BRIDGE BOARD FOR ENHANCING FUNCTIONALITY OF A DATA ACQUISITION DEVICE

A bridge board for enhancing functionality on a Data Acquisition Device (DAD). The bridge board is configured to be in data communication with the DAD, and the DAD configured to be selectively fired upon receipt of firing instructions from the bridge board. When fired, the DAD is configured to acquire and store DAD data, if DAD data is available for acquisition. In preferred embodiments, the bridge board is configured to allow the DAD to communicate with a controller via serial communication using a 3-wire cable. The bridge board is further configured to generate enhanced DAD data, the enhanced DAD data comprising enhancements made by the bridge board to DAD data received by the bridge board from the DAD. The bridge board thus enables the controller to acquire data from multiple types of DAD, different both in genus and in species, and different in levels of functionality and capability.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There now follows a detailed description of one exemplary embodiment of the supervisory computer system described in this disclosure. The following description is for illustrative purposes, describing one presently preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, the supervisory computer system is deployed as a controller acquiring data from a networked plurality of Data Acquisition Devices (“DADs”), including a networked plurality of RFID tag reader DADs. The RFID tag reader DADs are advantageously deployed in a waterway, and are disposed generally to monitor for, and to detect and acquire data from, RFID tags implanted on aquatic species living in the waterway. As previously noted, however, this RFID tag deployment is one exemplary embodiment only, and it will be appreciated that the supervisory computer system described herein is not limited to this embodiment and deployment.

The following description is also made with reference toFIGS. 1A through 4B, described briefly above. Items and parts illustrated on more than one ofFIGS. 1A through 4Bare shown on such Figures accompanied by the same reference numeral.

FIGS. 1A and 1Billustrate two exemplary variants of a supervisory computer system100, each comprising a controller101. On bothFIGS. 1A and 1B, controller101includes a combination I/O and power board104communicatively coupled to a networked plurality of DADs. The networked plurality of DADs is different inFIGS. 1A and 1Band so each will be described further below with reference to its respective Figure. Although not illustrated, it will be understood that combination I/O and power board104receives a power supply (advantageously 15-16 V DC), as further described below with reference toFIG. 2.

Controller101on bothFIGS. 1A and 1Bfurther comprises user functionality103including an LCD display and a keyboard.FIGS. 1A and 1Balso illustrate controller101comprising output functionality102, from which data acquired, stored and processed by controller101may be further distributed to, for example, a remote computer/server or to portable storage (such as a flash drive). In more specific exemplary embodiments, LCD may be a 128×64 graphics display. RS232 and Ethernet communication is provided for data upload to remote computing devices. Although not illustrated, it will be appreciated that other communication may be provided for further data upload or communication, such as for example, SDI-12, CAN bus or wireless communication.

FIGS. 1A and 1Bfurther illustrate controller101communicatively coupled to the networked DADs via 3-wire cable130. The 3-wire cable130enables controller101to selectively transmit power to networked DADs in order to “fire” the DAD's upon command. The 3-wire cable130further enables controller101to exchange data with networked DADs over a universal, serial communications protocol. The network itself may be in a daisy chain configuration (item132onFIGS. 1A and 1B), or in a star configuration (item134onFIGS. 1A and 1B), or in a combination of both (as illustrated onFIGS. 1A and 1B). In more specific exemplary embodiments, controller101can support up to 24 different antenna systems (i.e. 24 different species of RFID tag reader DAD, comprising different manufacturer or performance specifications), addressing over 200 individual RFID tag reader DADs, constrained primarily by multiple variations in the antenna duty cycle. The 3-wire cable130provides passive waterproof connections, and is advantageously a double jacket, 3×14 gauge multi-wire cable. The 3-wire cable130can advantageously accommodate up to 5000 feet of total wire length (sum of individual segments) in any topology. The primary constraint on length of 3-wire cable130is resistance and impedance affecting I/O exchange and power transmission from controller101to the networked DADs.

Currently preferred embodiments of the 3-wire cable130enable serial communication between controller101and networked DADs via the following configuration: (1) a power wire, (2) a communications wire, and (3) a combined power return and signal reference wire. In this configuration, power transmission and serial communication over 3-wire cable130may be enabled according to the communications protocols and data collision avoidance techniques described below with reference toFIGS. 4A and 4B(although it will be appreciated that the disclosed communications protocols and collision avoidance techniques are exemplary only).

