Method and apparatus for wireless sensing with power harvesting of a wireless signal

• US 8,570,152 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2009
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Fahley, Stephen L., Geren, William Preston, Bommer, Jason P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURGDORF, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US12/508,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20110018686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 244/119, 244/221, 244/123.3, 244/123.7, 244/123.9, 307/149, 333/235, 333/239, 343/705, 343708-712, 701/2, 701/3, 701/14, 701 29- 35, 340/850, 340/852, 340/945, 340/963, 340/438, 340/500, 340501-502, 340/505, 340/517, 340/531, 340/538, 340/539.1, 340/539.22, 340/539.24, 340/539.26, 340/693.1, 3406939-69312, 340/9.1, 340/10.1, 340/12.3, 340 1324- 1328
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 3/182 Stringers, longerons
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0085 Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

A method and apparatus for operating a sensor system. A first wireless signal is transmitted from a base station to a sensor unit. At least a portion of the first wireless signal is changed into power for the sensor unit using a power harvesting unit in the sensor unit. Information is received from a number of sensors associated with the sensor unit. The information is transmitted to the base station using a second wireless signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a power harvesting unit configured to generate power using a first wireless signal;

a sensor interface configured to receive information from a number of sensors;

a wireless communications unit connected to the sensor interface and the power harvesting unit and configured to use the power generated by the power harvesting unit and to transmit the information using a second wireless signal, wherein the first wireless signal and the second wireless signal are radio frequency signals;

a stringer, comprising an aircraft structural member, having a channel; and

a waveguide located at least partially within the channel, wherein the waveguide is configured to carry the first wireless signal and the wireless communications unit transmits the second wireless signal through the waveguide.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

the number of sensors connected to the sensor interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a processor unit connected to the power harvesting unit and the wireless communications unit and configured to use the power generated by the power harvesting unit and to control transmitting the information received from the number of sensors.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the number of sensors measures at least one of temperature, strain, electrical resistance, pressure, acceleration, force, sound levels, vibrations, and moisture.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of sensors is configured to measure a number of physical quantities for an aircraft and generate the information in response to measuring the number of physical quantities for the aircraft.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a base station configured to transmit the first wireless signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the base station is configured to receive the information transmitted using the second wireless signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

a computer, wherein the base station is controlled by the computer.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless interface configured to receive the first wireless signal and transmit the second wireless signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wireless interface comprises at least one of an antenna system and a number of waveguides.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wireless interface is part of the wireless communications unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stringer is positioned in an interior of a vehicle;

a foam material is positioned within the stringer; and

the waveguide is positioned at least partially within the foam material.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the power harvesting unit, the sensor interface, and the wireless communications unit form a sensor unit and wherein the sensor unit and the stringer are part of a network data processing system.

14. A method for transmitting information, the method comprising:

transmitting a first wireless signal through a waveguide to a sensor unit, the waveguide positioned at least partially in a stringer comprising an aircraft structural member;

responsive to receiving the first wireless signal, changing at least a portion of the first wireless signal into power for the sensor unit;

receiving the information from a number of sensors configured to send the information to the sensor unit; and

transmitting the information in a second wireless signal generated by the sensor unit, wherein the first wireless signal and the second wireless signal are radio frequency signals.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of changing at least the portion of the first wireless signal into the power for the sensor unit comprises:

changing at least the portion of the first wireless signal into the power for the sensor unit using a power harvesting unit in the sensor unit configured to change at least the portion of the first wireless signal into the power.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the power harvesting unit comprises a rectifier configured to change the at least the portion of the first wireless signal into the power.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

transmitting the first wireless signal from a base station.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving the information in the second wireless signal at a base station; and

processing the information in the second wireless signal.

19. A method for operating a sensor system, the method comprising:

transmitting a first wireless signal through a waveguide from a base station to a sensor unit, the waveguide positioned at least partially within a stringer comprising an aircraft structural member;

changing at least a portion of the first wireless signal into power for the sensor unit using a power harvesting unit in the sensor unit;

receiving information from a number of sensors associated with the sensor unit; and

transmitting the information through the waveguide to the base station using a second wireless signal, wherein the first wireless signal and the second wireless signal are radio frequency signals.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the sensor unit comprises the power harvesting unit configured to generate the power from the first wireless signal;

a sensor interface configured to receive the information from the number of sensors; and

a wireless communications unit connected to the sensor interface and the power harvesting unit and configured to use the power generated by the power harvesting unit and configured to transmit the information using the second wireless signal.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the base station comprises a transmitter configured to transmit the first wireless signal and configured to receive the second wireless signal.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the stringer comprises a composite stringer with a channel, and wherein the waveguide comprises a conductive material positioned on a wall of the channel.