Multi-stage sensing/control/identification device having protected communication and remote power

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9986310-B2
Application number	US-201615255364-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 2, 2016
Priority date	Feb 28, 2014
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

Sensing/control/identification devices for machines are provided. The devices include a first stage having a rectification and power conditioning module configured to receive electromagnetic (EM) transmissions via waveguide confinement and convert said EM transmissions to electrical power, a communication interface module configured to receive power from the rectification and conditioning module and at least one of receive or transmit EM transmissions/communications via waveguide confinement, and a control module configured to receive EM transmission data from the communication interface for processing and/or preparing EM communications for transmission. The devices further include a second stage having a tunable control module configured to process and convert instructions or commands from the control module of the first stage into analog or digital signals and generate and transmit an output signal. At least one connection is between the first stage and the second stage to enable communication between the first and second stages.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sensing/control/identification device of a machine, the device comprising:
a first stage including:
a rectification and power conditioning module configured to receive electromagnetic (EM) transmissions from an EM transmitting source via waveguide confinement and convert said EM transmissions to electrical power;
a communication interface module configured to receive power from the rectification and power conditioning module and at least one of receive the EM transmissions or transmit EM communications via waveguide confinement; and
a control module configured to receive EM transmission data from the communication interface for processing or preparing the EM communications for transmission from the communication interface module;

a second stage including:
a tunable control module configured to process and convert instructions or commands from the control module of the first stage into analog or digital signals and generate and transmit an output signal; and
at least one connection between the first stage and the second stage to enable communication between the first stage and the second stage.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 , the first stage further comprising a storage module, wherein the control module is configured to at least one of read from or write to the storage module.

3. The device as recited in claim 2 , wherein the storage module includes at least one of (i) one or more of programs and applications to be executed by the control module, (ii) identification data associated with the device, (iii) historical data associated with the device, (iv) characterization curves associated with the machine, (v) an engine installation, (vi) flight profiles, (vii) environmental data, or (viii) baseline fluid characteristics.

4. The device as recited in claim 1 , the second stage further comprising a sensor circuit module configured to interface between a hardware device and the second stage.

5. The device as recited in claim 4 , the second stage further comprising a conversion module configured to convert a signal from the hardware device to a signal to be processed by the control module of the first stage.

6. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rectification and power conditioning module, the communication interface module, the control module, a conversion module, and a sensor circuit module are all configured on a single printed circuit board or a highly integrated circuit such as a system in a package (SiP).

7. The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first stage and the second stage are contained within a network of shielded components to mitigate unwanted electromagnetic energy from exiting or entering the network, said shielded components in waveguide communication.

8. A system for a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
a component;
a hardware device operably connected to the component and configured to measure a characteristic of the component;
an electromagnetic (EM) transmitting source located remote from the component; and
a sensing/control/identification device configured on or proximate to the component, wherein the sensing/control/identification device includes:
a first stage including:
a rectification and power conditioning module configured to receive electromagnetic (EM) transmissions from an EM transmitting source via waveguide confinement and convert said EM transmissions to electrical power;
a communication interface module configured to receive power from the rectification and power conditioning module and at least one of receive the EM transmissions or transmit EM communications via waveguide confinement; and
a control module configured to receive EM transmission data from the communication interface for processing or preparing the EM communications for transmission from the communication interface module;

a second stage including:
a tunable control module configured to process and convert instructions or commands from the control module of the first stage into analog or digital signals and generate and transmit an output signal; and
at least one connection between the first stage and the second stage to enable communication between the first stage and the second stage.

9. The system as recited in claim 8 , the first stage further comprising a storage module, wherein the control module is configured to at least one of read from or write to the storage module.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 , wherein the storage module includes at least one of (i) one or more of programs and applications to be executed by the control module, (ii) identification data associated with the device, (iii) historical data associated with the device, (iv) characterization curves associated with the machine, (v) an engine installation, (vi) flight profiles, (vii) environmental data, or (viii) baseline fluid characteristics.

11. The system as recited in claim 8 , the second stage further comprising a sensor circuit module configured to interface between the hardware device and the second stage.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 , the second stage further comprising a conversion module configured to convert a signal from the hardware device to a signal to be processed by the control module of the first stage.

13. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the rectification and power conditioning module, the communication interface module, the control module, a conversion module, and a sensor circuit module are all configured on a single printed circuit board or a highly integrated circuit such as a system in a package (SiP).

14. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the hardware device includes a measurement cavity and wherein the tunable control module is configured to output a signal tuned to the measurement cavity.

15. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the hardware device is a sensing element communicably attached to a flow path, the sensing element configured to measure a characteristic of a fluid within the flow path.

16. The system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the tunable control module is configured to output a signal tuned to the fluid within the flow path.

17. The system as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of hardware elements, wherein the tunable control module is configured to communicate with each of the plurality of hardware elements.

18. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the component is at least one of a compressor vane segment or a component in the gas turbine engine that requires control or monitoring functions.

19. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the first stage and the second stage are contained within a network of shielded components to mitigate unwanted electromagnetic energy from exiting or entering the network, said shielded components in waveguide communication.

20. The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the control/sensing/identification device is contained within a network of shielded components in waveguide communication to mitigate unwanted electromagnetic energy from exiting or entering the network.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Sobanski Kurt J
• Mantese Joseph V
• Mccabe Brian L
• Zacchio Joseph

Classifications

• 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

• H04B15/025

  Reducing interference from ignition apparatus of fuel engines (cables with high resistance H01B) · CPC title

• G07C5/0808

  Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005) · CPC title

• G06K7/10188

  the repeating consisting of intelligently propagating data from record carriers via intermediate stations to the interrogation device, e.g. a distant RFID or RFID falling in a "shadow" region sending its identification data to an interrogation device using at least the help of one further RFID that is positioned in a region "visible" to the interrogation device, the further RFID therefore functioning as a relay station · CPC title

• F05D2220/323

  for aircraft propulsion, e.g. jet engines · CPC title