Wireless sensor
A wireless sensor for an associated machine or machine part which includes a communications module that wirelessly transmits data related to the associated machine or machine part. The communications module is mounted on the sensor and the sensor is disposed under the bottom side of the control circuitry. A sensor is configured to measure one or more properties of the associated machine or machine part.
1. A wireless sensor for an associated machine or machine part, comprising:
a sensor configured to measure/detect a property related to the associated machine or machine part; said sensor includes a communicative link for outputting said property data; said property includes pressure and temperature;
a communications module that wirelessly transmits information data from said wireless sensor; said information data including information related to the associated machine and machine part; said communications module including control circuitry that controls the wireless sensor; the control circuitry having a top side and a bottom side; said communications module mounted on said sensor and said sensor disposed under said bottom side of said control circuitry;
an energy source; said energy source providing power to said sensor and/or said communications module;
a plurality of connection pins disposed about a perimeter of said bottom side of said communications module; said bottom side of said control circuitry of said communications module is spaced above a top surface of said sensor; said plurality of connection pins coupled to a plurality of corresponding holes formed about a perimeter of a top side of said control circuitry of said sensor 106 that defines an area configured to receive the energy source,
each of the connection pins including a first end that is connected to the bottom side of the control circuitry and a second end opposite the first end that is connected to top side of the sensor facing the bottom side of the control circuitry; said plurality of connection pins supporting said control circuitry above said sensor; three or more of said plurality of connection pins being configured to perform three or more functions selected from the group consisting of a) transmit data and/or signals from said control circuitry to said sensor, b) transmit data from said sensor to said control circuitry, c) supply power between said control circuitry and said sensor, and d) provide structural support between said control circuity and said sensor; said energy source positioned at least partially between said sensor and said communications module at the area defined between said plurality of connection pins;
a housing; said housing including a housing cavity; at least a portion of said sensor, at least a portion of said energy source, and at least a portion of said communications module, and at least a portion of said plurality of said connection pins are positioned in said housing cavity; a resin is positioned in said housing; said resin at least partially encapsulates and exterior surface of one or more of said control circuitry, said connection pins and/or said communications module; and, wherein said property measured/detected by said sensor is included in said information data that is wirelessly transmitted.
2. The wireless sensor as defined in The wireless sensor as defined in wherein a top portion of two or more of said plurality of connection pins are permanently connected to said control circuitry and a bottom portion of two or more of said plurality of connection pins are permanently connected to said sensor.
3. The wireless sensor as defined in The wireless sensor as defined in wherein said energy source includes a battery; said battery positioned between said control circuitry and said sensor; said battery permanently connected to said control circuitry; said battery spaced from said sensor.
4. The wireless sensor as defined in The wireless sensor as defined in further including a sealing material; at least a portion of said control circuitry and energy source is encapsulated in said sealing material; said sealing material at least partially located in said housing cavity; said sealing material securing said control circuitry and said energy source in positioned relative to one another.
5. The wireless sensor as defined in The wireless sensor as defined in wherein said housing includes a top access opening configured to allow access to a top portion of said control circuitry to enable one or more data connectors temporarily to engage one or more data ports on said control circuitry to enable data to be transferred to and/or from said control circuitry.
6. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 5 , wherein said one or more data ports on said control circuitry are programming/data ports enabling said control circuitry to be programmed.
7. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 1 , wherein said property measured/detected by said sensor that is related to the associated machine or machine part including pressure and/or temperature.
8. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control circuitry is configured to obtain digital data from said sensor at a rate of greater than five data samples per second.
9. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control circuitry is configured to obtain digital data from said sensor at a rate of greater than 500 data samples per second.
10. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control circuitry further includes a) a magnetic sensor/switch and/or b) a motion sensor that measures/detects data related to movement of said wireless sensor and/or said associated machine or machine part.
11. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 10 , wherein said motion sensor includes an accelerometer or gyroscope.
12. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 10 , wherein said magnetic sensor/switch includes a Hall effect sensor.
13. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control circuitry includes a transmitter that transmits said property data using a wireless protocol.
14. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 1 , wherein said communications module and said sensor are concentrically aligned along a common axis.
