Abstract: A wireless Internet of things (IoT) tag and a method for measuring energy-charging rate of the energy harvester is provided. The wireless IoT includes at least one antenna configured to harvest an ambient energy; an energy harvester coupled to the at least one antenna; an energy storage coupled to the energy harvester and configured to store harvested energy; and an energy detector configured to the energy storage, wherein the energy detector is configured to measure an energy-charging rate of the energy harvester.

Abstract: A system and method for waking up a low-power wireless device is provided. The method includes: initializing a wakeup sensitivity to minimum of a wakeup circuit of the wireless device; searching for at least one beacon by the wakeup circuit; increasing the wakeup sensitivity of the wakeup circuit when the at least one beacon is not found; and setting the wakeup sensitivity to a value at which the least one beacon is received.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting material type using low-energy sensing are disclosed. The method includes receiving frequency words from a tag attached to a container containing material, wherein the tag provides a low-energy sensing configured to transmit the frequency words; extracting at least a first data feature from the received frequency words, wherein the first data feature changes in response to a type of material in the container; classifying the extracted data feature to label a type of the material in the container; and sending a notification indicating the type of material in the container.

Abstract: An energy harvester and a method for tuning an antenna frequency of the energy harvester is provided. The energy harvester includes: a tuner circuit coupled to at least one antenna, wherein the tuner circuit includes at least one adjustable capacitor, wherein the at least one antenna is configured to harvest an electromagnetic ambient energy; a controller connected to the tuner circuit, wherein the controller is configured to control a voltage level within the energy harvester, wherein the controller is configured to iteratively set the at least one adjustable capacitor to tuning states until a best tuning state is set, wherein the best tuning state of the at least one adjustable capacitor substantially matches an antenna frequency and a frequency of the electromagnetic ambient energy; and a rectifier to convert the electromagnetic ambient energy to a direct current.

Abstract: A temperature sensor is provided. The temperature sensor comprises: an inductor-capacitor (LC) oscillator configured; and a look-up table stored in a memory, wherein the look-up table contains a set of frequencies as a function of ambient temperature values, wherein when the LC oscillator is calibrated to a frequency from amongst the set of frequencies, the respective ambient temperature as stored in the look-up table is retrieved.

Abstract: A wakeup circuit operable in a low-power wireless device is provided. The wakeup circuit includes at least one radio frequency rectifier configured to output a rising transient voltage in response to existence of a RF signal received at an antenna of the wireless device; and a detector configured to output a wakeup signal when an input voltage level of the detector is higher than a reference voltage signal, wherein a signal output by the detector upon detection of a wakeup signal causes resetting each of the at least one rectifier upon detection of the wakeup signal; and wherein the wakeup circuit is coupled to an antenna interface of the wireless device.

Abstract: A system and method for waking up a low-power wireless device is provided. The method includes: initializing a wakeup sensitivity to minimum of a wakeup circuit of the wireless device; searching for at least one beacon by the wakeup circuit; increasing the wakeup sensitivity of the wakeup circuit when the at least one beacon is not found; and setting the wakeup sensitivity to a value at which the least one beacon is received.

Abstract: An LC oscillator is provided. The LC oscillator includes a single layer inductor disposed within a single layer inlay, wherein the single layer inductor is configured in a spiral pattern within the layer of the inlay, wherein an integrated circuit is mounted on the single layer inlay; and a capacitor included in the integrated circuit, wherein the capacitor is connected to the single layer inductor.

Abstract: An energy harvester and a method for tuning an antenna frequency of the energy harvester is provided. The energy harvester includes: a tuner circuit coupled to at least one antenna, wherein the tuner circuit includes at least one adjustable capacitor, wherein the at least one antenna is configured to harvest an electromagnetic ambient energy; a controller connected to the tuner circuit, wherein the controller is configured to control a voltage level within the energy harvester, wherein the controller is configured to iteratively set the at least one adjustable capacitor to tuning states until a best tuning state is set, wherein the best tuning state of the at least one adjustable capacitor substantially matches an antenna frequency and a frequency of the electromagnetic ambient energy; and a rectifier to convert the electromagnetic ambient energy to a direct current.

Abstract: A wireless Internet of things (IoT) tag and a method for measuring energy-charging rate of the energy harvester is provided. The wireless IoT includes at least one antenna configured to harvest an ambient energy; an energy harvester coupled to the at least one antenna; an energy storage coupled to the energy harvester and configured to store harvested energy; and an energy detector configured to the energy storage, wherein the energy detector is configured to measure an energy-charging rate of the energy harvester.

