Remote sensing and communication system

• US 20080174424A1
• Filed: 11/01/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hadronex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hadronex, Inc.
• Inventors: Quist, Gregory M., Drake, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,589,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.27
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation

Abstract

A remote sensing system and method for instrumenting the entries to manhole enclosures, in order to provide a platform and means for sensing environmental parameters within and around the enclosures and wirelessly transmitting those parameters to a distant site. The system comprises a housing with sensor for monitoring environmental parameter in the vicinity of the manhole. A microcontroller in the housing sends the parameters to a radio module, which transmits the parameters to a communication device for alerting a user that a manhole has been tampered with.

Claims

1. A remote sensing system comprising:

a housing having communication ports;

one or more analog sensors connected to the communication ports, the analog sensors monitoring parameters in the vicinity of the housing;

an analog/digital (A/D) converter in communication with the analog sensors through the communication ports;

a microcontroller connected to the analog/digital (A/D) converter within the housing, the microcontroller comprising instructions for receiving the parameters from the analog/digital (A/D) converter and for communicating the parameters to a two-way communication module through a digital connection;

an external antenna connected to the two-way communication module for transmitting the parameters to a communication device; and

a power means for providing power at least to the microcontroller and analog/digital (A/D) converter.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a central server away from the communication device,

wherein the central server receives by way of the communication device the parameters transmitted from the external antenna, and

wherein the central server is in communication with an application server computer that stores the parameters.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the parameters are environmental or process parameters.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication device is selected from the group consisting of:

cell phone, pager, personal digital assistant, and personal computer.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing is mounted on a device selected from the group consisting of:

an enclosure cover, a door, a window, a wall and a manhole cover.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the analog sensors comprise at least one analog sensor selected from the group consisting of a level sensor, a flow sensor, a pressure sensor, a ranging sensor, an ultrasonic ranging sensor, a gas sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a tilt sensor, an acceleration sensor, a chemical sensor, and an optical monitor.

7. The system of claim 1, the system further comprising one or more digital sensors connected to the communication ports.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted on a device selected from the group consisting of:

an enclosure cover, a door, a window, a wall and a manhole cover;

the system comprising at least one analog sensor that monitors if the device has been moved, and

wherein, if the device has been moved, an alarm is triggered to notify a user.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted on a device selected from the group consisting of:

an enclosure cover, a door, a window, a wall and a manhole cover,

the system comprising at least one analog sensor that monitors for entry in a space near the device, and

wherein, if entry has been detected, an alarm is triggered to notify a user.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is programmed with a command set that defines states of operation selected from the group consisting of initial testing mode, field installation mode, normal operation mode, change reporting frequency, change sampling frequency, return historical data mode, reset historical data mode, change location text string, change alarm destination address strings, reset the communications channel, enable alarm, disable alarm and send message to system users.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted onto an existing manhole cover already in place at a manhole.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising output ports on the microcontroller to control output devices.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one output device is in analog communication with the analog/digital (A/D) converter through the output ports.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the output devices are selected from the group consisting of valves and actuators.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted on a manhole cover,

wherein at least one of said analog sensors is a ranging sensor for measuring the height of water in an enclosure selected from the group consisting of:

underground vault, manhole, utility vaults, underground enclosed area, above ground enclosed area.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein if the ranging sensor detects the height of the water in the manhole above a predetermined level, an alert is sent to a user.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said analog sensors or at least one digital sensor is physically disconnected from the manhole cover and mounted on a wall or floor of the manhole.

18. The system of claim 1,

wherein the microcontroller, a low-voltage power converter, and a tilt and acceleration sensor are mounted on a single printed circuit board.

19. A remote sensing system comprising:

a housing having communication ports for sensors, the sensors monitoring parameters in the vicinity of the housing;

a microcontroller within the housing for communicating the parameters to a two-way communication module through a digital connection;

an external antenna connected to the two-way communication module for transmitting the parameters to a communication device;

a power means for providing power to the housing; and

an additional antenna connected to the two-way communication module for direct communications to the first communication device or another communication device through the ground.

20. A remote sensing system comprising:

a housing having communication ports for sensors, the sensors monitoring parameters in the vicinity of the housing;

a microcontroller within the housing for communicating the parameters to a two-way communication module through a digital connection;

an external antenna connected to the two-way communication module for transmitting the parameters to a first communication device;

a power means for providing power to the housing; and

at least one analog or digital sensor configured to be mounted on a wall or floor of a manhole.