Zero power micromechanical switch-based sensing and monitoring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12169145-B2
Application number	US-202017422861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2020
Priority date	Jan 19, 2019
Publication date	Dec 17, 2024
Grant date	Dec 17, 2024

Abstract

Zero-power system for remote monitoring of heat sources is provided. The systems detect failure indicators of remote equipment including power substations, oil rigs, large inaccessible machinery in a factory, and communications equipment. The systems also can be used to detect the presence of people in buildings or in other locations, so as to improve HVAC utilization in large buildings. When the zero-power monitoring systems detect heat sources, such as the presence of people, failure indicators, or a targeted environmental signal, a circuit is closed using the energy of the detected radiation, and activating an RFID tag, a radio transmitter, or an alarm. The monitoring systems can remain deployed and active for many years without the need for battery replacement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for monitoring a heat source, the device comprising:
(i) one or more zero power infrared (IR) sensors, each sensor comprising a first plasmonic absorber tuned to a selected wavelength range of IR radiation and comprising a switch actuatable using only energy of IR radiation absorbed by the plasmonic absorber; wherein the one or more zero power IR sensors are disposed within a circuit in series or in parallel, and wherein the circuit is interruptable by the switch of each sensor;
(ii) a transmitter disposed within the circuit and activatable by a selected configuration of said switches; and
(iii) optionally a battery disposed within the circuit, the battery capable of powering the transmitter;
wherein absorption by the one or more sensors of selected wavelengths of IR radiation originating from the heat source and characteristic of a heat emission from the source causes the transmitter to transmit an electromagnetic radiation signal.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises four or more of said zero power IR sensors, each comprising a plasmonic absorber tuned to a different selected wavelength range of IR radiation, wherein the switch of each of the four or more sensors is set to a different selected activation power, and wherein the device functions as an IR analyzer with at least 4 bit resolution.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the radio transmission from the device is activated when said IR radiation originating from a heat source satisfies selected IR spectral criteria characteristic of detection of the heat source or an out of range heat emission from the heat source.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device detects LWIR radiation emitted by a human body.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor of the device comprises a second plasmonic absorber tuned to a different IR wavelength range than the first plasmonic absorber, and relative absorption of IR radiation by the first and second plasmonic absorbers determines an open/closed state of the sensor switch.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the sensors comprises a heater operative to reset the sensor switch.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a focusing lens for collecting said infrared radiation.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is an RFID tag activatable by an altered switch status of a sensor of the device.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein a sensor of the device comprises a switch having first and second contacts with an engineered adhesion force or latching force, such that the first contact and the second contact stably adhere after the contacts close, thereby providing a memory function wherein the sensor switch remains in the closed contact position after an incoming signal dissipates.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the heat source or potential heat generation source is selected from the group consisting of human bodies within a building, power transmission equipment, power generation equipment, communications equipment, a pump, a generator, a boiler, HVAC equipment, oil extraction equipment, oil refinery equipment, chemical plant equipment, pipeline equipment, motor vehicles, and factory equipment.

11. A system for monitoring a heat source or potential heat generation source, the system comprising:
(i) a plurality of devices of claim 1 ; and
(ii) a receiver or RFID reader capable of monitoring transmissions from the plurality of devices.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
(iii) a processor and a memory capable of storing and/or analyzing information captured by said receiver or RFID reader.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
(iv) an alarm, a camera, a cooling system, a controller of the heat source, a controller of an HVAC system, or a fire prevention system.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system comprises one or more zero power IR sensors and at least one other type of sensor.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the other type of sensor detects temperature, humidity, or sound.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the devices of the system do not comprise any batteries.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of devices are distributed at fixed positions near a plurality of heat sources or potential heat generation sources in an industrial facility, power transmission facility, power generation facility, oil rig or oil field, oil refinery, chemical plant, pipeline, motor vehicle roadway or parking facility, or a building.

18. A kit for monitoring a heat source or potential heat generation source, the kit comprising a plurality of devices of claim 1 and instructions for deploying and using the devices.

19. A method of monitoring equipment in a facility, the method comprising:
(a) deploying a plurality of devices of claim 1 in the facility within a distance from the equipment suitable for detecting an out of range heat generation of the equipment using the devices; and
(b) periodically monitoring the devices.

20. A method of monitoring people in a building, the method comprising:
(a) deploying a plurality of devices of claim 1 in the building within a space likely to be occupied by people; and
(b) periodically monitoring the devices to determine occupancy of the space.

Assignees

• Univ Northeastern

Inventors

• Rinaldi Matteo
• Qian Zhenyun
• Rajaram Vageeswar
• Kang Sungho

Classifications

• G01J5/0853

  having infrared absorbers other than the usual absorber layers deposited on infrared detectors like bolometers, wherein the heat propagation between the absorber and the detecting element occurs within a solid · CPC title

• G01J5/0806

  Focusing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or concave mirrors · CPC title

• G01J5/03

  Arrangements for indicating or recording specially adapted for radiation pyrometers · CPC title

• H01H2061/006

  Micromechanical thermal relay · CPC title

• H01H61/013

  Heating arrangements for operating relays · CPC title