Aspects of this document relate generally to semiconductor devices. More specific implementations involve semiconductor devices used in data logger systems.
Sensor systems gather information about a desired parameter. Examples of sensor systems include those designed to measure the temperature of an object or an ambient environment.
Implementations of a data logger system may include a flexible substrate and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) communications module coupled to the flexible substrate. The RFID communications module may include an antenna coupled with a RFID chip. The data logger system may also include a microprocessor and a memory module coupled to the flexible substrate, the microprocessor and the memory module electrically coupled with the RFID communications module. The data logger system may also include a temperature sensor coupled to the flexible substrate, the temperature sensor electrically coupled with the microprocessor and memory module, and a power source coupled to the flexible substrate, the power source electrically coupled with the microprocessor, the memory module, the temperature sensor, and the RFID communications module.
Implementations of a data logger system may include one, all, or any of the following:
The data logger system may include a light-emitting diode (LED) coupled to the flexible substrate and electrically coupled with the power source.
The flexible substrate may include a polymeric material.
The flexible substrate may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
The data logger system may include a plurality of leads and a plurality of die attach components. The plurality of leads and the plurality of die attach components may be formed of electrically conductive ink screen printed onto the flexible substrate.
The data logger system may include a ground plane printed on a side of the flexible substrate.
Implementations of a data logger system may include a radio-frequency identification (RFID) communications module including an antenna and a RFID chip. The data logger system may also include a microprocessor and a memory module coupled with the RFID communications module. The data logger system may also include a sensor coupled with the microprocessor and memory module. The microprocessor, the memory module, the sensor, and the RFID communications module may be electrically coupled to a power source through a plurality of traces. The RFID communications module, the microprocessor, the memory module, the sensor, and the plurality of traces may all be coupled directly to a flexible substrate.
Implementations of a data logger system may include one, all, or any of the following:
The sensor may be a sensor selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a humidity sensor, an accelerometer, a magnetic sensor, a gas sensor, a light sensor, or a xylene gas sensor, and in any combination thereof.
The data logger system may include a light-emitting diode (LED) coupled directly to the flexible substrate.
The flexible substrate may be formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
The data logger system may include a plurality of leads and a plurality of die attach components. The plurality of leads and the plurality of die attach components may be formed of electrically conductive ink screen printed onto the flexible substrate.
The data logger system may include a ground plane printed on a side of the flexible substrate.
Implementations of a flexible data logger system may include a radio-frequency identification (RFID) communications module including an antenna and a RFID chip. The flexible data logger may also include a microprocessor and a memory module coupled with the RFID communications module, and a sensor coupled with the microprocessor and memory module. The microprocessor, the memory module, the sensor, and the RFID communications module may be electrically coupled to a power source through a plurality of traces. The RFID communications module, the microprocessor, the memory module, the sensor, and the plurality of traces may all be coupled directly to a flexible substrate. The flexible data logger system may be configured to be associated with a container to be tracked.
Implementations of a flexible data logger system may include one, all, or any of the following:
The sensor may be configured to provide temperature data associated with the container.
The memory module may be configured to store the temperature data.
The flexible data logger system may be configured to couple with the container inside the container, outside the container, or under a label coupled to the container.
The flexible data logger system may include a light-emitting diode (LED) configured to activate in response to a signal from the microprocessor.
The signal from the microprocessor may be sent in response to a change of a state of one or more bits in the memory module.
The sensor may be a temperature sensor configured to be programmable with one or more temperature thresholds.
The flexible substrate may be configured to store data related to mechanical and environmental handling of the container through a transportation process.
The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent to those artisans of ordinary skill in the art from the DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS.
Implementations will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and:
This disclosure, its aspects and implementations, are not limited to the specific components, assembly procedures or method elements disclosed herein. Many additional components, assembly procedures and/or method elements known in the art consistent with the intended flexible data logger system will become apparent for use with particular implementations from this disclosure. Accordingly, for example, although particular implementations are disclosed, such implementations and implementing components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, measurement, concentration, material, quantity, method element, step, and/or the like as is known in the art for such flexible data logger systems, and implementing components and methods, consistent with the intended operation and methods.
