MEMS-BASED MONITORING

• US 20070062299A1
• Filed: 09/15/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Original Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Inventors: Mian, Zahid, Spoor, Ryk
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/763
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles

Abstract

A solution for monitoring a property of an object and/or an area using a Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS)-based monitoring device is provided. In an embodiment of the invention, the MEMS-based monitoring device includes a MEMS-based sensing device for obtaining data based on a property of the object and/or area and a power generation device that generates power from an ambient condition of the monitoring device. In this manner, the monitoring device can operate independent of any outside power sources or other devices. Further, the monitoring device can include a transmitter that transmits a signal based on the property. The monitoring device can be used to monitor a moving component of a machine, and can be integrated with a health monitoring system of the machine using one or more relay devices.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a property of an object, the system comprising:

a monitoring device physically associated with the object, the monitoring device including;

a Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS)-based sensing device;

a transmitter that transmits a signal based on the property; and

a power generation device that generates power from an ambient condition of the monitoring device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a component of a machine that is in motion with respect to at least one other component of the machine during operation of the machine.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the object comprises at least one component of a helicopter rotor assembly.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a relay device, the relay device including:

a receiver for receiving the signal; and

a processor for processing the signal to obtain the property.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the relay device further includes a storage module for temporarily storing object data.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a health monitoring system for processing property data for the object.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device further includes a receiver.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device further includes a processing module.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processing module adjusts at least one property of the signal to identify the monitoring device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device obtains at least one of:

a stress or a strain experienced by the object during operation of a machine.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the power generation device comprises a cantilever including a piezoelectric material.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the power generation device comprises a MEMS-based device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a MEMS-based transmitter.

14. A monitoring system comprising:

a monitoring device including;

a Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS)-based sensing device for obtaining data based on a property of at least one of;

an object or an area;

a power generation device that generates power from an ambient condition of the monitoring device.

15. The monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the monitoring device further includes a transmitter that transmits a signal based on the property.

16. The monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the monitoring device further includes a processing module that processes the data to determine the property.

17. The monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the monitoring device further includes a communications module for communicating with at least one of:

another monitoring device or a health monitoring system.

18. The monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the power generation device comprises a MEMS-based power generation device.

19. A machine comprising:

a plurality of components; and

at least one monitoring device physically associated with at least one of the plurality of components, the at least one monitoring device including;

a Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS)-based sensing device having at least one attribute that changes with a property of the at least one of the plurality of components;

a transmitter that transmits a signal based on the property; and

a power generation device that generates power from an ambient condition of the monitoring device.

20. The machine of claim 19, further comprising at least one relay device attached to a stationary component of the machine, the at least one relay device including:

a receiver for receiving the signal; and

a processor for processing the signal to obtain component data.

21. The machine of claim 20, further comprising a health monitoring system in communication with the at least one relay, the health monitoring system including a means for processing the component data.

22. The machine of claim 20, wherein the at least one relay device further includes a power system for generating power for the at least one relay device.

23. The machine of claim 19, wherein the at least one of the plurality of components comprises a limiting component.

24. The machine of claim 19, wherein the at least one of the plurality of components is in motion with respect to at least one other of the plurality of components during operation of the machine.

25. The machine of claim 19, wherein the property comprises at least one of a stress or a strain of the at least one of the plurality of components.

26. The machine of claim 19, wherein the at least one monitoring device is at least one of:

attached to the at least one of the plurality of components or embedded in the at least one of the plurality of components during manufacturing.