TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY
RFID Sensor Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO)
A new temperature sensor for harsh environments that is inherently self-powered and completely wireless.
Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering the opportunity to enter into a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize the RFID Sensor Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO).
Overview: This technology consists of a wireless, completely passive (self-powered) analog voltage amplitude to RF frequency converter for real time, harsh environment measurements. Currently, wired thermocouples are the most common temperature sensor used in nuclear reactors and other harsh environments. INL has made significant advances in thermocouple design, but there are still limitations in durability and increased expense in wired instrumented test assemblies. This technology will address these wired shortcomings with a wireless, in-core temperature measurement based on RF technology. This technology is inherently self-powered with an extremely long working life.
Description: This technology uses the RFID sensor as a frequency modulated transmitter of analog voltage amplitude. Wireless transmission is achieved through RF transmission using tuned polymer derived ceramics (PDC) as the capacitive dielectric and is the transduction mechanism for a RFID sensor. The novelty of this technology is to use the RFID sensor as a frequency modulated transmitter of analog voltage amplitude. The VCO provides the capability to efficiently use different types of analog sensors such as thermocouples, voltage or pressure.
Benefits:
- Inherently self-powered
- Long working life
- Works with any sensor capable of producing an analog voltage or current
- Increased sensing capability
Applications:
- Nuclear reactor temperature measurement
- Other harsh environment temperature sensing
Development Status: TRL 2, concept stage. In need of commercial partner for additional testing and development.
IP Status: US Patent Application No. 62/926,820, “Sensing Units Including a Radio-Frequency Sensor, and Related Systems, Devices, and Methods,” BEA Docket No. BA-1002.
INL is seeking to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available.
Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.
Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Kala Majeti at td@inl.gov.
