Systems and methods for collecting data with sensors
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for collecting data. A modular sensing system includes a renewable power source with wireless and/or optical communication modules, a processing plane, and a sensing plane. The sensing systems can be deployed in various environments or on active subjects. A device with various components can be used to interact with the sensing system and collect data in real time or at a later time. Sensing systems can be enclosed within a structure or body and then recharged or renewed using an optical signal transmitted through the boundary.
1. A method for communicating with a sensing system disposed within a body, the method comprising:
placing the sensing system within the body, wherein the sensing system includes an optical module including a plurality of photodiodes that generate a current in response to an incident optical signal used to communicate with the sensing system;
locating a first interface at a first side of a boundary of the body;
providing a first optical fiber coupled between the optical module and the first interface such that the first interface is configured to be located at a different location within the body than the sensing system, wherein the first optical fiber, the sensing system and the first interface are located entirely within the body;
locating a second interface at a second side of the boundary opposite the first interface, the second interface coupled to a second optical fiber; and
transferring an input optical signal through the second optical fiber and through the boundary of the body into the first optical fiber such that the input optical signal is incident on the plurality of photodiodes,
wherein a battery of the sensing system is recharged with the current generated by the plurality of photodiodes in response to the incident optical communication signal and wherein the battery stores electrical energy as chemical energy.
2. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising securing the first interface at the boundary, wherein the boundary is skin.
3. A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising modulating the input optical signal to deliver data to a processing module of the sensing system, the input optical signal that delivers the data further charging a battery within the sensing system.
4. A method as defined in claim 3 , further comprising at least one of: recalibrating a sensor included in the sensing system with the modulated input optical signal; and reprogramming the sensing system with the modulated input optical signal.
5. A method as defined in claim 3 , further comprising receiving data through the boundary on an output optical signal, the output optical signal generated by a laser included in the sensing system.
6. An apparatus for renewing a power supply of a sensing system configured to be enclosed within a body, the apparatus comprising:
the sensing system configured to be disposed entirely within the body, the sensing system including one or more photodiodes that generate current in response to an optical signal used to communicate with the sensing system, the sensing system further including at least three planes having a substantially uniform shape and directly disposed one on top of another, including:
a power plane including the power supply disposed within a cavity of the power plane;
a processing plane having a processing module, memory, and one or more field programmable gate arrays disposed within cavities of the processing plane; and
a sensor plane including one or more sensors disposed within one or more cavities of the sensor plane, each sensor having a size of less than 1 cm 3 , wherein the power plane, the processing plane, and the sensor plane are disposed directly one upon another, and have contacts and leads that enable interplane connectivity;
a first interface configured to be secured near a boundary of the body such that it can receive the optical signal through the boundary of the body; and
an optical fiber coupled between the sensing system and the first interface such that the first interface is configured to be positioned at a different location within the body than the sensing system;
wherein:
the optical fiber, sensing system and first interface are configured to be located entirely within the body;
the current generated by the one or more photodiodes in response to the optical signal charges a battery of the sensing system; and
the battery stores electrical energy as chemical energy.
7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein one or more photodiodes are grown monolithically in series with a semiconductor laser capable of transmitting data collected by a sensor included in sensing system.
8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein the boundary is skin.
9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 , further comprising a second interface and a second optical fiber that can be removably positioned over the first interface at the skin such that the optical signal can be delivered from the second interface to the first interface through the skin.