Reconfigurable sensor monitoring system

• US 9,825,641 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Alhorn, Dean C., Dutton, Kenneth R., Howard, David E., Smith, Dennis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liang, Leonard S
• Application Number:
  US14/485,193
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/2134 based on separation criteria, e.g. independent component analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 21/0012 Digital adaptive filters
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/38 Impedance-matching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 1/089 of temperature variations

Abstract

A reconfigurable sensor monitoring system includes software tunable filters, each of which is programmable to condition one type of analog signal. A processor coupled to the software tunable filters receives each type of analog signal so-conditioned.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable sensor monitoring system, comprising:

an analog multiplexer adapted to receive a plurality of types of analog signals;

a plurality of software tunable filters, each of said software tunable filters coupled to said analog multiplexer, each of said software tunable filters being programmable to condition one type of analog signal from said plurality of types of analog signals, each of said software tunable filters including

a variable current source,

a variable voltage source,

a reconfigurable bridge having an input coupled to said analog multiplexer and having an output, said reconfigurable bridge coupled to said variable current source and said variable voltage source, and

a controller coupled to said reconfigurable bridge, said variable current source, and said variable voltage source, said controller providing control signals to said reconfigurable bridge, said variable current source, and said variable voltage source for impedance balancing said reconfigurable bridge for said one type of analog signal; and

a processor coupled to said plurality of software tunable filters for receiving each said one type of analog signal so-conditioned.

2. A reconfigurable sensor monitoring system as in claim 1, wherein each of said software tunable filters further comprises:

a series of amplifiers and filters coupled to said output of said reconfigurable bridge for amplifying and filtering said one type of analog signal; and

an analog-to-digital converter coupled to said series of amplifiers and filters for digitizing said one type of analog signal amplified and filtered by said series of amplifiers and filters.

3. A reconfigurable sensor monitoring system as in claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to said processor.

4. A reconfigurable sensor monitoring system as in claim 1, further comprising a heater coupled to said processor.

5. A reconfigurable sensor monitoring system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensor for sensing ambient temperature; and

a heater coupled to said temperature sensor wherein operation of said heater is based on said ambient temperature.

6. A reconfigurable sensor monitoring system as in claim 1, further comprising at least one communications channel coupled to said processor.

7. A reconfigurable sensor monitoring system, comprising:

an analog multiplexer adapted to receive a plurality of types of analog signals;

a data bus;

a plurality of software tunable filters, each of said software filters having an input coupled to said analog multiplexer and an output coupled to said data bus, each of said software tunable filters being programmable to condition one type of analog signal from said plurality of types of analog signals, each of said software tunable filters including

a variable current source,

a variable voltage source,

a reconfigurable bridge having an input coupled to said analog multiplexer and having an output, said reconfigurable bridge coupled to said variable current source and said variable voltage source, and

a controller coupled to said reconfigurable bridge, said variable current source, and said variable voltage source, said controller providing control signals to said reconfigurable bridge, said variable current source, and said variable voltage source for impedance balancing said reconfigurable bridge for said one type of analog signal; and

a processor coupled to said data bus for receiving each said one type of analog signal so-conditioned.

8. A reconfigurable sensor monitoring system as in claim 7, wherein each of said software tunable filters further comprises:

a series of amplifiers and filters coupled to said output of said reconfigurable bridge for amplifying and filtering said one type of analog signal; and

an analog-to-digital converter coupled to said series of amplifiers and filters for digitizing said one type of analog signal amplified and filtered by said series of amplifiers and filters.

9. A reconfigurable sensor monitoring system as in claim 7, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to said data bus.

10. A reconfigurable sensor monitoring system as in claim 7, further comprising a heater coupled to said data bus.

11. A reconfigurable sensor monitoring system as in claim 7, further comprising:

a temperature sensor coupled to said data bus for generating an ambient temperature measurement wherein said ambient temperature measurement is available on said data bus; and

a heater coupled to said data bus wherein operation of said heater is based on said ambient temperature measurement.

12. A reconfigurable sensor monitoring system as in claim 7, further comprising at least one communications channel coupled to said data bus.