Abstract: Apparatus providing a regulated power supply to an oscillator comprises a reference voltage generator supplying a voltage reference, a regulator producing, based on a voltage received thereat, a regulated supply used by the oscillator which bases its frequency thereon, a capacitor having a terminal coupled to the regulator at a point, and a switch that is coupled to the reference voltage generator and to the point, wherein the closed switch couples the reference voltage generator to the point and wherein the open switch disconnects the point from the reference voltage generator, the switch being closed for a first time period during which a voltage based on the voltage reference from the reference voltage generator is supplied to the regulator and capacitor, and for a second, subsequent, time period the switch is opened and voltage stored on the capacitor is supplied to the regulator.

Abstract: A battery-less Internet of things (IoT) tag integrated with a proximity sensor is disclosed. The battery-less IoT tag includes: a transmit antenna designed to have an inductive element; an integrated circuit having a capacitive element; and an energy harvester coupled to a capacitor, wherein the capacitor is an on-die capacitor and the energy harvester is configured to harvest energy from ambient signals, wherein the inductive element and the capacitive element form the proximity sensor oscillating at a local oscillator (LO) frequency, and wherein a frequency offset from the LO frequency is indicative of a detection of a nearby object.

Abstract: According to the disclosed embodiments, an on-die capacitor utilized in energy-harvest based circuits is provided. In the disclosed design, the harvester is coupled to the on-die capacitor, thus there is no need to provide power interfaces and semi-conductor devices external to the IC. The disclosed design of the on-die capacitor would reduce the overall size and cost of the IC.

Abstract: An oscillator calibration circuit is presented. The oscillator calibration includes a first frequency locking circuit (FLC) coupled to a first oscillator, wherein the first FLC calibrates the frequency of the first oscillator using an over-the-air reference signal, wherein the first FLC calibrates the first oscillator prior to a data transmission session and remains free running during the data transmission session; and a second FLC coupled to a second oscillator, wherein the second FLC calibrates the frequency of the second oscillator using the over-the-air reference signal, wherein the second FLC calibrates the second oscillator immediately prior to a data transmission session and remains free running during the data transmission session.

Abstract: A power management circuit is provided. The power management circuit includes a plurality of detectors, wherein each of the plurality of detectors are configured with a different reference threshold voltage level; and a controller coupled to the plurality of detectors and configured to activate a subset of the plurality of detectors at any given time, wherein a subset of the plurality of detectors, when activated, are configured to provide a multi-level voltage level indication on a state of a voltage supply.

Abstract: A low energy transmitter is provided. The transmitter includes an antenna circuit wherein the antenna circuit has an antenna positive node interface (Vop) and an antenna negative node interface (Von); a reference voltage source that supplies a reference voltage to the antenna circuit; and a common mode feedback (CMFB) circuit coupled to the antenna circuit that receives from the antenna circuit inputs from the Vop and the Von and supplies at least one signal to the antenna circuit.

Abstract: An antenna for harvesting energy from frequency modulation radio signals are provided. An antenna for harvesting energy from frequency modulation (FM) radio signals includes a loop element coupled to an energy harvester; and an inductive element coupled to the loop element, wherein the inductive element is a planar inductor designed to allow impedance matching with the energy harvester, wherein the inductive element that extends an electric field of the loop element, wherein the loop element and the inductive element resonate at an FM frequency band.

Abstract: A multi-band energy harvesting system is provided. The system includes a plurality of harvesting antennas, wherein each of the plurality of harvesting antennas, operates a specific frequency band; and a plurality of harvesting units, wherein each of the plurality of harvesting units is coupled to a respective harvesting antenna and adapted to harvest energy at the specific frequency band of the respective harvesting antenna.

Abstract: A system and method for tracing vaccine vials are provided. The method includes receiving, from a gateway of a plurality of gateways, frequency words from tags attached to vaccine vials, wherein each tag is configured to transmit a plurality of frequency words; extracting at least one data feature from the plurality of frequency words, wherein each data feature changes in response to a change in a state of a vaccine vial; classifying the extracted data feature based on a machine learning model trained with respect to a location of the gateway, wherein the classifier is trained to label a trace parameter indicative of a state of a vaccine vial; and sending a semantic event indicating a value of the trace parameter.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting material type using low-energy sensing are disclosed. The method includes receiving frequency words from a tag attached to a container containing material, wherein the tag provides a low-energy sensing configured to transmit the frequency words; extracting at least a first data feature from the received frequency words, wherein the first data feature changes in response to a type of material in the container; classifying the extracted data feature to label a type of the material in the container; and sending a notification indicating the type of material in the container.