U.S. patent application number 15/594356 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-31 for monitoring device with jumper cable coupling and related methods.
The applicant listed for this patent is STMicroelectronics S.r.l.. Invention is credited to Michele CALABRETTA, Giovanni GIRLANDO, Francesco PAPPALARDO.
Application Number | 20170248534 15/594356 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54017082 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170248534 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GIRLANDO; Giovanni ; et
al. |
August 31, 2017 |
Monitoring Device with Jumper Cable Coupling and Related
Methods
Abstract
A monitoring device is for a block of building material. The
monitoring device may include an electric supply line configured to
be buried in the block of building material and having a flexible
main cable, and flexible jumper cables coupled to the flexible main
cable and extending outwardly. The monitoring device may include
sensor devices configured to be buried in the block of building
material and coupled to respective ones of the flexible jumper
cables. Each sensor device may include a primary inductor coupled
to the electric supply line at a position based upon peaks of a
stationary waveform when the electric supply line is alternating
current (AC) powered, and a monitoring circuit. The monitoring
circuit may include an integrated sensor, and a secondary inductor
magnetically coupled to the primary inductor and configured to
supply the integrated sensor, and communicate through the electric
supply line.
Inventors: |
GIRLANDO; Giovanni;
(Catania, IT) ; CALABRETTA; Michele; (Giarre (CT),
IT) ; PAPPALARDO; Francesco; (Paterno' (CT),
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
STMicroelectronics S.r.l. |
Agrate Brianza |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
54017082 |
Appl. No.: |
15/594356 |
Filed: |
May 12, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14670613 |
Mar 27, 2015 |
9678027 |
|
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15594356 |
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|
13770492 |
Feb 19, 2013 |
9335286 |
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14670613 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01M 5/0083 20130101;
H04Q 2209/88 20130101; G01N 27/00 20130101; G01N 27/02 20130101;
H04Q 9/00 20130101; G01M 5/0033 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G01N 27/02 20060101
G01N027/02; G01M 5/00 20060101 G01M005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 29, 2012 |
IT |
MI2012A000309 |
Claims
1. A monitoring device comprising: an electric supply line disposed
within a block of building material and configured to be supplied
with a first alternating current, the first alternating current
generating a stationary waveform in the electric supply line; and a
plurality of sensor devices coupled to the electric supply line,
wherein each of the plurality of sensor devices is configured to
receive power from the first alternating current, and communicate
through the electric supply line, and wherein the plurality of
sensor devices comprises a first sensor device disposed within the
block of building material at a first location corresponding to a
location of a first peak of the stationary waveform, and a second
sensor device disposed within the block of building material at a
second location corresponding to a location of a second peak of the
stationary waveform.
2. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the electric supply
line comprises a main portion, a plurality of flexible jumper
cables configured to mechanically isolate the plurality of sensor
devices from the electric supply line, wherein each of the
plurality of flexible jumper cables is coupled to the main portion
and a corresponding one of the plurality of sensor devices.
3. The monitoring device of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality
of flexible jumper cables is coupled to the main portion of the
electric supply line by a respective connector surrounded by an
encapsulation layer.
4. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the first sensor
device is electrically coupled in series with the electric supply
line at the first location, and wherein the first peak is a peak of
a current stationary waveform.
5. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the first sensor
device is electrically coupled in parallel with the electric supply
line at the first location, and wherein the first peak is a peak of
a voltage stationary waveform.
6. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality
of sensor devices comprises a primary inductor coupled to the
electric supply line within the block of building material.
7. The monitoring device of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality
of sensor devices further comprises a monitoring circuit comprising
an integrated sensor, and a secondary inductor magnetically coupled
to the primary inductor and configured to supply the integrated
sensor with power from a second alternating current.
8. A monitoring device comprising: an electric supply line disposed
in a block of building material and configured to be supplied with
a first alternating current, the first alternating current
generating at least one stationary waveform in the electric supply
line; a plurality of sensor devices coupled to the electric supply
line, wherein each of the plurality of sensor devices is configured
to receive power from the first alternating current, and
communicate through the electric supply line, and wherein the
plurality of sensor devices comprises a first sensor device
disposed within the block of building material at a first location
corresponding to a location of a first peak of the stationary
waveform, and a second sensor device disposed within the block of
building material at a second location corresponding to a location
of a second peak of the stationary waveform; and an antenna coupled
to the electric supply line and configured to transmit sensed
values from the plurality of sensor devices.
