System and method for remote sensing and wireless energy transfer on conductive body

• US 8,635,032 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2011
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Resensys, LLC
• Original Assignee: Resensys, LLC
• Inventors: Kalantari Khandani, Mehdi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Tung S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Stephanie
• Application Number:
  US13/028,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 702/42
• US Class Current: 702/42
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0008 of bridges
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0033 by determining damage, crack or wear
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0041 by determining deflection or stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0066 by exciting or detecting vibration or acceleration vibration testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/826 where the data is sent periodically
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/883 where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A system includes a first sensor, a second sensor and a processing portion. The first sensor can wirelessly transmit a first detected signal based on a detected parameter of a structure. The second sensor can wirelessly transmit a second detected signal based on the detected parameter of a second portion of the structure. The processing portion can wirelessly transfer energy to the first sensor and the second sensor. The processing portion is operable to wirelessly transfer electromagnetic energy to enable the first and the second sensors.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a parameter of a structure, said system comprising:

a first sensor operable to detect the parameter of a first portion of the structure at a first location and to wirelessly transmit a first detected signal based on the detected parameter of the first portion of the structure at the first location;

a second sensor operable to detect the parameter of to second portion of the structure at a second location and to wirelessly transmit a second detected signal based on the detected parameter of the second portion of the structure at the second location; and

a processing portion having an electromagnetic energy radiation portion and being operable to receive a first signal and a second signal and to wirelessly transfer electromagnetic energy to said first sensor and said second sensor, the first signal being based on the first detected signal, the second signal being based on the second detected signal.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein said first sensor is operable to operate in a first mode and a second mode,

wherein the first mode is a sleep mode such that said first sensor is not operable to detect the parameter of the first portion of the structure at the first location and to wirelessly transmit the first detected signal,

wherein in the second mode, said first sensor is operable to detect the parameter of the first portion of the structure at the first location and to wirelessly transmit the first detected signal, and

wherein said first sensor is operable to transition from the first mode to the second mode based on the wireless transfer of electromagnetic energy from said processing portion.

3. The system of claim 2,

wherein said second sensor is operable to operate in a third mode and a fourth mode,

wherein the third mode is a sleep mode such that said second sensor is not operable to detect the parameter of the second portion of the structure at the second location and to wirelessly transmit the second detected signal,

wherein in the fourth mode, said second sensor is operable to detect the parameter of the second portion of the structure at the second location and to wirelessly transmit the second detected signal,

wherein said second sensor is operable to transition from the third mode to the fourth mode based on the wireless transfer of electromagnetic energy from said processing portion, and

wherein said first sensor is operable to synchronously transition from the first mode to the second mode when said second sensor transitions from the third mode to the fourth mode.

4. The system of claim 3,

wherein said processing portion is operable to process the first signal and the second signal,

wherein said electromagnetic energy transfer portion is further operable to wirelessly transfer electromagnetic energy to enable said first sensor to transition from the first mode to the second mode, to enable said first sensor to detect the parameter of the first portion of the structure at the first location and to enable said first sensor to wirelessly transmit the first detected signal, and

wherein said electromagnetic energy transfer portion is further operable to wirelessly transfer electromagnetic energy to enable said second sensor to transition from the third mode to the fourth mode, to enable said second sensor to detect the parameter of the second portion of the structure at the second location and to enable said second sensor to wirelessly transmit the second detected signal.

5. The system of claim 1,

wherein said first sensor comprises a sensing portion, an energy storage portion, a circuit portion and a protective portion,

wherein said sensing portion is operable to detect the parameter of a first portion of the structure at a first location and to output a parameter signal,

wherein said energy storage portion is operable to store the wirelessly transferred electromagnetic energy from said processing portion and to provide energy to said circuit portion,

wherein said circuit portion is operable use the energy provided by said energy storage portion to generate and wirelessly transmit the first detected signal based on the parameter signal, and

wherein said protective portion covers said circuit portion.

