Digitally based system for monitoring physical phenomena

A structural monitoring system having a plurality of intelligent transducer modules attached to a structure in locations remote from a controller means, said modules adapted for measuring and transmitting digital information on physical phenomena occurring at said remote attachment sites of said intelligent transducer modules, the system comprising:

• a controller means (1) to produce digital polling signals, said polling signals each having a unique address portion and an instruction portion to cause said intelligent transducer modules to perform programmed functions when said unique address portion of said polling signal is identical to said intelligent transducer module's own unique address, and (2) to receive, record, and display digital responses from said intelligent transducer modules in an organized manner;
• a plurality of intelligent transducer modules, each said module including transducer means, microprocessor means, and buffer circuitry means proximate to one another, wherein said transducer means generates signals corresponding to physical measurements of a particular physical phenomenon, said microprocessor means includes memory means programmed to (1) receive a uniquely addressed digital polling signal and instruction from a remote controller means, (2) activate said transducer means to generate said signal, (3) translate said signal into a digital response in compact binary form, and (4) transmit said digital response to said controller means, and said buffer circuitry means directs incoming and outgoing data between said microprocessor means and said controller means;
• power source means to power said intelligent transducer modules;
• and
• data bus means to conduct said polling signals and said digital responses between each of said intelligent transducer modules and said controller means.

A method of monitoring physical phenomena at remote locations over a common communication path comprising the steps of:

• programming a plurality of remote intelligent transducer modules with instructions to gather and transmit, when polled, information from a sensor means to a controller means in a digital response in compact binary form, each of said modules including transducer mean, microprocessor means, and buffer circuitry means proximate to each other, and each of said modules having a unique address;
• generating and transmitting a digital polling signal from said controller means to said plurality of remote intelligent transducer modules, said digital polling signal having a unique address portion and an instruction portion;
• the one intelligent transducer module having a unique address equivalent to said unique address portion of said digital polling signal then responding by translating to a digital response a signal from said sensor means, which said signal corresponds to a measurement of one of said physical phenomena, and transmitting said digital response in compact binary form to said controller means;
• repeating said step of generating and transmitting a polling signal addressed to each of said remote intelligent transducer modules whereby information gathered by each of said intelligent transducer modules is transmitted to said controller means for the purpose of monitoring, displaying and storing said information.

An intelligent transducer module, said module including transducer means, microprocessor means, and buffer circuitry means proximate to one another, said module comprising:

• transducer means suitable for measuring a physical phenomenon and generating a signal corresponding to a measurement of said phenomenon;
• proximate to said transducer means, a microprocessor means including memory means and programmed to (1) receive a uniquely addressed digital polling signal and instruction from a remote controller means, (2) activate said transducer means to generate said signal, (3) translate said signal into a digital response and store said digital response temporarily, and (4) transmit said digital response to said controller means upon instruction;
• and
• integral to said microprocessor means, a buffer circuitry means to direct incoming and outgoing data between said microprocessor means and said controller means.