1123 results about "Remote sensors" patented technology

A method and apparatus for determining the position and orientation of a remote object relative to a reference coordinate frame includes a plurality of field-generating elements for generating electromagnetic fields, a drive for applying, to the generating elements, signals that generate a plurality of electromagnetic fields that are distinguishable from one another, a remote sensor having one or more field-sensing elements for sensing the fields generated and a processor for processing the outputs of the sensing element(s) into remote object position and orientation relative to the generating element reference coordinate frame. The position and orientation solution is based on the exact formulation of the magnetic field coupling as opposed to approximations used elsewhere. The system can be used for locating the end of a catheter or endoscope, digitizing objects for computer databases, virtual reality and motion tracking. The methods presented here can also be applied to other magnetic tracking technologies as a final "polishing" stage to improve the accuracy of their P&O solution.

The present system is directed to a computerized system for monitoring and controlling remote devices by transmitting data between the remote systems and a gateway interface via a packet message protocol system. The system comprises one or more remote sensors to be read and possibly one or more actuators to be remotely controlled. The remote sensor(s)/actuator(s) then interface with uniquely identified remote transceivers that transmit and/or receive data. If necessary in individual applications, signal repeaters may relay information between the transceiver(s) and the gateway interface. Communication links between the remote transceivers and the gateway interface are preferably wireless but may also be implemented via a mixture of wireless and wired communication links. To successfully communicate between the transceiver(s) and the gateway interface, the present invention receives a plurality of RF signal transmissions containing a packet protocol via RF signals that includes sender and receiver identifiers, a description of the packet itself, a message number, any commands, the data, and an error detector. In addition, the packet protocol can be easily integrated with alternate data communication protocols for use with systems other than the Internet.

An automated, real-time, reprogrammable monitoring and control system for portable, remote sensors and subjects includes one or more portable monitoring units, each of the portable monitoring units having a sensor, a location-determining device, and a sensor interface unit. Each sensor interface unit is separately configured to monitor its sensor and to transmit that sensor's data, via a digital wireless communications network, to a central monitoring device. The portable unit is carried or worn by a person or animal, or affixed to an inanimate subject.

Discloses a surgical instrument capable of wireless communication between the control unit and the remote sensor, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument. Surgical instruments may include an end actuator having at least one sensor. The surgical instrument further comprises a conductive shaft, the distal end of which is connected to the end actuator, the sensor is electrically insulated from the shaft. The surgical instrument may further comprise a handle, which is connected to the proximal end of the axis. The handle comprises a control unit, the control unit is electrically connected to the shaft, so that the axis can act as an antenna to transmit a signal from the control unit to the sensor and receive the transmitted signal from the sensor. Other components electrically connected to the shaft can also send signals.

A system includes one or more wireless islands, one or more incident management applications, and one or more message management and routing (MMR) systems. Each MMR systems is configured to act as an intermediary for communication between one of the wireless islands and one or more of the incident management applications. One of the wireless islands includes a radio network. The radio network includes a plurality of remote sensor nodes (RSNs), and a gateway controller. An RSN of the plurality of RSNs is worn by ESS personnel, the gateway controller is mounted to an ESS vehicle, and the RSN is configured to wirelessly communicate with the gateway controller.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for deriving physiologic measurement values that are relative to ambient conditions. In one embodiment, the system comprises an implantable medical device (“IMD”), which includes a main body; and a remote sensor system operable to measure an absolute physiologic parameter value within a patient's body. The system further comprises an external device, which can be operable to obtain an ambient condition value outside the patient's body that can affect the absolute physiologic parameter value, and communicate the ambient condition value to the remote sensor system. In accordance with one embodiment, the remote sensor system then can be further operable to receive the ambient condition value and calculate a relative physiologic parameter value from the ambient condition value and the absolute physiologic parameter value.

A method for enhancing driver safety through body position monitoring with remote sensors, and furnishing feedback in response to vehicle motion, driver activities, and external driving conditions, wherein the method includes: monitoring and characterizing signals from at least one sensor mounted on the body of a driver; monitoring and characterizing signals from at least one vehicle mounted sensor; determining driver activity based on disambiguating the signals from the driver and vehicle mounted sensors; providing feedback to the driver based on the determined driver activity, vehicle motion, and external driving conditions; and wherein the feedback is employed to modify driver behavior and enhance driver safety.

An equipment interface module that can operate one or more pieces of HVAC equipment in accordance with instructions received from a properly operating thermostat, yet can also operate the HVAC equipment when communications between the thermostat and the HVAC controller are lost due to, for example, low battery power at the thermostat, malfunctioning thermostat sensor(s), malfunctioning communication and/or thermostat circuitry, electrical interference, and the like. In some instances, the equipment interface module may regulate the HVAC equipment in accordance with a signal from a remote sensor when communication with the thermostat is lost.