Although 3-wire cable130is a currently preferred embodiment for connecting controller101onFIGS. 1A and 1Bto networked DADs, it will be understood that the supervisory computer system disclosed herein is not limited in this regard. Other embodiments may connect controller101to all or some of the networked DADs via, for example, a coaxial cable, a wireless communication link, and/or a 2-wire cable. The 2-wire embodiment may be enabled by a combined power and communications wire, and a combined power return and signal reference wire. It will be further understood that 3-wire cable130as depicted onFIGS. 1A and 1Bis not limited to a multi-wire cable having only 3 wires. The 3-wire cable130may also be embodied on 3 designated wires in a multi-wire cable having more than 3 wires.

FIG. 1Aillustrates one exemplary embodiment of a network of DADs communicatively coupled to controller101. OnFIG. 1A, each one of a plurality of RFID tag reader DADs120is communicatively coupled to controller101via a corresponding bridge board110. Bridge boards110each further control a corresponding RFID antenna115so that each RFID tag reader DAD120may acquire RFID data via antenna115, if available, when fired by its corresponding bridge board110. Bridge boards110further allow RFID tag reader DADs120to communicate with controller101over 3-wire cable130via a universal, serial communications protocol, as described above. Within this feature, bridge boards110may thus receive data (and in the example ofFIG. 1A, detected RFID tag data) outputted from DADs in any one of a plurality of DAD communications protocols, and re-format the data into the selected serial communications protocol suitable for communication with controller101over 3-wire cable130. It will be recalled from earlier disclosure that in more specific exemplary embodiments, controller101can support up to 24 different antenna systems (i.e. 24 different species of RFID tag reader DADs, comprising different manufacturer or performance specifications), addressing over 200 individual RFID tag reader DADs.

It will be further appreciated fromFIG. 1Athat bridge boards110may further allow connectivity between controller101and multiple types of DAD120on the same network. Again, it will be recalled from earlier disclosure that in more specific exemplary embodiments, controller101can support up to 24 different antenna systems (i.e. 24 different species of RFID tag reader DADs, comprising different manufacturer or performance specifications), addressing over 200 individual RFID tag reader DADs. For purposes of illustration, let it be assumed momentarily that DADs120as illustrated onFIG. 1Acomprise various differing species of RFID tag reader DADs. That is, for purposes of illustration, let it be assumed momentarily that DADs120onFIG. 1Aare all RFID tag reader DADs, but they vary in functionality and performance specifications, and may not be from the same manufacturer. For example, some RFID tag reader DADs120may be configured to communicate with ½ duplex antennas, while others may be configured to communicate with full duplex antennas. Some may be configured for high Q antenna responses, others for lower Q antenna responses. As noted above, some may output data in different communications formats. It will be appreciated that by characterizing a corresponding bridge board110for a particular type of DAD120, the bridge board110may output DAD data to the controller101in a universally processable format.

It will be further understood fromFIG. 1Athat data from different types of DADs at the genus level may be also processed by controller110on the same network. Once again, for purposes of illustration, let it be assumed momentarily that DADs120onFIG. 1Aare all RFID tag reader DADs, and that alternative DAD126is, for example, an environmental sensor such as a thermometer. Alternative bridge board127may output environmental DAD data from alternative DAD126in a format that is also universally communicable over 3-wire cable130and processable by controller101. The supervisory computer system disclosed herein is thus not limited to the types of DAD, either by species or by genus, from which the controller may acquire and process data.

Bridge boards110(and127) onFIG. 1Amay also enhance the DAD data received from DADs120(and126) before transmitting the enhanced data to controller101. The ability to enhance DAD data is particularly advantageous when the DAD120is of a type that has lower or more limited functionality than might be optimal. When DAD120is an RFID tag reader DAD, examples of enhanced data that may be provided by bridge board110include (1) data from local environmental sensors (such as thermometers) located at or nearby the corresponding antenna115, and (2) data regarding a current state of the RFID tag reader DAD120itself. Specific examples of data regarding a current state of the DAD120include data regarding the frequencies at which the DAD is operating, data regarding measurements of current drawn by DAD120at different times, and data regarding measurement of antenna signal noise at different times. It will be appreciated that selected bridge boards110may acquire this enhanced data responsive to instructions received from controller101, and store it on the bridge board until the next antenna read cycle. At that time, the selected bridge boards may transmit the enhanced data back to controller101even if there is no newly-detected RFID tag reader DAD data to send back to controller101on that cycle.

