Abstract: A low-power shock sensing system includes at least one shock sensor physically coupled to a chemical storage tank to be monitored for impacts, and an RF transmitter which is in a low-power idle state in the absence of a triggering signal. The system includes interface circuitry including or activated by the shock sensor, wherein an output of the interface circuitry is coupled to an input of the RF transmitter. The interface circuitry triggers the RF transmitter with the triggering signal to transmit an alarm message to at least one remote location when the sensor senses a shock greater than a predetermined threshold. In one embodiment the shock sensor is a shock switch which provides an open and a closed state, the open state being a low power idle state.

Abstract: A decentralized, mobile system for reporting and monitoring vehicular traffic status. A vehicle has a position determining device, a transceiver, and a local display and controller connected to a processor. The transceiver receives, transmits, and repeats local traffic and vehicle information, such as location, direction, and speed. The processor is programmed to execute processes including receiving messages, repeating received messages, transmitting messages, reporting vehicle data through a vehicle message, and displaying traffic status information based on the received data.

Abstract: A method of configuring and synchronizing a wireless machine monitoring system that has at least one chain, that includes at least one machine monitor and at least one repeater is disclosed. The wireless machine monitoring system may further include a master repeater that is in communication with the chain and a command station that is in communication with the master repeater. The wireless machine monitoring system is configured so that only one element of the system is communicating at any given time. In addition, bit error rate transmission tests are performed on the elements of the system to determine their ability to communicate at different transmission power levels. Thus, power consumption of battery powered elements is minimized by decreasing the amount of time the devices are active and by configuring the communicating elements to transmit at the lowest acceptable power level.

Abstract: A wireless machine monitoring and communication system includes one or more machine monitors which attach to one or more machines to sense a physical characteristic of the machine, such as vibration or temperature, and to produce wireless transmissions corresponding to the sensed characteristic. A command station executes machine status polling in accordance with a time-division communication protocol and processes machine status data obtained during polling to determine the status of the machine. The machine monitor incorporates a wireless transmitter for transmitting at least status information, and the command station incorporates a wireless receiver for receiving monitor transmissions. To conserve power, the machine monitors are turned on only at preprogrammed times in accordance with the time-division communication protocol. Each machine monitor includes a receiver and the command station includes a transmitter to enable the command station to send commands to each machine monitor.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed consisting of one or more machine monitors which attach to one or more machines to sense a physical characteristic of the machine, such as vibration or temperature, and produce wireless transmissions corresponding to the sensed characteristic, and a command station which receives the transmissions from the machine monitors and processes the information to give an indication of the condition of the machine. The machine monitor incorporates a wireless transmitter to transmit the sensor data, and the command station incorporates a wireless receiver to receive the sensor data. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the machine monitors are not continuously on, but turn on only at preprogrammed times according to turn-on commands generated by a timer circuit within each machine monitor. In another preferred embodiment, each machine monitor includes a receiver and the command station includes a transmitter to enable the command station to send commands to each machine monitor.