US 12,136,964 B2
Methods for through-structure power and data transfer between mobile robots and sensor nodes
Gary E. Georgeson, Tacoma, WA (US); Joseph L. Hafenrichter, Seattle, WA (US); James J. Troy, Issaquah, WA (US); Gregory J. Sweers, Renton, WA (US); and Jeong-Beom Ihn, Bellevue, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Sep. 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/953,146.
Application 17/953,146 is a division of application No. 17/398,892, filed on Aug. 10, 2021, granted, now 11,502,729.
Prior Publication US 2023/0051276 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. H02J 50/80 (2016.01); G01C 9/00 (2006.01); G01S 17/08 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01); H02J 7/02 (2016.01); H04B 5/26 (2024.01); H04B 5/72 (2024.01); H04B 5/73 (2024.01); H04N 7/18 (2006.01)
CPC H04B 5/73 (2024.01) [H02J 50/80 (2016.02); H04B 5/26 (2024.01); H04B 5/72 (2024.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a target object comprising a skin;
a sensor node attached to the target object at a position on one side of the skin of the target object; and
an automated motion platform disposed on another side of the skin of the target object, wherein the automated motion platform comprises:
a power source;
a first inductive charging circuit connected to the power source;
a first transducer connected to the first inductive charging circuit;
a first processor module connected to the power source and comprising a first transceiver; and
a second transducer connected to the first transceiver,
wherein the first and second transducers have respective planar spiral configurations which are mutually coplanar and the first inductive charging circuit is configured to tune the first transducer to produce a magnetic field that oscillates at a resonant frequency, and
wherein the sensor node comprises:
a battery;
a sensor connected to the battery;
a second inductive charging circuit connected to the battery;
a third transducer connected to the second inductive charging circuit;
a second processor module connected to the battery and comprising a second transceiver; and
a fourth transducer connected to the second transceiver.