# US 2013/0278377 A1 · Wireless sensor device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0278377 A1 - Document ID: US20130278377A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/883,697 - Filed: 2011-02-17 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-05 - Assignees: Scanimetrics Inc. - Inventors: Steven Slupsky; Christopher V. Sellathamby; Brian Moore - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130278377A1 ## CPC - G01B 21/32: for measuring the deformation in a solid - G01D 9/005: {Solid-state data loggers} - G01H 1/00: Measuring {characteristics of} vibrations in solids by using direct conduction to the detector (G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence) - G05B 1/01: electric - H05K 5/065: {sealed by encapsulation, e.g. waterproof resin forming an integral casing, injection moulding} - H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - 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 - G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A wireless sensor device includes a processor connected to a wireless transmitter and at least one sensor, and a power source connected to power the processor and the wireless transmitter. The processor has two or more states. An internal control element senses at least one predetermined condition. The internal control element switches the processor between states based on the occurrence of at least one predetermined condition. A molded body encloses at least the processor, the wireless transmitter, and the internal control sensor. The internal control sensor is physically isolated within the molded body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wireless sensor device, comprising: a processor connected to a wireless transmitter and at least one sensor, the processor having two or more states; a power source connected to power the processor and the wireless transmitter; at least one internal control element for sensing one or more predetermined conditions, the internal control element switching the processor between states based on the occurrence of at least one predetermined condition; and a molded body enclosing at least the processor, the wireless transmitter, and the internal control sensor such that the internal control sensor is physically isolated within the molded body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor device of claim 1, wherein the molded body also encloses at least one of the power source and one or more sensors connected to the processor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor device of claim 1, wherein the processor is connected wirelessly to a sensor that is external to the molded body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor device of claim 1, wherein the processor is connected to an external sensor by conductors, a portion of the conductors being enclosed in the molded body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor device of claim 1, wherein at least one internal control element is an accelerometer, and at least one predetermined condition is the detection of one or more predetermined accelerations. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor device of claim 1, wherein at least one internal control element is an RF transponder, and at least one predetermined condition is the introduction or removal of an RF interrogator from its detection radius. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor device of claim 1, wherein at least one internal control element is a magnetic sensor, and at least one predetermined condition is the introduction or removal of a magnetic element on an outer surface of the molded body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor device of claim 1, wherein the molded body enrobes at least the processor, the wireless transmitter, and the internal control sensor in a single piece construction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor measures at least one of strain, cracks, crack propagation, motion, shock, acceleration, tilt, inclination, pressure, light, radiation, sound and chemical compounds. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to process sensor data from the sensing element according to an algorithm and transmit the processed data by the wireless transmitter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The wireless sensor device of claim 10, wherein the algorithm is a Rainflow algorithm that generates a histogram of discrete stress ranges. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is a wireless transceiver. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor device of claim 1, further comprising an attachment for attaching the wireless sensor to an object. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The wireless sensor device of claim 13, wherein the attachment is at least one of a magnet, at least one welding flange, strapping, or an adhesive compound. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a bolt tightness sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The wireless sensor device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to operate as a node in a mesh network. ### Claim 17 A method of operating a wireless sensor device, comprising the steps of: providing a wireless sensor device, comprising: a processor, a wireless transmitter, and at least one internal control sensor enclosed in a molded body, the processor being connected to the wireless transmitter, a power source, the internal control element, and at least one sensor, the processor having two or more states and the internal control sensor being physically isolated within the molded body; configuring the internal control element to switch the processor between states upon the occurrence of at least one predetermined condition; and applying at least one predetermined condition to the internal control element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the molded body encloses at least one of the power source and one or more sensors connected to the processor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein at least one sensor is external to the molded body and connected to the processor wirelessly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein at least one sensor is external to the molded body and connected to the processor by conductors, a portion of the conductors being enclosed in the molded body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein at least one internal control element is an accelerometer, and at least one predetermined condition is the detection of one or more predetermined accelerations. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein at least one internal control element is an RF transponder, and at least one predetermined condition is the introduction or removal of an RF interrogator from its detection radius. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein at least one internal control element is a magnetic sensor, and at least one predetermined condition is the introduction or removal of a magnetic element on an outer surface of the molded body. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein providing the wireless sensor device comprises enrobing at least the processor, the wireless transmitter, and the internal control sensor in a single piece construction. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor measures at least one of motion, shock, acceleration, tilt, inclination, pressure, light, radiation, sound and chemical compounds. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the processor is programmed to process sensor data from the sensing element according to an algorithm and transmit the processed data by the wireless transmitter. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein the algorithm is a Rainflow algorithm that generates a histogram of discrete stress ranges. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the wireless transmitter is a wireless transceiver. ### Claim 29 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising an attachment for attaching the wireless sensor to an object. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the attachment is at least one of a magnet, at least one welding flange, strapping, or an adhesive compound. ### Claim 31 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the sensor is a bolt tightness sensor.