and active RFID tracking, have limitations in range and cost due to their reliance on short-range communication and the need for separate reader devices, with passive RFID tags limited to short distances and active tags being expensive due to their built-in power sources.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Ambient Electromagnetic Power Harvesting (AEPH) chips that receive radio frequency waves from cell sites, converting them into power to broadcast identification signals, allowing for location detection and tracking over longer distances without the need for a separate reader device, using high-frequency bands like 47 GHz for more efficient and cost-effective operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If passive RFID tracking is used, then cost is reduced, but tracking range is limited to short distances
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID tag harvests power from ambient radio frequency waves emitted by cell sites, eliminating the need for separate reader devices and enabling long-range tracking without additional infrastructure. The tag serves itself by converting environmental RF energy into operational power.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes existing cell site infrastructure for dual purposes: communication and power harvesting. The same RF waves used for mobile phone communication are also harvested to power RFID tags, eliminating the need for dedicated reader devices.
2Length of stationary object
If active RFID tracking is used, then tracking range is extended, but cost increases due to built-in power sources
Solution Approach 1:
The RFID tag harvests power from ambient radio frequency waves emitted by cell sites, eliminating the need for built-in batteries or power sources. This self-powered approach extends tracking range without the cost and complexity of active power components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts ambient RF waves, which are typically considered background noise or waste energy, into useful power for tagging and tracking. This transforms an unused environmental resource into a functional power source.
3Measurement precision
If separate reader devices are used for RFID tracking, then location detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the reader functionality into the cloud-based platform, eliminating the need for separate reader devices. Location detection is achieved by analyzing signals received at existing cell sites and processing data centrally, removing physical reader hardware from the system.
Solution Approach 2:
Existing cell sites perform multiple functions: mobile phone communication and RFID tag detection. This eliminates the need for dedicated reader devices while maintaining location detection capabilities through the cloud platform.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables location detection and tracking of objects over several miles with lower costs compared to traditional RFID systems, as AEPH chips can be activated by cell site radio frequency waves, reducing the need for additional power sources and reader devices, and utilizing high-frequency bands for increased bandwidth and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
one or more rectifier circuits coupled to the one or more antennas configured to convert the radio frequency waves into power as a direct current voltage
Implementation Method 2
one or more antennas configured to receive radio frequency waves from a cell site associated with a carrier network
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system for ambient electromagnetic power harvesting (AEPH) chip location detection and tracking comprises an AEPH chip and a reader device. The AEPH chip comprises antennas configured to receive radio frequency waves from a cell site associated with a carrier network, rectifier circuits coupled to the one or more antennas configured to convert the radio frequency waves into power as a direct current voltage, a power storage coupled to the one or more rectifiers circuits configured to store the power, and a transceiver coupled to the power storage and configured to broadcast an identification signal using the power stored in the power storage in response to receiving the radio frequency waves from the cell site. The reader device comprises a transceiver configured to receive the identification signal from the AEPH chip, and processors coupled to the transceiver and configured to obtain a location of the AEPH chip.