The present invention provides a system for mosaicing multiple input images, captured by one or more remote sensors, into a seamless mosaic of an area of interest. Each set of input images captured by the remote sensors within a capture interval are ortho-rectified and mosaiced together into a composite image. Successive composite images, along a given flight path, are then mosaiced together to form a strip. Adjacent strips are then mosaiced together to form a final image of the area of interest.

An implantable medical device communication system communicates information between an implantable medical device and at least one slave device by way of a two-wire bus. Slave devices may include remote sensors, actuators and other implantable medical devices. The implantable medical device includes a communication unit to output commands and power pulses, and receive information from the slave devices over the two-wire bus. The implantable medical device and slaves communicate over the bus by selectively changing one of the lines of the bus between a first and second voltage, the second voltage substantially equal to a reference voltage of the second line, e.g., zero volts. In some embodiments, the power pulses take the form of bipolar pulse pairs. The slave device includes a recovery unit to recover power from the power pulses.

A remote battery monitoring system and sensors are disclosed in which a plurality of telesensors are connected to batteries in a battery string. The telesensor measure battery data such as voltage, current, and temperature and wirelessly transmit the battery data to a control and collection unit. The control and collection unit receives, processes, analyzes, and stores the battery data. Remote monitoring software running on the control and collection unit can be configured to provide warning alarms when the battery data is outside present limits.

A remote sensor for use as a handheld, mobile or stand-alone sensor has first (12) and second (16) optical paths, light collecting optics, a sample filter (10) assembly positioned in a first optical Path (12), a reference filter (14) assembly positioned in a second optical path (16), a detector assembly to detect the filtered light r other radiation, and a detector output comparison device such as BRD to minimize the effects of common background noise components, differences in light or other radiation source power, and absorption or emission by interfering species.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for establishing communication in a cased wellbore with a data sensor that has been remotely deployed, prior to the installation of casing in the wellbore, into a subsurface formation penetrated by the wellbore. Communication is established by installing an antenna in an opening in the casing wall. The present invention further relates to a method and apparatus for creating the casing wall opening, and then inserting the antenna in the opening in sealed relation with the casing wall. A data receiver is inserted into the cased wellbore for communicating with the data sensor via the antenna to receive formation data signals sensed and transmitted by the data sensor. Preferably, the location of the data sensor in the subsurface formation is identified prior to the installation of the antenna, so that the opening in the casing can be created proximate the data sensor. The antenna can then be installed in the casing wall opening for optimum communication with the data sensor. It is also preferred that the data sensor be equipped with means for transmitting a signature signal, permitting the location of the data sensor to be identified by sensing the signature signal. The location of the data sensor is identified by first determining the depth of the data sensor, and then determining the azimuth of the data sensor relative to the wellbore.

In one aspect, the invention is directed to an adaptive cruise control system for a host vehicle, comprising a long-range sensor configured to determine a location of objects positioned ahead of the host vehicle, at least one short-range sensor configured to determine the location of objects in close proximity ahead of the host vehicle, and a controller configured to receive information from the long-range sensor and from the at least one short-range sensor and to control the speed of the host vehicle based at least in part thereon, wherein the controller is configured to operate the at least one short-range sensor in a plurality of operating modes, and to select a short-range sensor operating mode at least in part in response to the location of any objects detected by the long-range sensor.

A leadless implantable cardioverter defibrillator (5) for treatment of sudden cardiac death includes a controller and at least one remote module. The defibrillator does not require transvenous/vascular access for intracardiac lead placement. The controller is leadless and uses subcutaneous tissue in proximity of the chest and abdomen for both sensing and defibrillation. The controller and one or more remote sensors sense a need for defibrillation and wireless communicate with the controller. The controller and one of the sensors discharge a synchronized defibrillation pulse to the surrounding subcutaneous tissue in proximity to the heart.

Multiple standards based radio (“SBR”) devices, each having a high-gain directional antenna, are utilized in a remote sensor interface (“RSI”) unit to optimize detection and reception by the RSI of radio signals from gateway controllers, hopping radios, and other wireless devices.

Improved techniques and systems for utilizing a portable electronic device to monitor, process, present and manage data captured by a remote sensor during a physical activity session are disclosed. The portable electronic device offers a convenient user interface that can be visual and/or audio based customized to a particular application, user-friendly and/or dynamic. The portable electronic device can pertain to a personal media device and thus also provide media playback.

Methods and apparatus for monitoring remotely located objects with a system comprised of at least one master data collection unit, any number of remote sensor units, and a central data collection server are described. The master unit is configured to monitor any object, mobile or stationary, including monitoring multiple remote sensor units associated with the objects being monitored. The master unit may be in a fixed location, or attached to a mobile object. The master unit is configured for monitoring objects that enter and leave the area where it is located. The master unit may act as a parent controller for one or more child devices, wherein the child devices can be remote sensors or monitors of various measurable conditions including environmental conditions, substance identification, product identification and biometric identification. The master unit is able to discover new remote sensor units as they enter or leave the area where the master unit is located. The master unit can be remotely reprogrammed. The reprogramming can be accomplished with authenticated instructions.