6. The system of claim 5,

wherein said sensing portion comprises a sensing layer,

wherein said energy storage portion comprises an energy storage layer,

wherein said circuit portion comprises a circuit layer,

wherein said protective portion comprises a protective layer,

wherein said circuit layer is disposed between said protective layer and said energy storage layer, and

wherein said energy storage layer is disposed between said circuit layer and said sensing layer.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said sensing portion comprises a piezoelectric transducer.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said energy storage portion comprises a capacitor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said a first sensor comprises a strain gauge.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said a first sensor comprises a potentiometer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said a first sensor is operable to detect one of the group consisting of rotation, inclination, tilt, acceleration, linear motion and combinations thereof.

12. A method of monitoring a parameter of a structure, said method comprising:

detecting, via a first sensor, the parameter of a first portion of the structure at a first location;

wirelessly transmitting, via the first sensor, a first detected signal based on the detected parameter of the first portion of the structure at the first location;

detecting, via a second sensor, the parameter of a second portion of the structure at a second location;

wirelessly transmitting, via the second sensor, a second detected signal based on the detected parameter of the second portion of the structure at the second location;

receiving, via a processing portion having an electromagnetic energy radiation portion, a first signal based on the first detected signal;

receiving, via the processing portion, a second signal based on the second detected signal; and

wirelessly transferring, via the processing portion, electromagnetic energy to the first sensor and the second sensor.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein said detecting, via a first sensor, the parameter of a first portion of the structure at a first location comprises operating the first sensor in a first mode and a second mode,

wherein the first mode is a sleep mode such that the first sensor does not detect the parameter of the first portion of the structure at the first location and does not wirelessly transmit the first detected signal,

wherein in the second mode, the first sensor detects the parameter of the first portion of the structure at the first location and wirelessly transmits the first detected signal, and

wherein the first sensor is operable to transition from the first mode to the second mode based on the wireless transfer of electromagnetic energy from the processing portion.

14. The method of claim 13,

wherein said detecting, via a second sensor, the parameter of a second portion of the structure at a second location comprises operating the second sensor in a third mode and a fourth mode,

wherein the third mode is a sleep mode such that the second sensor does not detect the parameter of the second portion of the structure at the second location and does not wirelessly transmit the second detected signal,

wherein in the fourth mode, the second sensor is detects the parameter of the second portion of the structure at the second location and wirelessly transmits the second detected signal,

wherein said second sensor is operable to transition from the third mode to the fourth node based on the wireless transfer of electromagnetic energy from the processing portion, and

wherein the first sensor is operable to synchronously transition from the first mode to the second mode when the second sensor transitions from the third mode to the fourth mode.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

harvesting energy via the electromagnetic energy radiation portion,

wherein said receiving, via a processing portion having an electromagnetic energy radiation portion, a first signal based on the first detected signal comprises processing, via the processing portion, the first signal,

wherein said receiving, via the processing portion, a second signal based on the second detected signal comprises processing, via the processing portion, the second signal,

wherein said harvesting energy via the electromagnetic energy radiation portion further comprises harvesting energy to wirelessly transfer electromagnetic energy to enable the first sensor to transition from the first mode to the second mode, to enable the first sensor to detect the parameter of the first portion of the structure at the first location and to enable the first sensor to wirelessly transmit the first detected signal, and

wherein said harvesting energy via the electromagnetic energy radiation portion further comprises harvesting energy to wirelessly transfer electromagnetic energy to enable the second sensor to transition from the third mode to the fourth mode, to enable the second sensor to detect the parameter of the second portion of the structure at the second location and to enable the second sensor to wirelessly transmit the second detected signal.

16. The method of claim 12,

wherein said detecting, via a first sensor, the parameter of a first portion of the structure at a first location comprises detecting, via a sensor having a sensing, portion, an energy storage portion, a circuit portion and a protective portion,

wherein the sensing portion is operable to detect the parameter of a first portion of the structure at a first location and to output a parameter signal,

wherein the energy storage portion is operable to store the wirelessly transferred electromagnetic energy from the processing portion and to provide energy to said circuit portion,

wherein the circuit portion is operable use the energy provided by the energy storage portion to generate and wirelessly transmit the first detected signal based on the parameter signal, and

wherein the protective portion covers the circuit portion.

