Patent Publication Number: US-2015083796-A1

Title: Nfc or rfid based sensor measurement device and measuring method using the same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0113254, filed on Sep. 24, 2013, entitled “NFC or RFID Based Sensor Measurement Device and Measuring Method Using the Same”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a near field communication (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) based sensor measurement device and a measuring method using the same, and more particularly, to an NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device which is communicated with a device capable of performing the NFC or RFID, that is, a smart device such as a smartphone, a smartpad, or the like, and has a variety of sensors detachable or attachable therefrom or thereto, and a measuring method using the same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Near field communication (NFC) and radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies are generally used to collect, store, process, and track corresponding information by attaching a tag to an object and wirelessly recognizing unique identification (ID) of the object using a reader. The NFC and RFID technologies are recently provided with a function that transmits unique identification information and measures a physical signal and a chemical signal by a sensor, such that an application area thereof has expanded. 
     As a related art measuring the physical signal and the chemical signal based on the NFC and RFID technologies, an NFC or RFID based electrochemical biosensor has been filed by the present inventor and has been disclosed in Patent Document 1. 
       FIG. 1  shows an NFC or RFID based electrochemical biosensor according to a related art. The NFC or RFID based electrochemical biosensor according to a related art is configured to include a sensor  1 ; an amplifier or a converter  2  amplifying or converting a signal received from the sensor  1 ; an analog to digital (A/D) converter  3  converting an analog signal to a digital signal; a processor  4  dating components measured by the sensor  1 ; an antenna  5  transmitting to and receiving from a smart device; a rectifier  6  receiving power from the smart device to generate necessary power; a signal sensing device  7  sensing a signal through the antenna  5 ; and a modulator and demodulator  8  modulating or demodulating the measured signal to a waveform suitable for transmitting, thereby making it possible to measure a specific component of a sample and check the measured component using the smart device. 
     However, the above-mentioned NFC or RFID based electrochemical biosensor according to a related art has the sensor and the tag integrated with each other. Therefore, in the case in which the sensor is disposable, the tag capable of being continuously used should also be discarded. 
     RELATED ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0086035 (Jul. 22, 2013) 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a near field communication (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) based sensor measurement device capable of implementing the near field communication (NFC or RFID), detaching or attaching a sensor therefrom or thereto, and using various kinds of sensors, and a measuring method using the same. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a near field communication (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) based sensor measurement device, including: a sensor connecting part from or to which a sensor is detachable or attachable; and a sensor measuring part electrically connected to the sensor, wirelessly receiving power from an external electronic device, and measuring a sensed value to be measured using the sensor and then wirelessly transmitting the sensed value to the external electronic device. 
     According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a measuring method using a near field communication (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) based sensor measurement device, the method including: an operation of connecting a sensor connecting the sensor to the sensor connecting part of the near field communication or radio frequency identification based sensor measurement device; an approaching operation approaching an external electronic device to the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device; an operation of starting measurement executing start instructions by the external electronic device; an operation of transmitting instructions supplying power and transmitting NFC instructions to the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device by the external electronic device; an operation of generating power receiving the NFC instructions and generating the power by the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device; an operation of recognizing instructions recognizing the NFC instructions and applying a voltage or a current to the sensor, by the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device; an operation of converting a signal converting an analog signal to a digital signal by the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device; a storing and transmitting operation storing the converted signal in a memory or transmitting the converted signal to the external electronic device, by the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device; a receiving and displaying operation receiving the converted signal and displaying the converted signal using an embedded application, by the external electronic device; and a terminating operation turning off an NFC function of the external electronic device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a configuration view of a near field (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) based electrochemical biosensor according to the related art; 
         FIG. 2  shows an NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows an NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a configuration view of an RF interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows an NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows an NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are use state views using a reader or a smart device; and 
         FIG. 8  is a flow chart of a measuring method using the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, a near field communication (NFC) based sensor measurement device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and a measuring method using the same will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 2  shows an NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 3  shows an NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a configuration view of an RF interface according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     The NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is configured to include a sensor connecting part  100  from/to which a sensor S may be detached and attached and a sensor measuring part  200  electrically connected to the sensor S, wirelessly receiving power from an external electronic device, and measuring a sensed value to be measured using the sensor S and then wirelessly transmitting the value to the external electronic device. An example of the external electronic device may include a smart device or a reader. The external electronic device may be the smart device having a high supply rate and easy portability, and capable of installing an application suitable for the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     A basic technical idea according to the present invention is to configure the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device to allow the sensor S to be detached or attached therefrom or thereto as shown in  FIG. 2  so that only the sensor S may be replaced in the case in which the sensor S used is disposable and the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device may be continuously used without the replacement. In addition, since the sensor measuring part  200  may wirelessly receive power from the external electronic device using a scheme such as NFC, RFID, or the like and may transmit and receive data and instructions, the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may not include a separate battery. 
