Power harvesting sensor for monitoring and control

• US 20040150529A1
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Annigeri, Balkrishna S., Card, Richard P. Jr., Benoit, Jeffrey T., Sun, Fanping, Winston, Howard A., Tulpule, Bhalchandra R.
• Application Number:
  US10/354,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20040150529A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/679
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A sensor system includes a power harvesting subsystem, a control subsystem, a sensor subsystem and a communication subsystem. Electromechanical systems generate and dissipate multiple forms of waste energy as a by-product of system operation. Waste energy in the system may lead to destructive side effects which adversely affect the life of system elements. The sensor system is powered above a predetermined level and communicates the sensed information to a remote processor for system diagnosis.

Claims

1. A power harvesting remote sensor system comprising:

a sensor subsystem; and

a power harvesting subsystem which draws power from a system waste energy, said power harvesting subsystem powering said sensor subsystems and said communication subsystem above a predetermined level of system waste energy.

2. The remote sensor system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a piezoelectric transducer to draw power from said system waste energy.

3. The remote sensor system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system waste energy comprises a mechanical vibration.

4. The remote sensor system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system waste energy comprises an acoustic vibration.

5. The remote sensor system as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensor subsystem senses heat energy.

6. The remote sensor system as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined level of system waste energy comprises a level above normal levels of waste energy.

7. The remote sensor system as recited in claim 1, wherein said predetermined level of system waste energy comprises a damage initiating waste energy level.

8. The remote sensor system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a communication subsystem comprises a wireless link to communicate information between said sensor subsystem and a remote processor.

9. The remote sensor system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system comprises a helicopter system.

10. A method of operating a remote sensor system comprising the steps of:

(1) harvesting a waste energy from a system above a predetermined level of system waste energy;

(2) converting the waste energy into electrical energy to power a sensor subsystem and a communication subsystem; and

(3) communicating information through the communication subsystem between the sensor subsystem and a remote processor.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said step (1) further comprises harvesting the waste energy in response to the predetermined level of system waste energy being greater than a damage initiating waste energy level.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said step (1) further comprises harvesting the waste energy in response to the predetermined level of system waste energy being greater than a normal waste energy level generated by the system.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said step (1) further comprises harvesting a mechanical vibration waste energy in response to the mechanical vibration waste energy being greater than normal mechanical vibration waste energy generated by the system

14. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said step (1) further comprises harvesting a mechanical vibration waste energy in response to the mechanical vibration waste energy being greater than damage initiation mechanical vibration waste energy generated by the system.

15. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said step (3) further comprises communicating information through a wireless link.

16. A method of operating a remote sensor system comprising the steps of:

(1) harvesting a mechanical vibration waste energy from a system above a predetermined level of mechanical vibration waste energy;

(2) converting the mechanical vibration waste energy into electrical energy to power a sensor subsystem and a communication subsystem;

(3) sensing a system element; and

(4) communicating information sensed in said step (3) to a remote processor.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said step (1) further comprises harvesting the mechanical vibration waste energy in response to the predetermined level of mechanical vibration waste energy being greater than a damage initiating mechanical vibration waste energy level.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said step (1) further comprises harvesting the mechanical vibration waste energy in response to said predetermined level of mechanical vibration waste energy being greater than a normal mechanical vibration waste energy generated by the system.

19. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of storing the electrical energy from said step (2) prior to said step (4).