Remote shock sensing and notification system

• US 7,450,023 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2006
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Original Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Inventors: Pearce, James, Sikka, Vinod K., Muralidharan, Govindarajan, Jagadish, Usha, Britton, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeff
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees; Edny
• Application Number:
  US11/346,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 340/669, 340/539.1, 340/539.22, 340/539.23, 340/665
• US Class Current: 340/665
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1663 using seismic sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data

Abstract

A low-power shock sensing system includes at least one shock sensor physically coupled to a chemical storage tank to be monitored for impacts, and an RF transmitter which is in a low-power idle state in the absence of a triggering signal. The system includes interference circuitry including or activated by the shock sensor, wherein an output of the interface circuitry is coupled to an input of the RF transmitter. The interface circuitry triggers the RF transmitting with the triggering signal to transmit an alarm message to at least one remote location when the sensor senses a shock greater than a predetermined threshold. In one embodiment the shock sensor is a shock switch which provides an open and a closed state, the open state being a low power idle state.

Claims

1. A low-power shock sensing system, comprising:

at least one shock sensor physically coupled to a chemical storage tank to be monitored for impacts;

an RF transceiver, said RF transmitter being in a low-power idle state in the absence of a triggering signal; and

interface circuitry for generating said triggering signal when activated by said shock sensor, an output of said interface circuitry coupled to an input of said RF transmitter, wherein said interface circuitry triggers said RF transceiver with said triggering signal to transmit an alarm message to at least one remote location when said sensor senses a shock greater than a predetermined threshold, said remote location includes a wireless transceiver system;

wherein said shock sensor comprises a linear transducer and at least one comparator, wherein said comparator compares an analog output signal provided by said linear transducer to a predetermined threshold, and wherein an output of said comparator activates said RF transmitter only when an amplitude of said analog output signal is above said predetermined threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a battery, wherein said RF transmitter is powered exclusively by said battery.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one shock sensor comprises a plurality of shock sensors.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said plurality of shock sensors have different ones of said predetermined thresholds.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said plurality of shock sensors comprise at least 3 of said shock sensors, said plurality of sensors being situated on two or more planes.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said system comprises a plurality of chemical storage tanks.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a chemical sensor having RF communications disposed remotely and within a communicable range from said chemical storage tank, wherein said chemical sensor is in a low-power idle mode absent activation by receipt of an activation signal from said RF transmitter.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an explosion-proof housing, wherein shock switch, said RF transmitter and said interface circuitry are disposed therein.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said chemical tank comprises a hydrocarbon storage tank having a fuel therein.

2. A low-power shock sensing system, comprising:

at least one shock sensor physically coupled to a chemical storage tank to be monitored for impacts;

an RF transmitter, said RF transmitter being in a low-power idle state in the absence of a triggering signal; and

interface circuitry including or activated by said shock sensor, an output of said interface circuitry coupled to an input of said RF transmitter, wherein said interface circuitry triggers said RF transmitter with said triggering signal to transmit an alarm message to at least one remote location when said sensor senses a shock greater than a predetermined threshold;

wherein said shock sensor comprises a linear transducer, further comprising at least one comparator for comparing an analog output signal provided by said linear transducer to said predetermined threshold, wherein an output of said comparator activates said RF transmitter only when an amplitude of said analog output signal is above said predetermined threshold.