Opitcal Wireless Sensor Network

• US 20100176939A1
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Harres, Daniel N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,044,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1149 Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication

Abstract

A wireless sensor network including a receiver including a photodetector, and a sensor node that includes a sensor configured to sense a property, a transmitter configured to emit outgoing optical energy, the outgoing optical energy being indicative of the property, and a photodetector configured to harvest incoming optical energy and convert the incoming optical energy into electrical energy useful by the transmitter, wherein the photodetector of the receiver is positioned to receive the outgoing optical energy.

Claims

1. A wireless sensor network comprising:

a receiver including a photodetector; and

a sensor node that includes;

a sensor configured to sense a property,

a transmitter configured to emit outgoing optical energy, said outgoing optical energy being indicative of said property, and

a photodetector configured to harvest incoming optical energy and convert said incoming optical energy into electrical energy useful by said transmitter,

wherein said photodetector of said receiver is positioned to receive said outgoing optical energy.

2. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a temperature sensor.

3. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 wherein said outgoing optical energy includes at least one of a visible light, an infrared light and an ultraviolet light.

4. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 wherein said transmitter includes at least one light emitting diode.

5. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 wherein said sensor node further includes a power converter for regulating said electrical energy generated by said photodetector of said sensor node.

6. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 wherein said sensor node further includes a controller configured to generate and communicate command signals to said transmitter in response to signals received from said sensor.

7. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 comprising an array of said sensor nodes.

8. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 wherein said receiver further includes a transmitter.

9. The wireless sensor network of claim 8 wherein said transmitter of said receiver includes at least one light emitting diode.

10. The wireless sensor network of claim 8 wherein said transmitter of said receiver provides said incoming optical energy.

11. The wireless sensor network of claim 8 wherein said transmitter of said sensor node is configured to emit said outgoing optical energy in response to a signal received from said transmitter of said receiver, said signal being detectable by said photodetector of said sensor node.

12. A wireless sensor network comprising:

a receiver including a photodetector and a transmitter, said transmitter being configured to transmit a beacon; and

a plurality of sensor nodes, each sensor node of said plurality of sensor nodes including;

a sensor configured to sense a property,

a transmitter configured to emit outgoing optical energy, said outgoing optical energy being indicative of said property, and

a photodetector positioned to receive said beacon and to harvest incoming optical energy, wherein said incoming optical energy is converted into electrical energy useful by said transmitter of said sensor node,

wherein said transmitters of said plurality of sensor nodes are configured to emit said outgoing optical energy in response to signals communicated by said beacon, and wherein said photodetector of said receiver is positioned to receive said outgoing optical energy.

13. The wireless sensor network of claim 12 wherein said sensor is a temperature sensor.

14. The wireless sensor network of claim 12 wherein said outgoing optical energy includes at least one of a visible light, an infrared light and an ultraviolet light.

15. The wireless sensor network of claim 12 wherein said transmitter of said sensor node includes at least one light emitting diode.

16. The wireless sensor network of claim 12 wherein said transmitter of said receiver includes at least one light emitting diode.

17. The wireless sensor network of claim 12 wherein each sensor node of said plurality of sensor nodes further includes a power converter for regulating said electrical energy generated by said photodetector of said sensor node.

18. The wireless sensor network of claim 12 wherein each sensor node of said plurality of sensor nodes further includes a controller configured to generate and communicate command signals to said transmitter in response to signals received from said sensor.