Patent application EP17188885A (EP), filed 2017-08-31
Publication number: EP3291040A1
Title: ELECTROMAGNETIC COMMUNICATION THROUGH COMPONENTS OF A MACHINE
Abstract: A system of a machine includes a network of a plurality of sensing / control / identification devices (68a, 68b) distributed throughout the machine. Each of the sensing / control / identification (68a, 68b) devices is associated with at least one sub-system component (70, 74) of the machine and operable to communicate through a plurality of electromagnetic signals (86). Shielding (84) surrounds at least one of the sensing / control / identification devices (68a, 68b) to contain the electromagnetic signals (86) proximate to the at least one sub-system component (70, 74). A communication path is integrally formed in/on a component of the machine to route a portion of the electromagnetic signals (86) through the component. A remote processing unit (66) is operable to communicate with the network of the sensing / control / identification devices (68a, 68b) through the electromagnetic signals (86).
IPC codes: G08C  17/    02            A I
H04L  29/    08            A I
G05B  23/    02            A I
H04L  67/    12            A I
Claims: number: 1
text: A system of a machine, the system comprising:
number: 2
text: The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication path comprises a waveguide.
number: 3
text: The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the waveguide includes a waveguide medium comprising a gas or a liquid.
number: 4
text: The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the communication path comprises a dielectric.
number: 5
text: The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the dielectric comprises a fluid used by the machine.
number: 6
text: The system as recited in any preceding claim, wherein the communication path is located between the at least one sub-system component and a remotely located sub-system component comprising one or more of the sensing / control / identification devices.
number: 7
text: The system as recited in any preceding claim, wherein a transmission path between the remote processing unit and the at least one of the sensing / control / identification devices is integrally formed in/on a second component of the machine.
number: 8
text: A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the machine is a gas turbine engine.
number: 9
text: The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one sub-system component is part of at least one of a fan section, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section of the gas turbine engine, and the at least one sub-system component contains a parameter of interest to a control and health monitoring system, wherein the parameter of interest is one of a pressure, a temperature, a speed, a position, vibration and proximity or any other relevant physically measurable parameter.
number: 10
text: A method of establishing electromagnetic communication through a machine, the method comprising:
number: 11
text: The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the communication path comprises a waveguide.
number: 12
text: The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the waveguide includes a waveguide medium comprising a gas or a liquid.
number: 13
text: The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the communication path comprises a dielectric, the dielectric preferably comprising fluid used by the machine.
number: 14
text: The method as recited in any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the communication path is formed between the at least one sub-system component and a remotely located sub-system component comprising one or more of the sensing / control / identification devices.
number: 15
text: The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the transmission path is integrally formed in/on a second component of the machine.
Office action: search_report, dated 2018-03-07
Rejection reasons: novelty_epc_54
Prior art cited: ref_id: WO2005096571A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: GB886127A
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: EP2913808A1
ref_type: patent
severity: background
ref_id: GB886127
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
ref_id: WO2005096571
ref_type: patent
severity: novelty_destroying
ref_id: EP2913808
ref_type: patent
severity: background
Final disposition: pending (2018-03-07)