     The sensor connecting part  100 , which is a terminal electrically connecting between the sensor S and the sensor measuring part  200 , may be formed in a form that an electrode terminal is inserted or is in contact with. Since a typical biosensor has a configuration having a pair of measuring electrodes or a sample recognizing electrode (one sample recognizing electrode when one of the measuring electrodes is used as a common electrode and a pair of sample recognizing electrodes otherwise) in addition to the pair of measuring electrodes, the electrode terminal of the sensor connecting part  100  is formed to be two to four. 
     The sensor connecting part  100  is characterized by the sensor S configured to be detachable or attachable therefrom or thereto, and the sensor S should be able to measure at least a physical signal or a chemical signal. 
     Meanwhile, in a case of the disposable biosensor, the disposable biosensor has a defect that it should be discarded after being used just one time. In the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sensor connecting part  100  is configured to enable the detachment or attachment of the sensor S, such that only the sensor S used as the disposable is replaced and the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device is continuously used without the replacement, thereby making it possible to solve the above-mentioned defect. 
     Describing an NFC based biosensor disclosed in Patent Document 1 filed by the present applicant as an example, the NFC based biosensor is relatively expensive and has a very small size, such that it is very difficult to design an antenna. In addition, in the case in which the biosensor measures blood, the biosensor has no choice but to be used as the disposable. In the case in which the NFC based biosensor used as the disposable as described above is integrated, portions capable of being continuously used except for the sensor are also used as the disposable and then discarded, such that costs may be seriously wasted. 
     Therefore, in the case in which the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device is configured in a typical credit card form as shown in  FIG. 2  to enable the sensor S to be separated therefrom, the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device may be carried by putting into a purse such as the credit card and the like and may be used by replacing only the sensor S, thereby making it possible to decrease costs. In addition, the antenna  220  may have a large size, such that the antenna may be designed to obtain much gain. 
     In addition, when forming the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device as a dongle, it may be utilized as the NFC sensor measurement device having a shape of accessories of a cellular phone or a key ring. In this case, the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may also serve as a security function. 
     The sensor measuring part  200 , which is a component electrically connected to the sensor S through the sensor connecting part  100  to thereby measure a sensed value to be measured, process data, transmit and receive the data to and from an external electronic device, and receive power from the external electronic device, is configured to include an A/D converter  210  converting an analog signal received from the sensor connecting part  100  to a digital signal; an antenna  220  transmitting and receiving the data and power to and from the external electronic device; a radio frequency (RF) interface  230  sensing or modulating/demodulating the data or a control signal from the external electronic device received through the antenna  220 ; and a controlling unit  240  processing NFC instructions (instructions using the NFC or RFID) transmitted from the external electronic device. In this case, in order to allow the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention to be used in various types of sensors S, the sensor measuring part  200  may be initialized or reconfigure its environment when the sensor S is electrically connected to the sensor connecting part  100 . The initialization may include deletion of data stored in a memory, initialization of a program counter, or the like, and the environment reconfiguration may include selection of a data processing algorithm depending on a type of sensor S, a switching of a control mode such as an applied voltage, a measuring time, and the like, a switching of a data transmitting and receiving mode, and the like. The above-mentioned initialization or environment reconfiguration is performed according to a control of the controlling unit  240 , but may be performed in a state in which separate components are added. 
     In addition, the sensor measuring part  200  is configured to further include a signal amplifier  250  amplifying a magnitude of the signal received from the sensor connecting part  100 ; a signal converter  260  converting the signal received from the sensor connecting part  100  into a signal suitable for processing in the controlling unit  240 ; an electrically programmable and erasable memory  270 ; and a correction processor  280  correcting the signal received from the sensor connecting part  100 , thereby making it possible to smoothly perform the near field communication (NFC or RFID) with the external electronic device. 
