Absolute value wireless sensing based on nonlinear harmonic analysis assisted with frequency-hopping spread spectrum

Abstract

We herein introduce a wireless dielectric sensing platform that enables long-range interrogation of compact and fully-passive chipless sensors in complex environments filled with clutters and self-jamming. This telemetry technique requires postprocessing the harmonic received signal strength indicator (RSSI) in the frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS), for which a harmonic transponder sensor (or harmonic sensor) has a narrow-band antenna sensor operating at frequency f 0 and a wideband antenna covering the spectrum centered at 2f 0 . As a representative example, we have demonstrated that the information of the microfluidsreconfigured antenna sensor can be successfully encoded in the peak frequency of the harmonic RSSI pattern. Importantly, different from traditional passive backscatter sensors and radio-frequency identification tags, which are vulnerable to the background electromagnetic noises, this FHSS-assisted harmonic-based telemetry method allows robust far-field interrogation of sensors in realistic fully-scattered channels such as indoor environments. We envision that the lightweight battery-free harmonic sensor and system may be beneficial for widespread applications in internet-of-things, industry 4.0, smart cities, and healthcare applications such as rapid contactless point-of-care tests and telemedicine.

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