Conformal aperture engine sensors and mesh network
Wireless sensor devices are described which harvest energy and provide an antenna or antennas for wireless communication on a relatively small form factor, preferably one that is co-extensive with a largest component of the device, e.g., an antenna layer or sensor layer. The devices are able to sense and/or control certain specific parameters of a system; store energy, e.g., in a supercapacitor system or battery system; transmit that as information/signals via a wireless link, e.g., RF or optical link; receive information from other devices and relay that information. Such devices accordingly may be self-powered and wireless devices, and not dependent on a separate device or form factor to provide a power source. Such devices can be entirely autonomous or substantially so, can be mobile or fixed, and may require little servicing over a period of time. The devices can be used as sensor nodes in a wireless mesh network.
1. A wireless sensor node mesh network, the network comprising:
a plurality of wireless sensor nodes, each node including,
an antenna layer including a fractal plasmonic surface and operative to receive and transmit wirelessly, wherein the antenna layer further includes a metamaterial surface;
a sensing layer operative to detect data from one or more sensors;
an energy harvesting layer operative to harvest energy from an environment local to the sensor node;
a reception/transmission layer;
a processing layer operative to process data from the sensing layer and signals received from or provided to the reception transmission layer; and
a power storage layer operative to store energy received from the energy harvesting layer for use by the sensor node.
2. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 , wherein for each wireless sensor node the metamaterial surface includes one or more split-ring resonators.
3. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 , wherein for each wireless sensor node the energy harvesting layer includes a fractal plasmonic surface.
4. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 , wherein for each wireless sensor node the antenna layer includes conductive material having a shape with one or more fractals.
5. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 , wherein for each wireless sensor node the energy harvesting layer includes one or more photovoltaic cells.
6. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 , wherein for each wireless sensor node the multiple layers are conformable as a stack to a surface of an object.
7. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 , wherein for each wireless sensor node the antenna layer is operative to receive and transmit in a 5G band.
8. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 , wherein for each wireless sensor node the antenna layer is operative to receive and transmit in a 4G band.
9. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 , wherein for each wireless sensor node the antenna layer is operative to receive and transmit in a WiFi band.
10. The wireless sensor network of claim 1 , wherein for each wireless sensor node the antenna layer is operative to receive and transmit in an ISM band.
11. A wireless sensor node comprising:
an antenna layer including a fractal plasmonic surface and operative to receive and transmit wirelessly, wherein the antenna layer further includes a metamaterial surface;
a sensing layer including a sensor;
an energy harvesting layer operative to harvest energy from an environment local to the sensor node;
a reception/transmission layer;
a processing layer operative to process data from the sensing layer and signals received from or provided to the reception transmission layer; and
a power storage layer operative to store energy received from the energy harvesting layer for use by the sensor node.
12. The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor.
13. The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises an infrared sensor.
14. The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises an image sensor.
15. The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic field sensor.
16. The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.
17. The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a chemical sensor.
18. The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor.
19. The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a smoke sensor.
20. The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a radiation sensor.
21. The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a proximity sensor.
22. The wireless sensor node of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor.