471results about "Converting sensor ouput using wave/particle radiation" patented technology

Described herein are wireless interrogation systems and methods that rely on a complementary sensing device and interrogator. The sensing device is disposed to measure a parameter indicative of the health of a structure. A sensor reading from the sensor indicates the level of a parameter being monitored or whether one or more particular physical or chemical events have taken place. Using wireless techniques, the interrogator probes the device to determine its identity and its current sensor reading. This often includes transmission of a wireless signal through portions of the structure. When activated, the device responds with a wireless signal that identifies the device and contains information about the parameter being measured or a particular sensor state corresponding to the parameter. The identity of the device allows it to be distinguished from a number of similar devices. Thus this invention finds particular usefulness in the context of an array of devices that can be probed by a wireless interrogation unit. In one embodiment, the devices are passive and derive power from the interrogation signal.

An electrical monitoring device includes an attachment arrangement adapted to attach the device, non-invasively, to an electrical supply line; a current sensor adapted to sense waveform characteristics relating to current flowing through the supply line; a voltage sensor adapted to sense voltage waveform characteristics of the supply line; and a processor programmed to calculate a power component using the current waveform characteristics and voltage waveform characteristics. The device also includes a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the power component to a monitoring location.

A method for determining position of a device includes generating at least two, time-varying, magnetic fields using inductive elements, wherein the fields have differing phases. The method further includes detecting a signal modulated on top of the fields, wherein the signal is generated from the device, and determining a position of the device based on a phase difference of the signal from the device and a reference signal.

A wireless communication module is used to implement an ad-hoc wireless sensor network. The wireless communication module is configured to interface with numerous and varied types of sensors and, in one particular embodiment, is used to implement an ad-hoc wireless sensor network for an aircraft engine. The modules are also configured to implement various functions to optimize ad-hoc network functionality and to minimize the electrical power dissipated by each module in the ad-hoc network.

A wireless sensor and control transmitter system is provided for operating an irrigation or other hydraulic system. The system includes a master module unit hardwired to and in communication with the hydraulic system controller, and a field module unit that is hardwired to and in communication with field electromechanical control devices such as valves, solenoids and servo motors, and field sensors indicating, for example, atmospheric conditions. The master module unit and field module unit communicate with digital wireless communication and can act as a simple wireless bridge. The master module and field module units are capable of digitizing input signals from the devices to which they are hardwired and transmitting them to the opposite module; they are further capable of deciphering the digitized signals received to reproduce the original input signal and communicating it to the device to which it is hardwired. Supplemental functionality may be added to an existing hydraulic control system by including the WSCX and its system features of control and sensor functionality that may not otherwise be available in an existing controller system.

A system includes one or more devices for providing information about a physical condition or environmental hazard. Each device includes a sensor physically associated with the user for detecting a predetermined environmental hazard and/or a physical condition of the user. The device is usually in the form of a wristband patch or tag attached to the user. The one or more sensors are adapted to detect predetermined chemicals, biological organisms, radiation or user blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, oxygen level, glucose level, skin condition, or biological and chemical changes of the user. An electronic circuit communicates with the sensor and includes an alarm for notifying the user or a third party of elevated environmental hazards or abnormal physical conditions of the user. Typically, the electronic circuit includes a transmitter, such as a radio frequency transmitter, for conveying information obtained from the sensor and electronic circuitry to a third party.

A system and method for sensing the proximity of an electronic device, in particular, a radio frequency mobile communication device such as a mobile telephone, wireless modem equipped portable computer, or the like to a body employs an antenna capable of altering its impedance for changing the amount of radio frequency electromagnetic energy reflected by the antenna when the antenna is in proximity to the body. The radio frequency electromagnetic energy reflected by the antenna is measured and used for determining proximity of the antenna to the body.

A system for measuring at least one parameter is provided. The system includes a control logic arrangement powered by a power source, and an intrinsically safe barrier operatively connected to the control logic arrangement, and also powered by the same power source. The intrinsically safe barrier is adapted to be operatively connected to at least one sensor which is also powered by the same power source. The sensor is configured to communicate data representing a parameter to the control logic arrangement via the intrinsically safe barrier. In one embodiment, the control logic arrangement, the intrinsically safe barrier and the sensor are galvonically isolated from external components and/or provided in one enclosure.

a Sensor Web formed of a number of different sensor pods. Each of the sensor pods include a clock which is synchronized with a master clock so that all of the sensor pods in the Web have a synchronized clock. The synchronization is carried out by first using a coarse synchronization which takes less power, and subsequently carrying out a fine synchronization to make a fine sync of all the pods on the Web. After the synchronization, the pods ping their neighbors to determine which pods are listening and responded, and then only listen during time slots corresponding to those pods which respond.

