Remote sensor control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10175091-B2
Application number	US-201615374369-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2016
Priority date	Dec 9, 2016
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A remote sensor control system provides a sensor reading from an insulated environment at a certain interval dependent upon the threat level. The remote sensor control system has a control module and a remote module. The control module is disposed outside the insulated environment. The control module includes an energy source configured to produce an energy beam. The remote module is disposed at least partially within the insulated environment. The remote module is configured to receive the energy beam from the energy source. The remote module includes a battery, a sensor reader configured to sample a sensor, and an optical power gate configured to provide power from the battery to the sensor reader upon receiving said energy beam from the energy source.

First claim

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:

1. A remote sensor control system configured to provide a sensor reading from an insulated environment, the remote sensor control system comprising:
a control module disposed outside the insulated environment,
wherein the insulated environment is associated with a utility platform of an aerial device,
said control module including an energy source configured to produce an energy beam; and
a remote module disposed at least partially within the insulated environment,
said remote module configured to receive the energy beam from the energy source,
said remote module including
a sensor reader configured to sample a sensor,
wherein the sensor detects a load upon the utility platform of the aerial device caused at least in part by the weight of the utility platform,
an optical power gate configured to provide power from a battery to the sensor reader upon receiving said energy beam from the energy source.

2. The remote sensor control system of claim 1 ,
wherein the control module is configured to interface with a power source associated with a base of an aerial device,
wherein the energy source is powered by the power source of the base of the aerial device.

3. The remote sensor control system of claim 1 , wherein the energy source is a light emitting diode and the energy beam is light.

4. The remote sensor control system of claim 1 , wherein the optical power gate comprises:
a phototransistor that is configured to conduct upon the application of the energy beam,
wherein the phototransistor conducting completes a circuit so as to allow power to pass from the battery to the sensor reader,
wherein the battery providing power to the sensor reader allows the sensor reader to sample the sensor.

5. The remote sensor control system of claim 1 ,
wherein the sensor reader is configured to instruct the optical power gate to deactivate upon the sensor reader sending the sensor reading to the control module,
wherein the optical power gate deactivating prevents excess power drainage from the battery.

6. The remote sensor control system of claim 1 ,
wherein the optical power gate is configured to provide power to the sensor reader while the energy beam is being received from the energy source,
wherein the optical power gate is configured to cease providing power to the sensor reader upon the energy beam no longer being received.

7. The remote sensor control system of claim 1 , wherein the remote sensor control system further comprises:
an optical fiber disposed between the control module and the remote module such that the optical fiber is configured to transmit the energy beam from the control module to the remote module.

8. The remote sensor control system of claim 7 , wherein the optical fiber is disposed along a boom assembly of an aerial device that supports a utility platform above a base of the aerial device.

9. A computerized method of monitoring a sensor reading from an insulated environment, the method comprising the following steps:
producing a first energy beam directed to a remote module;
receiving a sensor reading from the remote module;
determining a threat level based upon the sensor reading;
determining an interval based upon the threat level; and
producing, after the interval, a second energy beam directed to the remote module.

10. The computerized method of claim 9 , further comprising the following step:
detecting device operations prior to producing the first energy beam,
wherein the detected device operation is indicative that a load may be upon the sensor such that the sensor reading from the insulated environment is needed.

11. The computerized method of claim 9 , further comprising the following step:
determining if the threat level is above a maximum threshold; and
instructing, upon determining that the threat level is above the maximum threshold, an alarm to produce an alert for the operator such that the operator may reduce the load.

12. The computerized method of claim 11 ,
wherein the maximum threshold is associated with a maximum safe operating load,
wherein the maximum safe operating load is indicative of potential damage to an aerial device that includes said insulated environment.

13. The computerized method of claim 9 ,
wherein the energy beam is configured to activate an optical power gate so as to allow a battery to power a sensor reader of the remote module in the insulated environment,
wherein the sensor reader is configured to sample a sensor.

14. The computerized method of claim 13 , further comprising the following step:
directing the energy beam through a first optical fiber toward the remote module,
wherein the sensor reading is received via a second optical fiber from the remote module.

15. A computerized method of providing a sensor reading through an insulated environment, the method comprising the following steps:
acquiring an energy beam from a control device;
activating an optical power gate so as to allow power to flow from a battery to a sensor reader,
wherein the optical power gate is activated by the energy beam;
sampling, by the sensor reader, a sensor in the insulated environment; and
sending a sensor reading to the control device,
wherein the sensor reader is configured to instruct the optical power gate to deactivate upon the sensor reader sending the sensor reading to the control module,
wherein the optical power gate deactivating prevents excess power drainage from the battery.

16. The computerized method of claim 15 , further comprising the following step:
deactivating, by the sensor reader, the optical power gate so as to cease power flowing from the battery to the sensor reader.

17. The computerized method of claim 15 , wherein the optical power gate remains activated while the energy beam is acquired.

18. The computerized method of claim 15 ,
wherein the step of acquiring an energy beam is performed by receiving the energy beam at a phototransistor,
wherein the step of activating the optical power gate is performed by the phototransistor completing a circuit due to the energy beam thereon.

19. The computerized method of claim 15 ,
wherein the energy beam is directed to the optical power gate via a first optical fiber,
wherein the sensor reading is directed to the control device via a second optical fiber.

Assignees

• Altec Ind Inc

Inventors

• Mueller Joshua Daniel

Classifications

• G01G23/007 Primary

  Integrated arrangements for generating electrical power, e.g. solar cells · CPC title

• B66F17/006

  for working platforms · CPC title

• B66C15/065

  electrical · CPC title

• G01G19/12

  having electrical weight-sensitive devices · CPC title