Self-orienting sensing node and method
AssigneeSercel
InventorsMaxime Courtin, Eliott Planchin, Cyrille Bernard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensing node for sensing a parameter when deployed on the ground, includes an outer housing having an internal cavity with an opening to ambient, the outer housing extending along a longitudinal axis (X), an inner housing configured to hold electronics and a sensor and to fully fit inside the internal cavity, and a cap that closes the opening so that the inner is fully sealed within the outer housing. The inner housing is configured to freely rotate within the outer housing, about the longitudinal axis X of the outer housing so that a sensing axis Y of the sensor is aligned with a predetermined direction relative to gravity, irrespective of a landing position of the outer housing on the ground.
Claims20
A sensing node for sensing a parameter when deployed on the ground, the sensing node comprising:
- an outer housing having an internal cavity with an opening to ambient, the outer housing extending along a longitudinal axis (X);
- an inner housing configured to hold electronics and a sensor and to fully fit inside the internal cavity;
- and
- a cap that closes the opening so that the inner is fully sealed within the outer housing,
- wherein the inner housing is configured to freely rotate within the outer housing, about the longitudinal axis X of the outer housing so that a sensing axis Y of the sensor is aligned with a predetermined direction relative to gravity, irrespective of a landing position of the outer housing on the ground.
A sensing node for sensing a parameter when deployed on the ground, the sensing node comprising:
- an outer housing having an internal cavity, the outer housing extending along a longitudinal axis (X);
- an inner housing configured to hold electronics and a sensor and to fully fit inside the internal cavity;
- and
- first and second ball bearings disposed on corresponding, opposite ends of the inner housing,
- wherein the first and second ball bearings are configured to sit snugly on the corresponding ends of the inner housing and also to fit snugly into the internal cavity so that the inner housing freely rotates within the outer housing, about the longitudinal axis X of the outer housing so that a sensing axis Y of the sensor is aligned with a predetermined direction relative to gravity, irrespective of a landing position of the outer housing on the ground.
A method for deploying a sensing node over an area of interest, the method comprising:
- charging a battery of the sensing node;
- transporting the sensing node above the area of interest;
- and
- dropping the sensing node over the area of interest,
- wherein an inner housing of the node is configured to freely rotate within an outer housing, about a longitudinal axis X of the outer housing so that a sensing axis Y of a sensor is aligned with a predetermined direction relative to gravity, irrespective of a landing position of the outer housing on the ground.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.