Smart module for communications, processing, and interface

• US 9,297,925 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
• Original Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Inventors: Riley, Rodney Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/159,780
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 702/3, 702/116, 702/118, 702182-185, 702/188
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/00 Meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 2001/006 Main server receiving weather information from several sub-stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

The present invention is a unique combination and physical packaging of low power COTS electronics, real-time operating system, and custom firmware that relays data, messages, and GPS position through the Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) satellite system. It is a data collector, processor, transmitter, location reporting, and data storage device that provides bi-directional satellite communications anywhere in the world. The combination is very low power and economical as compared to other devices. It can be used for many unattended remote data collection and reporting needs. The smart module may be used in measuring and reporting remote marine data for marine weather analysis, forecasts, and warnings.

Claims

1. A sensor module for accumulating, processing and transmitting sensor data, comprising:

a data input for receiving sensor data from at least one instrument, and formatting the sensor data as digital sensor data,

a processor, coupled to the data input, configured to process and store the digital sensor data in memory, and packaging digital sensor data for transmission to a remote data system; and

a satellite communication modem, coupled to the processor and the internal antenna, receiving packaged digital sensor data and transmitting the packaged digital sensor data to the remote data system,

wherein the data input further including one or more of;

a first analog input configured to receive analog sensor data from at least one external sensor, a signal conditioning circuit receiving the analog sensor data and conditioning the analog sensor data, and an analog-to-digital converter, coupled to the signal conditioning circuit, configured to convert conditioned analog sensor data into digital sensor data, and

a first digital input configured to receive one or more of digital sensor data from an external sensor and user control data from a user, wherein the processor, coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and the first digital input, is configured to process and store the digital sensor data in memory, and packaging digital sensor data for transmission to a remote data systems;

wherein a sensor module may be configured through one or more of user control data from the first digital input and memory of the processor, to configure a sensor module in at least one of a plurality of modes,

wherein in a first mode, where the at least one sensor module is configured as a smart module coordinator, receiving digital sensor data from at least one other sensor module, storing digital sensor data from the at least one other sensor module, packaging digital sensor data from the at least one other sensor module with position data, and transmitting packaged digital sensor data and position data to the remote data system through the satellite communication modem and internal antenna;

wherein in a second mode, where the at least one sensor module is configured as a smart end device, receiving analog sensor data from at the least one sensor, converting the analog sensor data to digital sensor data in the analog-to-digital converter, and transmitting the digital sensor data to another sensor module configured as a smart module coordinator; and

wherein in a third mode, the sensor module is configured as a stand-alone smart sensor device, receiving analog sensor data from the at least one sensor, converting the analog sensor data to digital sensor data in the analog-to-digital converter, packaging digital sensor data from the at least one other sensor module with position data, and transmitting packaged digital sensor data and position data to the remote data system through the satellite communication modem and internal antenna.

2. The sensor module of claim 1, further comprising:

a global positioning system receiver, coupled to the processor and an internal antenna, generating position data to the processor, the processor further configured to include package position data with digital sensor data for transmission to the remote data system;

wherein the satellite communication modem, coupled to the processor and the internal antenna, receives packaged digital sensor data and position data and transmits the packaged digital sensor data and position data to the remote data system.

3. A sensor module for accumulating, processing and transmitting sensor data, comprising:

a data input for receiving sensor data from at least one instrument, and formatting the sensor data as digital sensor data,

a processor, coupled to the data input, configured to process and store the digital sensor data in memory, and packaging digital sensor data for transmission to a remote data system; and

a satellite communication modem, coupled to the processor and the internal antenna, receiving packaged digital sensor data and transmitting the packaged digital sensor data to the remote data system,

wherein the data input further including one or more of;

a first analog input configured to receive analog sensor data from at least one external sensor, a signal conditioning circuit receiving the analog sensor data and conditioning the analog sensor data, and an analog-to-digital converter, coupled to the signal conditioning circuit, configured to convert conditioned analog sensor data into digital sensor data, and

a first digital input configured to receive one or more of digital sensor data from an external sensor and user control data from a user, wherein the processor, coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and the first digital input, is configured to process and store the digital sensor data in memory, and packaging digital sensor data for transmission to a remote data system,

the sensor module further comprising a local wireless communications system, coupled to the processor and configured to communication bi-directionally with a plurality of other sensor modules, to receive digital sensor data from other sensor modules and to transmit commands to other sensor modules,

wherein a sensor module may be configured through one or more of user control data from the first digital input and memory of the processor, to configure a sensor module in at least one of a plurality of modes,

wherein in a first mode the sensor module is configured as a smart module coordinator, receiving digital sensor data from at least one other sensor module, storing digital sensor data from the at least one other sensor module, packaging digital sensor data from the at least one other sensor module with position data, and transmitting packaged digital sensor data and position data to the remote data system through the satellite communication modem and internal antenna,

wherein in a second mode, the sensor module is configured as a smart end device, receiving analog sensor data from at the least one sensor, converting the analog sensor data to digital sensor data in the analog-to-digital converter, and transmitting, through the local wireless communications system, the digital sensor data to another sensor module configured as a smart module coordinator; and

wherein in a third mode, the sensor module is configured as a stand-alone smart sensor device, receiving analog sensor data from the at least one sensor, converting the analog sensor data to digital sensor data in the analog-to-digital converter, packaging digital sensor data from the at least one other sensor module with position data, and transmitting packaged digital sensor data and position data to the remote data system through the satellite communication modem and internal antenna.