A material, such as a fiber composite material, has embedded inside at least one, preferably more, surface acoustic wave filters of piezoelectric material for receiving testing energy in a wireless manner and for retransmitting a material quality signal in a wireless manner which is evaluated in a system that has a wireless transmitter for sending testing energy into a material and a wireless receiver for receiving the material quality signal which is then processed and evaluated by a respective processor of the testing system. An output of the processor provides information regarding the nature and quality of the material tested and of the presence and location of any material faults that may be displayed on display screen.

A sensor system for determining the position of at least one edge of at least one web material traveling along a predetermined path. In one embodiment, the sensor system has at least one transmitter block having a plurality of transmitters capable of selectively transmitting ultrasonic signals and at least one receiver block having a plurality of receivers capable of generating receiver output signals in response to the receivers receiving at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals transmitted by the at least one transmitter block. The receiver block is spaced a distance from the transmitter block so as to define a sensor field of view therebetween whereby at least a portion of the at least one web material traveling along a predetermined travel path interferes with at least a portion of the ultrasonic signals transmitted by the at least one transmitter block. The receiver output signals generated by the at least one receiver block is indicative of the position of the web of material as the same is moved along the travel path between the transmitter block and the receiver block. In an alternative embodiment, the functions of the at least one transmitter block and the at least one receiver block are performed essentially equivalently by at least one transceiver block and at least one reflector.

A method for performing maintenance inspection and monitoring of various structures and facilities by arranging a sensor on a moving portion of the facility of a building or a portion where wiring is difficult. The method includes a step of constructing a sensor network in accordance with the identification information on the facility, a step of acquiring the state of the facility by using the sensor network constructed, and a step of performing inspection or monitoring according to the acquired information on the state of the facility.

The invention relates to a sound surface wave measuring sensor and a parameter analytical method. The sensor comprises a piezoelectric base, an interdigital transducer and a reflector, wherein the piezoelectric base is used for inducting physical quantity to be measured; the interdigital transducer and the reflector are deposited on the upper surface of the piezoelectric base through a surface micromachining process; the interdigital transducer is used for receiving drive energy required by the operation of the sound surface wave measuring sensor through an antenna connected with the interdigital transducer and returning a radio frequency pulse echo signal through the antenna; and the reflector is used for generating the radio frequency pulse echo signal. Compared with the prior art, the invention has the following technical characteristics: the physical quantity can be detected with high precision in a wide range on the premise of ensuring certain signal intensity; the problem that the sound surface wave sensor in the prior art can only meet one index in the range and the precision of signal measurement and the range and the precision of signal measurement cannot be met simultaneously is solved; the sound surface wave measuring sensor has simple structure; and by using a certain parameter analytical method, the measured physical quantity generates a corresponding feedback signal and the problem that the physical quantity can be accurately detected by the sensor in a wide range can be solved.

Methods and apparatus for tracking objects in conduits, especially for tracking the movement of a pig in a pipeline, are disclosed. Distributed acoustic sensing is used to obtain signal returns from a plurality of discrete longitudinal sensing portions of a fibre optic cable which is laid along the length of the conduit. The method involves detecting an acoustic signature corresponding to the object moving in the conduit. The acoustic signature may comprise a series of pressure pulses caused by the object traversing joints etc. in the conduit. Preferably the method involves detecting pressure waves caused by the object as it moves through the conduit. Detecting the characteristic pressure wave signal provides discrimination of the object from other acoustic disturbances. In pipeline applications a pig can be tracked in real time, if the pig stops moving an alert can be generated and the location of the pig will be known.

A surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor includes a transducer (240 provided on a substrate (23), wherein the transducer (24) is oriented on the substrate (23) so that the direction of acoustic wave propagation is such that the variation of sensor output with temperature, associated with the variation of the substrate third-elastic constants with temperature, substantially equal but opposite to the sum total of the variation of sensor output with temperature associated with the substrate linear temperature coefficient of expansion and with the variations with temperature of the substrate non-zero third order elastic constants, the substrate first-order elastic constants and the substrate density. The effect of temperature variation on sensor output is thereby minimized. This is achieved with a 35-degree arrangement or with reflective gratings inclined at an angle of 3.1 degrees to normal. Additionally, a robust package with a dish is given. Particular applications include the measurement of torque.