Technology Available for Licensing

Case 14851

FM TABS: Frequency Modifying RFID Tag Antenna Based Sensing

Keywords:

Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID), sensor, tag antenna

Applications:

Cold supply chain operations

Problem:

Almost a third of perishables become damaged or destroyed during cold supply chain operations. This can be reduced by using better temperature sensors to monitor ambient temperature conditions.

Technology:

This invention describes a sensor design that uses a shape memory polymer and a metal plate to convert temperature violations into a change of tag antenna properties. This single-use device is secure for audit trails as it cannot be reset once the temperature threshold is violated. The invention also describes a design and design methodology for an UHF RFID tag antenna that shifts its optimum operating frequency between 902 and 928 MHz band when a temperature threshold is exceeded.

Advantages:

• Standardized communication protocols
• Low cost tags
• Adoption by major US retail companies as a track and trace solution

Inventors:

• Professor Sanjay E. Sarma (Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT)
• Rahul Bhattacharyya (Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT)
• Christian Floerkemeier
• Daniel Deavours

Intellectual Property:

US Provisional Patent 61/545925 filed 10/11/2011

Publications:

Please contact: Christopher R. Noble MIT Technology Licensing Officer 1 Cambridge Center, Kendall Square, NE18-501 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142-1601

Email: crn@mit.edu Tel: 617-253-6966 Fax: 617–258-6790 Website: http://tlo.mit.edu