Modular Weather Sensor System with Twist-to-Lock Interlocking Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current weather sensor systems lack modularity and integration, requiring multiple units and complex cabling for various weather parameter measurements, leading to bulky and inflexible setups that cannot reconfigure to meet specific sensing demands.
Innovation Solution
A modular weather sensor system using rotate-to-lock interlocking modules that can form a single unit or separate for different configurations, enabling compact integration and physical separation, with a shared power/data bus and mechanical interconnection via twist-to-lock rings, allowing for customizable and flexible sensor configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate sensor units are mounted on a tripod or scaffold and connected through cables, then various weather parameters can be measured, but the system becomes bulky and requires significant assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate sensor units (temperature, pressure, humidity, cloud height, visibility sensors) into a single integrated weather sensor system mounted on one tripod, eliminating the need for multiple separate mounting structures and cable connections
2Ease of manufacture
If fixed combination sensor units are used for specific weather parameters, then those parameters can be measured in a single unit, but the system lacks flexibility to reconfigure for different sensing demands
Solution Approach 1:
The weather sensor system is divided into separate functional modules (temperature module, pressure module, humidity module, cloud height module, visibility module) that can be independently selected and configured based on specific measurement needs, allowing flexible reconfiguration while maintaining single-unit integration
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a universal mounting platform (tripod) and common data collector that can accommodate various sensor modules through standardized interfaces, enabling the same base structure to support different sensor configurations for different weather parameter combinations
3Quantity of substance
If sensors are co-located on a tower or scaffold and connected to a central data collector, then data from multiple sensors can be collected, but the system requires significant assembly and space
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors are integrated into a single compact assembly mounted on one tripod rather than being distributed across multiple mounting structures, significantly reducing the system's spatial footprint while maintaining the ability to collect data from all sensors through a common data collector
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly and method for using weather sensors with enhanced modular capability is disclosed. The weather sensor assembly generally comprises a cap module, middle module, and a base module, where the cap module, middle module(s) and the base module are stacked adjacently to provide environmental sealing, weather sensing, and electrical connectivity to the weather sensor assembly. One or more ring mechanisms may be included that interlock the cap module, middle module(s), base module to form the weather sensor assembly into an integrated unit. Moreover, the ring mechanisms enable further modules to be added to the weather sensor assembly for additional capabilities. By doing so, each of the modules in the weather sensor assembly may be independent units that can be removed, reordered, swapped, and added for desired sensing modalities and environments.