GROUNDWATER MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20090066536A1
• Filed: 09/12/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Ruizenaar, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/853,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20090066536A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A groundwater monitoring device includes a wireless communications device operable to communicate only within a range of about 150 meters and a sensor package operably associated with the wireless communications device. The wireless communications device includes an antenna, a radio frequency transceiver coupled with the antenna, a processor coupled with the radio frequency transceiver, and an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell is electrically coupled with the sensor package, the processor, and the radio frequency transceiver. The electrochemical cell is capable of providing sufficient electrical power to operate the radio frequency transceiver, the sensor package, and the processor for a period of at least a plurality of months.

Claims

1. A groundwater monitoring device, comprising:

a wireless communications device operable to communicate only within a range of about 150 meters, the wireless communications device comprising;

an antenna;

a radio frequency transceiver coupled with the antenna;

a processor coupled with the radio frequency transceiver; and

an electrochemical cell; and

a sensor package operably associated with the wireless communications device;

wherein the electrochemical cell is electrically coupled with the sensor package, the processor, and the radio frequency transceiver, the electrochemical cell being capable of providing sufficient electrical power to operate the radio frequency transceiver, the sensor package, and the processor for a period of at least a plurality of months.

2. The groundwater monitoring device, according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing in which the wireless communications device is sealed from fluid entry.

3. The groundwater monitoring device, according to claim 1, wherein the groundwater monitoring device is operably associated with a cap of a groundwater monitoring well.

4. The groundwater monitoring device, according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communications device operates in an 868/915 MHz direct sequence spread spectrum mode employing binary phase-shift keying modulation.

5. The groundwater monitoring device, according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communications device operates in an 868/915 MHz direct sequence spread spectrum mode employing offset quadrature phase-shift keying modulation.

6. The groundwater monitoring device, according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communications device operates in an 868/915 MHz parallel sequence spread spectrum mode employing binary phase-shift keying modulation.

7. The groundwater monitoring device, according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communications device operates in a 2450 MHz direct sequence spread spectrum mode employing offset quadrature phase-shift keying modulation.

8. A groundwater monitoring system, comprising:

a wireless data retrieving device operable only within a range of about 150 meters; and

a groundwater monitoring device, comprising;

a wireless communications device operable to communicate only within a range of about 150 meters;

the wireless communications device comprising;

an antenna;

a radio frequency transceiver coupled with the antenna;

a processor coupled with the radio frequency transceiver; and

an electrochemical cell; and

a sensor package operably associated with the wireless communications device;

wherein the electrochemical cell is electrically coupled with the sensor package, the processor, and the radio frequency transceiver, the electrochemical cell being capable of providing sufficient electrical power to operate the radio frequency transceiver, the sensor package, and the processor for a period of at least a plurality of months; and

wherein the wireless data retrieving device and the wireless communications device are operable to communicate data from the sensor package to the wireless data retrieving device.

9. The groundwater monitoring system, according to claim 8, further comprising:

a housing in which the wireless communications device is sealed from fluid entry.

10. The groundwater monitoring system, according to claim 8, wherein the groundwater monitoring device is operably associated with a cap of a groundwater monitoring well.

11. The groundwater monitoring system, according to claim 8, wherein the wireless communications device operates in an 868/915 MHz direct sequence spread spectrum mode employing binary phase-shift keying modulation.

12. The groundwater monitoring system, according to claim 8, wherein the wireless communications device operates in an 868/915 MHz direct sequence spread spectrum mode employing offset quadrature phase-shift keying modulation.

13. The groundwater monitoring system, according to claim 8, wherein the wireless communications device operates in an 868/915 MHz parallel sequence spread spectrum mode employing binary phase-shift keying modulation.

14. The groundwater monitoring system, according to claim 8, wherein the wireless communications device operates in a 2450 MHz direct sequence spread spectrum mode employing offset quadrature phase-shift keying modulation.

15. The groundwater monitoring system, according to claim 8, wherein the wireless data retrieving device is a hand-held computer.

16. The groundwater monitoring system, according to claim 8, wherein the wireless data retrieving device is operably associated with a vehicle.