DISTRIBUTED SENSOR GRID, SURFACE, AND SKIN SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20130340543A1
• Filed: 06/20/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of North Carolina At Charlotte (University of North Carolina System)
• Original Assignee: University of North Carolina At Charlotte (University of North Carolina System)
• Inventors: FARAHI, Faramarz, ABOLBASHARI, Mehrdad
• Granted Patent: US 9,389,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/866.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/40 Extracting pixel data from image sensors by controlling scanning circuits, e.g. by modifying the number of pixels sampled or to be sampled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/75 Circuitry for providing, modifying or processing image signals from the pixel array

Abstract

The present disclosure provides distributed sensor grid, surface, and skin systems and methods that utilize compressive sampling systems and methods for reading and processing the outputs of sensor arrays (serial and/or parallel) such that increased speed can be achieved. These sensor arrays can be functionalized or sensitized in any desired manner and functions are derived from the outputs, as opposed to individual data points. The sensor arrays can be made in the form of a textile, a fiber optic network, a MEMS network, or a CMOS camera, for example. In general, in accordance with the systems and methods of the present disclosure, a Code is applied to a distributed sensor as part of the compressive sampling technique and derives the functions.

Claims

1. A distributed sensor system, comprising:

a distributed sensor array comprising a plurality of sensor units and one or more outputs; and

one or more Codes applied to the plurality of sensor units;

wherein the one or more Codes provide one or more functions that are read out at the one or more outputs, thereby allowing for the compressive sampling of the plurality of sensor units.

2. The distributed sensor system of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensor array comprises one of a linear sensor array, a sensor grid, and a sensor matrix.

3. The distributed sensor system of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensor array makes up one of a sensor surface, a sensor fabric, and a sensor skin.

4. The distributed sensor system of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensor array is manufactured using one of a fiber optic manufacturing technique, a textile fabric manufacturing technique, a photodiode fabrication technique, and a micro-electromechanical system manufacturing technique.

5. The distributed sensor system of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensor array comprises one or more Single Output Distributed Sensor(s).

6. The distributed sensor system of claim 1, wherein the distributed sensor array comprises one or more Multiple Output Distributed Sensor(s).

7. The distributed sensor system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sensor units is one of configured and functionalized to sense a parameter of interest.

8. The distributed sensor system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more Codes comprises one of a random Code, a pseudo random Code, and a predetermined Code that is optimized for a given plurality of sensor units.

9. The distributed sensor system of claim 1, wherein the one or more outputs are read one of serially and in parallel.

10. The distributed sensor system of claim 7, wherein the parameter of interest comprises one or more of light intensity, pressure, strain, electrical signals, temperature, and biologics.

11. A distributed sensor method, comprising:

providing a distributed sensor array comprising a plurality of sensor units and one or more outputs; and

applying one or more Codes to the plurality of sensor units;

wherein the one or more Codes provide one or more functions that are read out at the one or more outputs, thereby allowing for the compressive sampling of the plurality of sensor units.

12. The distributed sensor method of claim 11, wherein the distributed sensor array comprises one of a linear sensor array, a sensor grid, and a sensor matrix.

13. The distributed sensor method of claim 11, wherein the distributed sensor array makes up one of a sensor surface, a sensor fabric, and a sensor skin.

14. The distributed sensor method of claim 11, wherein the distributed sensor array is manufactured using one of a fiber optic manufacturing technique, a textile fabric manufacturing technique, a photodiode fabrication technique, and a micro-electromechanical system manufacturing technique.

15. The distributed sensor method of claim 11, wherein the distributed sensor array comprises one or more Single Output Distributed Sensor(s).

16. The distributed sensor method of claim 11, wherein the distributed sensor array comprises one or more Multiple Output Distributed Sensor(s).

17. The distributed sensor method of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of sensor units is one of configured and functionalized to sense a parameter of interest.

18. The distributed sensor method of claim 11, wherein each of the one or more Codes comprises one of a random Code, a pseudo random Code, and a predetermined Code that is optimized for a given plurality of sensor units.

19. The distributed sensor method of claim 11, wherein the one or more outputs are read one of serially and in parallel.

20. The distributed sensor method of claim 17, wherein the parameter of interest comprises one or more of light intensity, pressure, strain, electrical signals, temperature, and biologics.

21. A distributed imaging system, comprising:

a distributed sensor array comprising a plurality of sensor units and one or more outputs, wherein each of the plurality of sensor units is one of configured and functionalized to sense radiation; and

one or more Codes applied to the plurality of sensor units;

wherein the one or more Codes provide one or more functions that are read out at the one or more outputs, thereby allowing for the compressive sampling of the plurality of sensor units.

22. The distributed sensor system of claim 21, wherein each of the one or more Codes comprises a radiation mask.

23. The distributed sensor system of claim 21, wherein the radiation comprises visible radiation.