     The A/D converter  210 , which is a component converting an analog signal into a digital signal, is connected to the sensor connecting part  100  to convert the analog signal received from the sensor connecting part  100  to the digital signal and provide the converted digital signal to the controlling unit  240 . 
     The antenna  220 , which is a component capable of transmitting and receiving the data and power to and from the external electronic device such as the smart device, is formed in a shape having a predetermined pattern as shown in  FIG. 2 , for example. A detailed specification (for example, a wire, a width, a pattern, or the like) of the antenna  220  is changed depending on a frequency, an arrival distance, an energy transfer amount per time, or the like of the near field communication, and since this is a design item for a person skilled in the art, this may be used by appropriately designing depending on situations. 
     The RF interface  230 , which is a component detecting and modulating/demodulating the signal received through the antenna  220 , is connected to the antenna  220  and is configured to include a signal modulator and demodulator  231  and a rectifier  233 . 
     The signal modulator and demodulator  231 , which is a component for modulating the signal containing the measured data into a waveform suitable for transmission in order to transmit the measured data to the external electronic device, or demodulating the signal received from the external electronic device into a waveform suitable for a processing by the controlling unit  240 , transfers the signal modulated into several bands according to a current near field communication standard to the antenna  220 . 
     The rectifier  233  is a component generating the power necessary to drive the signal modulator and demodulator  231 , the controlling unit  240 , and the like by receiving the power from the external electronic device which is external to the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device, since the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a passive type without having a battery. 
     In addition, the RF interface  230  may further include a signal detector  235  detecting the signal from the external electronic device received through the antenna  220  to transfer it to the controlling unit  240  or the signal modulator and demodulator  231 , a voltage regulator  237  providing appropriate voltage level and a clock generator  239  generating a clock to thereby supply the regulated voltage and the generated clock to the controlling unit  240 . By the signal modulator and demodulator  231  and the signal detector  235 , the near field communication between the near field communication based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention and the external electronic device may be performed. The rectifier  233  and the voltage regulator  237  form a power generator. 
     Since a currently standardized NFC has a frequency band of 13.56 MHz and a maximum operation distance within 20 cm, and is generally used within 10 cm, the external electronic device needs to be approached to the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention (in a case of RFID, the frequency band or the operation distance may be varied). When the external electronic device approaches the sensor measurement device, an electromagnetic induction phenomenon may be generated from the external electronic device to the antenna  220 , where the rectifier  233  appropriately converts the power transferred by the above-mentioned electromagnetic induction and generates a necessary voltage to thereby supply them to internal elements. 
     The controlling unit  240 , which is a component recognizing and processing NFC instructions transmitted from the external electronic device which is external to the NFC sensor measurement device, is connected to the RF interface  230  to thereby recognize the NFC instructions transmitted from the external electronic device through the antenna  220  and apply a current or voltage to the sensor S. Since the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is the passive type, it uses the power generated from the rectifier  233 . 
     The signal amplifier  250 , which is a component amplifying a magnitude of the signal, amplifies the signal when the signal transmitted from the sensor connecting part  100  is weak to thereby facilitate a signal processing. The signal amplifier may be omitted when the controlling unit  240  has good performance or the magnitude of the signal transmitted from the sensor connecting part  100  is sufficiently large. 
     The signal converter  260 , which is a component converting the signal transmitted from the sensor connecting part  100  to a signal suitable for the processing by the controlling unit  240 , may be a converter converting a current into a voltage, for example. Typically, since electronic elements mainly use a voltage value as an input, the signal converter  260  converting a current value into the voltage value is generally used, and includes integrated chips (ICs) such as an operational amplifier (OP AMP), for example. When the internal elements of the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention are designed to process the current value, the signal converter  260  may be omitted. That is, in the case in which the current value is used as a sensor input, the voltage value may be obtained as a result, such that the signal converter  260  may be omitted. 
