Apparatus for compact internetworked wireless integrated network sensors (WINS)

• US 7,797,367 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Borgia/Cummins LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Kaiser, William J., Gelvin, David C., Pottie, Gregory J., Girod, Lewis D., Newberg, Fredric, Merrill, William M., Vardhan, Sandeep, Sipos, Anton I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hussain; Imad
• Application Number:
  US09/684,387
• Time in Patent Office: 3,632 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/870, 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/208, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/173 using an interconnection network, e.g. matrix, shuffle, pyramid, star, snowflake
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0414 in a stacked or folded configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0464 Annular ring patch
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40273 the transportation system being a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1051 Group master selection mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

The Wireless Integrated Network Sensor Next Generation (WINS NG) nodes provide distributed network and Internet access to sensors, controls, and processors that are deeply embedded in equipment, facilities, and the environment. The WINS NG network is a new monitoring and control capability for applications in transportation, manufacturing, health care, environmental monitoring, and safety and security. The WINS NG nodes combine microsensor technology, low power distributed signal processing, low power computation, and low power, low cost wireless and/or wired networking capability in a compact system. The WINS NG networks provide sensing, local control, remote reconfigurability, and embedded intelligent systems in structures, materials, and environments.

Claims

1. A sensor node comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one energy source;

a multiple-mode radio frequency modem configured to selectively operate in at least a master mode and a slave mode, wherein the modem is configured to operate in the master mode in response to the sensor node having a number of connections to neighbor nodes of the sensor node that exceeds a respective number of connections that each of the neighbor nodes has to its own neighbor nodes by a threshold number of connections, wherein the sensor node is configured to control a frequency hopping pattern for each neighbor node of the sensor node in response to the modem operating in the master mode,

wherein the modem is configured to operate in the slave mode in response to a neighbor node of the sensor node having a number of neighbor node connections that exceeds the number of connections to neighbor nodes of the sensor node by the threshold number of connections, and wherein the sensor node is configured to acquire and follow a frequency hopping pattern of a neighbor node of the sensor node that operates as a master to the sensor node in response to the modem operating in the master mode; and

at least one substrate configured to couple the at least one processor, the at least one energy source, and the multiple-mode radio frequency modem,

wherein the at least one substrate comprises at least one sensor.

2. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the at least one substrate comprises active and passive substrates.

3. The sensor node of claim 2,

wherein the at least one substrate comprises at least one thin film substrate,

wherein the at least one thin film substrate comprises a piezoelectric polymer film, and

wherein the piezoelectric polymer film is polyvinylidenedifloride (PVF₂).

4. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the at least one substrate is conformal.

5. The sensor node of claim 1, further comprising at least one communication physical layer including radio frequency (RF) power management.

6. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to be coupled to at least one component selected from the group consisting of actuators, sensors, signal processors, interfaces, power supplies, data storage devices, and communication devices.

7. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of passive sensors, active sensors, seismic sensors, acoustic sensors, optical sensors, infrared sensors, magnetic sensors, thermal sensors, accelerometers, and bi-static sensors.

8. The sensor node of claim 1,

wherein the at least one energy source includes a thin film photovoltaic device, and

wherein the thin film photovoltaic device comprises an energy source and an optical presence detection sensor.

9. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the sensor node is configured to be coupled to at least one item selected from the group consisting of machinery components, electronic equipment, mechanical equipment, electro-mechanical equipment, a facility, a structure, a material, a biological system, people, animals, vegetation, clothing, crates, packages, product containers, shipping containers, a transportation system, vehicle components, an outdoor area, and an indoor area.

10. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to receive at least one signal type selected from the group consisting of temperature, shock, vibration, motion, acceleration, tip, light, sound, and package opening and closing.

11. The sensor node of claim 1,

wherein the at least one substrate comprises a thin film tape, and

wherein the thin film tape includes an adhesive.

12. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the at least one substrate is configured to operate as an acoustic sensor and source.

13. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the at least one substrate comprises sensor tape material.

14. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy source is a photovoltaic device incorporated in or mounted on the at least one substrate.

15. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the at least one substrate is configured to operate as a vibration and acoustic sensor.

16. The sensor node of claim 1,

wherein the at least one substrate is configured to operate as an accelerometer;

and

wherein the at least one energy source comprises one or more battery cells that are configured to serve as proof masses for the accelerometer.

17. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein functions of the sensor node are remotely controllable and the sensor node is programmable via wireless internetworking among a plurality of network elements.

18. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of network elements comprises a sensor network including at least one node,

wherein the at least one node is configured to be coupled to a monitored environment and at least one client computer,

wherein the at least one node is configured to be remotely controlled from the at least one client computer,

wherein the at least one node is configured to provide node information including node resource cost and message priority to the plurality of network elements, and

wherein data processing is distributed through the sensor network in response to the node information.

19. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of network elements comprises a sensor network including at least one node and at least one client computer,

wherein the sensor node is configured to be coupled to the at least one client computer through the plurality of network elements,

wherein the at least one node is configured to support at least one communication mode selected from the group consisting of wireless communications, wired communications, and hybrid wired and wireless communications, and

wherein at least one redundant communication pathway is established among the plurality of network elements.

20. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of network elements comprises at least one network,

wherein the at least one network includes a network selected from the group consisting of a wired network, a wireless network, and a hybrid wired and wireless network.

21. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the wireless internetworking comprises providing remote accessibility to data, code, management, and security functions,

wherein the data includes signals and images,

wherein the code includes signal processing, decision support, and database elements, and

wherein the management includes operation of the plurality of network elements.

22. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of network elements comprises a layered plurality of network element sets.

23. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of network elements comprises a sensor network including at least one node,

wherein the at least one node plurality of node includes at least one node of a first type and at least one node of a second type,

wherein a first network is configured to be assembled using the at least one node of the first type,

wherein a second network is configured to be assembled using the at least one node of the second type, and

wherein the second network overlays the first network.

24. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of network elements comprises a sensor network,

wherein at least some of the code and data are predistributed through the sensor network using low priority messages, and

wherein the code and the data are downloadable from at least one location selected from the group consisting of storage devices of the plurality of network elements, and storage devices outside the sensor network.

25. The sensor node of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one processing hierarchy configured to control at least one event selected from the group consisting of data classifications, data transfers, data queuing, data combining, processing locations, and communications among the plurality of network elements.

26. The sensor node of claim 1,

wherein data is transferred using message packets,

wherein the message packets are aggregated into compact forms using message aggregation protocols, and

wherein the message aggregation protocols are adaptive to data type, node density, message priority, and available energy.

27. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of network elements comprises a sensor network including at least one node, and

wherein the functions of the at least one node include data acquisition, data processing, communication, data routing, data security, programming, and node operation.

28. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of network elements comprises a sensor network including at least one node,

wherein the at least one node includes an application programming interface (API),

wherein the API is configured to support remote reprogramming and control of at least one device selected from the group consisting of sensors, actuators, communications devices, signal processors, information storage devices, node controllers, and power supply devices.

29. The sensor node of claim 28,

wherein the API is configured to enable distributed resource management by providing network resource information and message priority information to the plurality of network elements, and wherein a synchronism hierarchy established in response to the resource information and message priority information is configured to control information transfer among the plurality of network elements.

30. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of network elements comprises a sensor network including at least one node, and

wherein the at least one node is configured to control data processing and data transmission in response to a probability of a detected event.

31. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of network elements comprises a sensor network including at least one node,

wherein search and acquisition modes of the at least one node are configured to search for participating ones of the plurality of network elements,

wherein a determination is made whether each of the participating ones of the plurality of network elements are permitted to join the sensor network using a message hierarchy, and

wherein the sensor network is configured to be surveyed at random intervals for new nodes and missing nodes.

32. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of network elements comprises a sensor network including at least one node,

wherein the plurality of network elements further includes at least one database, wherein the at least one database includes at least one storage device selected from the group consisting of storage devices coupled to at least one of the plurality of network elements and storage devices of the at least one node, and

wherein the at least one database comprises data-driven alerting methods to recognize data relationships including coincidence in signal arrival, node power status, and network communication status.

33. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of network elements comprises a sensor network including at least one node,

wherein the at least one node is configured to collect data from the sensor node,

wherein at least one operation is performed on the data in response to establish parameters,

wherein the at least one operation is selected from the group consisting of energy detection, routing, processing, storing, and fusing, and

wherein the routing, processing, storing, and fusing are performed in response to at least one result of the energy detection.

34. The sensor node of claim 33,

wherein the routing comprises selecting at least one data type for routing, selecting at least one of the plurality of network elements to which to route the selected at least one data type, selecting at least one route to the selected at least one of the plurality of network elements, and routing the selected at least one data type to the selected at least one of the plurality of network elements.

35. The sensor node of claim 33,

wherein the processing comprises selecting at least one data type for processing, selecting at least one processing type, selecting at least one of the plurality of network elements to perform the selected at least one processing type, and transferring the selected at least one data type to the selected at least one of the plurality of network elements using at least one route, and

wherein the selection of at least one processing type comprises determining at least one probability associated with a detected event and selecting at least one processing type in response to the at least one probability.

36. The sensor node of claim 33,

wherein the storing comprises selecting at least one data type for storage, selecting at least one storage type, selecting at least one of the plurality of network elements to perform the selected at least one storage type, and transferring the selected at least one data type to the selected at least one of the plurality of network elements using at least one route.

37. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein at least one of the plurality of network elements is configured to determine a position of the sensor node.

38. The sensor node of claim 17,

wherein the sensor node is configured to determine at least one position using location information received from at least one of the plurality of network elements.

39. The sensor node of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one bi-static sensor.

40. The sensor node of claim 1,

wherein in response to the modem operating in the slave mode, the sensor node is configured to join two clusters of nodes, and

wherein each of the two clusters of nodes comprises a respective neighbor node that operates as a master to the sensor node.

41. The sensor node of claim 1,

wherein the sensor node is configured to be coupled to a package, and

wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense opening and closing of the package.

42. A sensor node comprising:

a flexible substrate configured to operate as an acoustic sensor and an acoustic source;

a processor incorporated in or mounted on the flexible substrate, wherein the processor is configured to automatically join at least one other node to form a network; and

an antenna, incorporated in or carried on the flexible substrate, configured to be electrically coupled to the processor for wireless communication,

wherein the acoustic sensor is configured to determine a position of the sensor node,

wherein the sensor node is configured to communicate information identifying the determined position of the sensor node to the other node,

wherein the sensor node is configured to synchronize with the at least one other node via radio frequency communications, and

wherein synchronization of the sensor node and the at least one other node allows the sensor node to compensate for wind when determining a range of the sensor node.

43. The sensor node of claim 42, wherein the flexible substrate is configured to operate as a sensor in an accelerometer.

44. The sensor node of claim 42,

further comprising a photovoltaic device incorporated in or mounted on the flexible substrate,

wherein the photovoltaic device is configured to be an energy source for the processor.

45. The sensor node of claim 42, wherein the flexible substrate is configured with an aerodynamic shape.

46. The sensor node of claim 42,

wherein the formed network includes a gateway node configured to link to at least one other network, and

wherein the at least one other network comprises the Internet.

47. The sensor node of claim 42,

wherein the formed network includes a gateway node that is linkable to at least one network,

wherein the at least one other network comprises a client device, and

wherein the sensor node is programmable by the client device.

48. The sensor node of claim 42, wherein the network is configured to detect a second sensor node configured to be attached.

49. The sensor node of claim 42,

wherein the flexible substrate comprises a flexible support material and a layer of polyvinylidenedifloride that is applied to the flexible support material, and

wherein the layer of polyvinylidenedifloride is configured to operate as the acoustic sensor and an acoustic source.