RF Waveguide Nodes for Wireless Power and Sensor Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of control and health monitoring systems in machines leads to higher interconnect counts, resulting in bulky cabling, susceptibility to noise and signal degradation, and potential damage at pin/socket interconnects, with limited placement options for sensors and actuators due to access limitations and environmental constraints.
Innovation Solution
A radio frequency waveguide system with nodes that split RF transmissions into power and communication paths, using power rectifiers and conditioners to produce conditioned power signals for network processors, enabling wireless communication and power distribution to sensors and actuators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wired interconnect systems are used to connect sensors and actuators to controllers, then system control and health monitoring functionality is achieved, but system reliability decreases due to increased failure probabilities from high interconnect counts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical wired interconnect systems with a wireless communication system. Sensors and actuators communicate with controllers via wireless signals, eliminating physical cables and connectors. This substitution directly reduces interconnect failure points while maintaining system control functionality, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the physical wiring infrastructure from the system architecture. By taking out cables, connectors, and wire harnesses, the system eliminates the sources of interconnect failures while preserving the essential control and monitoring functions through wireless communication protocols.
2Adaptability or versatility
If long cable runs with multiple wires are used to connect remote sensors and actuators, then system coverage is expanded, but system weight increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy mechanical cable infrastructure with lightweight wireless communication. Remote sensors and actuators transmit data and receive commands through wireless signals, eliminating the need for long cable runs. This maintains system coverage and adaptability while dramatically reducing the weight associated with cabling.
3Extent of automation
If increased wire connections are used to achieve desired control and health monitoring, then system functionality is enhanced, but susceptibility to noise effects and signal degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes wired electrical connections with wireless communication signals. This replacement eliminates the electrical interference, ground loops, and signal degradation issues inherent in extensive wiring systems. Wireless communication provides enhanced noise immunity while maintaining full control and health monitoring functionality.
4Measurement precision
If more sensors and actuators are installed to improve monitoring accuracy, then measurement precision increases, but the number of required wire harnesses and connectors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements wireless communication for all sensor and actuator connections, allowing multiple devices to communicate simultaneously without proportional increases in physical wiring. Each sensor and actuator maintains measurement precision while connecting through wireless protocols, eliminating the linear relationship between device count and wire harness complexity.
5Adaptability or versatility
If extensive cabling is used to connect machine components, then system interconnectivity is achieved, but cost increases due to bulkier and more expensive cabling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive physical cabling infrastructure with wireless communication systems. Full system interconnectivity is achieved through wireless networks, eliminating the need for costly cables, connectors, and installation labor. This maintains comprehensive system communication while dramatically reducing manufacturing and deployment costs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces cable weight and cost, enhances reliability by minimizing physical interconnections, and allows for increased sensor placement without additional wiring, while maintaining communication integrity in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
The power rectifier and conditioner are configured to produce a conditioned power signal based on power received through the power path
Data Source
AI summary
A node of a radio frequency system can include a signal splitter, a power rectifier and conditioner, a communication filter, and a network processor. The signal splitter is configured to split a radio frequency transmission between a power path and a communications path within the node. The power rectifier and conditioner are configured to produce a conditioned power signal based on power received through the power path. The communication filter of the communications path is configured to produce a filtered communication signal. The network processor is powered by the conditioned power signal and configured to extract encoded information from the filtered communication signal.