Salinity Sensor IC With RF Power Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing salinity measurement technologies require a power supply and are not capable of accurately measuring salinity using multiple driving signal generators and analog-to-digital converters based on the characteristics of the salinity sensor.
Innovation Solution
A sensor without a power supply, comprising a substrate with sensing and ground electrodes, an IC chip, and antenna electrodes, which uses RF signals to generate operating voltages and enable specific driving signal generators and analog-to-digital converters to measure salinity, allowing for accurate salinity measurement through a mobile device via NFC communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional power supply is used in the salinity sensor, then the sensor can operate continuously with stable power, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the traditional power supply component from the sensor system. Instead of including a battery or power management circuitry within the sensor, the design uses the RF communication interface to harvest power wirelessly, eliminating the need for physical power supply components and reducing device complexity while maintaining operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The RF interface is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the communication channel for data transmission and the power source for the sensor circuitry. This multi-functionality allows the single RF interface to replace both the traditional communication module and power supply, reducing overall device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple driving signal generators and analog-to-digital converters are included to accommodate different sensor types, then the adaptability increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration of the driving signal generator and analog-to-digital converter based on the detected sensor type. The system can switch between different operating modes (voltage-mode, current-mode, impedance-mode) depending on the connected sensor characteristics, providing adaptability without requiring all circuit variants to be permanently present
Solution Approach 2:
Different circuit configurations are optimized for specific sensor types and activated locally when needed. The system adjusts its operational characteristics to match the requirements of the connected sensor, applying the appropriate driving signal generation and conversion method only when that sensor type is detected, rather than maintaining all configurations simultaneously
3Device complexity
If an RF interface is used to generate operating voltages wirelessly, then the power supply structure is simplified, but the energy conversion efficiency may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts operating parameters such as RF signal frequency, power level, and modulation characteristics to optimize the energy conversion efficiency. By changing these parameters based on operational conditions, the system maximizes the efficiency of converting RF energy to operating voltages while maintaining the wireless power supply advantage
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 accurate salinity measurement of liquids using RF-generated operating voltages, enabling multiple driving signal generators and analog-to-digital converters, and transmitting results to a mobile device for analysis, without the need for a traditional power source.
Implementation Method 1
an RF interface which generates an operating voltage of the sensor driver circuit and an operating voltage of the analog-to-digital converter circuit on the basis of an RF signal received through the antenna
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit includes a bi-directional signal transmission pin connected to a sensing electrode of a salinity sensor, an RF interface which generates operating voltages on the basis of an RF signal received through an antenna, different types of driving signal generators having a structure in which each output terminal is connected to the pin, different types of analog-to-digital converters having a structure in which each input terminal is connected to the pin, and a microcontroller unit which generates a first control signal and a second control signal according to a type of the salinity sensor, in which one of the different types of driving signal generators is enabled based on the first control signal, one of the different types of analog-to-digital converters is enabled based on the second control signal, and the operating voltages are supplied to an enabled signal generator and an enabled analog-to-digital converter.