MEMS-based monitoring

• US 7,832,281 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Original Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
• Inventors: Spoor, Ryk E., Mian, Zahid F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROY, PUNAM P
• Application Number:
  US12/171,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20090000387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 735/79, 735/83, 737/63, 737/69, 737/73, 738/02, 340/870.25, 340/870.26, 340/870.18, 365/174, 702/42, 702/56
• US Class Current: 73/802
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles

Abstract

A solution for monitoring a property of an object and/or an area using a Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS)-based monitoring device is provided. In an embodiment of the invention, the MEMS-based monitoring device includes a MEMS-based sensing device for obtaining data based on a property of the object and/or area and a power generation device that generates power from an ambient condition of the monitoring device. In this manner, the monitoring device can operate independent of any outside power sources or other devices. Further, the monitoring device can include a transmitter that transmits a signal based on the property. The monitoring device can be used to monitor a moving component of a machine, and can be integrated with a health monitoring system of the machine using one or more relay devices.

Claims

1. A monitoring system comprising:

a monitoring device including;

a Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS)-based sensing device configured to sense a property of at least one of;

an area or an object, distinct from the sensing device, to which the monitoring device is affixed;

a transmitter, distinct from the sensing device, configured to transmit a signal based on the property and an identity of the monitoring device, wherein the MEMS-based sensing device varies at least one of;

a frequency, an amplitude, or a phase of the signal with the property, and wherein the signal is transmitted either continuously or periodically according to a set time period;

a processing module configured to periodically switch between two states to adjust at least one of;

the frequency, the amplitude, or the phase of the signal to identify the monitoring device; and

a power module configured to provide power to the sensing device and the transmitter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein an impedance of the sensing device changes with the property.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the property is at least one of:

a stress or a strain experienced by an object.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing device and transmitter are serially connected to the power module.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive the signal from the monitoring device;

a processor configured to process the signal to determine the sensed property; and

a health monitoring system configured to evaluate the sensed property.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is a Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)-based microprocessor, and wherein the transmitter and the receiver are implemented using a CMOS-based radio frequency transceiver.

7. The system of claim 6, the power module including:

a set of MEMS-based power storage devices; and

a MEMS-based power generating device configured to generate power from an ambient condition of the monitoring device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the power module includes a power generation device configured to generate power from an ambient condition of the monitoring device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is configured to monitor a property of a person.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is an acoustic transmitter configured to transmit the signal using an acoustic communication solution.