# US 11,994,418 B2 · Optically powered sensing system and method for hazardous environments

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,994,418 B2
- Document ID: US11994418B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/907,065
- Filed: 2021-03-24
- Published: 2023-04-20
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-24
- Assignees: NewSouth Innovations Pty Limited
- Applicants: NewSouth Innovations Pty Limited
- Inventors: Leonardo Silvestri; Francois Ladouceur; Zourab Brodzeli
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994418B2

## CPC

- G01D 5/35341: {Sensor working in transmission}
- 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
- G01N 33/0075: {for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring}
- H04B 10/807: {Optical power feeding, i.e. transmitting power using an optical signal}
- G01D 5/35383: {using multiple sensor devices using multiplexing techniques}
- G08B 21/16: Combustible gas alarms
- H04Q 2209/30: using a wired architecture
- H04Q 2209/826: where the data is sent periodically
- H04Q 2209/883: where the sensing device enters an active or inactive mode
- H04Q 2209/886: using energy harvesting, e.g. solar, wind or mechanical
- G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A sensing system including: a sensor located in an external environment, including: an electrically powered sensor element sensing an environment variable and converting the sensing to a corresponding analog electrical value measure; an electrically powered sensor value conversion system connected to the electrically powered sensor and converting the analog electrical value measure to a digital measure, in addition to encoding the digital measure with sensor identification information; a transducer element for sending the sensed data information over an optical conduit for inputting an optical power signal and outputting optical sensed data information; a coupler splitting a first portion of the optical power signal to an energy storage system; and an energy storage system converting the first portion of the optical power signal into corresponding electrical energy and storing it for on demand usage; said electrically powered sensor value conversion system being supplied with electrical power from said energy storage system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sensing system including:
a sensor located in an external environment, the sensor including:
an electrically powered sensor element sensing an environment variable and converting the sensing to a corresponding analog electrical value measure;
an electrically powered sensor value conversion system connected to the electrically powered sensor and converting the analog electrical value measure to a corresponding digital measure, in addition to encoding the digital measure with sensor identification information, to produce sensed data information;
a transducer element for sending the sensed data information over an optical input/output conduit;
said optical input/output conduit for inputting an optical power signal and outputting optical sensed data information;
a coupler splitting a first portion of the optical power signal to an energy storage system; and
an energy storage system converting the first portion of the optical power signal into corresponding electrical energy and storing the electrical energy for on demand usage;
with said electrically powered sensor element, said electrically powered sensor value conversion system being supplied with electrical power from said energy storage system, and
wherein said corresponding electrical data is encoded and sent utilising a one-directional asynchronous communication protocol, and
wherein said sensor periodically enters a low power sleep state followed by a higher power active state where information is transmitted by the sensor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A sensing system as claimed in claim 1 further including:
an interrogation unit remotely attached to said optical input/output conduit, said interrogation unit including:
an optical source for providing said optical power signal to said input/output conduit;
an optical to electrical converter for converting received optical sensed data information into corresponding electrical data; and
processing means for receiving the electrical form of said optical sensed data information and for decoding the information into corresponding sensed data information.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A sensing system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said optical source is a broad band optical source.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A sensing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said corresponding electrical data includes an identifier number for the sensor and a data value.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A sensing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said corresponding electrical data is Manchester encoded for dispatch.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A sensing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein data is transmitted at regular periodic intervals.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A sensing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said optical input/output conduit includes a single mode fiber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A sensing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coupler splits about 90% of the energy of said light to an energy storage system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A sensing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said energy storage system includes a plurality of conversion units for converting the first portion of the optical power signal into corresponding electrical energy.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A sensing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the optical power signal is less than 150 mW.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A sensing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrically powered sensor element comprises an optically based voltage sensing device.