Methods, apparatus, and systems for monitoring transmission systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensing platform for monitoring a transmission system, comprising:
- a sensor configured for sensing one or more conditions selected from the group consisting essentially of;
a condition of the transmission system; and
a condition of an environment around the transmission system, the sensor further configured for producing an output signal related to the sensed condition;
a control system operatively associated with the sensor and responsive to the output signal produced by the sensor, the control system configured for;
producing output data based on the output signal produced by the sensor;
comparing the output data with at least one threshold condition indicative of a normal condition;
determining an anomalous condition for at least one of the transmission system and the environment around the transmission system responsive to the comparing; and
generating information related to the anomalous condition;
a transceiver operatively associated with the control system and configured for receiving transmitted data from a second sensing platform, retransmitting the transmitted data to a third sensing platform, and transmitting the information related to the anomalous condition from the control system to at least one of the second sensing platform and the third sensing platform; and
a power conversion system operatively associated with the transmission system and configured for extracting energy from a medium intended to be conveyed by the transmission system and converting the extracted energy into a form useable by the sensing platform.
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Abstract
A sensing platform for monitoring a transmission system, and method therefor, may include a sensor that senses one or more conditions relating to a condition of the transmission system and/or the condition of an environment around the transmission system. A control system operatively associated with the sensor produces output data based on an output signal produced by the sensor. A transmitter operatively associated with the control system transmits the output data from the control system.
279 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A sensing platform for monitoring a transmission system, comprising:
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a sensor configured for sensing one or more conditions selected from the group consisting essentially of; a condition of the transmission system; and a condition of an environment around the transmission system, the sensor further configured for producing an output signal related to the sensed condition; a control system operatively associated with the sensor and responsive to the output signal produced by the sensor, the control system configured for; producing output data based on the output signal produced by the sensor; comparing the output data with at least one threshold condition indicative of a normal condition; determining an anomalous condition for at least one of the transmission system and the environment around the transmission system responsive to the comparing; and generating information related to the anomalous condition; a transceiver operatively associated with the control system and configured for receiving transmitted data from a second sensing platform, retransmitting the transmitted data to a third sensing platform, and transmitting the information related to the anomalous condition from the control system to at least one of the second sensing platform and the third sensing platform; and a power conversion system operatively associated with the transmission system and configured for extracting energy from a medium intended to be conveyed by the transmission system and converting the extracted energy into a form useable by the sensing platform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A sensing platform for monitoring a transmission system, comprising:
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a sensor configured for sensing one or more conditions selected from the group consisting essentially of; a condition of the transmission system; and a condition of an environment around the transmission system, the sensor further configured for producing an output signal related to the one or more conditions sensed; a control system operatively associated with the sensor and responsive to the output signal produced by the sensor, the control system configured for; producing output data based on the output signal produced by the sensor; comparing the output data with at least one threshold condition indicative of a normal condition; determining an anomalous condition for at least one of the transmission system and the environment around the transmission system responsive to the comparing; and generating information related to the anomalous condition; a transmitter operatively associated with the control system and configured for transmitting the information related to the anomalous condition from the control system to another sensing platform; and a receiver configured for receiving transmitted signals from the other sensing platform. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A system for monitoring a transmission system, comprising:
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a plurality of sensing platforms operatively associated with the transmission system at a corresponding plurality of locations along the transmission system, each of the plurality of sensing platforms comprising; a sensor configured for sensing one or more conditions selected from the group consisting essentially of; a condition of the transmission system; and a condition of an environment around the transmission system, the sensor further configured for producing an output signal related to the one or more conditions sensed; a control system operatively associated with the sensor and responsive to the output signal produced by the sensor, the control system configured for; producing output data based on the output signal produced by the sensor; comparing the output data with at least one threshold condition indicative of a normal condition; determining an anomalous condition for at least one of the transmission system and the environment around the transmission system responsive to the comparing; and generating information related to the anomalous condition; and a transceiver operatively associated with the control system, the transceiver configured for; transmitting the information related to the anomalous condition from the control system to a nearby sensing platform among the plurality of sensing platforms; receiving information from the nearby sensing platform of the plurality; and retransmitting the information received from the nearby sensing platform; and at least one endpoint receiver configured for receiving the information related to the anomalous condition transmitted by at least one sensing platform of the plurality of sensing platforms. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A monitoring method, comprising:
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sensing one or more conditions using a sensing platform positioned at a first location proximate a transmission system, the one or more conditions selected from the group consisting essentially of; a condition of the transmission system; and a condition of an environment around the transmission system; determining an anomalous condition for at least one of the transmission system and the environment around the transmission system by; comparing data related to the sensed one or more conditions to at least one threshold condition indicative of a normal condition; and generating information related to the anomalous condition; transmitting the information related to the anomalous condition to a nearby sensing platform positioned at a second location proximate the transmission system but at a second location along the transmission system; and retransmitting the data related to the information related to the anomalous condition from the nearby sensing platform to an additional nearby sensing platform at a third location proximate the transmission system but at a third location along the transmission system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A sensing platform, comprising:
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sensor means for sensing one or more conditions selected from the group consisting essentially of; a condition of a transmission system; and a condition of an environment around the transmission system, and for producing an output signal related to the one or more sensed conditions; means for controlling the sensing platform, operatively associated with the sensor means, for; operating the sensor means; processing the output signal from the sensor means to produce output data; comparing the output data with at least one threshold condition indicative of a normal condition; determining an anomalous condition responsive to the comparing for at least one of the transmission system and the environment around the transmission system; and generating information related to the anomalous condition; means for receiving monitored data from another sensing platform positioned at another location along the transmission system; means for transmitting the information related to the anomalous condition and the monitored data from the other sensing platform; and means for extracting energy from transmission of a medium intended to be conveyed by the transmission system and converting the extracted energy into a form useable by the sensing platform.
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Specification