From the above disclosure andFIG. 1A, it will be apparent that there is an exemplary general cycle of operation of the supervisory computer system disclosed herein. The controller101may first characterize or calibrate DADs120on its network via instructions to selected bridge boards110. In the disclosed embodiments, such characterization or calibration may include tuning antennas115to an optimal frequency in view of measured signal to noise ratio. In operation, the controller101sends firing instructions to a bridge board110. In the disclosed embodiments, the firing instructions may comprise the controller101sending a concurrent power pulse (via combination I/O and power board104) over the 3-wire cable130to selected bridge boards110in a pre-determined sequence thereof. Responsive to the power pulse, the bridge boards110fire their corresponding antennas115to detect and measure RFID data if it is available at that time. The bridge boards110may also monitor, measure and store enhanced data per the immediately preceding paragraph. When the power pulse from controller101ends, the bridge boards110cut power to the antennas115, whereupon the bridge boards110may optionally continue to monitor, measure and store more enhanced data until the next power pulse is received from controller101. Upon receipt of the next firing instructions (power pulse) from controller101, the bridge boards110may fire the DADs120and begin the read cycle again, and may also transmit the enhanced data measured and stored in the previous read cycle to controller101along with any acquired DAD data, if DAD data was available for acquisition at that time.

It will be appreciated from the immediately previous paragraph that according to the supervisory computer system disclosed herein, the controller101may send firing instructions to any number of bridge boards110(and corresponding DADs120) concurrently. In preferred embodiments, controller101sends firing instructions to at least three (3) bridge boards110(and corresponding DADs120) concurrently. Controller101receives an instantaneous response from such bridge boards110(and corresponding DADs120) with highly limited, if any, cross talk.

Referring now toFIG. 1B, supervisory computer system100is illustrated in distinction toFIG. 1A, in thatFIG. 1Billustrates a second exemplary embodiment of a network of DADs communicatively coupled to controller101. OnFIG. 1B, a plurality of RFID tag reader DADs120is communicatively coupled to controller101via a corresponding bridge board110as described above with respect toFIG. 1A. As withFIG. 1A, bridge boards110in this plurality onFIG. 1Beach further control a corresponding RFID antenna115so that each RFID tag reader DAD120may acquire RFID data, if available, when fired by its corresponding bridge board110.

FIG. 1Bfurther depicts combination DAD/bridge board devices125also communicatively coupled to controller101on the same network. The depiction of combination DAD/bridge board devices125onFIG. 1Brepresents that in accordance with the supervisory computer system disclosed herein, a specific different type of DAD may be included on the same network as the DADs120and bridge boards110described above in detail with reference toFIG. 1A. Combination DAD/bridge board devices125depicted onFIG. 1Brepresent high-functionality DADs whose overall combined functionality is already optimal according to original manufacture performance specification. This is in direct distinction to the DADs120and bridge boards110described above in detail with reference toFIG. 1A, in which a lower or limited-functionality DAD120is retrofittedly upgraded in functionality by a corresponding bridge board110.

It will be appreciated that all the disclosure above directed to DADs120and corresponding bridge boards110with reference toFIG. 1A is equally applicable to combination DAD/bridge board devices125depicted onFIG. 1B. The primary difference betweenFIGS. 1A and 1Bis to illustrate that, in accordance with the supervisory computer system disclosed herein, higher functionality DADs without a retrofitted bridge board may be included on the same network as lower functionality DADs with upgraded functionality provided by a retrofitted bridge board.

FIG. 1Balso illustrates, consistent withFIG. 1A, alternative DAD126and alternative bridge board127. The disclosure above directed to these components with reference toFIG. 1Aapplies equally with reference toFIG. 1B.