9. The monitoring device of claim 8, wherein the electric supply
line comprises a main portion, a plurality of flexible jumper
cables configured to mechanically isolate the plurality of sensor
devices from the electric supply line, wherein each of the
plurality of flexible jumper cables is coupled to the main portion
and a corresponding one of the plurality of sensor devices.
10. The monitoring device of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality
of flexible jumper cables is coupled to the main portion of the
electric supply line by a respective connector surrounded by an
encapsulation layer.
11. The monitoring device of claim 8, wherein the first sensor
device is electrically coupled in series with the electric supply
line at the first location, and wherein the first peak is a peak of
a current stationary waveform.
12. The monitoring device of claim 8, wherein the first sensor
device is electrically coupled in parallel with the electric supply
line at the first location, and wherein the first peak is a peak of
a voltage stationary waveform.
13. The monitoring device of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality
of sensor devices comprises a primary inductor coupled to the
electric supply line within the block of building material.
14. The monitoring device of claim 13, wherein each of the
plurality of sensor devices further comprises a monitoring circuit
comprising an integrated sensor, and a secondary inductor
magnetically coupled to the primary inductor and configured to
supply the integrated sensor with power from a second alternating
current.
15. A method of operating a monitoring device, the method
comprising: generating a stationary waveform in an electric supply
line within a block of building material by supplying a first
alternating current to the electric supply line; receiving, by a
first sensor device and a second sensor device, power from the
first alternating current, wherein the first sensor device is
coupled to the electric supply line and disposed within the block
of building material at a first location corresponding to a
location of a first peak of the stationary waveform, and wherein
the second sensor device is coupled to the electric supply line and
disposed within the block of building material at a second location
corresponding to a location of a second peak of the stationary
waveform; and communicating, by the first sensor device and the
second sensor device, sensed values through the electric supply
line.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving, by an
antenna coupled to the electric supply line, an electromagnetic
field, the electromagnetic field supplying the first alternating
current to the electric supply line.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting, by an
antenna coupled to the electric supply line, the sensed values
outside the block of building material.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first sensor device is
electrically coupled in series with the electric supply line at the
first location, wherein the first peak is a peak of a current
stationary waveform.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first sensor device is
electrically coupled in parallel with the electric supply line at
the first location, wherein the first peak is a peak of a voltage
stationary waveform.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the receiving, by the first
sensor device, the power from the first alternating current
comprises: converting, by an inductor of the first sensor device,
the first alternating current to a second alternating current, the
inductor magnetically coupled to the electric supply line; and
receiving, at an integrated sensor of the first sensor device,
power from the second alternating current.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 14/670,613 filed on Mar. 27, 2015, which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/770,492 filed
on Feb. 19, 2013, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,335,286 on May 10,
2016, which claims priority to Italian Application No.
MI2012A000309, filed on Feb. 29, 2012, which applications are
hereby incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This present disclosure relates to monitoring devices and,
more particularly, to a monitoring device and related method for
use in a building structure.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The strategy for implementing damage detection and the
characterization of mechanical structures is commonly called
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). Damages are defined as
modifications of the material and/or of the geometrical properties
of a structural system, comprising modifications of boundary
conditions and connections of the system, that worsen performance
of the system. The SHM process implies the observation of the
mechanical system over time using periodically: measurements of
dynamic responses coming from an array of sensors, extraction of
data of damage characteristics sensed from these measurements, and
statistical analysis of these data of damage characteristics for
determining the present health state of the system (also called
structural analysis).
[0004] This process provides information about the capacity of the
structure for carrying out its function, considering the
unavoidable aging and degradation in working environments. After
extreme events, such as earthquakes or explosions, the SHM is used
for a quick screening of the conditions of the structure for
providing, almost in real time, reliable information about the
integrity of the structure itself.