17. The method of claim 16,

wherein said detecting via a sensor having a sensing layer, an energy storage layer, a circuit layer, and a protective layer comprises detecting via a sensor having a sensing layer, an energy storage layer, a circuit layer and a protective layer such that the circuit layer is disposed between the protective layer and the energy storage layer, and

wherein said detecting via a sensor having a sensing, layer, an energy storage layer, a circuit layer and a protective layer comprises detecting via a sensor having the energy storage layer disposed between the circuit layer and the sensing layer.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said detecting via a sensor having a sensing portion, an energy storage portion, a circuit portion and a protective layer comprises detecting via a sensor having the sensing portion comprise a piezoelectric transducer.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said detecting via a sensor having a sensing portion, an energy storage portion, a circuit portion and a protective portion comprises detecting via a sensor having the energy storage portion comprise a capacitor.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein said wirelessly transferring, via the processing portion, energy to the first sensor and the second sensor comprises transferring electromagnetic energy through a conductive portion of the structure.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said wirelessly transferring, via the processing portion, energy to the first sensor and the second sensor comprises providing a direct connection of the processing portion to the structure to transfer electromagnetic energy through the structure to the first sensor and the second sensor.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said wirelessly transferring, via the processing portion, energy to the first sensor and the second sensor comprises providing a capacitive coupling or inductive coupling between the processing portion and the structure to transfer electromagnetic energy through the structure to the first sensor and the second sensor.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said wirelessly transferring, via the processing portion, electromagnetic energy to the first sensor and the second sensor comprises providing a processing portion antenna on the processing portion, providing to first sensor antenna on the first sensor and providing a second sensor antenna on the second sensor and arranging the processing portion, the first sensor and the second sensor such that the structure is a common ground.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said wirelessly transferring, via the processing portion, electromagnetic energy to the first sensor and the second sensor comprises providing a first sensor antenna on the first sensor, providing a second sensor antenna on the second sensor and arranging the processing portion, the first sensor and the second sensor such that the structure acts as an antenna, a transmission line, or a waveguide to transfer electromagnetic energy from the processing portion to the first sensor and the second sensor.

25. The method of claim 20,

wherein said detecting, via a first sensor, the parameter of a first portion of the structure at a first location comprises detecting, via a first sensor having a first switch operable to open and close, the parameter of a first portion of the structure at first locations, and

wherein said wirelessly transferring, via the processing portion, electromagnetic energy to the first sensor and the second sensor comprises providing a first sensor antenna on the first sensor, providing a second sensor antenna on the second sensor and arranging the processing portion, the first sensor and the second sensor such that by opening and closing the first switch, to rate of electromagnetic energy transfer from the processing portion to the first sensor changes, and

wherein the change in the rate of electromagnetic energy transfer is used to wirelessly communicate between the first sensor and the processing portion.

26. The method of claim 12,

wherein said receiving, via a processing portion having art electromagnetic energy radiation portion, a first signal based on the first detected signal comprises receiving the first signal only during predetermined intervals, and

wherein said wirelessly transmitting, via the first sensor, a first detected signal based on the detected parameter of the first portion of the structure at the first location comprises wirelessly transmitting the first detected signal only during the predetermined intervals.

27. The method in claim 26, further comprising, synchronizing, via the first sensor, the times of said wirelessly transmitting a first detected signal with said receiving the first signal only during predetermined intervals by transmitting a synchronization request message during the predetermined interval and receiving a synchronization reply message from the processing portion.

28. The method in claim 27, further comprising adjusting, via the first sensor, the time interval between a first synchronization request message and a second synchronization request message to adjust the rate of energy consumption and to adjust the speed of synchronization with the processing portion.