RFID Tag Sensor Portion Resistivity Change for Chemical Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional chemical sensors are often expensive, bulky, fragile, or require trained personnel to operate, and many methods necessitate physical contact with the sensing element via wires or solid-state circuitry to acquire data, limiting their adoption for broad applications in personal security, safety, and health.
Innovation Solution
A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with a sensor portion that changes resistivity upon interaction with an analyte, utilizing carbon nanotubes associated with a chemically-degradable polymer, allowing for wireless, non-line-of-sight detection without the need for a power source, and can be integrated into wearable devices or used as a dosimeter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional chemical sensing methods are used, then sensing capability is achieved, but the device becomes expensive, bulky, and fragile requiring trained personnel to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensing function from complex traditional sensor systems and integrates it into a simple RFID tag. The RFID tag incorporates a sensor portion with conductive material that changes resistivity upon analyte contact, eliminating the need for bulky electronics and trained operators while maintaining sensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses RFID technology to create a simplified copy of traditional sensor functionality. Instead of requiring complex measurement systems, the RFID tag's resonant frequency naturally shifts in response to analyte-induced resistivity changes, providing sensing capability through a different, simpler mechanism.
2Measurement precision
If physical contact with sensing element via wires or solid-state circuitry is required, then data acquisition is achieved, but portability and ease of use are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/wire-based data acquisition system with a wireless electromagnetic field-based RFID system. The RFID reader communicates with the tag through electromagnetic coupling, eliminating the need for physical wire connections while maintaining data acquisition capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The RFID tag is passively powered by the electromagnetic field from the RFID reader, eliminating the need for batteries or external power sources. The tag automatically detects analytes and communicates results wirelessly without requiring user intervention for power management or data retrieval.
3Ease of operation
If RFID tag with sensor portion is used, then wireless sensing and portability are achieved, but the sensor portion requires chemically-degradable polymer and conductive material integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials consisting of conductive material particles dispersed in a chemically-degradable polymer matrix. This composite structure provides both the chemical sensing functionality (through analyte-polymer interactions) and the electrical conductivity needed for RFID detection, simplifying the integration of multiple functions into a single material system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits changes in the electrical parameters (resistivity) of the conductive polymer composite material in response to chemical stimuli. When the analyte interacts with the polymer, it causes swelling or degradation that alters the distance and contact between conductive particles, changing the overall resistivity and thus the RFID tag's resonant frequency.
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 portable, low-cost, and user-friendly chemical sensing capable of detecting hazardous substances at trace concentrations, improving personal monitoring and occupational safety without requiring technical expertise, and allows for wireless communication with smartphones for real-time data acquisition.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor portion configured to change resistivity when the radio frequency identification tag contacts or interacts with an analyte, whereby the resistivity change alters an output of the radio frequency identification tag
Implementation Method 2
the sensor portion includes a conductive material associated with a chemically-degradable polymer
Implementation Method 3
a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag with a sensor portion that changes resistivity upon interaction with an analyte, utilizing carbon nanotubes associated with a chemically-degradable polymer, allowing for wireless, non-line-of-sight detection
Data Source
AI summary
A tag for detecting an analyte can include a radio frequency identification tag including a sensor portion, the sensor portion configured to change resistivity when the radio frequency identification tag contacts or interacts with an analyte, whereby the resistivity change alters an output of the radio frequency identification tag, wherein the sensor portion includes a circuit, and wherein the sensor portion is configured to activate the circuit or deactivate the circuit when contacted or having interacted with the analyte, where the sensor portion includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes associated with a chemically-degradable polymer. In certain embodiments, the chemically degradable polymer can be a metallo-supramolecular polymer.