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US 2010/0141377 A1Published application
Power Aware Techniques For Energy Harvesting Remote Sensor System
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsEmad Andarawis, Ertugrul Berkcan, C. Scott Sealing, Robert Wojnarowski, Eladio Delgado, Richard H. Coulter
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Abstract
A distributed monitoring system for a structure.
Claims27
A distributed monitoring system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure, comprising:
- one or more sensor nodes coupled to the structure, each sensor node comprising:
- a power supply adapted to scavenge energy directed at the power supply;
- a sensor operably coupled to the power supply for sensing one or more operating conditions of the structure in the environment;
- and
- a communications interface operably coupled to the power supply and the sensor for communicating the sensed operating conditions of the structure;
- a communication network operably coupled to the sensor nodes;
- one or more controllers operably coupled to the communication network for monitoring the sensor nodes;
- and
- an energy radiator positioned proximate the structure adapted to radiate energy at the power supplies of the sensor nodes.
6 more elements
A method of operating a system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure, comprising:
- providing sensor nodes at locations around the structure for sensing operating conditions of the structure;
- directing radiated energy at one or more of the sensor nodes;
- scavenging the radiated energy at one or more of the sensor nodes;
- and
- using the scavenged energy at one or more of the sensor nodes to transmit sensed operating conditions from one or more of the sensor nodes.
2 more elements
A sensor node for use in a distributed monitoring system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure, comprising:
- a power supply;
- a sensor operably coupled to the power supply for sensing one or more operating conditions of the structure in the immediate environment;
- a communications interface operably coupled to the power supply and the sensor for communicating the sensed operating conditions of the structure;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the power supply, the sensor, and the communications interface;
- wherein the sensor comprises one or more stable operating states that are each reflective of a corresponding value of one or more operating conditions.
3 more elements
A distributed monitoring system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure, comprising:
- one or more sensor nodes coupled to the structure, each sensor node comprising:
- a power supply adapted to scavenge energy directed at the power supply;
- a sensor operably coupled to the power supply for sensing one or more operating conditions of the structure in the environment;
- and
- a communications interface operably coupled to the power supply and the sensor for communicating the sensed operating conditions of the structure;
- a communication network operably coupled to the sensor nodes;
- and
- one or more controllers operably coupled to the communication network for monitoring the sensor nodes;
- wherein one or more of the sensors comprise at least one stable operating state representative of a corresponding measurement value of an operating condition.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.