Wireless Sensor Bridge with Wireless Node and Wireless Hub

Abstract

The Wireless-Node-Hub invention is a dual device invention for enabling wired sensor platforms to become wireless without the need of changing the sensors or the base unit(s) to which they are connected; but rather rely on modules which plug into the sensors and base units which enable the normally wired communication to become now wireless.

Claims

1. A wireless sensor bridge with wireless node and wireless nub, the device comprising: a wireless hub; one or more base units; a sensor port located on the base unit; one or more sensors; the wireless hub being connected using a wired connection to the sensor port of the base unit; a wireless node connected using a wired connection to the sensor; the wireless hub communicates over wireless protocol(s) with the wireless node.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein without the wireless node, sensors connect using a wired connection directly or indirectly to one or more base units.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein sensors designed for a wired connection transmit their data over wireless communication protocols to one or more base units.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless node caters for the power required by the sensor to operate.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the base unit that provides power to the sensor when both are connected via a wired connection.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless node has the ability to emulate a wired connection for the sensor, making the sensor believe that it is connected a base unit.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless hub is connected to or embedded in the base unit; and the wireless hub receives or transmits data from the base unit to the sensor through the wireless node.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless hub has the ability to emulate a wired connection from the sensor for the base unit; and the base unit believes that it has a sensor connected to it using a wired connection.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the wireless hub buffers the communication between itself and the wireless node so that there is no delay for the base unit in receiving data from the wireless node.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the wireless node is battery operated.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the base unit in a sensor platform is a logical device to which one or more sensors can be connected to; and the base unit either works stand-alone or is connected in its turn to other applications, servers, or systems.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein in a wired sensor platform, sensors connect to the base unit using a cable that is plugged into ports for sensors on the base units; and some base units have the option to expand the number of ports by using an expansion unit; this increases the number of ports that sensors can connect to; the communication protocol between a wired sensor and base unit is typically not a data network based protocol such as TCP/IP but more often an industrial open or proprietary communication protocols and methods such as, but not limited to, RS232 or RS485; the cable used between sensor and base unit transmits the data between sensor and the base unit and it can also transmit power either way.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication between the wireless node and the wireless hub are either a point to point direct communication or a meshed communication.

14. A wireless sensor bridge with wireless node and wireless nub, the device comprising: a wireless hub connected, directly or indirectly, using a wired connection into a port on a base unit that is provisioned to support sensors; the sensors in turn connect to a wireless node using a cable.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the wireless hub is embedded into a base unit.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the wireless hub connects to the base unit without requiring the cable.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the wireless hub connects to the base unit using a different mechanism than by using the sensor port.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the wireless node connects to the sensor without requiring the cable.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the sensor connects with a cable to the base unit by plugging the sensor into a sensor port; the communication between sensor and base unit is no longer wired but becomes wireless using wireless communication protocols; and the sensor plugs into the wireless node; the wireless hub connects to the base unit; and the communication between the wireless node and wireless hub is now wireless; making the communication between sensor and base unit wireless.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the present invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the present invention.

[0020] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1: Drawing of a possible implementation of the invention: a Wireless Hub connected to the base unit and a Wireless Node that connects using a cable to the sensor.

INDEX OF ELEMENTS

[0022] 10: Wireless Hub [0023] 20: Base unit for sensor(s) [0024] 30: Sensor port(s) [0025] 40: RJ45 cables used to connect sensor(s) to the base unit [0026] 50: Sensor [0027] 60: Wireless Node [0028] 70: Wireless Communication

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0029] In the following detailed description of the present invention of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings (where like numbers represent like elements), which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present invention, but other embodiments may be utilized and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

[0030] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it is understood that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the present invention. Referring to the figures, it is possible to see the various major elements constituting the apparatus of the present invention.

[0031] A. Overview

[0032] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates the Wireless Hub (10) being connected using a wired connection (40) to a sensor port (30) of the base unit (20); then a Wireless Node (60) which is connected using a wired connection to a sensor (50). The Wireless Hub (10) now communicates over wireless protocol(s) (70) with the Wireless Node (60).

[0033] B. Wireless Node

[0034] Without the Wireless Node, sensors (50) connect using a wired connection directly or indirectly to one or more base units (20).

[0035] With the invented Wireless Node, sensors (50) designed for a wired connection can transmit their data over wireless communication protocols to one or more base units (20).

[0036] Next to bridging the wired communication into a wireless communication, the Wireless Node (60) can also cater for the power required by the sensor to operate. Typically it is the base unit that provides power to the sensor when both are connected via a wired connection.

[0037] Another possible feature of the Wireless Node is its ability to emulate a wired connection for the sensor making the sensor believe that it is connected a base unit.

[0038] C. Wireless Hub

[0039] The Wireless Hub (10) is connected to or embedded in the base unit (20). It receives or transmits data from the base unit to the sensor through the Wireless Node (60).

[0040] Another possible feature of the Wireless Hub is its ability to emulate a wired connection from the sensor (50) for the base unit (20). In such an embodiment the base unit believes that it has a sensor (50) connected to it using a wired connection (40). The Wireless Hub (10) buffers the communication between itself and the Wireless Node (60) so that there is no delay for the base unit (20) in receiving data that could be periodic from the Wireless Node (60), especially when the Wireless Node (60) is battery operated.

[0041] D. Base Unit

[0042] Typically the base unit (20) in a sensor platform is a logical device to which one or more sensors can be connected to. The base unit can either work stand-alone or be connected in its turn to other applications, servers, systems or any other type of device.

[0043] E. Sensor Ports & Communication

[0044] In a wired sensor platform, sensors connect to the base unit using a cable that is plugged into ports for sensors on the base units. Some base units have the option to expand the number of ports by using an expansion unit; this increases the number of ports that sensors can connect to.

[0045] The communication protocol between a wired sensor and base unit is typically not a data network based protocol such as TCP/IP but more often an industrial open or proprietary communication protocols and methods such as, but not limited to, RS232 or RS485. The cable (40) used between sensor (50) and base unit (20) transmits the data between sensor and the base unit and it can also transmit power either way. A non-limitative example of common cables for this purpose are RJ45 and RJ11 data cables. In (40) we've used a RJ45 network cable as illustration.

[0046] F. Wireless Communication Protocols

[0047] The invention transmits data over wireless communication protocols such as, but not limited to, Zigbee, Bluetooth or LoRa. The invention could support one or multiple wireless communication protocols at the same time.

[0048] The wireless communication between the Wireless Node (60) and the Wireless Hub (10) can either be a point to point direct communication or a meshed communication.

[0049] G. Connections of Main Elements and Sub-Elements of Invention

[0050] A typical implementation of this invention would be a device that includes the features as described above. This first device, the Wireless Hub (10), would then connect, directly or indirectly, using a wired connection (40) into a port (30) on the base unit (20) that is provisioned to support sensors. The sensors (50) would in turn connect to the second device, the Wireless Node (60), using a cable (40).

[0051] H. Alternative Embodiments of Invention

[0052] A first possible and non-exhaustive alternative embodiment of the first device, the Wireless Hub (10), would be embedded into the base unit (20) rather than being externally connected like in FIG. 1. Another one is whereby the Wireless Hub (10) connects to the base unit without requiring the cable (40). Another possible one is that the Wireless Hub (10) would connect to the base unit (20) using a different mechanism than by using the sensor port (30).

[0053] A possible and non-exhaustive alternative embodiment of the second device, the Wireless Node (60), is that the device connects to the sensor without requiring the cable (40).

[0054] I. Operation of Preferred Embodiment

[0055] FIG. 1 outlines the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] Without the present invention, the sensor (50) would connect with a cable (40) to the base unit (20) by plugging it into a sensor port (30).

[0057] With the invention, the communication between sensor (50) and base unit (20) is no longer wired but becomes wireless using wireless communication protocols (70).

[0058] To make this possible, the sensor (50) now plugs into the Wireless Node (60). The Wireless Hub (10) connects to the base unit (20). The communication between Wireless Node (60) and Wireless Hub (10) is now wireless; making the communication between sensor (50) and base unit (60) wireless.

[0059] What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and FIGURES used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all terms are meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect. What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and FIGURES used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all terms are meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.

[0060] What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the present invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and FIGURES used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention in which all terms are meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.

[0061] Thus, it is appreciated that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention, to include variation in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly, and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the above description are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0062] Furthermore, other areas of art may benefit from this method and adjustments to the design are anticipated. Thus, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.