Wireless diagnostic sensor link

• US 9,254,086 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2011
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dearborn Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Vink, Anthony B., Jewell, Michael T., Zachos, Mark P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wendell, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRANDAI, CINDY HUYEN
• Application Number:
  US13/314,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20130148701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.11, 455/423, 600/445, 600/590, 600/300, 600/459, 600/437, 600/485
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

A wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between a signal source and a monitoring device. The wireless diagnostic sensor link includes a signal input device operable for receiving a signal from the signal source in a first communication protocol in the form of an analog signal, converting the analog signal to a digital signal, and transmitting the digital signal in the form of a wireless communication protocol. The wireless diagnostic sensor link also includes a signal output device, which receives the digital signal. The signal output device is in electrical communication with the monitoring device, and is also operable for communicating with the signal input device. The signal output device converts the digital signal back to an analog signal, and sends the signal to the monitoring device in the form of a second communications protocol.

Claims

1. A wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication of raw data between a signal source and a monitoring device, comprising:

said signal source is a transducer kit that measures a desired parameter during an operation of a vehicle in terms of a measured voltage and further including a reference voltage used by the transducer kit to determine the magnitude of the measured voltage;

a signal input device having a first processor and a first analog-to-digital converter in electrical communication with said first processor, said first analog-to-digital converter is configured to receive an analog signal from said signal source and convert said analog signal to a digital signal in at least one wireless communication protocol, such that said first processor receives said digital signal from said first analog-to-digital converter;

a power management system of the signal input device;

a multiple pin connector connected between the signal source and the signal input device, wherein the signal input device is in a dormant state when not in use, where minimal power is used by the power management system such that the multiple pin connector is able to detect a signal received from the signal source and the power management system and a power activation switch of the power management system activates the first processor, thereby activating the signal input device;

a first radio transmitter of said signal input device in electrical communication with said first processor, said first processor transmits said digital signal to said first radio transmitter;

a signal output device having a second radio transmitter in wireless communication with said first radio transmitter in said at least one wireless communication protocol, wherein said first radio transmitter wirelessly transmits said digital signal to the signal output device in said at least one wireless communication protocol, wherein said digital signal transmitted by said first radio transmitter is a snapshot sample data point;

a second processor of said signal output device in electrical communication with said second radio transmitter such that said second processor receives said digital signal from said second radio transmitter; and

a second analog-to-digital converter of said signal output device in electrical communication with said second processor, said second analog-to-digital converter operable for receiving said digital signal from said second processor, and converting said digital signal to a second analog signal prior to sending said second analog signal to said monitoring device.

2. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 1, said at least one wireless communication protocol being one selected from a group consisting of Zigbee, Wifi, infrared, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth, Ultra-wideband (UWA), and Z-Wave.

3. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 1, said signal source further comprising a transducer.

4. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 3, wherein said transducer measures the parameter that is one selected from a group consisting of temperature, pressure, force, and combinations thereof.

5. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 1, said monitoring device being one selected from a group consisting of a protocol adapter and a computer.

6. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 1, wherein said signal source measures the parameter at predetermined time intervals, and transmits said measured parameter to said signal input device.

7. A wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication of raw data between a signal source and a monitoring device, comprising:

the signal source for producing a first analog signal, wherein the signal source is a transducer kit that measures a desired parameter during an operation of a vehicle in terms of a measured voltage and further including a reference voltage used by the transducer kit to determine the magnitude of the measured voltage;

a signal input device having a first processor and a first analog-to-digital converter in electrical communication with said first processor, said first analog-to-digital converter is configured to receive said first analog signal from said signal source and convert said first analog signal to a digital signal in at least one wireless communication protocol, such that said first processor receives said digital signal from said first analog-to-digital converter;

a power management system of the signal input device;

a multiple pin connector connected between the signal source and the signal input device, wherein the signal input device is in a dormant state when not in use where minimal power is used by the power management system such that the multiple pin connector is able to detect a signal received from the signal source and the power management system and a power activation switch of the power management system activates the first processor, thereby activating the signal input device;

