Electro-acoustic sensors for remote monitoring
First Claim
1. A system for sensing a physical property inside a pipe having a metallic wall, the system comprising:
- a transceiver mounted at a transceiver location on an external surface of the metallic wall, the transceiver comprising;
one or more electroacoustic transmitting elements;
a signal generator; and
an amplifier;
a transponder mounted at a transponder location on an internal surface of the metallic wall, the transponder comprising;
one or more electroacoustic receiving elements; and
a sensor that measures the physical property of an interior environment of the pipe,wherein said electroacoustic transmitting and receiving elements are in bi-directional ultrasonic communication such that the transponder is configured to communicate physical sensor data, received from the sensor, to the transceiver, andwherein the one or more electroacoustic transmitting elements are arranged in a convex configuration and the one or more electroacoustic receiving elements are arranged in a concave configuration.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Ultrasonic transmitting elements in an electroacoustical transceiver transmit acoustic energy to an electroacoustical transponder, which includes ultrasonic receiving elements to convert the acoustic energy into electrical power for the purposes of powering one or more sensors that are electrically coupled to the electroacoustical transponder. The electroacoustical transponder transmits data collected by the sensor(s) back to the electroacoustical transceiver wirelessly, such as through impedance modulation or electromagnetic waves. A feedback control loop can be used to adjust system parameters so that the electroacoustical transponder operates at an impedance minimum. An implementation of the system can be used to collect data in a vehicle, such as the tire air pressure. Another implementation of the system can be used to collect data in remote locations, such as in pipes, enclosures, in wells, or in bodies of water.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A system for sensing a physical property inside a pipe having a metallic wall, the system comprising:
-
a transceiver mounted at a transceiver location on an external surface of the metallic wall, the transceiver comprising; one or more electroacoustic transmitting elements; a signal generator; and an amplifier; a transponder mounted at a transponder location on an internal surface of the metallic wall, the transponder comprising; one or more electroacoustic receiving elements; and a sensor that measures the physical property of an interior environment of the pipe, wherein said electroacoustic transmitting and receiving elements are in bi-directional ultrasonic communication such that the transponder is configured to communicate physical sensor data, received from the sensor, to the transceiver, and wherein the one or more electroacoustic transmitting elements are arranged in a convex configuration and the one or more electroacoustic receiving elements are arranged in a concave configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A system for providing electrical energy to a sensor disposed in an enclosure having a metallic wall, the system comprising:
-
a transceiver mounted at a transceiver location on an external surface of the metallic wall, the transceiver comprising; one or more electroacoustic transmitting elements that generate acoustic energy; a signal generator; and an amplifier; a transponder mounted at a transponder location on an internal surface of the metallic wall, the transponder comprising; one or more electroacoustic receiving elements that convert the acoustic energy into electrical energy; and a sensor that measures a physical property of an object disposed in the enclosure, wherein said electroacoustic transmitting and receiving elements are in bi-directional ultrasonic communication such that the transponder is configured to communicate physical sensor data, received from the sensor, to the transceiver, and wherein the sensor comprises an RF transponder, and wherein the RF transponder is configured to perform a scan of an interior of the enclosure to sense a shape of the object. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification