Power aware techniques for energy harvesting remote sensor system

• US 8,098,143 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company, Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Andarawis, Emad, Berkcan, Ertugrul, Sealing, C. Scott, Wojnarowski, Robert, Delgado, Eladio, Coulter, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/331,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 340/952, 340/425.5, 340/426.13, 340/426.15, 340/426.16, 340/426.24, 340/426.25, 340/438, 340/505, 340/286.02, 340/10.4, 340/10.41, 701/29, 701/33, 701/112, 250/358.1, 235/400, 702/183
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/48 using wave or particle radiation means G01D5/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/00 Investigating the elasticity of structures, e.g. deflection of bridges or air-craft wings G01M9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40039 Details regarding the setting of the power status of a node according to activity on the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40045 Details regarding the feeding of energy to the node from the bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4028 the transportation system being an aircraft
• 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: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A distributed monitoring system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure includes: one or more sensor nodes coupled to the structure, each sensor node including: a power supply adapted to scavenge energy directed at the power supply; a sensor operably coupled to the power supply for sensing one or more operating conditions of the structure in the environment; and a communications interface operably coupled to the power supply and the sensor for communicating the sensed operating conditions of the structure; a communication network operably coupled to the sensor nodes; one or more controllers operably coupled to the communication network for monitoring the sensor nodes; and an energy radiator positioned proximate the structure adapted to radiate energy at the power supplies of the sensor nodes.

Claims

1. A distributed monitoring system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure, comprising:

one or more sensor nodes coupled to the structure, each sensor node comprising;

a power supply adapted to scavenge energy directed at the power supply;

a sensor operably coupled to the power supply for sensing one or more operating conditions of the structure in the environment; and

a communications interface operably coupled to the power supply and the sensor for communicating the sensed operating conditions of the structure;

a communication network operably coupled to the sensor nodes;

one or more controllers operably coupled to the communication network for monitoring the sensor nodes; and

an energy radiator positioned proximate the structure adapted to radiate energy at the power supplies of the sensor nodes;

wherein one or more of the sensor nodes comprise a memory operably coupled to the sensor; and

wherein the memory comprises at least one stable latched operational state of the sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensor nodes comprise a rechargeable battery operably coupled to the power supply.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor of one or more of the sensor nodes comprises at least one stable latched operating state representative of a corresponding measurement value of an operating condition.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said stable latched operating state remains unchanged until reset by one or more of the controllers.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensor of one or more of the sensor nodes comprises one or more of:

an electrical device, a mechanical device, a chemical device, and an electro-mechanical device, that comprises at least one stable latched operating state representative of a corresponding measurement value of an operating condition.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the sensor of one or more of the sensor nodes is adapted to change to a stable latched operating state of the sensor using energy provided by the operating condition measured by the sensor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy radiator and one or more of the controllers are positioned proximate the structure.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the energy radiator and one or more of the controllers are positioned within a common housing.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy radiator comprises a radiator of one or more of the following:

radiofrequency energy, optical energy, and thermal energy.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises an aircraft.

11. A distributed monitoring system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure, comprising:

one or more sensor nodes coupled to the structure, each sensor node comprising;

a power supply adapted to scavenge energy directed at the power supply;

a sensor operably coupled to the power supply for sensing one or more operating conditions of the structure in the environment; and

a communications interface operably coupled to the power supply and the sensor for communicating the sensed operating conditions of the structure;

a communication network operably coupled to the sensor nodes;

one or more controllers operably coupled to the communication network for monitoring the sensor nodes; and

an energy radiator positioned proximate the structure adapted to radiate energy at the power supplies of the sensor nodes;

wherein the power supply of one or more of the sensor nodes is adapted to scavenge enough directed energy to permit the sensor of the corresponding sensor node to sense one or more operating conditions and reset an operating state of the sensor of the corresponding sensor node.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the power supply of one or more of the sensor nodes is adapted to scavenge enough directed energy to permit the sensor of the corresponding sensor node to sense one or more operating conditions and provides power to enable to reset an operating state of the sensor of the corresponding sensor node as directed by one or more of the controllers.

13. A method of operating a system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure, comprising:

providing sensor nodes at locations around the structure for sensing operating conditions of the structure;

directing radiated energy at one or more of the sensor nodes;

scavenging the radiated energy at one or more of the sensor nodes; and

using the scavenged energy at one or more of the sensor nodes to transmit sensed operating conditions from one or more of the sensor nodes;

and

using the scavenged energy at one or more of the sensor nodes to reset an operating condition of a sensor of one or more of the sensor nodes.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein one or more of the sensor nodes store a measurement of one or more sensed operating conditions.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein using the scavenged energy at one or more of the sensor nodes to transmit sensed operating conditions from one or more of the sensor node locations comprises using the scavenged energy at one or more of the sensor nodes to transmit the stored sensed operating conditions.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein using the scavenged energy at one or more of the sensor nodes to transmit sensed operating conditions from one or more of the sensor node locations comprises using the scavenged energy at one or more of the sensor nodes to transmit the stored sensed operating conditions and reset an operating condition of a sensor of one or more of the sensor nodes.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the structure comprises an aircraft.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein one or more of the sensor nodes use energy associated with the sensed operating condition to store a measurement of the sensed operating condition.

19. A sensor node for use in a distributed monitoring system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure, comprising:

a power supply;

a sensor operably coupled to the power supply for sensing one or more operating conditions of the structure in the immediate environment;

a communications interface operably coupled to the power supply and the sensor for communicating the sensed operating conditions of the structure; and

a controller operably coupled to the power supply, the sensor, and the communications interface;

wherein the sensor comprises one or more stable latched operating states that are each reflective of a corresponding value of one or more operating conditions.

20. The sensor node of claim 19, wherein the power supply comprises a rechargeable battery for storing energy provided by the power supply.

21. The sensor node of claim 20, wherein the sensor is adapted to use energy associated with the sensed operating condition to store the sensed operating condition.

22. A distributed monitoring system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure, comprising:

one or more sensor nodes coupled to the structure, each sensor node comprising;

a power supply adapted to scavenge energy directed at the power supply;

a sensor operably coupled to the power supply for sensing one or more operating conditions of the structure in the environment; and

a communications interface operably coupled to the power supply and the sensor for communicating the sensed operating conditions of the structure;

a communication network operably coupled to the sensor nodes; and

one or more controllers operably coupled to the communication network for monitoring the sensor nodes;

wherein one or more of the sensors comprise at least one stable latched operating state representative of a corresponding measurement value of an operating condition.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said stable latched operating state remains unchanged until reset by one or more of the controllers.