Patent ID: 8422317

Claim:
A self-powered detection device comprising: (a) a Non-Volatile Memory unit comprising at least a NVM cell and a sensor that is activated by a physical or chemical action or phenomenon, wherein the sensor forms an energy harvester that transforms energy from the physical or chemical action or phenomenon into an electrical stimulus pulse, wherein the Non-Volatile Memory unit is being arranged for storing in the NVM cell, by using electrical power of the electrical stimulus pulse, a bit of information relative to detection by the sensor, during a detection mode of the self-powered detection device, of at least one physical or chemical action or phenomenon applied to the sensor with at least a given strength or intensity and resulting in a voltage stimulus signal provided between a set control terminal and a base terminal of the Non-Volatile Memory unit with at least a given set voltage, wherein the NVM cell has, in the detection mode, a first terminal electrically connected to the set control terminal and a second terminal electrically connected to the base terminal of the Non-Volatile Memory unit; (b) a read circuit, or the Non-volatile Memory unit is arranged to be coupled to the read circuit; wherein, in a read mode of the self-powered detection device in which at least the read circuit is powered by a power source, the read circuit is electrically connected to the second terminal of the NVM cell for reading a state of the NVM cell via the second terminal; and (c) a switch arranged in an electrical path between ground of the sensor and the second terminal of the NVM cell and having a control gate of the switch electrically connected to the set control terminal in the detection mode, wherein the switch is being ON when the control gate receives the voltage stimulus signal and the self-powered detection device is arranged so that the switch is OFF in the read mode.