Monitoring system and method

• US 7,768,413 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aeromesh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aeromesh Corporation
• Inventors: Maris, John, Kosuge, Roy, Pittman, Alan, Crane, Pat
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US11/944,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20080155064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 340/612, 340/540, 340/606, 340/621, 340/539.16, 738/61
• US Class Current: 340/612
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 7/00 Other installations or implements for operating sewer systems, e.g. for preventing or indicating stoppage; Emptying cesspools
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/296 Acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture

Abstract

A monitoring system includes one or more monitoring devices, positioned in sewer manholes, storm drains, etc., and a remote monitoring station that communicates wirelessly therewith. The monitoring device may be an integrated unit, including sensors, a two-way telemetry unit, a power supply, a processor, and supporting hardware, all located in an enclosed, waterproof housing. The monitoring device is placed within a manhole cavity to obtain depth (e.g., water level) measurements, images, and other data, and report the measurements back to the remote monitoring station, which analyzes the data and responds to alert messages when a dangerous water level is detected. An additional sensor may monitor the manhole cover for security purposes. A distributed mesh network of wireless nodes may be used to relay communications from the monitoring devices along alternative paths, through bridge nodes that may connect to a public wireless or cellular network.

Claims

1. A remote sensing system comprising:

a housing adapted for being secured to and supported by a manhole cover within a sewer manhole, the housing having communication ports for sensors, the sensors monitoring parameters in the vicinity of the housing beneath the manhole cover;

a microcontroller within the housing for communicating the parameters to a two-way wireless radio module through a digital connection;

a connector cable connected to the two-way wireless radio module which leads to an external antenna embedded in or atop the manhole cover for transmitting the parameters to a remote communication device; and

a power means for providing power to the housing.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensors include a ranging sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the parameters are environmental or process parameters.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote communication device is a receiving device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote communication device includes a personal computer.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a central server for receiving the parameters transmitted from the external antenna, the central server in communication with a database that stores the parameters.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing includes an enclosure cover and a window.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensors include one or more of a level sensor, a flow sensor, a pressure sensor, a ranging sensor, an ultrasonic ranging sensor, a gas sensor, and an optical monitor.

9. A remote sensing system, comprising:

a housing adapted for being secured to a manhole cover within a sewer manhole, the housing having communication ports for sensors, the sensors monitoring parameters in the vicinity of the housing beneath the manhole cover;

a microcontroller within the housing for communicating the parameters to a two-way wireless radio module through a digital connection;

a connector cable connected to the two-way wireless radio module which leads to an external antenna embedded in or atop the manhole cover for transmitting the parameters to a remote communication device;

a power means for providing power to the housing; and

a second antenna connected to the housing for communicating with the central server using a different communication protocol than is used by the two-way wireless radio module communicating via the first antenna;

wherein the housing includes an enclosure cover and a window.

10. A remote sensing system comprising:

a housing attached to and supported by the underside of a manhole cover, the housing having communication ports for sensors, the sensors monitoring parameters in the vicinity of the housing and beneath the manhole cover;

a microcontroller within the housing for communicating the parameters to a two-way wireless radio module through a digital connection;

a connector cable connected to the two-way wireless radio module which leads to an external antenna embedded in or atop the manhole cover for transmitting the parameters to a remote communication device to a real-time receiver;

remotely programmable sensor thresholds which cause the microcontroller to communicate with the remote communication device when the sensor thresholds have been exceeded, said programmable sensor thresholds configured to be modified through commands received via the two-way wireless radio module; and

a battery for providing power to the housing.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensors monitor if the manhole cover has been moved and if the manhole cover has been moved, an alarm is triggered to notify the remote communication device.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising one or more output ports on the microcontroller to control output devices.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising an ultrasonic ranging detector for measuring the height of the water in the manhole.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein if the ultrasonic ranging detector detects the height of the water in the manhole to be above a predetermined level, an alert is sent to the remote communication device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined level is set in the microcontroller.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the microcontroller is programmed via remote commands received by the two-way wireless radio module.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote commands cause the microcontroller to change reporting frequency, change sampling frequency, or send sensor data to the remote communication device.

18. A remote sensing device comprising:

a housing adapted for being securably mounted beneath and supported by a manhole cover of a sewer manhole;

one or more sensors disposed within or coupled to said housing for monitoring conditions beneath the manhole cover, the conditions including at least a surface depth beneath the manhole cover;

a two-way wireless radio;

a digital processor within the housing for periodically communicating parameters associated with the monitored conditions to the two-way wireless radio;

an external antenna embedded in or atop the manhole cover, and magnetically or electronically coupled to the two-way wireless radio, for transmitting the parameters to a remote station; and

a battery for providing power to the components within the housing.

19. The remote sensing device of claim 18, wherein the digital processor is programmable via remote commands received by the two-way wireless radio.

20. The remote sensing device of claim 19, wherein the remote commands cause the digital processor to change reporting frequency, change sampling frequency, or send sensor data to the remote communication device.

21. The remote sensing device of claim 18, further comprising a flow sensor and a toxic gas sensor.