Low power pulse modulation communication in mesh networks with modular sensors

• US 7,683,775 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Levinson, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/565,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 340/521
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/25 using a mesh network, e.g. a public urban network such as public lighting, bus stops or traffic lights
• 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

Abstract

A modular sensor architecture. A sensor includes multiple planes that are in electrical communication. A power plane provides a power source and a communications module that can be optical and/or electrical in nature. The power source can be upgraded using optical power delivered over an optical fiber. The sensor can also both transmit/receive data over the optical fiber. A processing plane provides memory and processing power. The processing plane can be updated/upgraded via the communications module or the optical fiber. A sensor plane includes multiple sensors. Deployed sensors can transmit and receive data or programming using mesh networks and using low power pulse modulation.

Claims

1. A sensor module comprising:

a power plane that includes a power source and a communications module;

a processing plane including a processor and memory, the processing place in electrical and mechanical communication with the power plane with a first flex circuit that extends from the power to the processing plane such that a portion of the first flex circuit is exterior to the power plane and the processing plane;

a sensing plane that includes one or more sensors, the sensing plane in mechanical and electrical communication with the processing plane with a second flex circuit that extends from the processing to the sensing plane such that a portion of the second flex circuit is exterior to the processing plane and the sensing plane; and

wherein the flex circuits permit the power plane, processing plane, and sensing plane to fold into a stacked package.

2. A sensor module as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are selected for one or more of:

a biology environment;

an aquarium;

an optical identifier;

a security system;

a prosthetic limb; and

an ocean platform.

3. A sensor module as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors is comprised of a color, acceleration, temperature, pH, resistance, microphone, salinity, light, or fiber Bragg grating sensor with optics.

4. A sensor module as defined in claim 1, wherein the communications module comprises a Bluetooth radio and wherein the communications module is adapted to function as a node of a mesh network.

5. A sensor module as defined in claim 1, wherein the communications module comprises a radio that is configured to transmit using pulse modulation over a distance on the order of 10 kilometers.

6. A sensor module as defined in claim 5, wherein the communications module transmits data to a biocorder when the biocorder contacts the sensor and requests data.

7. A sensor module as defined in claim 6, wherein the biocorder communicates data or programming with the sensor module.