Smart pneumatic coupler
A pneumatic coupler having a pneumatic control device and a coupler detection module. The coupler detection module coupled to the pneumatic control device. The pneumatic coupler also having a signal bearing medium that is communicatively coupled to the coupler detection module and to a pneumatic device coupled to the pneumatic coupler. The signal bearing medium storing one or more of an identification of the pneumatic coupler and instructions for the pneumatic device.
1. A pneumatic coupler comprising:
a pneumatic control device;
a coupler detection module coupled to the pneumatic control device; and
a signal bearing medium communicatively coupled to the coupler detection module, the signal bearing medium configured to be communicatively coupled to a pneumatic device, the pneumatic device being pneumatically coupled to the pneumatic coupler, and the signal bearing medium being a memory containing one or more of at least an identification of the pneumatic coupler or instructions for a pneumatic device.
2. The pneumatic coupler of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic control device comprises a pneumatic valve device.
3. The pneumatic coupler of claim 2 , wherein the pneumatic valve comprises a poppet device.
4. The pneumatic coupler of claim 1 , wherein the coupler detection module comprises a device configured to generate an electrical signal.
5. The pneumatic coupler of claim 4 , wherein the device configured to generate the electrical signal comprises a transducer device.
6. The pneumatic coupler of claim 4 , wherein the device configured to generate the electrical signal comprises an optical proximity detection device.
7. The pneumatic coupler of claim 4 , wherein the device configured to generate the electrical signal comprises a switch configured to be activated when the pneumatic coupler is coupled to an intelligent health monitoring device.
8. The pneumatic coupler of claim 1 , wherein the coupler detection module comprises:
a processor;
a storage medium communicatively coupled to the processor; and
a radio device communicatively coupled to the processor.
9. The pneumatic coupler of claim 1 , wherein the coupler detection module further comprises:
a power supply.
10. The pneumatic coupler of claim 1 , the coupler detection module comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
11. The pneumatic coupler of claim 10 , wherein the RFID tag comprises a passive RFID tag.
12. The pneumatic coupler of claim 10 , wherein the RFID tag comprises a semi-active RFID tag.
13. The pneumatic coupler of claim 10 , wherein the RFID tag comprises an active RFID tag.
14. The pneumatic coupler of claim 10 , wherein the RFID tag comprises a RFID tag configured to use capacitive technology.
15. A method for pneumatic coupling, the method comprising:
detecting, at a coupler detection module, a pneumatic coupling by a pneumatic control device, the pneumatic control device having an electrical characteristic based at least in part on a position of the pneumatic control device;
generating an electrical signal upon detection of the pneumatic coupling, the electrical signal having an electrical signal characteristic based at least in part on the electrical characteristic of the pneumatic control device;
transmitting the generated electrical signal to a pneumatically coupled device; and
configuring the pneumatically coupled device based at least in part on the generated electrical signal.
16. A machine readable non-transitory medium having stored therein instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, operatively enable a coupler detection module to:
detect a pneumatic coupling via a pneumatic control device;
generate an electrical signal upon detection of the pneumatic coupling, the electrical signal including at least an identification of the pneumatic control device; and
transmit the generated electrical signal to a pneumatically coupled device to cause the pneumatically coupled device to be configured based at least in part on the electrical signal and the identification of the pneumatic control device.