FIG. 2is a more detailed functional representation of one exemplary embodiment of controller101as described above and also depicted onFIGS. 1A and 1B. Boxes101A and101B onFIG. 2represent that controller101may be embodied at least two boards communicatively coupled together—a display board101A and power/IO board101B communicatively coupled via data and power pathways107. It will be nonetheless understood that the embodiment illustrated onFIG. 2is exemplary only, and the controller in the supervisory computer system disclosed herein is not limited in this regard.

Display board101A onFIG. 2comprises a micro-computer105managing the user functions and data exchange functions of controller101. The user functions include an LCD display103A, a keyboard103B for data entry, and a suitable flash port103C for flash drive download or upload. The data exchange functions include USB port102A, an RS232 port102B for modem connections, audible buzzer102C and Ethernet102D (driven by Ethernet adaptor106).

Power/IO board101B onFIG. 2comprises micro-computer105further managing power supply and communications functions with Data Acquisition Devices (“DADs”). Micro-computer105on power/IO board101B may be the same micro-computer105also operating on display board101A, or they may be separate micro-computer devices. A voltage source104S supplies power/IO board101B via DC volt regulator104. Specific exemplary embodiments of DC regulator104further provide at least the ability to measure associated current.FIG. 2further depicts a plurality of combination DAD/bridge board devices125, as described above in more detail with reference toFIG. 1B. As noted above, combination DAD/bridge board devices125are high functionality DADs that may perform optimally without a retrofitted bridge board to upgrade overall functionality. The disclosure above associated withFIG. 1Bdescribes how such combination DAD/bridge board devices125may be on the same network as lower functionality DADs upgraded with corresponding bridge boards (such network advantageously comprising a 3-wire cable enabling universal power and serial communications). In distinction,FIG. 2illustrates how, in additional embodiments, higher functionality combination DAD/bridge devices125may also be communicatively coupled directly to micro-computer105to receive power and communications via alternative network communications protocols131. Such alternative network communications protocols131may include (for example) Ethernet, CAN bus or USB. It will be appreciated that higher functionality combination DAD/bridge board devices125onFIG. 2are not limited to any particular type of DAD. For example, higher functionality combination DAD/bridge board devices125may comprise RFID tag readers or environmental monitoring probes.

FIG. 2also illustrates much of the functionality also described above with reference toFIG. 1A.FIG. 2depicts a plurality of lower functionality DADs120with corresponding bridge boards110communicatively coupled to micro-computer105on power/IO board101B via power and communications components130P and130C of 3-wire cable130(fromFIG. 1A). OnFIG. 2, micro-computer105provides 3-wire voltage control108A and 3-wire communication control108B over corresponding 3-wire power and communications hardware109A and109B. In specific exemplary embodiments, 3-wire voltage control108A comprises control over power on/off, control over an automatic maximum current limit, and control over current measurement itself. 3-wire communication control108B comprises control over power on/off and control over an automatic maximum current limit.

Micro-computer105on power/IO board101B onFIG. 2also provides, by way of example, temperature control108C over temperature sensor109C. In specific exemplary embodiments, temperature control108C provides at least a voltage source to sensor109C and a read buffer.

Micro-computer105on power/IO board101B onFIG. 2also provides, by way of example, communications drivers108D to enable communications with remote computing devices109D via modem directly off power/IO board101B. In specific exemplary embodiments, communications drivers108D provide at least an RS232 connection.

FIG. 3is a more detailed functional representation of one exemplary embodiment of bridge board110as described above and also depicted onFIGS. 1A and 1B. Bridge board110onFIG. 3comprises micro-computer111communicatively coupled to 3-wire power and communications hardware109A and109B fromFIG. 2, over power and communications components130P and130C of 3-wire cable130, described above with reference toFIG. 2. Although not specifically illustrated onFIG. 3, the 3-wire power functionality of micro-computer111advantageously provides at least a low pass filter and surge protection via voltage regulator circuitry. Further, although again not illustrated onFIG. 3, the 3-wire communications functionality of micro-computer111advantageously provides at least a ground reference level shift.

FIG. 3further depicts micro-computer111communicatively coupled to RFID tag reader Data Acquisition Device (“DAD”)120. Micro-computer111provides variable voltage control112. Specific exemplary embodiments of variable voltage control112provide at least an adjustable voltage, an automatic current limit and measurement of current itself to RFID tag reader DAD120. Micro-computer111further provides drivers113, so that RFID tag reader DAD120may communicate with bridge board110according to any one of a plurality of DAD communications protocols (such plurality of DAD communications protocols represented onFIG. 3by chain-broken line114). Specific exemplary embodiments of drivers113provide at least an RS232 connection.

