Electronic Monitoring Device

Abstract

An electronic device for monitoring. The electronic device includes a functional module arranged to provide an active function, a communication module arranged to communicate with an external communication device, and an energy harvesting module arranged to transform a source energy from an external source to electrical energy for energising both the communication module and the functional module.

1 . An electronic device comprising:
 a functional module arranged to provide an active function;   a communication module arranged to communicate with an external communication device; and   an energy harvesting module arranged to transform a source energy from an external source or from ambient environment to electrical energy for energising both the communication module and the functional module.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the energy harvesting module comprises an energy harvester arranged to harvest the source energy from the external source. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the source energy includes light energy. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the energy harvester includes a photovoltaic panel. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the source energy includes radio-frequency waves. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the radio-frequency waves are arranged to be radiated from a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the energy harvester comprises a radio-frequency energy harvesting antenna. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the energy harvesting module further comprises an energy storage arranged to store the transformed electrical energy. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the energy harvesting module further comprises a voltage regulator arranged to stabilise and regulate a voltage output of the electrical energy providing to the functional module and the communication module. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the communication module comprises a communication antenna arranged to communicate with the external communication device. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the communication module further comprises a memory chip arranged to store an output from the functional module. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the communication module includes a Bluetooth communication module. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the communication module includes a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication module. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the communication module includes a radio-frequency communication module. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the external communication device includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the communication module includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) transponder. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the external communication device includes an RFID reader arranged to energise both the RFID transponder and the functional module when upon the RFID reader reads the RFID transponder. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the functional module includes a sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the sensor is arranged to detect one or more attributes of an environment or an object by monitoring one or more electronic outputs, and wherein the one or more electronic outputs change in response to the one or more attributes of the environment or the object. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the sensor includes a temperature sensor and/or a humidity sensor. 
     
     
         21 . The electronic device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the functional module includes a clock arranged to determine a time stamp associated with the one of more electronic outputs. 
     
     
         22 . A monitoring system comprising at least one electronic device in accordance with  claim 1 ; wherein the external communication device is arranged to communicate with the at least one electronic device so as to monitor one or more attributes of an environment or an object. 
     
     
         23 . The monitoring system in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the external communication device is arranged to repeatedly communicate with the at least one electronic device in a predetermined time interval so as to monitor the one or more attributes of the environment or the object within a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         24 . The monitoring system in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the external communication device is further arranged to determine a position of each of the electronic device based on a signal received by the communication device. 
     
     
         25 . The monitoring system in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the one or more attributes include temperature and/or humidity.