METHOD FOR MEASURING FLUID FLOW IN A NON-CONDUCTIVE PIPE

• US 20110269401A1
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RadioFIDO LLC
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Brommer, Karl D., Brommer, Tracey H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,011,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07756 the connection being non-galvanic, e.g. capacitive
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits

Abstract

A microradio is provided with a hysteretic switch to permit an optimum range increasing charging cycle, with the charging cycle being long relative to the transmit cycle. Secondly, an ensemble of microradios permits an n² power enhancement to increase range with coherent operation. Various multi-frequency techniques are used both for parasitic powering and to isolate powering and transmit cycles. Applications for microradios and specifically for ensembles of microradios include authentication, tracking, fluid flow sensing, identification, terrain surveillance including crop health sensing and detection of improvised explosive devices, biohazard and containment breach detection, and biomedical applications including the use of microradios attached to molecular tags to destroy tagged cells when the microradios are activated. Microradio deployment includes the use of paints or other coatings containing microradios, greases and aerosols. Moreover, specialized antennas, including microcoils, mini dipoles, and staircase coiled structures are disclosed, with the use of nano-devices further reducing the size of the microradios.

Claims

1. -64. (canceled)

65. A method for determining fluid flow within a non-conducting pipe, comprising the steps of:

entraining microradios within the flowing fluid;

parasitically powering the microradios entrained within the fluid;

detecting emissions from the microradios; and

,

locating the positions of the detected microradios, whereby knowing the positions and time permits calculation of fluid flow parameters.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein each of the microradios includes a fluid characteristic sensor;

modulating each of the modules with information from the associated sensor; and

demodulating the emissions from the microradios entrained in the fluid to recover the sensor data, whereby characteristics of the fluid can be ascertained.

67. the method of claim 65, wherein the fluid is a bodily fluid, and further including the step of containing the fluid in a vessel, whereby vascular flow can be sensed outside the human or animal body, the human or animal body functioning as a naturally radiative surface.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the bodily fluid is blood in a blood vessel.

100. The method of claim 65, further comprising causing said ensemble of microradios to operate in a coherent fashion.

101. The method of claim 65, wherein said microradios include nano elements.

102. The method of claim 101, wherein said nano elements include nano-resonators.

103. The method of claim 101, wherein said nano elements include electrodes, each comprising at least one antenna.

104. The method of claim 101, wherein said nano elements include a single-electron transmitter.

69. -95. (canceled)

96. A method for measuring flow in a non-metallic pipe or in humans or animals by detecting movement of microradios in said non-metallic pipes or in people or animals.

97. -99. (canceled)

105. A system for determining fluid flow comprising:

a non-conducting conduit;

a plurality of microradios within a fluid disposed in the non-conducting conduit, the plurality of microradios configured to parasitically receive a power supply and transmit data;

a power source configured to transmit a power supply;

a detection device configured to receive data transmitted from the microradios and detect the location and flow parameters of the microradios within the non-conducting conduit.

106. The system of claim 105, wherein the microradios include a fluid characteristic sensor configured to transmit data regarding the characteristics of the fluid disposed in the non-conducting conduit.

107. The system of claim 105, wherein the fluid is a bodily fluid, and further comprising a vascular flow vessel outside of a human or animal body configured to sense the vascular flow of the bodily fluid.

108. The system of claim 107, wherein the bodily fluid is blood in a blood vessel.

109. The system of claim 107, wherein the human or animal body is a naturally radiative surface.

110. The system of claim 105, wherein the plurality of microradios are configured to operate in a coherent fashion.

111. The system of claim 105, wherein the microradios include nano elements.

112. The system of claim 111, wherein said nano elements include nano-resonators.

113. The system of claim 111, wherein said nano elements include electrodes, each comprising at least one antenna.

114. The system of claim 111, wherein said nano elements include a single-electron transmitter.