Wireless sensor system

• US 7,764,958 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MicroStrain, Inc. (Spectris PLC)
• Inventors: Bessette, Justin R., Arms, Steven W., Townsend, Christopher P, Galbreath, Jacob H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhattacharya; Sam
• Application Number:
  US11/084,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 455/423, 455/517, 348/207.99, 348/222.1, 348/500, 348/642, 714/701
• US Class Current: 455/423
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0045 Arrangements at the receiver end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes

Abstract

A network of wireless sensor nodes for wireless transmission to a base station is provided. The sensor nodes can provide real time streaming of data over separate frequency links that can all be received by the base station. The base station includes a receiver for receiving at multiple frequencies, error detection or correction, and analog outputs so sensor data can be provided to standard analysis systems that require analog signals as would be provided by wired sensors. The base station also provides an output indicating the presence of transmission error.

Claims

1. A measurement system, comprising:

sensors;

a network of wireless sensor nodes, wherein at least one of said sensors is connected to each said wireless sensor node, wherein each said wireless sensor node includes a node transceiver configured to transmit digital data derived from said at least one sensor; and

a base station configured to receive transmitted digital data from a plurality of said wireless sensor nodes of said network of wireless sensor nodes, determine whether there is an error, convert to analog, provide an analog output, and provide an output indicating whether an error was found, said base station including;

a base station transceiver configured to receive transmitted digital data from at least one wireless sensor node of said network of wireless sensor nodes and to provide at least one received digital signal derived from said transmitted digital data;

a processor configured to analyze said at least one received digital signal for detecting an error;

digital to analog circuitry configured for converting said at least one received digital signal into at least one received analog signal;

a first analog output connected to provide an analog output signal derived from said at least one received analog signal; and

a second output connected to provide an output signal indicating presence of an error in said received digital signal.

2. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein a first of said wireless sensor nodes is connected to a plurality of said sensors, wherein said first wireless sensor node provides a digital data stream that includes data derived from said plurality of sensors.

3. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein said base station further comprises a plurality of said base station transceivers, wherein each one of a plurality of said wireless sensor nodes is configured to transmit at a different frequency from others of said plurality of wireless sensor nodes, and wherein each one of said plurality of said base station transceivers is configured to receive at a different frequency from others of said plurality of said base station transceivers.

4. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of said wireless sensor nodes are configured to transmit at the same frequency, and wherein said base station includes buttons for selecting which of said plurality of wireless sensor nodes is selected to transmit.

5. A measurement system as recited in claim 3, wherein said base station transceivers are configured to receive data from a plurality of said wireless sensor nodes simultaneously.

6. A measurement system as recited in claim 3, wherein each one of said base station transceivers receives data from a corresponding wireless sensor node with a deterministic latency.

7. A measurement system as recited in claim 3, wherein each said wireless sensor node transceiver and each said base station transceiver includes software programmable tuning so each wireless sensor node transceiver and each corresponding base station transceiver can be programmed to operate on a distinct portion of the RF spectrum.

8. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein each said wireless sensor node includes an address.

9. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein said base station further includes an output for providing a signal indicating alarm status for one of said wireless sensor nodes.

10. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein said base station further includes an output for providing a signal indicating battery status for one of said wireless sensor nodes.

11. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, further including a device, wherein one of said wireless sensor nodes is mounted on said device, wherein said base station is configured to provide a signal to said mounted wireless sensor node to control an operation of said device.

12. A measurement system as recited in claim 11, wherein said base station is configured to provide a signal to said mounted wireless sensor node to stop operation of said device to prevent damage to said device.

13. A measurement system as recited in claim 12, wherein said base station is configured to provide a signal to said mounted wireless sensor node to activate a kill switch.

14. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein said base station further comprises a programmable filter in line with said first analog output.

15. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein said output signal from said second output includes a measure of at least one from the group consisting of signal strength and error rate.

16. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein said output signal from said second output includes a weighted average of at least one from the group consisting of signal strength and error rate.

17. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein said output signal from said second output is capable of being processed by an analog data acquisition system.

18. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein said second output is connected to an LED.

19. A measurement system as recited in claim 18, wherein brightness of said LED depends on error rate.

20. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said first analog outputs and a plurality of corresponding second outputs, wherein each said first analog output corresponds to a sensor, wherein said error-related output signal at each said second output indicates whether an error was present in said received digital signal for a corresponding first analog output and for a corresponding sensor.

21. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein said base station further comprises a base station antenna, wherein said base station antenna is capable of receiving data transmitted at several frequencies at once.

22. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein each said wireless sensor node includes a processor, wherein each said processor includes a program to turn off power to said wireless sensor node transmitter and to provide said processor in sleep state.

23. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein each said wireless sensor node further includes an A/D converter, wherein said A/D converter converts analog data from said at least one sensor to said digital data derived from said at least one sensor.

24. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein said base station further comprises a plurality of analog outputs that provide a plurality of analog output signals, wherein said plurality of analog output signals are derived from corresponding sensors.

25. A measurement system as recited in claim 22, wherein said base station further comprises a plurality of said second outputs, wherein said plurality of second outputs provide output signals, wherein said output signals each indicate whether an error was present in said received digital signal for a corresponding sensor.

26. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an analog data acquisition system, wherein said first analog output is connected to said analog data acquisition system.

27. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an oscilloscope, wherein said first analog output is connected to said oscilloscope.

28. A measurement system as recited in claim 1, wherein said base station further comprises a BNC connector, wherein said first analog output includes said BNC connector.

29. A measurement system, comprising a base station configured to receive wirelessly transmitted digital data and to provide at least one received digital signal derived from said wirelessly transmitted digital data, wherein said base station includes:

a processor configured to analyze said at least one received digital signal for detecting an error;

digital to analog circuitry configured for converting said at least one received digital signal into at least one received analog signal;

a first analog output connected to provide an analog output signal derived from said at least one received analog signal; and

a second output connected to provide a signal indicating presence of an error in said wirelessly transmitted digital data.

30. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, wherein said base station further comprises a plurality of base station transceivers wherein each one of said plurality of said base station transceivers is configured to receive at a different frequency from others of said plurality of said base station transceivers.

31. A measurement system as recited in claim 30, wherein said base station transceivers are configured to receive data at said different frequencies simultaneously.

32. A measurement system as recited in claim 30, wherein each one of said base station transceivers receives data with a deterministic latency.

33. A measurement system as recited in claim 30, wherein said base station includes software programmable tuning so each of said base station transceivers can be programmed to operate on a distinct portion of the RF spectrum.

34. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, wherein said base station includes a transceiver and buttons, wherein said buttons are for selecting which of a plurality of wireless transmissions will be received by said transceiver.

35. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, wherein said base station further includes an output for providing a signal indicating alarm status for a device transmitting to said base station.

36. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, wherein said base station further includes an output for providing a signal indicating battery status for a device transmitting to said base station.

37. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, further including a device, wherein one of said wireless sensor nodes is mounted on said device, wherein said base station is configured to provide a signal to said mounted wireless sensor node to control an operation of said device.

38. A measurement system as recited in claim 37, wherein said base station is configured to provide a signal to said mounted wireless sensor node to stop operation of said device to prevent damage to said device.

39. A measurement system as recited in claim 38, wherein said base station is configured to provide a signal to said mounted wireless sensor node to activate a kill switch.

40. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, wherein said base station further comprises a programmable filter in line with said first analog output.

41. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, wherein said output signal from said second output includes a measure of at least one from the group consisting of signal strength and error rate.

42. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, wherein said output signal from said second output includes a weighted average of at least one from the group consisting of signal strength and error rate.

43. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, further comprising a plurality of sensors and a plurality of said first analog outputs, wherein said plurality of first analog outputs provide a plurality of analog output signals, wherein each of said analog output signals is derived from a corresponding sensor.

44. A measurement system as recited in claim 43, further comprising a plurality of second outputs, wherein said plurality of second outputs provide output signals, wherein said output signals each indicate whether an error was present in said received digital signal for a corresponding sensor.

45. A measurement system as recited in claim 44, wherein said error-related output signal at each said second output indicates whether an error was present in said received digital signal for a corresponding first analog output and for a corresponding sensor.

46. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, wherein said output signal from said second output is capable of being processed by an analog data acquisition system.

47. A measurement system as recited in claim 46, wherein brightness of said LED depends on error rate.

48. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, wherein said second output is connected to an LED.

49. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, wherein said base station further comprises a base station antenna, wherein said base station antenna is capable of receiving data transmitted at several frequencies at once.

50. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, wherein said base station is configured to communicate using an address, and wherein said base station receives said wirelessly transmitted digital data based on said address.

51. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, further comprising an analog data acquisition system, wherein said first analog output is connected to said analog data acquisition system.

52. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, further comprising an oscilloscope, wherein said first analog output is connected to said oscilloscope.

53. A measurement system as recited in claim 29, wherein said base station further comprises a BNC connector, wherein said first analog output includes said BNC connector.