LOCATOR BEACON WIRELESS HEALTH MONITOR

• US 20120200460A1
• Filed: 02/04/2011
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L3 Technologies, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Weed, Michael E., Berecz, Endre
• Granted Patent: US 8,618,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/385
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0085 Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/022 Means for monitoring or calibrating
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/756 using a signal generator for modifying the reflectivity of the reflector G01S13/758 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

Systems (224, 222, 700) and methods (800) for providing wireless health monitoring for a locator beacon (216). The methods involve: coupling a Transponder and Sensor Module (TSM) to the locator beacon such that at least one condition of the locator beacon or a battery (230) of the locator beacon can be remotely monitored; periodically detecting the condition by the TSM (224); and periodically and wirelessly transmitting, from the TSM to a wireless device (222, 700) located in proximity to the TSM, a signal including information describing the condition detected by the TSM. The TSM can include, but is not limited to a transponder (e.g., an RFID tag) and sensor. The wireless device, can include, but is not limited to a transponder interrogator.

Claims

1. A method for providing wireless health monitoring for a locator beacon, comprising:

coupling a first Transponder and Sensor Module (TSM) directly to or adjacent to said locator beacon such that at least one condition of said locator beacon or a battery of said locator beacon can be remotely monitored, wherein said coupling is provided by at least one of

a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed along a peripheral edge of said first TSM,

at least one securing protrusion extending from said first TSM and frictionally engaging a surface of a bracket used to mount said locator beacon to an object,

at least one clip clipping said first TSM to said locator beacon or said bracket, and

at least one clamp clamping said first TSM to said locator beacon or said bracket;

periodically detecting said condition by said first TSM; and

wirelessly transmitting, from said first TSM to a wireless device located remote from or in proximity to said first TSM, a signal including information describing said condition detected by said first TSM.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a second TSM is integrated within a label of said locator beacon.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting a condition of a surrounding environment by said first TSM.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising interfacing said wireless device with a higher level system.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said higher level system is a flight data recorder.

6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising reporting, by said higher level system, a health of said locator beacon or said battery to a remote computing device for analysis by a user thereof.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a value describing said condition exceeds or falls below a threshold value; and

reporting a system failure to a remote computing device if said value is determined to exceed or fall below said threshold value.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising displaying said information by said wireless device so that a user thereof can determine if said locator beacon or said battery needs maintenance or needs to be replaced.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said condition comprises a moisture level, a temperature, a battery charge capacity or a battery voltage level.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first TSM comprises a transponder and said wireless device comprises a transponder interrogator.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said transponder is an RFID tag and said transponder interrogator is an RFID reader.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said transponder is an energy harvesting transponder.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing by said first TSM information describing said condition; and

wirelessly transmitting said signal if results of said analyzing step indicate that said locator beacon or said battery need to be replaced.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising automatically ordering a new locator beacon or battery in response to the reception of said signal at said wireless device.

15. A system, comprising:

a locator beacon comprising a battery; and

a first Transponder and Sensor Module (TSM) coupled directly to or adjacent to said locator beacon and configured (a) to detect at least one condition of said locator beacon or said battery, and (b) to wirelessly transmit a signal including information describing said condition to a wireless device located in proximity to or remote from said transponder, wherein said first TSM comprises at least one of

a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed along a peripheral edge thereof and configured to bond said first TSM to said locator beacon or a bracket used to mount said locator beacon to an object,

at least one securing protrusion extending therefrom and configured to frictionally engage a surface of said bracket,

at least one clip configured to clip said first TSM to said locator beacon or said bracket, and

at least one clamp configured to clamp said first TSM to said locator beacon or said bracket.

16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a label bonded to said locator beacon and having a second TSM integrated therewith.

17. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a data recorder in or on which said locator beacon is disposed.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein said first TSM is further configured to detect a condition of a surrounding environment.

19. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a higher level system to which said wireless device is coupled.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said higher level system is a flight data recorder.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein said higher level system is configured to report a health of said locator beacon or said battery to a remote computing device for analysis by a user thereof.

22. The system according to claim 19, wherein said higher level system is further configured to:

determine if a value describing said condition exceeds or falls below a threshold value; and

report a system failure to a remote computing device if said value is determined to exceed or fall below said threshold value.

23. The system according to claim 15, wherein said wireless device is configured to display said information so that a user thereof can determine if said locator beacon or said battery needs maintenance or needs to be replaced.

24. The system according to claim 15, wherein said condition comprises a moisture level, a temperature, a battery charge capacity or a battery voltage level.

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein said first TSM comprises an RFID tag and said wireless device comprises an RFID reader.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein said first TSM comprises an energy harvesting transponder.

27. The system according to claim 15, wherein said first TSM is further configured to:

analyze information describing said condition; and

wirelessly transmit said signal if results of said analysis indicate that said locator beacon or said battery need to be replaced.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein said wireless device automatically places an order for a new locator beacon or battery in response to the reception of said signal thereat.