Multi-sensor UWB time-coded RFID tags for smart cities applications

This work presents a wireless sensor platform implemented on a UWB time-coded semi-passive RFID tag. Several sensors are integrated in the tag, connected to its microcontroller either by means of an analog-to-digital converter or using an I2C bus. An EEPROM memory is also connected to the I2C bus to store measurements. The sensor is normally in sleep mode and only wakes up when the reader contacts it. The reader is implemented using a commercial UWB radar. An asynchronous data transfer protocol between reader and sensor tag permits to program the tag at several measurement modes and avoids difficult synchronization mechanisms. The system is designed for applications where the reader is mobile and there is no permanent contact between reader and tag.

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