Wireless Fuel Sensor System

• US 20150022373A1
• Filed: 07/16/2013
• Published: 01/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Bommer, Jason P., Minteer, David William, Ayyagari, Arun, Nesting, Richard J., Bostwick, Richard Neal, Robb, Andrew Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,293,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.11
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/00 Arrangements in connection with fuel supply for power plant refuelling during flight B64D39/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A method for generating sensor data is presented. A number of wireless power signals is sent to a group of sensor units. A number of wireless data collection signals is sent to the group of sensor units after the number of wireless power signals have been sent to the group of sensor units. Sensor data in a number of wireless response signals is received from the group of sensor units.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor controller configured to send a number of wireless power signals to a group of sensor units;

send a number of wireless data collection signals to the group of sensor units after the number of wireless power signals have been sent to the group of sensor units; and

receive sensor data in a number of wireless response signals from the group of sensor units.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless system configured to transmit the number of wireless power signals and the number of wireless data collection signals to the group of sensor units under a control of the sensor controller and receive the sensor data in the number of wireless response signals sent to the group of sensor units.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wireless system comprises:

a group of antennas; and

a transceiver system configured to send the number of wireless power signals and the number of wireless data collection signals to the group of sensor units using the group of antennas and receive the sensor data received from the group of sensor units using the group of antennas.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the transceiver system comprises:

a group of transceiver units connected to the group of antennas.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the wireless system further comprises:

a router system connected to the group of transceiver units and configured to receive the sensor data from the group of transceiver units and send the sensor data to the sensor controller.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the router system is further configured to process the sensor data prior to sending the sensor data to the sensor controller.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of wireless power signals is configured to wake up the group of sensor units;

provide power to the group of sensor units;

cause the group of sensor units to make measurements; and

store the measurements as the sensor data.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the number of wireless data collection signals is configured to cause the group of sensor units to send the sensor data in wireless response signals.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of wireless power signals is selected from one of a single wireless power signal and a plurality of sequential wireless power signals.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a sensor unit in the group of sensor units comprises:

a sensor;

an antenna system physically connected to the sensor, wherein the antenna system is configured to send and receive wireless signals; and

an energy harvesting device configured to derive energy from the wireless signals received; and

a controller configured to control the sensor to make a measurement, save the measurement as the sensor data, and send the sensor data in the wireless signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor is selected from one of a capacitive probe and a temperature probe.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the group of sensor units is located in a location selected from one of a mobile platform, a stationary platform, a land-based structure, an aquatic-based structure, a space-based structure, an aircraft, a surface ship, a tank, a personnel carrier, a train, a spacecraft, a space station, a satellite, a submarine, an automobile, a power plant, a house, a manufacturing facility, a building, a refinery, a chemical containment unit, fuel tank, passenger cabin, and a wing.

13. An aircraft fuel sensor system comprising:

a group of sensor units located in a fuel tank of an aircraft;

a wireless system configured to send a number of wireless power signals and a number of wireless data collection signals to the group of sensor units under a control of a sensor controller and receive sensor data in a number of wireless response signals sent from the group of sensor units; and

the sensor controller is configured to cause the wireless system to send the number of wireless power signals to the group of sensor units;

cause the wireless system to send the number of wireless data collection signals to the group of sensor units after the number of wireless power signals have been sent to the group of sensor units; and

receive the sensor data transmitted wirelessly in the number of wireless response signals from the wireless system.

14. The aircraft fuel sensor system of claim 13, wherein a sensor unit in the group of sensor units comprises:

a sensor;

an antenna system physically connected to the sensor, wherein the antenna system is configured to send and receive wireless signals;

an energy harvesting device configured to derive energy from the wireless signals received; and

a controller configured to control the sensor to make a measurement, save the measurement as the sensor data, and send the sensor data in the wireless signals.

15. A sensor system comprising:

a sensor;

an antenna system physically connected to the sensor, wherein the antenna system is configured to send and receive wireless signals;

an energy harvesting device configured to derive energy from the wireless signals received; and

a controller configured to control the sensor to make a measurement, save the measurement as sensor data, and send the sensor data in the wireless signals.

