Sensor and transmission control circuit in adaptive interface package

• US 20060238336A1
• Filed: 02/08/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FTC-Forward Threat Control LLC
• Original Assignee: FTC-Forward Threat Control LLC
• Inventors: Bachta, Tony, Peverill, James, Zajac, Francis S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,397,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.220
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/06 Electric actuation of the alarm, e.g. using a thermally-operated switch
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/08 Actuation involving the use of explosive means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/12 Actuation by presence of radiation or particles, e.g. of infrared radiation or of ions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A programmable interface module includes a linear power regulator to control and provide power to interfaced components on an as needed basis. The interface module is implemented in, for example, a threat sensor pack and multiplexed to a plurality of sensor modules. In a first mode, the linear voltage regulator provides a relatively small amount of power which allows a sensor module to output a signal responsive to detecting an environmental condition (e.g., gamma or x-ray radiation, extreme temperatures, etc.). The interface module can switch the linear voltage regulator to a second mode in which the linear voltage regulator ramps up the amount of power provided to a detecting sensor module. The sensor module can then provide a threat level indicative of a concentration or intensity of the environmental condition. If the threat level surpasses a predetermined threshold, the senor pack can output a threat signal to security server.

Claims

1. A sensor pack for long term deployment to detect environmental threats, comprising:

a plurality of sensor modules to detect at least two types of environmental threats, the plurality of sensor modules in a first mode capable of detecting the presence of environmental threats using minimal electrical power, and in a second mode capable of outputting a level of the environmental threats;

an interface module, coupled to the plurality of sensor modules and including a linear voltage regulator, the interface module in the first mode capable of providing the minimal electric power, and in the second mode capable of increasing electric power to a sensor responsive to a sensor module detecting a threat and receiving a threat level; and

a communication module, coupled to the interface module, the communication module capable of outputting a threat signal responsive to the threat level surpassing a threshold associated with the sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power module, coupled to the linear voltage regulator, to provide the electrical power to the linear voltage regulator.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is a radiation sensor module including cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) to detect radiation in the first mode.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a temperature sensing module including mercury to sense a current temperature in the first mode.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises:

a geographic positioning system (GPS) module to determine a location of the sensor pack, wherein the sensor pack is deployed in a mobile environment.

6. An integrated circuit to detect environmental threats, comprising:

an interface module including inputs and outputs for coupling to a plurality of types of sensor modules and including a linear voltage regulator, the linear voltage regulator in a first mode capable of outputting minimal electrical power to the sensor modules, the linear voltage regulator in a second mode capable of ramping up electrical power to a sensor module in order to receive a signal from the sensor module that is indicative of a threat level, wherein the interface module switches from the first to the second mode responsive to receiving a wake signal indicative of a threat.

7. The integrated circuit of claim 6, wherein the interface module includes a configuration module capable of being programmed specifically for each of the types of sensor modules, the programming including data representative of specific threat levels for each of the types of sensors.

8. The integrated circuit of claim 6, wherein an output of the interface module is coupled to a communication module, the interface capable of outputting a threat signal to the communication module responsive to the threat level surpassing a threshold associated with the sensor.

9. The integrated circuit of claim 6, wherein the interface module includes a processor capable of determining whether to switch from the first mode to the second mode.

10. An integrated circuit to detect environmental threats, comprising:

an interface module including inputs and outputs for coupling to a plurality of types of low-power modules and including a linear voltage regulator, the linear voltage regulator in a first mode capable of outputting minimal electrical power to the low-power modules, the linear voltage regulator in a second mode capable of ramping up electrical power to a low-power module in order to receive a signal from the sensor module, wherein the interface module switches from the first to the second mode responsive to receiving a signal.

11. A method in a sensor pack for long term deployment to detect environmental threats:

detecting at least two types of environmental threats;

in a first mode, detecting the presence of environmental threats using minimal electrical power;

switching from a first mode to a second mode responsive to detecting a threat, including increasing electric power;

in the second mode, detecting a threat level; and

outputting a threat signal responsive to the threat level surpassing a threshold associated with the sensor.