A wireless interrogator - passive sensor approach for deeply embedded sensing applications

Weller, Thomas M.; Wang, J.; Nassar, Ibrahim T.; Dewney, J.; Davidova, R.; Frolík, Jeff; Sakamuri, Vandana

doi:10.1109/aps.2011.5996565

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…1. The overall systems‐level perspective, including an interrogator design is discussed in [9]. In this Letter, the details of the design, test methodology and extended measurement results are presented.…”

Section: Presented Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

High‐sensitivity, AM‐modulated harmonic transceiver for wireless sensing

Davidova

Weller

2013

Electron. lett.

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Described is a zero power transceiver that is designed to receive a low-power RF signal at a fundamental frequency, double the frequency with high efficiency, and retransmit the second harmonic. The specific emphasis of this reported work was to demonstrate a means of imparting amplitude modulation onto the retransmitted harmonic in response to some environmental stimulus -in this case a DC bias voltage -to facilitate use of the transceiver in wireless sensing applications. The 1.3/2.6 GHz transceiver zero-bias conversion efficiency is approximately 2% (−17 dB) at received input power levels in the micro-Watt range. A change in the conversion efficiency of 10 dB per 100 mV is achieved through DC biasing of the multiplier.Introduction: The development of wireless sensors for remote monitoring is an active field of research with a broad range of applications. Areas involving security, intelligence, structural health monitoring, and tracking will be influenced by the continued development of remote sensor technology in the coming years. Efforts have been made to create efficient, low-cost and low-powered wireless devices for use in sensor networks in such fields.Background: Low-power remote sensors are continuously developing for sensing and monitoring applications, including miniaturised low-power embedded sensors and active acoustic wave transducers for infrastructure monitoring [1,2]. Harmonic transceivers utilising harmonic radar have been employed in sensor networks -incorporating a receiver that is tuned to the second harmonic of the transmitter [3]. Passive surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology has also proven to be useful in low power sensing [4], in particular, passive wireless SAW sensors for use in structural health monitoring of motor vehicles [5] and in-space vehicles [6].

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Section: Presented Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

High‐sensitivity, AM‐modulated harmonic transceiver for wireless sensing

Davidova

Weller

2013

Electron. lett.

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“…In addition, the sensing device should require very low RF activation power to extend the communication range due to the non-air propagation environment. An approach to provide such power is through RF interrogation combined with a passive frequency doubler to return the second harmonic of the interrogation signal, thereby mitigating signal clutter and transmitter-receiver bleed-through issues [2]. It has been shown in [3] that this approach is capable of achieving a communication range > 50 m in a free space environment using a 2 W source and without DC power consumption.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

A high-efficiency, miniaturized sensor node with machined-substrate antennas for embedded wireless monitoring

Nassar

Weller

Wang

2013

2013 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest (MTT)

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This paper presents a compact, energy efficient sensor node for narrow-band embedded wireless monitoring. The communication system is based on the RF interrogation approach that employs a passive frequency doubler to return the second harmonic of the interrogation signal. The compactness and high efficiency of the node were achieved by employing 3-D, machined-substrate small antennas on the transceiver design. The node operates by receiving a signal at 2.4 GHz and reradiating an amplitude-modulated signal at 4.8 GHz, and is optimized for an RF input power level range between -30 and -20 dBm. The node fits within a 21 mm diameter sphere (Ȝ/6 at 2.4 GHz) and its measured efficiency is 10% at -20 dBm input power. The voltage generated by a commercial piezoelectric vibration sensor is used to modulate the return signal.Index Terms -Diode doubler, small antennas, vibration measurements, passive microwave remote sensing, 3-D antennas.

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