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Title: Infrared system for monitoring movement of objects

Abstract

A system for monitoring moving objects, such as the flight of honeybees and other insects, using a pulsed laser light source. This system has a self-powered micro-miniaturized transmitting unit powered, in the preferred embodiment, with an array solar cells. This transmitting unit is attached to the object to be monitored. These solar cells provide current to a storage energy capacitor to produce, for example, five volts for the operation of the transmitter. In the simplest embodiment, the voltage on the capacitor operates a pulse generator to provide a pulsed energizing signal to one or more very small laser diodes. The pulsed light is then received at a receiving base station using substantially standard means which converts the light to an electrical signal for processing in a microprocessor to create the information as to the movement of the object. In the case of a unit for monitoring honeybees and other insects, the transmitting unit weighs less than 50 mg, and has a size no larger than 1.times.3.times.5 millimeters. Also, the preferred embodiment provides for the coding of the light to uniquely identify the particular transmitting unit that is being monitored. A "wake-up" circuit is provided in the preferred embodiment whereby theremore » is no transmission until the voltage on the capacitor has exceeded a pre-set threshold. Various other uses of the motion-detection system are described.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. San Diego, CA
  2. Knoxville, TN
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
867797
Patent Number(s):
5012113
Assignee:
Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
H - ELECTRICITY H04 - ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE H04B - TRANSMISSION
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-84OR21400
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
infrared; monitoring; movement; moving; flight; honeybees; insects; pulsed; laser; light; source; self-powered; micro-miniaturized; transmitting; unit; powered; preferred; embodiment; array; solar; cells; attached; monitored; provide; current; storage; energy; capacitor; produce; example; five; volts; operation; transmitter; simplest; voltage; operates; pulse; generator; energizing; signal; diodes; received; receiving; base; station; substantially; standard; means; converts; electrical; processing; microprocessor; create; information; weighs; 50; mg; size; larger; times; millimeters; provides; coding; uniquely; identify; particular; wake-up; circuit; provided; whereby; transmission; exceeded; pre-set; threshold; various; motion-detection; described; base station; pulsed light; laser diodes; pulse generator; electrical signal; light source; solar cell; preferred embodiment; laser light; solar cells; pulsed laser; laser diode; uniquely identify; embodiment provides; set threshold; /250/136/359/372/

Citation Formats

Valentine, Kenneth H, Falter, Diedre D, and Falter, Kelly G. Infrared system for monitoring movement of objects. United States: N. p., 1991. Web.
Valentine, Kenneth H, Falter, Diedre D, & Falter, Kelly G. Infrared system for monitoring movement of objects. United States.
Valentine, Kenneth H, Falter, Diedre D, and Falter, Kelly G. Tue . "Infrared system for monitoring movement of objects". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/867797.
@article{osti_867797,
title = {Infrared system for monitoring movement of objects},
author = {Valentine, Kenneth H and Falter, Diedre D and Falter, Kelly G},
abstractNote = {A system for monitoring moving objects, such as the flight of honeybees and other insects, using a pulsed laser light source. This system has a self-powered micro-miniaturized transmitting unit powered, in the preferred embodiment, with an array solar cells. This transmitting unit is attached to the object to be monitored. These solar cells provide current to a storage energy capacitor to produce, for example, five volts for the operation of the transmitter. In the simplest embodiment, the voltage on the capacitor operates a pulse generator to provide a pulsed energizing signal to one or more very small laser diodes. The pulsed light is then received at a receiving base station using substantially standard means which converts the light to an electrical signal for processing in a microprocessor to create the information as to the movement of the object. In the case of a unit for monitoring honeybees and other insects, the transmitting unit weighs less than 50 mg, and has a size no larger than 1.times.3.times.5 millimeters. Also, the preferred embodiment provides for the coding of the light to uniquely identify the particular transmitting unit that is being monitored. A "wake-up" circuit is provided in the preferred embodiment whereby there is no transmission until the voltage on the capacitor has exceeded a pre-set threshold. Various other uses of the motion-detection system are described.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1991},
month = {1}
}