Medium communication system using log detector amplifier

• US 9,621,203 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DockOn AG
• Original Assignee: DockOn AG
• Inventors: Rada, Patrick, Brown, Forrest
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, Laura
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Rose M
• Application Number:
  US14/095,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20140150554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 73 405 A, 73579, 73587, 73592, 7386119, 7386121, 7386125, 7386126, 7386127, 7386128, 7386129, 7386131
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/66 by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/663 by measuring Doppler frequency shift
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/667 Arrangements of transducers for ultrasonic flowmeters; Circuits for operating ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/243 for pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H03D 3/002 Modifications of demodulators to reduce interference by undesired signals H03D3/248 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/10 Means associated with receiver for limiting or suppressing noise or interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• 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

An in-medium monitoring system for monitoring material carried within a pipe. The system includes an acoustic device installed within the pipe that generates voltage signals indicative of changes in the material, such as flow rate or leaks, a hardware unit that includes a detector module and a communication module, a switch for switching the voltage signals to and communication signals from the hardware unit. The hardware unit and a power source are attached to the pipe. The acoustic device may be detector or a sensor. The communication module may communicate date through the sensor in the medium or outside of the pipe to a fixed network. The hardware unit may include a log detection amplifier for generating an amplified pulsed output signal without voltage gain and without significantly adding noise.

Claims

1. An in-medium monitoring system for monitoring material carried within a pipe, comprising:

an acoustic device installed within the pipe and configured to at least generate a voltage signal indicative of a condition of the material, the condition indicative of extrinsic properties of the material;

a hardware unit including a detector module and a communication module, wherein the detector module includes a voltage to frequency converter configured to receive the voltage signal and output a modulated frequency signal that is modulated with data indicative of the condition of the material extracted from the voltage signal, and wherein the hardware unit further includes a log detection amplifier configured to receive the modulated frequency signal and to concurrently demodulate the modulated frequency signal in AM and FM modes;

a switch connected to the acoustic device for switching the voltage signal to the hardware unit; and

a power source for the acoustic device, the hardware unit and the switch, wherein the hardware unit and power source are attached to the pipe.

2. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the detector module is a leak detector, and wherein the acoustic device includes an acoustic detector configured to monitor sound or pressure within the material indicative of a leak of the material from the pipe.

3. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic device further includes an acoustic sensor configured to transmit processed data received from the communication module within the material within the pipe.

4. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the communication module is a fixed network communication module configured to transmit, inside the pipe, processed data received from the communication module.

5. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the fixed network communication module is configured as part of a mesh network.

6. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the fixed network communication module is configured to communicate with a wireless network.

7. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the fixed network communication module is configured to communicate with a wired network.

8. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the detector module is a flow meter, wherein the acoustic device includes two acoustic sensors configured to transmit and to receive signals within the material, and wherein the flow meter is configured to determine the flow rate of the material based on a differential time of flight between the transmitted and received signals at the two acoustic sensors.

9. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the voltage to frequency converter is configured not to amplify the voltage of the voltage signal.

10. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the voltage to frequency converter is configured to operate at an intermediate frequency and to output a modulated signal with data indicative of the condition of the material extracted from the voltage signal.

11. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the hardware unit further includes a pulse normalizer configured to shape the amplified pulsed output signal to form an output signal.

12. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the hardware unit further includes a micro-controller configured to form part of the detector module and part of the communication module and configured to receive the output signal, to determine the condition of the material, and to output a digital signal indicative of the condition.

13. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the acoustic device includes an acoustic sensor configured to transmit data, wherein the hardware unit further includes a transmitter circuit configured to receive the digital signal indicative of the condition from the micro-controller, to convert the signal to a modulated output signal, and to transmit the modulated output signal via the acoustic sensor.

14. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the communication module is a fixed network communication module configured to transmit processed data received from the communication module outside of the pipe, wherein the communication module further includes a transmitter circuit configured to receive the digital signal indicative of the condition from the micro-controller, to convert the digital signal to a transmit output signal, and to transmit the transmit output signal via the fixed network communication module.

15. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 14, wherein the hardware unit further includes a second log detection amplifier configured to receive the analog output signal from the transmitter circuit and generate a copy of the analog output signal over a wide dynamic range and with direct logarithmic conversion of RMS voltage to frequency for output to the pulse normalizer, wherein the pulse normalizer is configured to shape the copy of the analog output signal to form a copy of the analog output signal, and wherein the micro-controller is further configured to receive the copy of the analog output signal and generate an amplitude control circuit signal indicative of a value of the RMS amplitude of the transmitter amplified output signal.

16. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the hardware unit further includes a variable module configured to provide an adjustable output level for the communication module.

17. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the hardware unit further includes a second voltage to frequency converter configured to receive the analog output signal from the transmitter circuit and generate an amplified modulated frequency signal for input the second log detection amplifier.

18. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic device, the hardware unit, the switch and the power source are each part of one or more end point units installed on one or more end point water pipes to one or more end point locations;

wherein the acoustic device, the hardware unit, the switch and the power source are also each part of one or more utility units installed on municipal water pipes connected to the one or more end point water pipes and configured to receive material monitoring data from the one or more end point units, and wherein the acoustic device, the hardware unit, the switch and the power source are also part of central unit configured to receive the material monitoring data from the one or more utility units to monitor the end point water pipes and the municipal water pipes.

19. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 18, wherein the central unit monitors for leaks in the end point water pipes and in the municipal water pipes.

20. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 18, wherein the central unit monitors flow rates in the end point water pipes and in the municipal water pipes.

21. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 18, wherein the central unit is installed on water hydrant and monitors for leaks in the water hydrant.

22. An in-medium monitoring system for monitoring material carried within a pipe, comprising:

an acoustic device installed within the pipe and configured to at least generate a voltage signal indicative of a condition of the material, the condition indicative of extrinsic properties of the material;

a hardware unit including a detector module and a communication module, wherein the detector module includes a log detection amplifier configured to receive the voltage signal, to detect data indicative of the condition the material, and to demodulate the voltage signal in AM and FM modes;

a switch connected to the acoustic device for switching the voltage signal to the hardware unit; and

a power source for the acoustic device, the hardware unit and the switch, wherein the hardware unit and power source are attached to the pipe.

23. The in-medium monitoring system of claim 22, wherein the detector module further includes a voltage to frequency converter configured to receive the voltage signal and output a modulated frequency signal that is modulated with the data indicative of the condition of the material that was extracted from the voltage signal and to input the modulated frequency signal to the log detection amplifier in place of the voltage signal.