Passive Acoustic Sensor Circuit Wireless Sensing System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of wireless devices due to multiple physical wires connecting sensors to processing circuits leads to design and manufacturing challenges, as these wires can interfere with each other and other circuits, making it difficult to add more components for enhanced functionality.
Innovation Solution
A passive acoustic sensor circuit that induces an electrical current in response to a radio frequency (RF) signal, allowing for wireless detection of sensory events such as touch or key presses, thereby reducing the need for physical wiring by using a conductive structure, acoustic resonator, and sensor circuit configured to resonate at specific frequencies, enabling remote and wireless detection of current variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple physical wires are used to connect sensors to processing circuits, then sensor connectivity and signal transmission are achieved, but design and manufacturing complexity increases due to wire layout interference and component crowding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire-based connection system with an electromagnetic field-based wireless communication system. The sensor circuit modulates RF signals to transmit sensor data wirelessly to external receivers, eliminating the need for physical wire connections between sensors and processing circuits, thereby reducing design and manufacturing complexity while maintaining reliable data transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an RF signal as an intermediary carrier to transmit sensor information. Instead of directly connecting sensors to processors via wires, the sensor circuit modulates RF signals that carry sensor data, which can then be received and processed wirelessly, serving as a mediator that eliminates the need for physical wiring
2Adaptability or versatility
If more sensors and components are added to wireless devices, then functionality and user experience are enhanced, but physical wire layout becomes increasingly difficult and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire routing system with wireless electromagnetic communication, allowing multiple sensors and components to be added to devices without increasing wire layout complexity. Each sensor can independently communicate wirelessly, enabling enhanced functionality without the manufacturing challenges associated with routing numerous physical wires in crowded device spaces
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
This solution reduces physical wiring in electronic devices like smartphones and smartwatches, simplifying design and manufacturing by allowing wireless detection of sensory events, thus reducing design and manufacturing complexities.
Implementation Method 1
The conductive structure is configured to induce an electrical current between an input node and an output node in response to receiving an RF signal
Implementation Method 2
The acoustic resonator is configured to resonate at a serial resonance frequency to pass the electrical current between the input node and the output node
Implementation Method 3
The acoustic resonator is also configured to block the electrical current between the input node and the output node at a parallel resonance frequency different from the serial resonance frequency
Data Source
AI summary
A passive acoustic sensor circuit and related wireless sensing system are provided. The passive acoustic sensor circuit is configured to induce an electrical current in response to receiving a radio frequency signal. The passive acoustic sensor circuit includes a sensor circuit, which can detect a sensory event (e.g., a touch or key press) and cause a variation in the electrical current in response to the sensory event. In contrast, the sensor circuit will not cause the variation in the electrical current in absence of the sensory event. In this regard, the presence or absence of the current variation, which can be detected remotely and wirelessly, will serve as an indication of the sensory event. By detecting the current variation remotely and wirelessly, it is possible to reduce physical wiring in an electronic device (e.g., smartphone, smartwatch, etc.) to help reduce design and manufacturing complexity of the electronic device.