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US 2026/0155299 A1Published application
Inductive power and communications bus
AssigneeBitstrata Systems Inc.
InventorsIan Robert Meier, Michael David Lockerbie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing power to and support bidirectional communications between one or more devices by injecting an alternating current into a primary conductive loop. The devices inductively couple to the loop to receive power, receive data, and transmit data. The coupling may occur at any position along the loop by passing one wire of the primary loop through the physical opening in a magnetic circuit.
Claims20
A system for monitoring a grain bin, the system comprising:
- a conductive loop comprising a wire rope installed in the grain bin;
- one or more sensors inductively coupled to the conductive loop and configured to receive power, receive data, and transmit sensor data though the conductive loop;
- and
- a controller configured for communicating with the one or more sensors through the conductive loop to retrieve grain characteristics data for the grain bin, store the grain characteristics data in a memory, and transmit the grain characteristics data, via a communications interface, to other systems so a farmers may monitor a status of the grain bin.
1 more element
A method for monitoring a grain bin, the method comprising:
- injecting, by a controller, an alternating current into a conductive loop comprising a wire rope installed in the grain bin, the alternating current used to power one or more sensors inductively coupled to the conductive loop;
- communicating, by the controller, data to the one or more sensors by modulating a controller carrier on the alternating current;
- and
- receiving, from each sensor of the one or more sensors, grain characteristics data concurrently by the controller and by another sensor of the one or more sensors, wherein each sensor communicates the grain characteristic data by modulating the controller carrier or injecting a modulated sensor carrier at a different frequency than the controller carrier.
1 more element
A system for monitoring a grain bin, the system comprising:
- a primary loop comprising a wire rope installed in the grain bin and configured to provide power and bidirectional communications;
- an extension loop configured to provide power and bidirectional communications within the grain bin;
- a ferromagnetic toroid configured to couple the primary loop and the extension loop;
- a plurality of sensors each coupled to either the primary loop or the extension loop by a current transformer;
- and
- a controller coupled to the primary loop and configured to communicate with and provide power to each of the plurality of sensors, wherein the controller is configured to communicate data with each sensor by modulating a controller carrier, and each sensor of the plurality of sensors may communicate data concurrently to the controller and to another sensor of the plurality of sensors by modulating the controller carrier, injecting a modulated sensor carrier at a different frequency than the controller carrier, or modulating the controller carrier and injecting its own modulated sensor carrier.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.