Method and device for monitoring at least a characteristic of a block made of a building material
First Claim
1. A monitoring device for at least one physical characteristic of a block of building material, comprising:
- an electric supply line configured to be buried in the block of building material, to convey signals and to be AC supplied so as to generate voltage and current stationary waveforms;
a plurality of primary inductors operatively coupled to the electric supply line at positions corresponding to peaks of at least one of the voltage and current stationary waveforms when the electric supply line is AC powered;
a plurality of integrated monitoring circuits configured to be buried in the block of building material, each integrated monitoring circuit comprisingan integrated sensor configured to sense the at least one physical characteristic, anda secondary inductor magnetically coupled to a respective one of the plurality of primary inductors and configured to supply the integrated sensor, and communicate through the electric supply line.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring device includes an electric supply line to be buried in the block of building material, to convey signals and to be AC supplied so as to generate voltage and current stationary waveforms. The device also includes primary inductors coupled to the electric supply line at positions corresponding to peaks of at least one of the voltage and current stationary waveforms. The device also includes integrated monitoring circuits to be buried in the block of building material, with each integrated monitoring circuit including an integrated sensor to sense at least one physical characteristic, and a secondary inductor magnetically coupled to a respective primary inductor to supply the integrated sensor, and communicate through the electric supply line.
5 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A monitoring device for at least one physical characteristic of a block of building material, comprising:
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an electric supply line configured to be buried in the block of building material, to convey signals and to be AC supplied so as to generate voltage and current stationary waveforms; a plurality of primary inductors operatively coupled to the electric supply line at positions corresponding to peaks of at least one of the voltage and current stationary waveforms when the electric supply line is AC powered; a plurality of integrated monitoring circuits configured to be buried in the block of building material, each integrated monitoring circuit comprising an integrated sensor configured to sense the at least one physical characteristic, and a secondary inductor magnetically coupled to a respective one of the plurality of primary inductors and configured to supply the integrated sensor, and communicate through the electric supply line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A monitoring device for a block of building material, comprising:
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an electric supply line configured to be buried in the block of building material; a plurality of primary inductors coupled to the electric supply line at positions based upon peaks of at least one stationary waveform when the electric supply line is AC powered; a plurality of integrated monitoring circuits configured to be buried in the block of building material, each integrated monitoring circuit comprising an integrated sensor, and a secondary inductor magnetically coupled to a respective one of the primary inductors and configured to supply the integrated sensor, and communicate through the electric supply line. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A monitoring device comprising:
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a block of building material; an electric supply line buried in the block of building material; a plurality of primary inductors coupled to the electric supply line at positions based upon peaks of at least one stationary waveform when the electric supply line is AC powered; a plurality of integrated monitoring circuits buried in the block of building material, each integrated monitoring circuit comprising an integrated sensor, and a secondary inductor magnetically coupled to a respective one of the primary inductors and configured to supply the integrated sensor, and communicate through the electric supply line. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of sensing at least one physical characteristic using a monitoring device comprising an electric supply line buried in a block of building material, a plurality of primary inductors coupled to the electric supply line at positions based upon peaks of at least one stationary waveform when the electric supply line is AC powered, and a plurality of integrated monitoring circuits buried in the block of building material and comprising a secondary inductor magnetically coupled to a respective one of the primary inductors, the method comprising:
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powering the electric supply line with AC at a frequency generating the at least one stationary waveform and thereby powering each integrated monitoring circuit via a respective primary and secondary inductor; and receive sensed signals related to at least one physical characteristic from each integrated monitoring circuit via the electric supply line. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification