Wireless transceiver
View Patent ↗A low cost, robust, wireless sensor that provides an extended period of operability without maintenance is described. The wireless sensors are configured to communicate with a base unit or repeater. When the sensor unit detects an anomalous ambient condition (e.g., smoke, fire, water, etc.) the sensor communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the anomalous condition. The sensor unit receives instructions to change operating parameters and/or control external devices.
1. A wireless ambient sensor unit, comprising:
a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transceiver configured to transmit sensor data and to receive instructions;
at least one sensor configured to measure an ambient condition; and
a controller configured to control said transceiver and said at least one sensor, said wireless sensor unit configured to report data measured by said at least one sensor when said wireless sensor unit determines that data measured by said at least one sensor fails a threshold test, said sensor unit configured to operate in a low-power mode when not transmitting data or receiving instructions, said sensor unit configured to transmit status information at regular intervals and to enter a receive mode for a period after transmitting said status information, said sensor unit having an identification code and configured to implement instructions addressed to the sensor unit according to said identification code; and configured to receive said identification code using batter connection during a power-up interval.
2. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1 , wherein said threshold test comprises a high threshold level.
3. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1 , wherein said threshold test comprises a low threshold level.
4. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1 , wherein said threshold test comprises an inner threshold range.
5. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1 , wherein said threshold test comprises an outer threshold ranges.
6. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1 , wherein said wireless sensor units further comprises a tamper sensor.
7. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1 , wherein said wireless sensor unit is configured to receive an instruction to change a status reporting interval.
8. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 1 , wherein said wireless sensor unit is configured to receive an instruction to change a status reporting interval.
9. A method of efficient, bi-directional communication within a wireless sensor system using identification codes, comprising:
communicating with each of one or more wireless sensor units to and from a base unit directly, or alternatively, via one or more wireless repeater units, each of said one or more wireless sensor units being assigned an identification code, each of said one or more wireless sensor units configured to ignore communications not addressed to each of said one or more wireless sensor units and respond to communications addressed to each of said one or more wireless sensor units;
communicating with each of said one or more wireless repeater units, each of said one or more wireless repeater units being assigned an identification code, each of said one or more wireless repeater units configured to ignore communications not addressed to each of said one or more wireless repeater unit and respond to communications addressed to each of said one or more wireless repeater unit, each of said one or more wireless repeater units; and
maintaining a database of wireless sensor unit identification codes by each of said one or more wireless repeater units, each of said one or more wireless repeater units configured to ignore communications from said base unit addressed to each of said one or more wireless sensor units not contained in said database of wireless sensor unit identification codes, each of said one or more wireless repeater units configured to transmit communications from said base unit addressed to each of said one or more wireless sensor units contained in said database of wireless sensor unit identification codes.
10. A method of bi-directional handshaking in a wireless sensor system, comprising:
transmitting a communication by one or more wireless sensor units to a base unit via at least one or one or more repeater units, or directly to said base unit;
waiting for an acknowledgment communication generated from said base unit and sent directly by said base unit, or generated from said base unit and forwarded by said at least one of one or more wireless repeater units, or generated from and sent by said at least one of one or more wireless repeater units;
re-transmitting said communication to said base unit via said at least one of one or more wireless repeater units, or to said base unit directly, or to said at least one of one or more wireless repeater units by said one or more wireless sensor units, said re-transmission occurring unit said acknowledgment generated from said base unit and forwarded by said at least one of one or more wireless repeater units, or generated by and sent directly from said base unit, or generated from and sent by said at least one of one or more wireless repeater units, is received by said one or more wireless sensor units; and
re-transmitting said communication to said base unit by said at least one of one or more wireless repeater units until acknowledgment is received from said base unit where said acknowledgment to said one or more wireless sensor units is generated from and sent by said at least one of one or more wireless repeater units.
11. A wireless ambient sensor unit, comprising:
a frequency-hopping spread spectrum transceiver configured to transmit sensor data and to receive instructions;
means for sensing an ambient condition; and
a controller configured to control said transceiver and said at least one sensor, said wireless sensor unit configured to report data measured by said at least one sensor when said wireless sensor unit determines that data measured by said at least one sensor fails a threshold test, said sensor unit configured to operate in a low-power mode when not transmitting data or receiving instructions, said sensor unit configured to transmit status information at regular intervals and to enter a receive mode for a period after transmitting said status information, said sensor unit having an identification code and configured to implement instructions addressed to the sensor unit according to said identification code; and configured to receive said identification code using batter connection during a power-up interval.
12. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 11 , wherein said threshold test comprises a high threshold level.
13. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 11 , wherein said threshold test comprises a low threshold level.
14. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 11 , wherein said threshold test comprises an inner threshold range.
15. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 11 , wherein said threshold test comprises an outer threshold ranges.
16. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 11 , wherein said wireless sensor units further comprises a tamper sensor.
17. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 11 , wherein said wireless sensor unit is configured to receive an instruction to change a status reporting interval.
18. The wireless ambient sensor unit of claim 11 , wherein said wireless sensor unit is configured to receive an instruction to change a status reporting interval.