Wireless building sensor system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018139517-A1
Application number	US-201615352095-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 15, 2016
Priority date	Nov 15, 2016
Publication date	May 17, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system of sensor nodes is combined with an RF hub that transmits RF power to the sensors and receives data therefrom. The sensor nodes contain: one or more sensors for measuring indoor conditions, an antenna, an energy storage element, and electronics for powering the system via harvesting RF energy, reading sensor data, and communicating sensor data. The sensors, antenna, and other components on the nodes can be fabricated conventionally, or via printing. They may be fabricated as “flexible hybrid electronics”, in which conventional components are bonded onto flexible substrates. The RF hub consists of one or more antennas capable of transmitting RF power electronics for steering the center of radiation of the RF power in at least one direction or in more than one direction electronics for receiving a demodulating RF data signal. The RF hub may be powered directly from the building.

First claim

1 . A wireless system for measuring indoor building conditions comprising:
a remote RF hub; and a plurality of sensor nodes powered by the remote RF hub, the plurality of sensor nodes configured to send and receive building data.

2 . The wireless system of claim 1 , wherein the remote RF hub is configured to automatically locate each sensor node remotely using beam steering, transmit RF power to the sensors and to receive data from the one or more sensor nodes.

3 . The wireless system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensor nodes converts RF power received from the RF hub to DC power.

4 . The wireless system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensor nodes includes:
logic circuitry configured to control power to the sensor node using harvested RF energy and to read and transmit sensor data; at least one antenna; and one or more sensors with an onboard energy storage device for powering the sensor via harvested RF power, and electronic circuitry for reading building data from the sensor.

5 . The wireless system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of sensor nodes includes an encoded room identification number (ID), the room ID providing additional information regarding the room to the building management including building mapping using room IDs assigned during installation, wall mapping, and localization data to determine wall locations.

6 . The wireless system of claim 1 , wherein the RF hub comprises:
one or more antennas capable of transmitting RF power; a processor configured to beam steer the center of radiation of the RF power in at least one direction or in more than one direction to transmit a power signal through an antenna; a transmitter configured to transmit power to the one or more sensors and to a building management system; and a transceiver configured to receive and demodulate an RF data signal and sensor data from the sensor nodes.

7 . The wireless system of claim 6 , wherein the processor configured to beam steer is used to automatically locate each sensor node.

8 . The wireless system of claim 6 , wherein steering of the RF power is configured by selectively coupling one or more of a set of antennas to a transceiver.

9 . The wireless system of claim 6 , wherein steering of the RF power is configured via a phased-array antenna.

10 . The wireless system of claim 6 , wherein the RF hub receives sensor data and transmits the sensor data to a building management system for use in a building efficiency improvements.

11 . A wireless sensor node powered by centralized RF power for measuring indoor building conditions comprising:
at least one antenna; one or more sensors; and a processor configured to:
control power to the sensor node via harvested RF energy;
read sensor data; and
communicate sensor data.

12 . The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors includes:
an onboard energy storage device for powering the sensor via harvested RF power; a receiver for receiving building data; and a transmitter for sending sensor data.

13 . The wireless sensor node of claim 12 , wherein the onboard energy storage device is one of a capacitor, a supercapacitor, or rechargeable battery.

14 . The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors measures building conditions including at least one or more of humidity, temperatures, air flow speed, air flow direction, CO2 concentration, CO concentration, methane concentration, formaldehyde concentration, VOC concentration, or particulates.

15 . The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the sensor node modulates an RF signal with sensor value data.

16 . The wireless sensor node of claim 15 , wherein the sensor node transmits the modulated signal.

17 . The wireless sensor node of claim 15 , wherein the modulated RF signal is the incoming signal and transmission is based on backscatter.

18 . The wireless sensor node of 11 , wherein the sensor node transmits data indicating the received RF power level.

19 . The wireless sensor node of 11 , wherein the sensor node transmits a unique identifying number or a non-unique identifying number.

20 . The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors and at least one antenna is fabricated conventionally, or via printing.

21 . The wireless sensor node of claim 20 , wherein the printed one or more sensors and at least one antenna may be fabricated as flexible hybrid electronics, wherein conventional components are bonded onto flexible substrates.

22 . A method for measuring indoor building conditions, the method comprising:
transmitting power from an RF hub with one or more antennas to one or more sensor nodes located in a building; and receiving power on the one or more sensor nodes from the RF hub, the sensor nodes including: at least one antenna; one or more sensors configured to transmit building conditions; and a processor configured to read building conditions from the one or more sensors and transmit to the RF hub.

Assignees

• Palo Alto Res Ct Inc

Inventors

• Schwartz David Eric
• Daniel George
• Smith Clinton
• Elrod Scott A
• Greene Daniel H

Classifications

• H02J50/20

  using microwaves or radio frequency waves · CPC title

• H04Q9/00 Primary

  Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom · CPC title

• H02J50/40

  using two or more transmitting or receiving devices (H02J50/50 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04Q2209/88

  Providing power supply at the sub-station · CPC title

• H04Q2209/40

  using a wireless architecture · CPC title