Micro-computer111onFIG. 3further provides active noise suppression116. Although in specific exemplary embodiments, active noise suppression116comprises real-time sampling of Allflex TP2 noise values (suitable when RFID tag reader DAD120is an Allflex RM-310 RFID tag reader board), it will be understood that active noise suppression116is not limited in this regard.

Micro-computer111onFIG. 3further provides antenna relay117coupled to antenna115. Micro-computer111may cause antenna relay117to close and open responsive to firing instructions from controller101on (for example)FIG. 1A. The closing of antenna relay117causes antenna115to become active, such as at the beginning of a read cycle. The opening of antenna relay117causes antenna115to become inactive, such as at the end of the read cycle. Across multiple bridge boards110and corresponding RIFD tag reader DADs120, the function of opening antenna relays117when antennas115are not in read cycles promotes passive noise suppression by disabling noise coupling between such inactive antennas115.

Reference toFIGS. 4A and 4Bshould now be made in the following description of an exemplary I/O method for use transmitting power and data over a 3-wire cable, as more generally described with reference toFIG. 1A above. Data is communicated between the controller (item101onFIG. 1A) and the bridge boards (item110onFIG. 1A) with “packets” of information. As illustrated onFIG. 4B, a data packet201comprises five sections: (1) start bit202(low voltage for at least one “1” bit time length, and preferably two “1” bit time lengths); (2) address byte203; (3) length of data value204(1 to 255); (4) data bytes205; and (5) checksum byte206. In specific exemplary embodiments, checksum byte206may be a modified Fletcher-8. Packets201are variable length, and may have a length from 4 bytes to 258 bytes.

With reference now toFIG. 4A, data communication protocol211is illustrated with bits determined by their length, in which a “1” bit212is about twice the length of a “0” bit213. As illustrated onFIG. 4A, a change in state from “high” to “low” signals the end of one bit and the beginning of the next bit. The length of time at a particular state (high or low) determines whether the bit is a “1” bit212or a “0” bit213. The trailing edge of a bit is used for timing. The leading edge of a bit is assumed to be noisy (multiple voltage spikes and edges). The micro-computer on a bridge board filters this edge by only looking for the next transition after waiting 90% of the time of a “0” bit length.

All communication is originated by the controller. A command packet from the controller may or may not have a reply packet from the bridge board (for example, a reset command does not have a reply).

All bridge boards comprise a “global” address of 0x00. All bridge boards further comprise a unique 4-byte serial number assigned to the bridge board during manufacturing. In actual network deployment, however, each bridge board may instead have a 1-byte address assigned to it in order to simplify communication addressing. There are many commands and packets defined for managing bridge boards, setting values on a specific bridge board, and to issue commands for detecting and reporting, for example, RFID tag data, current measurement, and signal noise measurements.

There now follows a description of an exemplary Collision Detection and Corruption Avoidance method, useful when multiple bridge boards are communicating concurrently with a controller over the 3-wire network. In the case that the controller wants to inventory all of the bridge boards connected to the 3-wire cable, it can send a “Read Serial Number” command to the global address, 0x00. Each of the bridge boards will then start to send their unique serial numbers over the 3-wire cable. Each bridge board then follows two rules for sending bits. First, before driving the I/O line “low” (referenceFIG. 4A), a current bridge board looks to see if the I/O line has already been driven low. This would mean that another bridge board has already driven the I/O line low. In this case the current bridge board backs off (stops sending), and allows the other bridge board to complete successfully. Second, the same process is followed by the current bridge board before driving the I/O line “high”. The result is that one of the bridge boards will successfully send its serial number. The controller will then send a “Sleep” command to that serial number, which will keep that bridge board from communicating over the 3-wire cable until it receives a “reset” command. When there are no more bridge boards that respond, a full inventory has been completed and a “reset” command is sent.

Although the inventive material in this disclosure has been described in detail along with some of its technical advantages, it will be understood that various changes, substitutions and alternations may be made to the detailed embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of such inventive material as set forth in the following claims.