SUMMARY
UCLA researchers in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering have developed a method to use millimeter-sized microchips fitted with an array of sensors to synchronize and amplify radio frequency (RF) signals for low cost and ubiquitous sensing and localization applications.
BACKGROUND
Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a wireless power delivery, sensing, and data communication system that utilizes large antennas and harvests energy through a near-field or far-field wireless link. Self-power nodes, which are long-lifetime sensors that do not require batteries, are ideal for RFID applications owing to their small (millimeter) size. Miniaturization of RFID antennas and storage components often reduces the power transfer efficiency, leading to challenges in data communication. Sensor nodes that incorporate both a signal output and detector, referred to as system-on-chip microchips, can alleviate these power losses on transfer but the signal radiated is often weak. Therefore, there is a need for a method that can synchronize the RF radiation from self-powered nodes to produce a strong coherent radiation signal.
INNOVATION
UCLA researchers in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering have developed a method to synchronize an array of sensor nodes, amplifying the RF signal. The system utilizes multiple synchronized millimeter-scale microchips which harvest energy and are self-powered. These chips are low-cost and can be prepared using standard CMOS SOI technology. Importantly, the millimeter-sized chips possess a small form-factor, enabling various sensing data communication applications.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
- Environmental sensing
- Medical implants
- Monitor hydraulic fracturing
- Agricultural
- Telecommunications
ADVANTAGES
- Millimeter-size sensor nodes
- Low form-factor
- Low cost of fabrication that can be integrated with existing methods
- High resolution mapping
- Capacity for large data communication
- Increase amplitude of reflected signal
- Total area of 3.9 x 0.7 mm2
- Produces reference signal in the 7.72-7.79 GHz range
RELATED MATERIALS
STATUS OF DEVELOPMENT
Developed and successfully tested with a wireless reference signal of 7.733 GHz synchronized on an array of 2 x 2 microchips.