a first radio transmitter of said signal input device in electrical communication with said first processor, said first processor transmits said digital signal to said first radio transmitter, wherein said digital signal transmitted by said first radio transmitter is a snapshot sample data point;

a signal output device having a second radio transmitter in wireless communication with said first radio transmitter in said at least one wireless communication protocol, wherein said first radio transmitter wirelessly transmits said digital signal to the signal output device in said at least one wireless communication protocol;

a second processor of said signal output device in electrical communication with said second radio transmitter such that said second processor receives said digital signal from said second radio transmitter; and

a second analog-to-digital converter of said signal output device in electrical communication with said second processor, said second analog-to-digital converter operable for receiving said digital signal from said second processor, and converting said digital signal to a second analog signal prior to sending said second analog signal to said monitoring device; and

a monitoring device in electrical communication with said second analog-to-digital converter such that said monitoring device receives said second analog signal from said second analog-to-digital converter.

8. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 7, said at least one wireless communication protocol being one selected from a group consisting of Zigbee, Wifi, infrared, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth, Ultra-wideband (UWA), and Z-Wave.

9. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 7, wherein said signal source measures the parameter at predetermined time intervals, and transmits said measured parameter to said signal input device.

10. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 7, said monitoring device being one selected from a group consisting of a protocol adapter and a computer.

11. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 7, said signal source further comprising a transducer.

12. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 11, wherein said transducer measures the parameter that is one selected from a group consisting of temperature, pressure, force, and combinations thereof.

13. A wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication of raw data between a signal source and a monitoring device, comprising:

the signal source is a transducer kit that measures a desired parameter during an operation of a vehicle in terms of a measured voltage and further including a reference voltage used by the transducer kit to determine the magnitude of the measured voltage;

a first analog-to-digital converter for receiving a first analog signal from said signal source, and converting said first analog signal to a digital signal in at least one wireless communication protocol;

a first processor in electrical communication with said first analog-to-digital converter, and operable for receiving said digital signal from said first analog-to-digital converter;

a first radio transmitter in electrical communication with said first processor such that said first radio transmitter receives said digital signal and wirelessly transmits said digital signal in said at least one wireless communication protocol, wherein said digital signal transmitted by said first radio transmitter is a snapshot sample data point;

a power management system electrically connected to the first analog-to-digital converter, said first processor and said first radio transmitter;

a multiple pin connector connected between the signal source and the first analog-to-digital device, wherein the first analog-to-digital converter, said first processor and said first radio transmitter are in a dormant state when not in use and minimal power is used by the power management system such that the multiple pin connector is able to detect a signal received from the signal source and the power management system and a power activation switch of the power management system activates the first processor, thereby activating the signal input device;

a second radio transmitter in wireless communication with said first radio transmitter in said at least one wireless communication protocol such that said second radio transmitter receives said digital signal from said first radio transmitter;

a second processor in electrical communication with said second radio transmitter, said second processor receives said digital signal from said second radio transmitter;

a second analog-to-digital converter in electrical communication with said second processor such that said second analog-to-digital converter receives said digital signal from said second radio transmitter in said at least one wireless communication protocol, and converts said digital signal to a second analog signal and sends said second analog signal to said second processor; and

the monitoring device operable for receiving said second analog signal from said second analog-to-digital converter.

14. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 13, said monitoring device further comprising a transducer operable for measuring the parameter that is one selected from a group consisting of temperature, pressure, force, and combinations thereof.

15. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 13, said at least one wireless communication protocol being one selected from a group consisting of Zigbee, Wifi, infrared, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth, Ultra-wideband (UWA), and Z-Wave.

16. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 13, wherein said signal source measures the parameter at predetermined time intervals, and transmits said measured parameter to said signal input device.

17. The wireless diagnostic sensor link for providing wireless communication between the signal source and the monitoring device of claim 13, said monitoring device being one selected from a group consisting of a protocol adapter and a computer.