SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL CIRCUIT IN ADAPTIVE INTERFACE PACKAGE

• US 20090033484A1
• Filed: 06/25/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FTC-Forward Threat Control LLC
• Original Assignee: Francis S. Zajac, James Peverill, Tony Bachta
• Inventors: Bachta, Tony, Peverill, James, Zajac, Francis S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,696,870 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 sensor pack can output a threat signal to security server.

Claims

1. An integrated circuit for coupling a sensor to a transceiver, integrated circuit 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.

2. 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.