Analog Backscatter Sensor Using FM Reception
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless sensing devices require high monetary and power costs due to the need for dedicated components like ADCs, MCUs, and digital logic chips, and suffer from limited communication ranges, making them expensive to install, operate, and maintain, especially for applications like agriculture and environmental monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A backscatter sensor device using purely analog capacitive or resistive sensors that operates at ultra-low power consumption (below 24 μW) and communicates with conventional FM receivers, eliminating the need for ADCs and MCUs, and utilizing ambient or dedicated FM broadcasting stations for extended communication ranges up to 26 meters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional wireless sensing devices use ADC, DLC, and MCU components, then measurement precision and communication capability are improved, but power consumption and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the ADC, DLC, and MCU components from the wireless sensing device, retaining only the essential sensing element and oscillator. This extraction eliminates the power-hungry digital processing components while preserving the core measurement capability through analog backscatter modulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive, simple components that can be easily replaced or discarded. The sensing device uses basic capacitive or resistive sensing elements combined with a simple oscillator, eliminating the need for expensive digital components and enabling ultra-low cost, ultra-low power operation.
2Reliability
If dedicated wireless receiver infrastructure is deployed, then communication reliability is improved, but monetary cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables conventional FM receivers to serve dual purposes: their traditional radio broadcasting function and the new function of receiving backscatter sensor data. This universality eliminates the need for dedicated wireless receiver infrastructure, as existing FM receivers can be repurposed for sensor communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages existing FM broadcasting infrastructure to provide the carrier signal needed for backscatter modulation. The ambient FM signals serve the sensing system's needs without requiring separate dedicated transmitters, allowing the system to utilize existing resources.
3Use of energy by moving object
If ambient FM broadcasting stations are used as illuminators, then power consumption is reduced and infrastructure cost decreases, but communication range may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic frequency selection and switching, allowing the receiver to tune to different FM broadcasting stations and select the one providing the strongest signal at any given location and time. This dynamic adaptation enables extended communication range while maintaining ultra-low power operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses ambient FM broadcasting signals as an intermediary carrier to transmit sensor data over extended distances. The strong FM signals act as a mediator that carries the backscatter-modulated sensor information from the sensing device to the receiver, enabling communication beyond what would be possible with direct low-power transmission.
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
The solution provides a cost-effective and low-power wireless sensing system that can measure various physical quantities, is easy to maintain, and offers extended communication ranges, reducing the overall cost and complexity of wireless sensor networks while maintaining reliable data reception.
Implementation Method 1
The backscatter sensor device exploits either dedicated or ambient illuminating sources (FM broadcasting stations) in order to scatter the measured value to a conventional FM radio receiver
Data Source
AI summary
Ultra-low power and cost, purely analog backscatter sensors, based on capacitive and/or resistive principles, consumer electronics FM reception and extended range.