15. The wireless sensor as defined in The wireless sensor as defined in wherein said information data further includes device information related to said wireless sensor; said device information including a) model number of wireless sensor, b) firmware version used in wireless sensor, c) serial number of wireless sensor, d) pressure information, e) temperature information, f) wireless sensor location information, g) movement information of the wireless sensor, h) battery status/level information of wireless sensor, i) voltage information of wireless sensor, j) low voltage information of wireless sensor, k) signal strength information of wireless sensor, 1 ) operation mode of the wireless sensor, m) unique identifier of the wireless sensor, n) power level of wireless sensor, o) battery life of battery in wireless sensor, p) error information regarding the wireless sensor, q) operational time of the wireless sensor, r) operational/run mode or sleep mode of the wireless sensor, s) the highest pressure measured/detected by the wireless sensor or a series of the highest pressures measured/detected by the wireless sensor, t) the highest temperature measured/detected by the wireless sensor or a series of the highest temperatures measured/detected by the wireless sensor, u) the date and/or time associated with one or more of the measured/detected properties, v) the number of times a measured/detected property of the machine or machine part has fallen outside a set parameter or parameter range, w) the number of times a measured/detected property of the machine or machine part has met a set parameter or fallen within a parameter range, x) vibration level information, duty time of machine or machine part, and/or y) number of times the wireless sensor wirelessly transmitted information during a certain time period.
16. The wireless sensor as defined in The wireless sensor as defined in wherein said wireless sensor is located in or integrated with one or more components of the associated machine such as a piston; a side of a cylinder wall, a base of a cylinder, a safety release valve, or a port plug.
17. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control circuitry includes memory, said memory stores a) a highest pressure measured/detected by said sensor, b) a series of said highest pressures measured/detected by said sensor, c) a highest temperature measured/detected by said sensor, and/or d) a series of said highest temperatures measured/detected by said sensor.
18. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 17 , wherein data stored in said memory is securely locked and becomes permanently erased without use of a proper security code/password or by use of unauthorized security protocols.
19. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of said data stored in said memory is burned into memory and can be accessed after said control circuitry fully loses power and is later repowered.
20. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 1 , wherein said information data is associated with a date and/or time.
21. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control circuitry includes a temperature sensor that is spaced from a temperature sensor on said sensor.
22. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 1 , wherein said communications module includes multiple power and/or sleep modes.
23. A wireless sensor for an associated machine or machine part, comprising:
a sensor configured to measure/detect a property related to the associated machine or machine part; said sensor includes a communicative link for outputting said property data; said property including pressure and temperature;
a communications module that wirelessly transmits information data from said wireless sensor; said information data including information related to the associated machine and machine part; said communications module including control circuity that controls the wireless sensor; the control circuitry having a top side and a bottom side; said communications module mounted on said sensor and said sensor disposed under said bottom side of said control circuit;
an energy source; said energy source providing power to said sensor and/or said communications module;
a set of support pins disposed about a perimeter of said bottom side of said communications module; said set of support pins including first, second, and third pins; said first and second support pins connected to the bottom side of said control circuitry of said communication module and to a top side of said sensor facing the bottom side of said control circuitry to define an area configured to receive the energy source,
said first and second support pins configured to a) transmit data and/or signals from said control circuitry to said sensor, b) transmit data from said sensor to said control circuitry, c) supply power between said control circuitry said sensor and d) provide structural support between said control circuitry and said sensor; said first, second, and third support pins supporting said control circuitry in a spaced relationship from said sensor; said energy source positioned at least partially between said sensor and said communications module at the area defined between said set of support pins;
a communication interface disposed on the control circuitry of the sensor and in the area defined between said set of support pins;
a housing; said housing including a housing cavity; at least a portion of said sensor, all of said energy source, at least a portion of said set of support pins, and all of said communications module are positioned in said housing cavity;
a sealing material; at least a portion of said control circuitry, said set of support pins and said energy source is encapsulated in said sealing material; said sealing material at least partially located in said housing cavity; said sealing material securing said control circuitry and said energy source in positioned relative to one another; said sealing material includes a resin; and
wherein said property is measured/detected by said sensor is included in said information data that is wirelessly transmitted.
24. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 23 , wherein said energy source includes a batter; said battery positioned between said control circuitry and said sensor; said battery permanently connected to said control circuitry; said battery spaced from said sensor.
25. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 24 , further including a GPS sensor; said GPS sensor providing location information to said communications module to be wireless transmitted by said communications module.
26. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 25 , wherein said control circuitry further includes a) a magnetic sensor/switch and/or b) a motion sensor that measures/detects data related to movement of said wireless sensor and/or said associated machine or machine part; said motion sensor includes an accelerometer or gyroscope; said magnetic sensor/switch includes a Hall effect sensor.
27. The wireless sensor as defined in claim 24 , wherein said control circuitry further includes a) a magnetic sensor/switch and/or b) a motion sensor that measures/detects data related to movement of said wireless sensor and/or said associated machine or machine part; said motion sensor includes an accelerometer or gyroscope; said magnetic sensor/switch includes a Hall effect sensor.