Wireless network time stamp system and method

• US 20060220815A1
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Thomas, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,508,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/447
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0416 allocating a corresponding wheel position on vehicle, e.g. front/left or rear/right

Abstract

A wireless time stamp system and associated method is disclosed and includes a plurality of slave wireless sensor components each configured to transmit a sensed system condition at unique predetermined time intervals. The system further includes a master wireless control component configured to receive the transmitted sensed system conditions from each of the slave wireless sensor components. The master wireless control component is further configured to assign the unique predetermined time intervals to each of the slave wireless sensor components, thereby eliminating data collisions at the master wireless control component.

Claims

1. A wireless time stamp system, comprising:

a plurality of slave wireless sensor components configured to transmit a sensed system condition at unique predetermined time intervals; and

a master wireless control component configured to receive the transmitted sensed system conditions from each of the slave wireless sensor components, and further configured to assign the unique predetermined time intervals to the slave wireless sensor components, respectively.

2. The wireless time stamp system of claim 1, wherein the sensed system condition of at least two of the slave wireless sensor components are different from one another.

3. The wireless time stamp system of claim 1, wherein the unique predetermined time intervals are arranged with respect to one another in time such that data collisions associated with the transmitted sensed system conditions from the plurality of slave wireless sensor components do not occur at the master wireless control component at the same time.

4. The wireless time stamp system of claim 1, wherein the master wireless control component is further configured to generate updated unique predetermined time intervals and assign the updated unique predetermined time intervals to the plurality of slave wireless sensor components based on one or more system parameters.

5. The wireless time stamp system of claim 4, wherein the master wireless control component is further configured to assign the respective updated unique predetermined time intervals to each of the slave wireless sensor components upon receipt of the transmitted sensed system conditions from the respective slave wireless sensor components.

6. The wireless time stamp system of claim 1, wherein each slave wireless sensor component comprises:

a battery;

a system condition sensor coupled to the battery;

a sensor controller coupled to the battery and the sensor;

a transceiver coupled to the battery and the controller; and

a clock circuit coupled to the battery and the controller,

wherein in a standby mode the controller and transceiver are in a low power condition and the clock circuit is activated and operable to determine when the respective unique predetermined time interval is to be initiated.

7. The wireless time stamp system of claim 6, wherein during the respective unique predetermined time interval, the clock circuit of the respective slave wireless sensor component activates, directly or indirectly, the respective controller and transceiver, and wherein during the interval the respective transceiver transmits data associated with the sensed system condition in accordance with control instructions from the respective controller.

8. The wireless time stamp system of claim 7, wherein during the respective unique predetermined time interval, the respective sensor acquires the data associated with the sensed system condition or the data is acquired by a sensor diagnostic, a controller diagnostic, a transceiver diagnostic or a battery diagnostic.

9. The wireless time stamp system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the slave wireless sensor components is configured to identify one or more conditions and transmit a signal associated therewith to the master wireless control component during any time period.

10. The wireless time stamp system of claim 9, wherein the at least one slave wireless sensor component is configured to transmit the signal associated with the one or more conditions a plurality of times to ensure receipt thereof at the master wireless control component.

11. A multi-mode wireless time stamp system, comprising:

a plurality of wireless sensor components each configured to transmit a periodic unique identification signal in a configuration or initialization mode of operation; and

a wireless control component configured to receive the periodic identification signals in the configuration or initialization mode of operation, and further configured to identify each of the plurality of wireless sensor components based on the periodic, unique identification signals received thereat, and further configured to assign each of the plurality of slave wireless sensor components a unique predetermined time interval for subsequent transmission of information associated therewith, respectively.

12. The multi-mode wireless time stamp system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of wireless sensor components are further configured to enter a low power mode of operation upon receipt of the unique predetermined time interval from the wireless control component.

13. The multi-mode wireless time stamp system of claim 12, wherein in the low power mode at least one of the plurality of wireless sensor components has all components associated therewith deactivated except for a system condition sensor and clock circuit associated therewith.

14. The multi-mode wireless time stamp system of claim 13, wherein during the low power mode the system condition sensor is configured to detect one or more alarm conditions and upon such detection activate a controller and transceiver associated therewith for transmission of the detection of the one or more alarm conditions to the wireless control component.

15. The multi-mode wireless time stamp system of claim 14, wherein the transceiver is configured to periodically transmit the detection to the wireless control component until receipt of a confirmation signal therefrom.

16. The multi-mode wireless time stamp system of claim 15, wherein the wireless control component is further configured to generate updated unique predetermined time intervals for each of the plurality of wireless sensor components, and transmit the updated unique predetermined time intervals upon receiving a next sensed system condition from each of the plurality of wireless sensor components.

17. A multi-sensor network, comprising:

a plurality of wireless means for sensing and transmitting a sensed system condition at unique predetermined time intervals; and

a wireless control means for receiving the transmitted sensed system conditions, and assigning the unique predetermined time intervals to the plurality of sensing and transmitting means, respectively.

18. A method of transmitting data wirelessly from a plurality of wireless sensor components to a wireless control component, comprising:

assigning a predetermined time interval for transmission of the data to each of the wireless sensor components, wherein each of the predetermined time intervals are unique; and

wirelessly transmitting data from each wireless sensor component to the wireless control component during the respective predetermined time interval, thereby avoiding data collisions associated with the data at the wireless control component.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

maintaining each wireless sensor component in a low power mode of operation at time periods not associated with the respective predetermined time intervals; and

activating data transmission components associated with the respective wireless sensor component during the respective predetermined time interval.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising monitoring the respective predetermined time interval in each wireless sensor component via a clock circuit.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

identifying an identity of each wireless sensor component; and

assigning the predetermined time interval in accordance with the identity of each wireless sensor component.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein identifying an identity of each wireless sensor component comprises:

for each wireless sensor component, transmitting a periodic, repeating unique identification signal to the wireless control component; and

confirming identification of each respective wireless sensor component by transmitting thereto from the wireless control component a receipt confirmation.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the repeating portions of the periodic repeating unique identification signals of each wireless sensor component are spaced apart in time by a random amount.

24. A method of configuring a wireless sensor network comprising a plurality of wireless sensor components to a wireless control component, comprising:

maintaining each of a plurality of wireless sensor components in a low power condition in a standby mode of operation; and

activating the plurality of wireless sensor components in a configuration or initialization mode of operation by transmission of a wake-up command from a wireless control component.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein during the configuration or initialization mode of operation each of the wireless sensor components send unique periodic identification transmissions to the wireless control component.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

identifying an identity of each of the wireless sensor components at the wireless control component based on the received unique periodic identification transmissions; and

assigning a unique predetermined time interval to each of the wireless sensor components during which data is transmitted from the respective wireless sensor component to the wireless control component.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising maintaining a low power mode of operation in each of the wireless sensor components, wherein only a respective clock circuit and a respective sensor associated with the respective wireless sensor component is activated.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

exiting the low power mode and entering a send mode when the clock circuit of each respective wireless sensor component identifies the respective predetermined time interval; and

transmitting sensor data from the respective wireless sensor component to the wireless control component during the predetermined time interval.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

determining an updated predetermined time interval based upon one or more system characteristics; and

sending the updated predetermined time interval to the respective wireless sensor component after receipt of the sensor data therefrom.