[0005] Currently, SHM systems use sensors placed on the surfaces to
be monitored. For example, sensors used (anemometers for
calculating the wind speed, accelerometers, extensometers, motion
transducers, temperature sensors, sensors for detecting motion of
weights, etc.) for monitoring bridges are placed on the external
surfaces of beams, ropes or pillars. This is done to: estimate the
effects of loads on the bridge, evaluate the weakening of the
bridge, and foresee the probable evolution of the bridge and its
expected lifetime.
[0006] SHM systems with sensors to be buried in the building
structure to be monitored have been devised. These sensors
(pressure, humidity, temperature, etc.) have at least one remote
powering and transmission antenna for transmitting the measured
values outside of the block of building material. These kinds of
sensors are disclosed, for example, in U.S. patent application No.
2004/0153270 and in Italian patent applications VA2010A000097 and
MI2010A002365.
[0007] An inconvenience of the monitoring circuits to be buried in
the building material includes the difficulties of powering them.
In Italian patent application No. VA2010A000097, each monitoring
circuit is powered through a magnetic coupling with an inductor
connected to a shielded line, as shown in FIG. 1. In Italian patent
application No. MI2010A002365 the monitoring circuits are fixed to
a linear support, as shown in FIG. 2, and have remote powering
antennas that receive the electromagnetic field irradiated by an
external power supply.
SUMMARY
[0008] Generally, a monitoring device is for a block of building
material and may include an electric supply line configured to be
buried in the block of building material and comprising a flexible
main cable, and a plurality of flexible jumper cables coupled to
the flexible main cable and extending outwardly therefrom. The
monitoring device may include a plurality of sensor devices
configured to be buried in the block of building material and
coupled to respective ones of the plurality of flexible jumper
cables. Each sensor device may include a primary inductor coupled
to the electric supply line at a position based upon peaks of at
least one stationary waveform when the electric supply line is
alternating current (AC) powered, and a monitoring circuit. The
monitoring circuit may include an integrated sensor, and a
secondary inductor magnetically coupled to the primary inductor and
configured to supply the integrated sensor, and communicate through
the electric supply line.
[0009] In particular, the flexible main cable and the plurality of
flexible jumper cables may each comprise a coaxial cable portion.
The electric supply line may comprise a plurality of connectors
(e.g. T-connector) coupling the respective ones of the plurality of
flexible jumper cables to the flexible main cable.
[0010] In some embodiments, the electric supply line may comprise a
plurality of encapsulation layers respectively surrounding the
plurality of connectors. The monitoring device may further comprise
an antenna coupled to the electric supply line and configured to be
remotely powered and transmit sensed values of at least one
physical characteristic.
[0011] Also, at least one of the primary inductors may be
electrically coupled in series with the electric supply line in
correspondence with peaks of a current stationary waveform. At
least one of the primary inductors may be electrically coupled in
parallel with the electric supply line in correspondence with peaks
of a voltage stationary waveform. The monitoring device may further
include a resonant network coupled to at least one of the primary
inductors.
[0012] Another aspect is directed to a method for making a
monitoring device for a block of building material. The method may
include providing an electric supply line to be buried in the block
of building material and comprising a flexible main cable, and a
plurality of flexible jumper cables coupled to the flexible main
cable and extending outwardly therefrom. The method may include
coupling a plurality of sensor devices to respective ones of the
plurality of flexible jumper cables. Each sensor device may
comprise a primary inductor coupled to the electric supply line at
a position based upon peaks of at least one stationary waveform
when the electric supply line is AC powered, and a monitoring
circuit. The monitoring circuit may include an integrated sensor,
and a secondary inductor magnetically coupled to the primary
inductor and to supply the integrated sensor, and communicate
through the electric supply line.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a shielded line that powers
a monitoring circuit buried in a building material, disclosed in
Italian patent application No. VA2010A000097, as in the prior
art.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram depicting monitoring circuits
connected to a same linear support and buried in a building
material, disclosed in Italian patent application No.