16. The sensor system of claim 15, wherein the sensor, the antenna system, the energy harvesting device, and the controller form a sensor unit.

17. The sensor system of claim 15 further comprising:

a barrier structure configured to enclose at least one of the antenna system, the energy harvesting device, or the controller.

18. The sensor system of claim 17, wherein the barrier structure is configured to provide a substantially dry environment for the antenna system.

19. The sensor system of claim 16, wherein the sensor is a first sensor and wherein the sensor unit further comprises a second sensor.

20. The sensor system of claim 15, wherein the antenna system comprises at least one of a plurality of monopole antennas connected to the sensor, an antenna array formed on a planar substrate connected to the sensor, or an antenna array on a flexible dielectric film connected to the sensor.

21. The sensor system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is selected from one of a capacitive probe and a temperature probe.

22. The sensor system of claim 15, wherein the sensor, the antenna system, the energy harvesting device, and the controller form a sensor unit and further comprising:

a wireless system configured to send a number of wireless power signals and a number of wireless data collection signals to the sensor unit and receive the sensor data in a number of wireless response signals sent from the sensor unit; and

a sensor controller configured to cause the wireless system to send the number of wireless power signals to the sensor unit;

cause the wireless system to send the number of wireless data collection signals to the sensor unit after the number of wireless power signals have been sent to the sensor unit; and

receive the sensor data transmitted wirelessly in the number of wireless response signals from the wireless system.

23. The sensor system of claim 15, wherein the sensor, the antenna system, the energy harvesting device, and the controller are configured to meet a safety policy.

24. The sensor system of claim 15, wherein the energy harvesting device is configured to generate energy from at least one of a temperature gradient, vibrations, or movement.

25. A method for generating sensor data, the method comprising:

sending a number of wireless power signals to a group of sensor units;

sending a number of wireless data collection signals to the group of sensor units after the number of wireless power signals have been sent to the group of sensor units; and

receiving the sensor data in a number of wireless response signals from the group of sensor units.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

waking up a controller in a sensor unit in the group of sensor units when the number of wireless power signals is received;

making a measurement using energy derived from the number of wireless power signals; and

storing the measurement as the sensor data.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

sending the sensor data in wireless signals when the number of wireless data collection signals is received.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein sending the number of wireless data collection signals to the group of sensor units after the number of wireless power signals have been sent the group of sensor units comprises:

identifying an identifier for a sensor unit in the group of sensor units; and

sending the identifier in the number of wireless data collection signals to the group of sensor units after the number of wireless power signals have been sent the group of sensor units.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the steps of identifying the identifier for the sensor unit in the group of sensor units and sending the identifier in the number of wireless data collection signals to the group of sensor units after the number of wireless power signals have been sent the group of sensor units is performed sequentially for each sensor unit in the group of sensor units.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the number of wireless power signals is selected from one of a single wireless power signal and a plurality of sequential wireless power signals.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the group of sensor units is located in a location selected from one of a mobile platform, a stationary platform, a land-based structure, an aquatic-based structure, a space-based structure, an aircraft, a surface ship, a tank, a personnel carrier, a train, a spacecraft, a space station, a satellite, a submarine, an automobile, a power plant, a house, a manufacturing facility, a building, a refinery, a chemical containment unit, a fuel tank, passenger cabin, and a wing.

32. A method for generating sensor data, the method comprising:

receiving a number of wireless power signals at a sensor unit;

making a number of measurements using a sensor at the sensor unit after receiving the number of wireless power signals;

storing the number of measurements as the sensor data; and

transmitting the sensor data in a number of wireless sensor data signals when a number of wireless data collections signals are received.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the sensor unit comprises a sensor;

an antenna system physically connected to the sensor, wherein the antenna system is configured to send and receive wireless signals;

an energy harvesting device configured to derive energy from the wireless signals received; and

a controller configured to control the sensor to make a measurement, save the measurement as the sensor data, and send the sensor data in the wireless signals.