Detection of volatile chemicals using an rfid sensing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016003769-A1
Application number	US-201314768532-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 11, 2013
Priority date	Mar 11, 2013
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for monitoring volatile chemicals. A system includes an radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag composed of a patterned metal. The patterned metal is configured to absorb a volatile chemical. The RFID tag includes a non-volatile memory configured to store identification data. The RFID tag also includes a receiver that receives a signal at a frequency in a frequency range. The frequency is based upon an amount of the volatile chemical absorbed in the patterned metal. A transmitter of the RFID tag transmits the identification data in response to receiving the signal. The strength of the transmitted identification data is based upon an amount of the absorbed volatile chemical.

First claim

1 . A system for detecting a volatile chemical, the system comprising:
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag composed of a patterned metal, wherein the patterned metal is configured to absorb a volatile chemical, and wherein the RFID tag comprises:
non-volatile memory configured to:
store identification data;

a receiver configured to:
receive a signal at a frequency in a frequency range, wherein the frequency is based upon an amount of the volatile chemical absorbed in the patterned metal;

a transmitter configured to:
transmit the identification data in response to receiving the signal, wherein a strength of the transmitted identification data is based upon an amount of the absorbed volatile chemical; and

an RFID reader configured to:
broadcast a request signal over a plurality of frequencies in the frequency range;
receive a response from the RFID tag at a particular request frequency, wherein a strength of the received response is based upon the amount of absorbed volatile chemical; and
determine a level of the volatile chemical absorbed in the patterned metal based upon the strength of the received response and the particular request frequency.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the patterned metal is configured to absorb the volatile chemical from a fluid.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a strength of the received signal is based upon the amount of the volatile chemical absorbed in the patterned metal.

4 . (canceled)

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a flow tube configured to convey a fluid, wherein the flow tube comprises: a metallic section configured to block the request signal; and a non-metallic window portion, wherein the RFID tag is attached within the flow tube adjacent to the non-metallic window portion, and wherein the non-metallic window is configured to allow passage of the request signal.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the non-metallic window portion is comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a flow tube configured to convey a fluid, wherein the flow tube is configured to block the request signal; an analysis chamber, wherein the RFID tag is mounted within the analysis chamber; a first valve connecting the flow tube and the analysis chamber and configured to allow the fluid to flow from the flow tube into the analysis chamber; and a second valve connecting the flow tube and the analysis chamber and configured to allow the fluid to flow from the analysis chamber into the flow chamber.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the RFID tag is configured to control the opening and closing of the first valve and the second valve based upon the received signal.

9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible substrate, wherein the RFID tag is attached to the flexible substrate.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises one of a polyimide film and a biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the patterned metal comprises gold or silver.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the volatile chemical is one of a sulfide or a thiol.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the patterned metal comprises platinum or tungsten.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the volatile chemical is sulphur dioxide.

15 . A method of monitoring volatile chemicals, the method comprising:
broadcasting, from a transmitter, a request signal over a request frequency range; receiving a first response from a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag in response to broadcasting the request signal at a first request frequency within the request frequency range, wherein the RFID tag is comprised of a patterned metal, wherein the patterned metal absorbs a first volatile chemical, and wherein a strength of the received first response is based upon an amount of the first volatile chemical absorbed by the patterned metal; determining a level of the first volatile chemical absorbed in the patterned metal based upon the strength of the received first response and the first request frequency; and receiving a second response from the RFID tag in response to broadcasting the request signal at a second request frequency within the request frequency range, wherein the patterned metal absorbs a second volatile chemical; and determining a level of the second volatile chemical absorbed in the patterned metal based upon the second request frequency.

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
sending a first command to the RFID tag at the first request frequency to open a first valve, wherein the first valve allows a fluid to flow over the RFID tag; and sending a second command to the RFID tag at the first request frequency to close the first valve.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the patterned metal comprises gold or silver.

20 . (canceled)

21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the patterned metal comprises platinum or tungsten.

22 . (canceled)

23 . (canceled)

24 . (canceled)

25 . (canceled)

26 . (canceled)

27 . (canceled)

28 . (canceled)

29 . (canceled)

30 . (canceled)

31 . (canceled)

32 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:
instructions to broadcast a request signal over a request frequency range; instructions to receive a first response from a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag in response to broadcasting the request signal at a first request frequency within the request frequency range, wherein the RFID tag is composed of a patterned metal, and wherein the patterned metal absorbs a first volatile chemical; instructions to determine a level of the first volatile chemical absorbed in the patterned metal based upon the first request frequency; instructions to receive a second response from the RFID tag in response to broadcasting the request signal at a second request frequency within the request frequency range, wherein the patterned metal absorbs a second volatile chemical; and instructions to determine a level of the second volatile chemical absorbed in the patterned metal based upon the second request frequency.

33 . (canceled)

34 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32 , wherein the patterned metal absorbs the first volatile chemical from a fluid.

35 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32 , further comprising:
instructions to send a first command to the RFID tag at the first request frequency to open a first valve, wherein the first valve allows a fluid to flow over the RFID tag; and instructions to send a second command to the RFID tag at the first request frequency to close the first valve.

36 . (canceled)

37 . (canceled)

38 . (canceled)

39 . (canceled)

40 . A sensor for detecting a volatile chemical, the sensor comprising:
a chamber comprising a polymer section configured to flow a fluid;
a substrate attached onto an inner wall of the polymer section of the chamber;
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag formed on a surface of

Assignees

• Empire Technology Dev Llc

Inventors

• Roundhill David Max

Classifications

• G01N27/025

  a current being generated within the material by induction · CPC title

• G01N22/00 Primary

  Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more (G01N3/00 - G01N17/00, G01N24/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01N33/0075 Primary

  for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring · CPC title

• G01N27/416 Primary

  Systems (G01N27/27 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N27/122

  Circuits particularly adapted therefor, e.g. linearising circuits · CPC title