Bioprocess Sensor Node Wireless Mesh Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bioprocess monitoring systems face challenges with data transmission through lossy media and power/battery requirements over the process lifetime, limiting their effectiveness in real-time monitoring of bioreactors.
Innovation Solution
An integrated device, the bPod, featuring a housing with a bioprocess sensor, a power supply, and an electronics module that includes a wireless communication unit, enabling real-time monitoring and data transmission via Bluetooth Mesh, with a focus on extended battery life through power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wireless communication is used for data transmission, then real-time monitoring capability is improved, but data transmission reliability deteriorates due to lossy media
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication protocol and signal processing mechanisms that mediate between the wireless transmission medium and the data payload. The system uses redundant data transmission, error correction codes, and intermediate relay nodes to ensure reliable data delivery through the lossy wireless medium while maintaining real-time monitoring capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then process control quality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic monitoring with variable sampling intervals instead of continuous monitoring. The monitoring frequency is dynamically adjusted based on process conditions, allowing high-precision control during critical phases while reducing power consumption during stable periods. The device enters low-power sleep modes between measurement cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system dynamically changes operational parameters such as sampling rate, transmission frequency, and measurement precision based on process conditions and battery status. This allows the system to maintain adequate process control quality while adapting power consumption levels to available energy reserves.
3Duration of action of moving object
If battery capacity is increased to extend deployment time, then device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into multiple distributed nodes rather than a single device with large battery. Each node has smaller power requirements and can be independently deployed. The system uses wireless mesh networking to aggregate data from multiple segments, achieving extended deployment time through distributed architecture rather than centralized battery capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically manages power resources through adaptive sampling rates, adjustable transmission power, and intelligent sleep scheduling. This dynamic power management allows the device to extend deployment time beyond what would be possible with a fixed-size battery by optimizing energy consumption in real-time based on process requirements and battery status.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for monitoring a bioprocess parameter. The apparatus includes: a housing; a bioprocess sensor attached to an outer surface of the housing; a power supply contained within the housing; and an electronics module contained within the housing and in communication with the power supply and the sensor, where the electronics module includes a wireless communication unit.