Systems and methods for sensing pressure

• US 6,856,251 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kratos Technology & Training Solutions, Inc. (Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Xsilogy, Inc. (Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fern, David G., Abramov, Igor, Tietsworth, Steven, Woolf, Darin K, Lucas, Jonathan D
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/844,147
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/603, 340/506, 340/605, 340/609, 340/626, 340/870.09, 340/611, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 137/486, 137/565.16, 137/565.33, 426/231, 426/232
• US Class Current: 340/626
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0075 by sensing gas pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1247 Means for detecting the presence or absence of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1252 Gas pressure control means, e.g. for maintaining proper carbonation for beer engines B67D1/025

Abstract

A system comprises a pressurized container configured to hold a pressurized gas and to supply controlled amounts of the pressurized gas to the system as required. The system also includes a sensor that includes a wireless transmitter. The sensor is configured to sense the pressure in the pressurized container and to periodically transmit, using the wireless transmitter, information related to the pressure in the pressurized container. The system also includes a control unit that includes a wireless receiver configured to receive the information transmitted by the sensor. The control unit is further configured to predict based on the received information when the pressure in the pressurized container will reach a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a pressurized container configured to hold a pressurized gas and to supply controlled amounts of the pressurized gas to the system as required;

a sensor comprising a wireless transmitter, the sensor configured to sense a pressure in the pressurized container and to periodically transmit, using the wireless transmitter, information related to the pressure in the pressurized container; and

a control unit comprising a wireless receiver configured to receive the information transmitted by the sensor, the control unit configured to predict based on the received information when the pressure in the pressurized container will reach a predetermined threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to generate an alarm indication when the pressure in the pressurized container is about to reach the predetermined threshold as predicted.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the control unit further comprises a display, and wherein the alarm indication comprises at least in part displaying a message on the display.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the control unit further comprises visual indicator, and wherein the alarm indication comprises at least in part activating the visual indicator.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the visual indicator is an LED.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the control unit further comprises an audio output, and wherein at least part of the alarm indication comprises activating the audio output.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a wireless transmitter, the control unit configured to transmit via the wireless transmitter and alarm message when the pressure in the pressurized container is about to reach the predetermined threshold as predicted.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprises an alarm unit that includes a wireless receiver, the alarm unit configured to receive the alarm message using the wireless receiver and to output an alarm indication in response thereto.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is initially configured to use calibration data from other similar systems in conjunction with the information received from the sensor to predict when the pressure in the pressurized container will reach the predetermined threshold.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is configured to update the calibration data based on the information received from the sensor.

11. A system, comprising:

a pressurized container configured to hold a pressurized gas and to supply controlled amounts of the pressurized gas to the system as required;

a sensor comprising a wireless transmitter, the sensor configured to sense a pressure in the pressurized container and to periodically transmit, using the wireless transmitter, information related to the pressure in the pressurized container; and

a control unit comprising;

a wireless receiver configured to receive the information transmitted from the sensor;

a network interface communicatively coupled to a communication network; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the information received from the sensor through the network interface; and

a data processing center communicatively coupled to the communication network, the data processing center configured to receive the information transmitted by the control unit and to predict based on the information received from the control unit when the pressure in the pressurized container will reach a predetermined threshold.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the data processing center is configured to generate an alarm message when the pressure in the pressurized container is about to reach the predetermined threshold as predicted, and wherein the data processing center is configured to transmit the message through the communication network to the control unit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to receive the alarm message through the network interface and to generate an alarm indication in response thereto.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the control unit further comprises a wireless transmitter, and wherein the control unit is configured to:

receive the alarm message through the network interface; and

transmit the alarm message via the wireless transmitter.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprises an alarm unit that includes a wireless receiver, the alarm unit configured to receive the alarm message using the wireless receiver and to output an alarm indication in response thereto.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the system is initially configured to use calibration data from other similar systems in conjunction with the information received from the sensor to predicting when the pressure in the pressurized container will reach the predetermined threshold.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the system is configured to update the calibration data based on the information received from the sensor.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined threshold coincides with the pressurized container being empty or near empty.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the data processing center is configured to determine, based on the information received from the sensor, when the pressurized container has been replaced or refilled.

20. A system, comprising:

a pressurized container configured to hold a pressurized gas and to supply controlled amounts of the pressurized gas to the system as required;

a sensor comprising a wireless transmitter, the sensor configured to sense a pressure in the pressurized container and to periodically transmit, using the wireless transmitter, information related to the pressure in the pressurized container; and

a control unit comprising a wireless receiver configured to receive the information transmitted by the sensor and to predict, based on the received information, when the pressurized container will be empty or near empty.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the control unit is configured to generate an alarm indication when the pressurized container is about to be empty or near empty as predicted.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the control unit is configured to determine based on information received from the sesnor by the sensor when the pressurized container has been replaced or refilled.