Intelligent data transfer for multiple sensor networks over a broad temperature range

• US 9,872,293 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2014
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U.S. Government Administrator of NASA (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Inventors: Krasowski, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Clemence
• Application Number:
  US14/548,939
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/02 Amplitude-modulated carrier systems, e.g. using on-off keying; Single sideband or vestigial sideband modulation H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/04 Modulator circuits; Transmitter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A sensor network may be configured to operate in extreme temperature environments. A sensor may be configured to generate a frequency carrier, and transmit the frequency carrier to a node. The node may be configured to amplitude modulate the frequency carrier, and transmit the amplitude modulated frequency carrier to a receiver.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to generate a frequency carrier; and

at least one node configured to amplitude modulate the frequency carrier, and transmit the amplitude modulated frequency carrier to a receiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to transmit the frequency carrier to the node.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the node comprises a prescaler configured to divide the frequency carrier by an n integer number per bit.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the node further comprises a code generator configured to generate a code sequence from the divided frequency carrier.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the code sequence is uniquely associated with the node of the sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the node further comprises an amplitude modulator configured to amplitude modulate the frequency carrier with the code sequence.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the amplitude modulated frequency carrier comprises an amplitude of the modulated frequency carrier shifting as a function of the code sequence to allow the receiver to identify the sensor.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

an amplitude modulator configured to amplify a frequency carrier by an output of a code sequence, wherein a sensor is configured to operate in cold cryogenic temperatures and temperatures over 300°

C.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the amplitude modulator is further configured to receive the frequency carrier from the sensor through a first path.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the amplitude modulator is further configured to receive the code sequence from a code generator through a second path.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a code generator configured to generate the code sequence uniquely associated with a node.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a prescaler configured to divide the frequency carrier by an n integer number per bit.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a code sequence generator configured to output a code sequence unique to the apparatus, allowing for a plurality of apparatuses to operate simultaneously, each of the plurality of apparatuses being uniquely recognized by one or more receivers.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a node.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the node is configured to receive a frequency carrier generated from a sensor.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a prescaler configured to divide a frequency carrier by an n integer number per bit.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

an amplitude modulator configured to modulate an amplitude of a frequency carrier with the code sequence, and transmit the modulated frequency carrier comprising the code sequence to said one or more receivers.