Abstract: An integrated sensor unit for estimating a quantity of fluid in a container includes a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure at a physical location of the sensor unit, an acceleration sensor configured to measure at least three components of an acceleration vector at the physical location of the sensor unit, and a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature at the physical location of the sensor unit. The sensor unit is configured to produce an output signal comprising the pressure, acceleration, and temperature measurements.

Abstract: A system and method includes a master/slave data bus, a plurality of sensing nodes, and a master node configured to communicate with the plurality of sensing nodes over the master/slave data bus. The master node is configured to command the plurality of sensing nodes into an event monitoring mode over the master/slave data bus. The plurality of sensing nodes are configured to digitize and retain a first amount of data during a listening mode of the event monitoring mode and detect an event based upon the first amount of data. The plurality of sensing nodes are further configured to drive an event trigger on the master/slave data bus upon detection of the event, and digitize and retain a second amount of data following detection of the event trigger on the master/slave data bus.

Abstract: An optically powered sensor system includes a plurality of sensors connected to a system optical bus that communicates with a system controller. Optical energy is transmitted along the bus for distribution to all sensors in the system with return pulses from the various sensors transmitted on the bus to the system controller. Each sensor includes a photodiode array for converting optical energy transmitted system-wide by the controller into electrical energy for storage in a storage capacitor associated with each sensor. A transducer, such as a thermistor, and a fixed-value reference, such as a resistor, are connected to a pulse encoder and, in response to power switched from the capacitor, the pulse encoder produces a series of short-duration pulses having a pulse spacing that is dependent upon the fixed value of the reference and the parameter-affected value of the transducer. The pulses are used to drive an optical source for transmitting optical pulses from the sensor to the system controller.