MI2010A002365, as in the prior art.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram depicting a monitoring device
of the present disclosure embedded in a block of building material
having a plurality of buried monitoring circuits coupled to a same
electric line.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic
coupling between a monitoring circuit, schematically represented
with its input impedance, and a respective series inductor of the
electric line as in the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a magnetic
coupling between a monitoring circuit and a respective parallel
inductor connected between the forward path and the return path of
the electric line as in the present disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a matching network
connected to the buried electric line as in the present
disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a monitoring device of
this disclosure embedded in a block of building material having a
plurality of buried monitoring circuits coupled to a same electric
line ending with a buried antenna for remote powering and for data
transmission.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the
monitoring device, according to the present disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 9 is another schematic diagram of a portion of the
monitoring device, according to the present disclosure.
[0022] FIGS. 10-11 are stress diagrams for the monitoring device of
FIG. 9.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a cross-section view of a portion of an
embodiment of a connector from the monitoring device of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0024] The present disclosure will now be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
several embodiments of the invention are shown. This present
disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and
should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth
herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the
scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like
numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is
used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments.
[0025] An embodiment of a monitoring device of this present
disclosure is schematically shown in FIG. 3. The monitoring device
that is depicted when buried inside a block of building material,
has an electrical supply line to which monitoring circuits S1, S2,
. . . Sn are functionally coupled. These monitoring circuits have
sensors capable of sensing at least one physical characteristic of
the building material in which they are buried, and secondary
inductors L2 of the internal power supply.
[0026] When the electric line is AC powered, stationary voltage and
current waveforms are generated by the superposition of a
progressive wave and of a reflected wave. In the field of
transmission lines it is well known that this effect is maximum in
electric lines that end with a short-circuit (null impedance) or
with an open circuit (infinite impedance), because in these cases
the electric line does not absorb active power, but only reactive
power. If the lines were connected with a non-null finite impedance
at their end, the above described phenomenon would still occur, but
would be attenuated.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the device has primary inductors L1
disposed along the electrical power supply line in correspondence
with the peaks of voltage and/or current stationary waveforms, such
as to be crossed by current. The monitoring circuits S1, S2, . . .
Sn have secondary inductors L2 magnetically coupled to respective
primary inductors L1, such as to generate on its nodes an induced
supply voltage of the respective circuit. Moreover, to maximize
this induced supply voltage, the secondary inductors L2 may be
realized such as to resonate at the working frequency with the
equivalent input capacitances of the integrated circuit. By
realizing in this way the monitoring device, all of its sensors may
be supplied through a single electric line and without using remote
powering antennas integrated in the monitoring circuits.
[0028] The embodiment of FIG. 5 is similar to that of FIG. 4,
though in this case the primary inductors L1 are placed in
correspondence with the peaks of the voltage stationary waveform
and are connected in parallel with the electric supply line.
Between the points 1 and 1' there is an AC voltage having an
amplitude equal to the corresponding peak of the stationary
waveform, thus the primary inductor L1 is crossed by an AC current
that will allow powering of the corresponding monitoring circuit
because of the magnetic coupling with the related secondary
inductor L2.
[0029] According to yet another embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, the
electric supply line is equipped with lossless impedance matching
networks placed in correspondence with the peaks of voltage and/or
current stationary waveforms that resonate at the working frequency
with the respective primary inductor L1. The working principle is
the same as that discussed referring to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0030] According to a method aspect, once the monitoring device is
placed inside the structure to be monitored, the electric line is
AC powered. Thus voltage and current stationary waveforms are
generated with peaks located in correspondence with the primary
inductors L1, that will power the sensors buried in the building
material. The signals generated by the sensors and transmitted
through the electric line are received, by using the magnetic
coupling between the secondary inductors L2 and the respective
primary inductors L1.
[0031] Furthermore, it is possible to realize blocks made of a
building material embedding the monitoring devices described
herein. Advantageously but not necessarily, the electric line ends
with a remote powering and data transmission antenna buried in the
block of building material, as schematically shown in FIG. 7.
[0032] Referring now additionally to FIG. 8, another embodiment of
the monitoring device 30 is now described. In this embodiment of
the monitoring device 30, the monitoring device is positioned in a
block of building material 41. The monitoring device 30
illustratively includes an electric supply line 31 configured to be
buried in the block of building material 41 and comprises a
flexible main cable 32, and a plurality of flexible jumper cables
33a-33n coupled to the flexible main cable and extending outwardly
therefrom. The monitoring device 30 illustratively includes a
plurality of sensor devices 34a-34n configured to be buried in the
block of building material 41 and coupled to respective ones of the
plurality of flexible jumper cables 33a-33n.
