This week further study was conducted on antenna possibilities. We also conducted initial testing with our RF mixer for signal modulation. We were able to successfully modulate our data signal with the carrier wave for data transmission across the antennas. Further work was also done on the Cadence design.

This week we conducted a number of tests with the schmidt trigger on the tag and amplifier circuit on the reader. Vaughn did further work on the UI and Robert did some updating of the model IC in Cadence. Luke organized the material for the design document so we can begin updating it for this semester.

This week we finally received our IC PCB. We assembled the parts on our board and conducted initial testing. Kurt then completed the design for version B of our IC PCB layout and ordered it. In addition to this, we worked on the design document and project poster.

This week we did further preparatory work for our midterm presentation. The PCB layout was finished and the board and parts were ordered. Also further work was completed on the reader side with testing of an amplifier circuit.

Over the past week we got a prototype antenna put together for testing with our prototype IC. We also began work on a prototype modulator using a BJT, but have yet to produce a successfully modulated signal (perhaps due to the very large amount of noise). In addition to this, further work was done on development of the software’s GUI. We also prepared for our presentation which we will be delivering this Thursday.

The major accomplishment over the past couple of weeks was our mid-term presentation for Dr. Amariucai. This received great feedback as well as a number of good suggestions. Further work in cadence, on the PCB board parts, and software was also done.

Now that we are entering February, Dr. Qiao wanted to discuss a number of aspects of our project at our weekly meeting to gather a better idea of where we are currently at and what steps we need to be taking. We spent most of the time discussing our IC prototype. For next week, he wanted to see an update on the current states of the user interface, the reader, and the antenna. He also wanted us to begin work on a printed circuit board design of our IC. On Sunday, February 5 we met as a group to discuss our progress and have members from the different groups touch base.

This week we began work on the PCB prototype design including looking into necessary parts. Also further simulation work was performed as well as design work in Cadence.

This week several members made good progress on our PCB schematic design for the integrated circuit. Other work included work on capacitance charging logic, devising a schema layout for the database of the user interface, work on the reader amplifier, and beginning to update the design document for this semester.

The first week we met as a group to touch base and discuss some of our goals for the semester. Vaughn began work on the development of the software companion device. We also started initial work on debugging our IC prototype.

This week we had our first meeting with our advisor, Dr. Qiao, in which we discussed the current state of our project and goals for the semester. During the week, Mehdy continued his work on the development of the rectifier antenna and the IC team continued further work with our prototype.

During our advisor meeting we discussed the roles each of our team members are currently taking in addition to re-assigning some people to different teams.

Over the past couple of weeks our team has started to work on our preparations for our final presentation. We also received our parts and have done some initial prototype work on the capacitor sensor and mux components of the tag. Further developments on the website have also been completed.

After our advisor meeting last week when we clarified the specific application of our project we then needed to discuss the route we want our project to take. The reader team looked at changing the frequency we will be operating at (at least for testing purposes this semester) as the reader technology options available to us are much cheaper for a 125 kHz or 13.5 MHz signal when compared to the 900MHz signal we were thinking of using. A 13.5 MHz signal is also more conducive to antenna testing as the antenna team will be able to use the function generator to simulate the incoming signal. We may still try to expand to the 900MHz next semester so that we can obtain a longer range, but the lower frequency will work well for testing. We also defined our goals for the remainder of this semester and determined to use a state machine design to obtain and transfer the capacitance data on the tag.

This week our team finally settled on a design for our reader and tag. We were looking into simply purchasing a reader, but were finding that it would be best to design our own so as to fulfill the necessary requirements. On that tag side, we decided to go with a MUX-design for combining and sending the necessary data from the tag. We met as a team on Sunday (10/30) to go over all of the different components and consider where the priority needs to be for accomplishing our semester-goals. We also updated our bill of materials with all the parts we wish to purchase and got it approved by our advisor, who only asked that we check at the parts shop first to see if they have any of the things we need.

The main focus of our group over the past week has been completing the design document. We met on two occasions to focus specifically on getting that done and actually had all members but one in attendance at our Sunday meeting. We also sent our bill of materials to Dr. Mina to be processed. In addition to this, Mehdi did further testing with prototype antennas, Kurt did further simulation tests using his capacitive sensor design, and Dr. Qiao proposed a new means of tag identification at our advisor meeting.

This week the the reader group did further research on different reader application options in terms of price and quality. That information was then presented at the weekly meeting with the advisor. The antenna group performed calculations for the signal power that will be passed from the RFID reader to the tag. The IC group also met and did some initial testing on the power harvesting of the tag. They also obtained a variable capacitor that will be utilized for testing the capacitor sensor once we purchase one. The IC team also worked on refining the circuit for the tag.

The IC group met to continue testing on our initial bread-board prototype circuit simulating an integrated circuit. We utilized a schmitt trigger in the hopes of producing a PWM output. Mehdy also designed a circuit with a more efficient means of identifying the capacitance. He presented it at both the our team meeting on Sunday and advisor meeting on Monday. On our Sunday meeting, we made plans for the initial antenna testing and also began documenting our project plan. On Monday we met with our advisor to discuss the state of the project, clarify some details, and determine which circuit design for the tag would be best to pursue at this point.

The biggest accomplishment for this week was the completion of our project plan. We met during the normal class time on Tuesday, October 11 to dedicate time to developing and documenting our plan. The IC and Reader teams met on Thursday to complete the final details of our project plan and get it ready for submission. In addition to the plan itself, the Reader and IC teams discussed the issues presented by using RFID technology to output a variable measurement from the IC when RFID typically outputs the stagnant identification information of the tag itself. This will be something we will have to address in the coming weeks as we develop the integrated circuit and figure out how we are going to transfer the capacitance data. Our advisor recommended that we contact the ISU card provider and ask for the data sheet for the internal circuitry of the ISU cards.

Our team leader Brandon Baxter met with our project advisor, Dr. Qiao, to begin initial discussion for our project. Details from that meeting are included below. Brandon presented that information to the rest of our group at our first large group meeting. We discussed the three main components of the project and divided into three different groups based on experience and interest. Each of the groups set a weekly meeting team conducive to everyone’s schedule and made initial plans for research.

The focus of this week was conducting initial research. We also organized weekly meeting times for the subgroups, organized our google drive for documenting relevant information, and determined a meeting time with Dr. Qiao. Each of the three subgroups also generated initial questions to ask our advisor. We posed these questions and discussed further details/plans for the project on Monday, 9/19 with Dr. Qiao and Dr. Song.

This week our team conducted further research on differing aspects of our project (as described in the weekly accomplishment section). The reader group has starting looking into technology and pricing for different RF radio options. The antenna group has looked into options for dipole antennas. The IC group looked further into circuit development for power generation at the receiving end on the RF tag.