4. A sensor module for accumulating, processing and transmitting sensor data, comprising:

a data input for receiving sensor data from at least one instrument, and formatting the sensor data as digital sensor data,

a processor, coupled to the data input, configured to process and store the digital sensor data in memory, and packaging digital sensor data for transmission to a remote data system; and

a satellite communication modem, coupled to the processor and the internal antenna, receiving packaged digital sensor data and transmitting the packaged digital sensor data to the remote data system,

wherein the data input further including one or more of;

a first analog input configured to receive analog sensor data from at least one external sensor, a signal conditioning circuit receiving the analog sensor data and conditioning the analog sensor data, and an analog-to-digital converter, coupled to the signal conditioning circuit, configured to convert conditioned analog sensor data into digital sensor data, and

a first digital input configured to receive one or more of digital sensor data from an external sensor and user control data from a user, wherein the processor, coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and the first digital input, is configured to process and store the digital sensor data in memory, and packaging digital sensor data for transmission to a remote data system,

the sensor module further comprising a global positioning system receiver, coupled to the processor and an internal antenna, generating position data to the processor, the processor further configured to include package position data with digital sensor data for transmission to the remote data system;

a local wireless communications system, coupled to the processor and configured to communication bi-directionally with a plurality of other sensor modules, to receive digital sensor data from other sensor modules and to transmit commands to other sensor modules,

wherein the satellite communication modem, coupled to the processor and the internal antenna, receives packaged digital sensor data and position data and transmits the packaged digital sensor data and position data to the remote data system,

wherein a sensor module may be configured through one or more of user control data from the first digital input and memory of the processor, to configure a sensor module in at least one of a plurality of modes,

wherein in a first mode the sensor module is configured as a smart module coordinator, receiving digital sensor data from at least one other sensor module, storing digital sensor data from the at least one other sensor module, packaging digital sensor data from the at least one other sensor module with position data, and transmitting packaged digital sensor data and position data to the remote data system through the satellite communication modem and internal antenna,

wherein in a second mode, the sensor module is configured as a smart end device, receiving analog sensor data from at the least one sensor, converting the analog sensor data to digital sensor data in the analog-to-digital converter, and transmitting through the local wireless communications system, the digital sensor data to another sensor module configured as a smart module coordinator; and

wherein in a third mode, the sensor module is configured as a stand-alone smart sensor device, receiving analog sensor data from the at least one sensor, converting the analog sensor data to digital sensor data in the analog-to-digital converter, packaging digital sensor data from the at least one other sensor module with position data, and transmitting packaged digital sensor data and position data to the remote data system through the satellite communication modem and internal antenna.

5. A sensor system comprising a plurality of sensor modules module for accumulating, processing and transmitting sensor data, arranged in a network, each of the sensor modules comprising a sensor, comprising:

a data input for receiving sensor data from at least one instrument, and formatting the sensor data as digital sensor data;

a processor, coupled to the data input, configured to process and store the digital sensor data in memory, and packaging digital sensor data for transmission to a remote data system; and

a satellite communication modem, coupled to the processor and the internal antenna, receiving packaged digital sensor data and transmitting the packaged digital sensor data to the remote data system,

wherein the data input of each sensor module further comprises one or more of;

a first analog input configured to receive analog sensor data from at least one external sensor, a signal conditioning circuit receiving the analog sensor data and conditioning the analog sensor data, and an analog-to-digital converter, coupled to the signal conditioning circuit, configured to convert conditioned analog sensor data into digital sensor data, and

a first digital input configured to receive one or more of digital sensor data from an external sensor and user control data from a user, wherein the processor, coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and the first digital input, is configured to process and store the digital sensor data in memory, and packaging digital sensor data for transmission to a remote data systems;

wherein at least one sensor module in the sensor system is programmed in a first mode, where the at least one sensor module is configured as a smart module coordinator, receiving digital sensor data from at least one other sensor module, storing digital sensor data from the at least one other sensor module, packaging digital sensor data from the at least one other sensor module with position data, and transmitting packaged digital sensor data and position data to the remote data system through the satellite communication modem and internal antenna;

wherein at least one sensor module in the sensor system is programmed in a second mode, where the at least one sensor module is configured as a smart end device, receiving analog sensor data from at the least one sensor, converting the analog sensor data to digital sensor data in the analog-to-digital converter, and transmitting, through the local wireless communications system, the digital sensor data to another sensor module configured as a smart module coordinator; and

wherein at lease one sensor module is configurable in a third mode, as a stand-alone smart sensor device, receiving analog sensor data from the at least one sensor, converting the analog sensor data to digital sensor data in the analog-to-digital converter, packaging digital sensor data from the at least one other sensor module with position data, and transmitting packaged digital sensor data and position data to the remote data system through the satellite communication modem and internal antenna.

6. The sensor system of claim 5, wherein each sensor module further comprises:

a global positioning system receiver, coupled to the processor and an internal antenna, generating position data to the processor, the processor further configured to include package position data with digital sensor data for transmission to the remote data system;

wherein the satellite communication modem, coupled to the processor and the internal antenna, receives packaged digital sensor data and position data and transmits the packaged digital sensor data and position data to the remote data system.

7. The sensor system of claim 5, wherein each sensor module further comprises:

a local wireless communications system, coupled to the processor and configured to communication bi-directionally with a plurality of other sensor modules, to receive digital sensor data from other sensor modules and to transmit commands to other sensor modules,

wherein each sensor module in the sensor system may be configured through one or more of user control data from the first digital input and memory of the processor, to configure a sensor module in at least one of a plurality of modes.

8. The sensor system of claim 6, wherein each sensor module further comprises:

a local wireless communications system, coupled to the processor and configured to communication bi-directionally with a plurality of other sensor modules, to receive digital sensor data from other sensor modules and to transmit commands to other sensor modules,

wherein each sensor module in the sensor system may be configured through one or more of user control data from the first digital input and memory of the processor, to configure a sensor module in at least one of a plurality of mode.