System and method for controlling remote sensors

• US 8,350,692 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2011
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Orr, David, Brewster, Jon A
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob, Sisay
• Application Number:
  US13/235,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20120010855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 478 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/501, 340/507, 340/3.1, 340/539.13, 340/539, 340/1, 340/516, 73/10.1, 73/10.3, 73/13.7, 73/13.8, 73/14.4, 73/101, 725/10, 361/600, 324/74, 324/130, 342/165, 257/48
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24048 Remote test, monitoring, diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25187 Transmission of signals, medium, ultrasonic, radio
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0291 Switching into safety or degraded mode, e.g. protection and supervision after failure

Abstract

A system and method for controlling one or more remote sensors includes wirelessly communicating with the sensors, monitoring operation of each one of the sensors, and causing any one of the sensors that is operating in an unauthorized manner to be disabled. In one embodiment, the sensors can include micro-mechanical structure supporting electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry is capable of monitoring at least one performance parameter of the sensor, comparing the monitored parameter to a preset limit, and disabling the sensor if the preset performance limit is exceeded.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

electronic circuitry to monitor actual performance of the sensor, to determine that the actual performance outside a preset performance limit corresponding to an unauthorized manner of usage of the sensor, and to disable sensing functionality of the sensor responsive to determining that the actual performance outside the preset performance limit even where the sensor is functionally correctly operating.

2. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a micro-mechanical structure to support the electronic circuitry.

3. The sensor of claim 2, wherein the micro-mechanical structure comprises:

first and second wafers connected together in a stacked arrangement;

a first set of electrodes formed on the first wafer; and

,

a second set of electrodes formed on the second wafer,

wherein the electronic circuitry is disposed on the second wafer.

4. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) layer on the second wafer.

5. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the first wafer comprises:

a frame portion; and

,

a moveable portion moveably mounted to the frame portion,

wherein the first set of electrodes is disposed on the moveable portion.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a fusible link that is triggerable to disable the sensing functionality of the sensor.

7. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication package to transmit monitoring of the actual performance of the sensor.

8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the preset performance limit of the sensor corresponds to a predetermined acceleration, such that acceleration of the sensor greater than the predetermined acceleration is indicative of the unauthorized manner of operation of the sensor even where the sensor is functionally correctly operating.

9. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the unauthorized manner of operation comprises operation of the sensor within a missile guidance system.

10. A system comprising:

a sensor to transmit actual performance thereof; and

,

a monitor that is located remotely to the sensor, to determine that the actual performance outside a preset performance limit corresponding to an unauthorized manner of usage of the sensor, and responsive to determining that the actual performance outside the preset performance limit, even where the sensor is functionally correctly operating, to command the sensor to disable sensing functionality thereof.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor is to disable the sensing functionality thereof responsive to receiving a command from the monitor.

12. The sensor of claim 10, wherein the preset performance limit of the sensor corresponds to a predetermined acceleration, such that acceleration of the sensor greater than the predetermined acceleration is indicative of the unauthorized manner of operation of the sensor even where the sensor is functionally correctly operating.

13. The sensor of claim 10, wherein the unauthorized manner of operation comprises operation of the sensor within a missile guidance system.

14. A system for controlling a remote sensor, comprising:

hardware;

a communication mechanism to wirelessly communicate with the remote sensor;

a monitoring mechanism to monitor operation of the remote sensor; and

,

a controlling mechanism to, responsive to determining that actual performance of the sensor outside a preset performance limit corresponds to an unauthorized manner of usage of the sensor, cause the sensor that is functionally correctly operating but in an unauthorized manner to be disabled,

wherein at least one of the communication, monitoring, and controlling mechanisms are implemented via the hardware.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the preset performance limit of the sensor corresponds to a predetermined acceleration, such that acceleration of the sensor greater than the predetermined acceleration is indicative of the unauthorized manner of operation of the sensor even where the sensor is functionally correctly operating.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the unauthorized manner of operation comprises operation of the sensor within a missile guidance system.

17. A method comprising:

monitoring actual performance of a sensor, by the sensor;

determining, by the sensor, that the actual performance outside a preset performance limit corresponding to an unauthorized manner of usage of the sensor; and

,

disabling sensing functionality of the sensor, by the sensor, responsive to determining that the actual performance outside the preset performance limit even where the sensor is functionally correctly operating.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the preset performance limit of the sensor corresponds to a predetermined acceleration, such that acceleration of the sensor greater than the predetermined acceleration is indicative of the unauthorized manner of operation of the sensor even where the sensor is functionally correctly operating.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the unauthorized manner of operation comprises operation of the sensor within a missile guidance system.