Method and system for wireless communications in a waveguide environment
First Claim
1. A wireless sensor system comprising:
- a plurality of sensor assemblies positioned remotely from each other, each sensor assembly comprising a radio frequency transceiver configured to wirelessly receive a sensor interrogation signal that includes an indication of a measured transmit power level, each sensor assembly of said plurality of sensor assemblies configured to;
measure an input power level of the received sensor interrogation signal,determine an input power level of the sensor interrogation signal,determine a power ratio of the sensor interrogation signal using the indication of the measured transmit power level and the input power level of the received sensor interrogation signal, andtransmit a message including the determined power level and the power ratio of the sensor interrogation signal; and
a sensor controller positioned remotely from said plurality of sensor assemblies, said sensor controller comprising a radio frequency transceiver configured to transmit a sensor interrogation signal at a first frequency and at a second frequency, the second frequency different than the first frequency, said sensor controller comprising a processor and a memory programmed with instructions that cause the sensor controller to;
transmit a sensor interrogation signal into an aircraft fuselage at a frequency that varies over time;
determine an output power of the transmitted sensor interrogation signal at a plurality of frequencies;
receive a message from each said sensor assembly including the power ratio of the interrogation signal at the plurality of frequencies received by each said sensor assembly, the power ratio determined by each said sensor assembly; and
select a transmit frequency for transmitting messages between each said sensor assembly and said sensor controller based on the received messages, wherein the transmit frequency is a frequency at which a power ratio of the input power level of the sensor interrogation signal measured by a particular sensor assembly and the transmitted output power is greater than power ratios determined at the others of the plurality of frequencies.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of transmitting sensor signals in a waveguide environment are provided. A sensor assembly is configured to wirelessly receive a sensor interrogation signal, determine an input power level of the sensor interrogation signal, and transmit a message including the determined power level. The system also includes a sensor controller configured to transmit a sensor interrogation signal determine an output power of the transmitted sensor interrogation signal at a plurality of frequencies, receive an indication of the received input power level of the sensor interrogation signal from the sensor assembly at the plurality of frequencies, compare the transmitted output power of the sensor interrogation signal to the received power indication, and select a transmit frequency for transmitting messages between the sensor assembly and the sensor controller based on the comparison.
19 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A wireless sensor system comprising:
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a plurality of sensor assemblies positioned remotely from each other, each sensor assembly comprising a radio frequency transceiver configured to wirelessly receive a sensor interrogation signal that includes an indication of a measured transmit power level, each sensor assembly of said plurality of sensor assemblies configured to; measure an input power level of the received sensor interrogation signal, determine an input power level of the sensor interrogation signal, determine a power ratio of the sensor interrogation signal using the indication of the measured transmit power level and the input power level of the received sensor interrogation signal, and transmit a message including the determined power level and the power ratio of the sensor interrogation signal; and a sensor controller positioned remotely from said plurality of sensor assemblies, said sensor controller comprising a radio frequency transceiver configured to transmit a sensor interrogation signal at a first frequency and at a second frequency, the second frequency different than the first frequency, said sensor controller comprising a processor and a memory programmed with instructions that cause the sensor controller to; transmit a sensor interrogation signal into an aircraft fuselage at a frequency that varies over time; determine an output power of the transmitted sensor interrogation signal at a plurality of frequencies; receive a message from each said sensor assembly including the power ratio of the interrogation signal at the plurality of frequencies received by each said sensor assembly, the power ratio determined by each said sensor assembly; and select a transmit frequency for transmitting messages between each said sensor assembly and said sensor controller based on the received messages, wherein the transmit frequency is a frequency at which a power ratio of the input power level of the sensor interrogation signal measured by a particular sensor assembly and the transmitted output power is greater than power ratios determined at the others of the plurality of frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of transmitting sensor signals comprising:
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transmitting a sensor interrogation signal into an aircraft fuselage at a frequency that varies over time; determining an output power of the transmitted sensor interrogation signal at a plurality of frequencies; receiving from each sensor assembly of a plurality of sensor assemblies an indication of a ratio of the determined output power and received power of the sensor interrogation signal at a particular sensor assembly at the plurality of frequencies; and selecting a transmit frequency corresponding to a mode frequency of the aircraft fuselage based on the received power ratio, the mode frequency being the frequency where a transmitted signal incurs a lesser loss than other frequencies, wherein the transmit frequency is a frequency at which a power ratio of the received power level at the particular sensor assembly and the transmitted output power is greater than power ratios determined at the others of the plurality of frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A sensor controller system comprising:
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a radio frequency transceiver configured to transmit data messages and to receive data messages at a plurality of predetermined frequencies; and a processor comprising a memory and programmed to; transmit a plurality of sensor interrogation signals into an aircraft fuselage, each of the plurality of sensor interrogation signals transmitted at a respective frequency different than others of respective frequencies; determine an output power of each of the transmitted plurality of sensor interrogation signals at the respective frequency; receive a message from each of a plurality of wireless sensor assemblies including a power ratio for one or more of the of the plurality of sensor interrogation signals received by a particular sensor assembly, the power ratio determined by the sensor assembly; determine a mode frequency of the aircraft fuselage using the received message; and select the mode frequency as a transmit frequency for communications between the radio frequency transceiver and the particular wireless sensor assembly, wherein the transmit frequency is a frequency at which a power ratio of the received power level at the particular sensor assembly and the transmitted output power is greater than power ratios determined at the others of the plurality of frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification