Abstract
In this paper, we newly introduce a wireless identification system using a solar cell and RF transceivers. The reader sends interrogating signal to a transponder using LED visible light, and the transponder responds to the reader using RF signal. The transponder consists of a solar cell, an amplifier, a microprocessor, and an RF transmitter. The solar cell receives the visible light from the reader and generates current to supply electric power to the other devices in the transponder. At the same time, the solar cell detects interrogating signal in the reader light. The microprocessor senses the interrogating signal and generates a responding signal. The RF transmitter radiates the responding signal to the reader. The transponder is a passive circuit because it operates without external power. In experiments, the maximum read distance between a reader and a transponder was about 1.6 meter.