[0033] Each sensor device 34a-34n illustratively includes a primary
inductor 35 coupled to the electric supply line 31 at a position
based upon peaks of at least one stationary waveform when the
electric supply line is AC powered, and a monitoring circuit 37.
The monitoring circuit 37 illustratively includes an integrated
sensor 38, and a secondary inductor 36 magnetically coupled to the
primary inductor 35 and configured to supply the integrated sensor,
and communicate through the electric supply line 31.
[0034] In some embodiments, each sensor device 34a-34n comprises a
connector for receiving the respective ones of the plurality of
flexible jumper cables 33a-33n. In other embodiments, each sensor
device 34a-34n comprises a dongle type device with a built-in
jumper cable directly coupled to the flexible main cable 32.
[0035] The electric supply line 31 illustratively includes a
plurality of connectors 42a-42n (e.g. coaxial T-connector, T-tap
automobile connector) coupling the respective ones of the plurality
of flexible jumper cables 33a-33n to the flexible main cable 32.
The monitoring device 30 may further comprise an antenna (FIG. 7)
coupled to the electric supply line 31 and configured to be
remotely powered and transmit sensed values of at least one
physical characteristic.
[0036] In some embodiments (FIG. 12), the electric supply line 31
comprises a plurality of encapsulation layers 47 respectively
surrounding the plurality of connectors 42. Also, the flexible main
cable 32 and the plurality of flexible jumper cables 33a-33n may
each comprise a coaxial cable portion comprising an inner conductor
44, a dielectric material 45 surrounding the inner conductor, an
outer conductor 48 surrounding the dielectric material, a sheath 46
surrounding the outer conductor, and the encapsulation later 47
surrounding the sheath. For example, the encapsulation later 47 may
comprise dielectric adhesive backed tape, or an epoxy resin
material.
[0037] Also, at least one of the primary inductors 35 may be
electrically coupled in series with the electric supply line 31 in
correspondence with peaks of a current stationary waveform. At
least one of the primary inductors 35 may be electrically coupled
in parallel with the electric supply line 31 in correspondence with
peaks of a voltage stationary waveform. The monitoring device 30
may further include a resonant network (FIG. 6) coupled to at least
one of the primary inductors.
[0038] Another aspect is directed to a method for making a
monitoring device 30 for a block of building material 41. The
method may include providing an electric supply line 31 to be
buried in the block of building material 41 and comprising a
flexible main cable 32, and a plurality of flexible jumper cables
33a-33n coupled to the flexible main cable and extending outwardly
therefrom. The method may include coupling a plurality of sensor
devices 34a-34n to respective ones of the plurality of flexible
jumper cables 33a-33n. Each sensor device 34a-34n may comprise a
primary inductor 35 coupled to the electric supply line 31 at a
position based upon peaks of at least one stationary waveform when
the electric supply line is AC powered, and a monitoring circuit
37. The monitoring circuit 37 may include an integrated sensor 38,
and a secondary inductor 36 magnetically coupled to the primary
inductor 35 and to supply the integrated sensor, and communicate
through the electric supply line 31.
[0039] Referring now to FIGS. 9-11, stress diagrams 50, 60, 70
demonstrate the mechanical isolation of the plurality of sensor
devices 34a-34n, which provides for a more accurate measurement.
These mechanical simulations show the mechanical stress on sensor
surface being independent (from an engineering point of view) from
the electric supply line 31. Indeed, there is no mechanical
coupling between the electric supply line 31 and the plurality of
sensor devices 34a-34n.
[0040] Advantageously, since the electric supply line 31 is largely
flexible, the monitoring device 30 may be readily installed into
building material. Also, this monitoring device 30 is less
expensive to manufacture than prior embodiments where the electric
supply line is printed onto a substrate. Indeed, typical coaxial
cable can be used for the electric supply line 31. Moreover, the
modular approach of the monitoring device 30 enables the user to
independently test/calibrate the electric supply line 31 and the
plurality of sensor devices 34a-34n.
[0041] Many modifications and other embodiments of the present
disclosure will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having
the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing
descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is
understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to the
specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and
embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *