SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COLLECTING DATA WITH SENSORS

• US 20060250276A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Finisar Corporation (II-VI Incorporated)
• Inventors: Levinson, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 8,154,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/856.300
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

Systems and methods for collecting data. A modular sensing system includes a renewable power source with wireless and/or optical communication modules, a processing plane, and a sensing plane. The sensing systems can be deployed in various environments or on active subjects. A device with various components can be used to interact with the sensing system and collect data in real time or at a later time. Sensing systems can be enclosed within a structure or body and then recharged or renewed using an optical signal transmitted through the boundary.

Claims

1. In an environment where one or more sensing system have been deployed, a method for collecting data from the one or more sensing system with a base device, the method comprising:

selecting a component from a set of components, each component adapted to connect with a base device;

communicating with a remote sensing system associated with the selected component;

retrieving data from the remote sensing system; and

displaying the retrieved data on the base device.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein communicating with a remote sensing system associated with the selected component further comprises communicating wirelessly with the remote sensing system using an RF module of the remote sensing system.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein communicating with a remote sensing system associated with the selected component further comprises communicating with the remote sensing system using an optical fiber.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein communicating with a remote sensing system associated with the selected component further comprises charging a power supply of the remote sensing system with an optical signal.

5. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein communicating with a remote sensing system associated with the selected component further comprises receiving data generated with a laser included in the remote sensing system.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein communicating with a remote sensing system associated with the selected component further comprises reprogramming a processing module of the remote sensing system.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein communicating with a remote sensing system associated with the selected component further comprises activating at least one sensor at the remote sensing system.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising receiving input data from a user at the base device.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising at least one of input data from the user and data collected from the remote sensing system.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherien the base device is one of a laptop computer or a cellular telephone, the base device communicating with the one or more sensing systems wirelessly.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising

selecting a second component at the base device;

communicating with at least a second sensing system using at least the second component; and

receiving data either over an optical fiber tethered to the second sensing system or from an RF module of the remote sensing system.

12. A method for communicating with a sensing system disposed within a body, the method comprising:

placing a sensing system within a body, wherein the sensing system includes an optical module tethered to a first optical fiber and wherein the sensing system includes a plurality of photodiodes that generate a current in response to an incident optical signal;

locating a first interface at a first side of a boundary of the body, the first interface connected with the optical fiber;

locating a second interface at a second side of the boundary opposite the first interface, the second interface coupled to an input optical fiber; and

transferring an optical signal through the input optical fiber, the input optical fiber received at the first interface through the boundary such that the input optical signal is launched in the first optical fiber and incident on the plurality of photodiodes, wherein a power source of the sensing system is recharged with the current.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising modulating the input optical signal to deliver data to a processing module of the sensing system.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, further comprising at least one of:

recalibrating a sensor included in the sensing system with the modulated input optical signal; and

reprogramming the sensing system with the modulated input optical signal.

15. A method as defined in claim 13, further comprising receiving data through the boundary on an output optical signal, the output optical signal generated by a laser included in the sensing system.

16. A method as defined in claim 12, further comprising securing the first interface at the boundary, wherein the boundary is skin.

17. An apparatus for renewing a power supply of a sensing system enclosed within a body, the apparatus comprising:

a sensing system disposed within the body, the sensing system including one or more photodiodes that generate current in response to an optical signal;

an optical fiber tethered to the sensing system to deliver the optical signal to the sensing system; and

a first interface connected with the optical fiber, wherein the first interface is secured near a boundary of the body such that it can receive the optical signal through the boundary, wherein the current generated in response to the optical signal charges a power supply of the sensing system.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein one or more photodiodes are grown monolithically in series with a semiconductor laser capable of transmitting data collected by a sensor included in sensing system.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, the sensing system further comprising:

a power plane including the power supply disposed within a cavity;

a processing plane having a processing module, memory, and one or more field programmable gate arrays; and

a sensor plane including one or more sensors;

wherein the power plane, the processing plane, and the sensor plane have contacts and leads that enable interplane connectivity.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the boundary is skin.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, further comprising a second interface and a second optical fiber that can be removably positioned over the first interface at the skin such that the optical signal can be delivered from the second interface to the first interface through the skin.