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In various implementations, the data received from the sensor 14 may be stored permanently in on-board memory included in the microprocessor 10 itself. The on-board memory may be volatile or non-volatile depending on the microprocessor design. In various implementations, however, non-volatile memory may be used to ensure data storage if the battery power is removed/interrupted. Also, non-volatile memory may allow the system to consume less power as no voltage may need to be applied to the memory during operation to ensure the memory state is retained as when volatile memory is used. In those implementations where all data storage is handled by on-board memory, the number of components needed to form the system on the flexible substrate may be reduced.
In other implementations, a separate memory chip/components may be coupled with the microprocessor 10 via the flexible substrate 2 and/or a direct connection separate from the flexible substrate 2. A wide variety of memory types may be employed in various implementations, including, by non-limiting example, random access memory (RAM), non-volatile RAM, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory (NAND or NOR), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), resistive RAM (ReRAM), magnetoelectric RAM (MeRAM), external ram (XRAM), and any other low power memory type.
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In other implementations, the power source may not be flexible or substantially flexible. In such implementations, the power source may be single use or rechargeable and may employ any of the power source chemistries disclosed herein, along with others including, by non-limiting example, silver-silver oxide, zinc-oxygen, lithium-manganese dioxide, lithium-carbon monofluoride, lithium-copper oxide, nickel oxyhydroxide-manganese dioxide, and any other alkaline and/or rechargeable power source chemistry type.
In various system implementations disclosed herein, the power source 18 may be fixedly or removably coupled to the flexible substrate 2 material itself via an attachment process or via a pocket attached to the flexible substrate 2 material. In systems where the power source 18 is included in a pocket coupled to the flexible substrate 2 material, the power source/pocket may be the highest/thickest portion of the flexible data logger system. The power source may be held in the pocket with an adhesive. In such implementations, the power source may be coated at least partially with a material that does not react with the adhesive. The adhesive may be one that retains tackiness across a wide temperature range consistent with the operating temperature range of the power source itself
In various implementations where the flexible data logger system is held fully or partially to a container via a label, a pull off tab may be included in the structure of the label to allow a user to remove the tab and remove the power source through exposure under the material of the tab (or to access a pocket which holds the power source). In such implementations, the pull off tab may be shadowed from the adhesive, which coats the surface(s) of the label to allow the pull off tab to be more easily separated from the material of the label. Where pull off tabs are utilized in the label material, in various implementations, other portions of the flexible data logger system (chips, memory, etc.) may be removed when the pull off tab is separated (or may be removed by the user through the opening in the label material after the tab is separated). In some implementations, the power source 18 may not be included in a pocket and may be coupled directly to the flexible substrate 2 through an adhesive like any disclosed herein.
The various flexible data logger systems disclosed herein may be made reusable through the capability to remove the discharged power source as the discharged power source can be replaced with a charged power source. With the new charged power source, the flexible data logger system can then be reused to track sensor data using any of the systems and methods disclosed herein. Also, in various implementations, the ability to remove the power source via the pocket may also allow for disposal of the flexible data logger system after use to in accordance with any regulatory and/or environmental requirements.
In various use conditions like those disclosed herein, the power source may have a capacity between about 1 milliamp hour or higher. In particular implementations, the power source may have a capacity between about 1 milliamp hour to about 100 milliamp hours. In other implementations, the power source may have a capacity between about 5 milliamp hours to about 100 milliamp hours. In some other implementations, by non-limiting example, power sources such as vibration energy generation, thermal energy generation, light energy generation (solar), and any other power source that can be miniaturized to fit within the dimensions of the system, may be used. In some implementations, the power source may be rechargeable via a wireless power charging coil included in the flexible substrate which is coupled to the power source and which is set to resonate with a wireless charging system when placed adjacent the charging system.
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In various implementations where a label is coupled to the flexible data logger is utilized to provide optical identification, the label may be previously applied to the flexible data logger or may be applied using a printer at the time the flexible data logger is coupled to the outside of the box/container.
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In places where the description above refers to particular implementations of a flexible data logger system and implementing components, sub-components, methods and sub-methods, it should be readily apparent that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and that these implementations, implementing components, sub-components, methods and sub-methods may be applied to other flexible data logger systems.
This document claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/858,395, entitled “Flexible Printed RFID Data Logger” to Seitz, et al. which was filed on Jun. 7, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62858395 | Jun 2019 | US |