METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ACTIVATING SEALED SENSORS IN THE FIELD

• US 20120319482A1
• Filed: 06/15/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Budampati, Ramakrishna, Becker, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 10,018,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/00 Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion G06K1/00; pattern recognition G06F18/00; arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding G06V10/00; character recognition, recognising digital ink or document-oriented image-based pattern recognition G06V30/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/12 in which the signal transmitted is frequency or phase of ac
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/66 Contacts sealed in an evacuated or gas-filled envelope, e.g. magnetic dry-reed contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for initiating sealed sensor units in the field. A packaged sensor unit may include a sensor module, an activation mechanism and an internal battery, all situated in a sealed enclosure. In some cases, the sealed enclosure may be devoid of any externally accessible switches. A pre-defined triggering stimulus may be applied to the packaged sensor unit, and the pre-defined triggering stimulus may be detected via the activation mechanism. In response to the activation mechanism detecting the pre-defined triggering stimulus, the internal battery may be connected to the sensor module. Prior to detecting the pre-defined triggering stimulus, both the sensor module and the activation mechanism may draw no power from the internal battery of the packaged sensor unit. In some cases, the activation mechanism, once activated, irreversibly couples the power supply to the sensor module.

Claims

1. A method for initiating a packaged sensor unit having a sealed enclosure, the sensor unit including a sensor module, an activation mechanism, and an internal battery all in the sealed enclosure, the method comprising:

applying a pre-defined triggering stimulus to the packaged sensor unit;

detecting the pre-defined triggering stimulus via the activation mechanism;

connecting the internal battery to the sensor module in response to the activation mechanism detecting the pre-defined triggering stimulus; and

wherein prior to detecting the pre-defined triggering stimulus, both the sensor module and the activation mechanism draw no power from the internal battery of the packaged sensor unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the pre-defined triggering stimulus includes providing an electric and/or magnetic field through a wall of the sealed enclosure.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of applying the pre-defined triggering stimulus includes providing a magnetic field through the wall of the sealed enclosure.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a coded magnetic key is employed to provide the magnetic field.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the pre-defined triggering stimulus includes accelerating the packaged sensor unit in a pre-defined acceleration profile.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the activation mechanism includes an accelerometer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the activation mechanism includes a switch; and

the pre-defined triggering stimulus includes exerting a force that mechanically closes the switch, resulting in connecting the internal battery to the sensor module.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the switch is a magnetic switch, and the force is a magnetic force.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the activation mechanism includes an energy harvesting device;

the method further includes the steps of;

providing harvestable energy to the sensor unit through the wall of the sealed enclosure;

the energy harvesting device harvesting the harvestable energy, and then using the harvestable energy to connect the internal battery to the sensor module.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the energy harvesting device harvests one or more of thermal energy, mechanical energy, optical energy and electromagnetic energy.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of commissioning the packaged sensor unit subsequent to the step of connecting the internal battery to the sensor module.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of pre-commissioning the packaged sensor unit prior to the step of connecting the internal battery to the sensor module.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selectively disconnecting the internal battery from the sensor module after the step of connecting the internal battery to the sensor module.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the connecting step is irreversible.

15. A packaged sensor unit, comprising:

a sensor module including;

a sensor;

a controller operatively coupled to the sensor; and

a communication device operatively coupled to the controller;

a power supply;

an activation mechanism capable of selectively coupling the power supply to the sensor module;

a sealed enclosure housing the sensor module, the power supply, and the activation mechanism, the sealed enclosure being devoid of any external switch;

wherein;

the packaged sensor unit is configured such that the sensor module and the activation mechanism remain in an electronically inactive state until an activation sequence is externally initiated.

16. The packaged sensor unit of claim 15, wherein the activation mechanism includes a magnetically-actuatable switch.

17. The packaged sensor unit of claim 15, wherein the activation mechanism, once activated, irreversibly couples the power supply to the sensor module.

18. The packaged sensor unit of claim 15, wherein:

the activation mechanism includes an energy harvesting device; and

the activation mechanism requires power from the energy harvesting device to couple the power supply to, and activate, the sensor module.

19. A packaged sensor unit comprising:

a sealed enclosure;

a sensor unit situated in the sealed enclosure, the sensor unit including;

a sensor module;

an activation mechanism; and

an internal battery;

wherein the activation mechanism of the sensor unit is configured to detect a pre-defined triggering stimulus that is applied from outside of the sealed enclosure, and once the pre-defined triggering stimulus is detected, the activation mechanism connects the internal battery of the sensor unit to the sensor module, and wherein prior to the activation mechanism detecting the pre-defined triggering stimulus, both the sensor module and the activation mechanism of the sensor unit draw no power from the internal battery of the sensor unit.