     The memory  270 , which is a component storing data processed by the controlling unit  240 , is connected to the controlling unit  240  and may be an electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM). The EEPROM, which is a nonvolatile memory that may stably get back recorded data even when not powered, may electrically erase and re-record the recorded data as a variant of an erasable and programmable read only memory (EPROM). The data processed by the controlling unit  240  may be stored or transmitted to the external electronic device without requiring storing procedure, using the above-mentioned EEPROM. In the case in which the data processed by the controlling unit  240  does not need to be stored, the memory  270  may be omitted. 
     The sensor measuring part  200  may be configured to further include the correction processor  280 , if necessary. The correction processor  280 , which is a component correcting data measured by the sensor S among the digital signals transferred from the A/D converter  210 , is connected to the A/D converter  210  to thereby correct the data measured by the sensor S and transfer the corrected data to the controlling unit  240 . When using the correction processor  280 , power consumption is increased while the data measured by the sensor S may be corrected by more precise and accurate operation. A design may be made so that the controlling unit  240  may process the above-mentioned data correction function. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show NFC or RFID based sensor measurement devices according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , an NFC tag chip including the RF interface  230 , the controlling unit  240 , and the memory  270  may be formed. In addition, as shown in FIG.  6 , an NFC core including the RF interface  230 , the controlling unit  240 , and the memory  270  may be formed, and the NFC tag chip having the A/D converter  210 , the signal amplifier  250 , and the signal converter  260  coupled to the NFC core may be formed in a form of a system on chip (SoC). 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are use state views using a reader or a smart device. As shown in  FIG. 7A , a measured value may be displayed by the reader, or as shown in  FIG. 7B , the measured value may be displayed by the smart device. 
     The smart device may be a smartphone, a PDA, a tablet PC, a notebook, or the like having an embedded NFC/RFID function. 
     The reader refers to a device capable of having the embedded NFC/RFID function to thereby communicate with the NFC or RFID sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention and reading the measured data, and a user who does not use the smart device is required to use the reader. 
     Next, a measuring method using the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.  FIG. 8  is a flow chart of a measuring method using the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     {circle around (1)} An operation of connecting a sensor (S 10 ): The sensor S is connected to the sensor connecting part  100  of the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device using a method such as an insertion, or the like. 
     {circle around (2)} An approaching operation (S 20 ): The external electronic device approaches the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     {circle around (3)} An operation of starting a measurement (S 30 ): As an operation executing start instructions by the external electronic device, for example, the start instruction may be executed by an application installed in the smart device or executed by pressing a button of the reader. 
     {circle around (4)} An operation of transmitting instructions (S 40 ): The external electronic device supplies power and transmits NFC instructions to the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     {circle around (5)} An operation of generating power (S 50 ): The NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention receives the NFC instructions through the antenna  220  and generates the power at the rectifier  233 . 
     {circle around (6)} An operation of recognizing the instructions (S 60 ): The controlling unit  240  recognizes the NFC instructions and applies a voltage or current to the sensor S to thereby measure a sensor value. 
     {circle around (7)} An operation of converting a signal (S 70 ): The A/D converter  210  converts an analog signal into a digital signal. 
     {circle around (8)} A storing and transmitting operation (S 80 ): The converted signal is stored in the memory  270  or transmitted to the external electronic device through the antenna  220 . 
     {circle around (9)} A receiving and displaying operation (S 90 ): The external electronic device receives the converted signal and displays it using an embedded application. 
     {circle around (10)} A terminating operation (S 100 ): An NFC function of the external electronic device is turned off to thereby stop the power supply and terminate the measurement of the sensor S. 
     The operation of starting the measurement (S 30 ) and the operation of transmitting the instructions (S 40 ) may be performed before the operation of connecting the sensor (S 10 ). That is, before the sensor is connected to the sensor connecting part  100  and the NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention approaches the external electronic device, the start instructions may be executed through the external electronic device. 
     The NFC or RFID based sensor measurement device according to the present invention may implement the near field communication (NFC or RFID) to thereby measure data of the sensor by a smart device supporting the near field communication at anytime and anywhere, may replace only the sensor and continuously use the sensor measurement device without the replacement in the case in which the sensor used is disposable because the sensor is configured to be detached from the sensor measurement device to thereby decrease costs, and may use the various kinds of sensor to thereby have generality.