A spa is provided including a frame, a shell mounted to the frame defining a basin for holding water, at least one sensor for monitoring a spa component or water condition, a communications interface including a cellular transceiver, and a battery for providing power to the at least one sensor and to the communications interface when the spa is not connected to a power source. The spa also includes a controller in electrical communication with the at least one sensor and the communications interface. The controller is configured to, while the spa is not connected to the power source, receive information from the at least one sensor, process the received information, and cause the communications interface to wirelessly transmit the processed information to a remote source or central server.

A multiplexed sensor system includes a control unit in communication with a plurality of sensors. A plurality of optic fibers defines a communication path between the plurality of sensors and the control unit. A multiplexing portion communicates with a plurality of sensors along a common one of the plurality of optic fibers and a protected channel through which at least a portion of the optic fibers are routed. The protected channel at least partially surrounds the optic fibers and shields the optic fibers from an environment outside the protected channel. A cooling flow is provided through the protective channel for minimizing temperature fluctuations within the protective channel. A method is also disclosed.

A signal transmitter and method. The signal transmitter includes an input to receive a sensor signal, an analog to digital converter coupled to the input to convert the sensor signal to a digital representation of the sensor signal, a communication adapter, and a processor coupled to the analog to digital converter and the signal processor. The processor contains instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to manipulate the digital representation to create a replicated digital signal that corresponds to the sensor signal and transmit the replicated digital signal to a second processor-based device through the communication adapter.

A circuit system includes: a receiver circuit which outputs a periodic voltage pulse via a bus line; and an ascertaining device configured to ascertain whether the voltage on the bus line has reached a specified threshold value. The circuit system is configured to start the reception of data signals a specified time period after an instant at which the voltage on the bus line has reached the specified threshold value.

A gradient sensor device includes a support structure providing a surface, and at least three particle motion sensors coupled with and/or arranged on the support structure to measure translational data in a first direction. The particle motion sensors have an arrangement that enables calculation of a spatial gradient of the translational data in a second direction different from the first direction.

An apparatus for enabling a first device to identify a second device comprises a first interface and a second interface. Each interface is configured to allow communication between the first device and the second device, and the first interface is distinct from the second interface. The apparatus further comprises one or more controllers configured to receive a first identifier from the second device via the first interface. If the first identifier has a predetermined value, the controllers receive a second identifier from the second device via the second interface. The controllers identify the second device using the second identifier.

A solar photovoltaic module remote-access module switch and real-time temperature monitoring system is provided.

Improvements over existing data collection interfaces disclosed herein include, among other things, additional logic blocks (and associated timers, state machines, and registers) to off-load data collection and data processing prior to waking a microprocessor from a sleep mode. For example, an improved data collection interface collects a predetermined number of sensor values from a sensor while maintaining active a single communication session with the sensor over a pin of the interface. The microprocessor remains in the sleep mode for an entire duration of the single communication session. The data collection interface can reduce the likelihood of false starts of the microprocessor by using the logic blocks to verify that data meet preconditions prior to interrupting the microprocessor. The data collection interface can reduce the overall power consumption of a chip in which the microprocessor is integrated by a factor of at least about 2× (i.e., 50% reduction in power consumption).

A battery management unit includes a plurality of monitoring IC chips each configured to detect at least one operating parameter of at least one battery cell or battery module, which has a predetermined number of battery cells and is connected to a first bus. The battery management unit further includes a control unit and a basis monitoring IC chip which is likewise connected to the first bus and is configured to communicate with each of the monitoring IC chips via the first bus. The basis monitoring IC chip and the control unit are connected to a second bus and are configured to communicate with each other via the second bus. The basis monitoring IC chip and the control unit are arranged on a common circuit board.

The present disclosure relates to methodologies, systems, and devices for monitoring metrics associated with a marine vessel. A marine monitoring system includes a machine type communication (MTC) server; a computing device in communication with the MTC server; a user application residing on the computing device; and a marine electronic device located at a marine vessel. The marine electronic device is in communication with the MTC server, and is configured to connect to one or more wired or wireless marine sensors.