System and method for remote sensing and receiving

Claim 2

A sensor and display system comprising: a sensor unit having a first input coupled to a vessel and having a second input receptive to a command signal, for remotely receiving the command signal and, in response to receiving the command signal, sensing a parameter of the vessel and generating a response signal indicative of the parameter; and a handheld display unit having an input in remote communication with the sensor unit and being operable for remotely transmitting the command signal to the sensor unit and for remotely receiving the response signal from the sensor unit, to display information relating to the parameter.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1, wherein the vessel is a tire and the parameter is air pressure.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 for operation with a tire having a valve, wherein the sensor unit includes a cap disposed to attach to the valve of the tire for sensing pressure therein.

Claim 7

The system of claim 4, wherein the signal converter comprises a voltage-to-frequency converter and the transmitter circuit output has a frequency indicative of the parameter.

Claim 8

The system of claim 4, wherein the transmitter circuit comprises an LED driver circuit and at least one LED operated by the LED driver circuit.

Claim 9

The system of claim 4, wherein the transmitter circuit output is an infrared signal indicative of the parameter.

Claim 10

The system of claim 4, wherein the processor circuit comprises: a switch manually actuated between an open state and a closed state; an amplifier circuit in remote communication with the sensor unit, for remotely receiving the transmitter circuit output and for conditioning the transmitter circuit output for display; a processor coupled to the switch for generating a command reference signal in response to the switch being in the closed state and coupled to the amplifier circuit for further conditioning the transmitter circuit output for display; and a command generator circuit coupled to the processor and in remote communication with the sensor unit, for receiving the command reference signal, generating the command signal from the command reference signal, and remotely transmitting the command signal.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the display unit further comprises a battery circuit coupled to the switch for providing power to the display unit in response to the switch being in the closed state.

Claim 12

A sensor and display system for executing one of a plurality of functions indicated by one of a plurality of control signals including a first read signal, a second read signal, and a write signal, the system comprising: a sensor unit having a first input receptive to a control signal and receptive to first data in response to the write signal, a second input coupled to a vessel, and a memory device coupled to the first input, for remotely receiving the control signal, remotely receiving the first data in response to the write signal, storing the first data in response to the write signal, and generating a response signal indicative of a parameter of a vessel in response to the first read signal and indicative of second data in response to the second read signal; and a display unit having an input in remote communication with the sensor unit and a display coupled to the input and being operable for remotely transmitting the control signal to the sensor unit, to remotely receive the response signal from the sensor unit and display information conveyed by the response signal.

Claim 13

A sensor and display system for executing one of a plurality of functions indicated by one of a plurality of control signals including a first read signal, a second read signal, and a write signal, the system comprising: a sensor unit having a first input receptive to a control signal and receptive to first data in response to the write signal, a second input coupled to a vessel, and a memory device coupled to the first input, for remotely receiving the control signal, remotely receiving the first data in response to the write signal, storing the first data in response to the write signal, and generating a response signal indicative of a parameter of a vessel in response to the first read signal and indicative of second data in response to the second read signal; and a display unit having an input in remote communication with the sensor unit and a display coupled to the input and being operable for remotely transmitting the control signal to the sensor unit, to remotely receive the response signal from the sensor unit and display information conveyed by the response signal.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the display unit further comprises a storage device coupled to the input for storing the information conveyed by the response signal.

Claim 15

The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor unit comprises: a detector circuit in remote communication with the display unit for remotely receiving the control signal from the display unit and, in response to the write signal, remotely receiving the first data from the display unit; a parameter measurement circuit coupled to the vessel and the detector circuit, for sensing the parameter in response to the detector circuit receiving the first read signal; a processor circuit coupled to the parameter measurement circuit and coupled to the detector circuit and having: the memory device coupled to the detector circuit, the processor circuit reading the second data from the memory device in response to the second read signal and storing the first data in the memory device in response to the write signal; and an output indicating the parameter in response to the first read signal and indicating the second data in response to the second read signal; and an output circuit coupled to the processor circuit and in remote communication with the display unit, for generating the response signal from the processor circuit output and for remotely transmitting the response signal to the handheld display unit.

Claim 16

The sensor unit of claim 12 further comprising: an activation circuit coupled to the detector circuit, the parameter measurement circuit, the processor circuit and the output circuit, for providing power to the detector circuit and, in response to the detector circuit receiving the control signal, providing power to the parameter measurement circuit, the processor circuit and the output circuit to perform functions indicated by the control signal.

Claim 17

The system of claim 10, wherein the display unit comprises: a receiver circuit in remote communication with the sensor unit, for remotely receiving the response signal and conditioning the response signal for display; a computer circuit coupled to the receiver circuit and having the display, for displaying the information conveyed by the response signal and for generating the control signal; and a transmitter circuit coupled to the computer circuit and in remote communication with the sensor unit, for transmitting the control signal.

Claim 18

The system of claim 14, wherein the display unit further comprises a power circuit coupled to the receiver circuit, the computer circuit and the transmitter circuit and including a switch manually actuated between an open state and a closed state, for providing power to the receiver circuit, the computer circuit and the transmitter circuit in response to the switch being in the closed state.

Claim 19

The system of claim 10, wherein the parameter is pressure and wherein the display unit further comprises a barometric pressure sensor coupled to the display, for displaying a pressure value derived from a barometric pressure and the response signal in response to the first read signal.

Claim 20

The system of claim 10, wherein the vessel is a fire extinguisher and the parameter is pressure.

Claim 21

A handheld display unit for operation with a remote sensor unit, the display unit comprising: a processor circuit having an input in remote communication with the sensor unit and being operable for remotely activating the sensor unit, to remotely receive a response signal from the sensor unit and condition the response signal for display; and a display having an input coupled to the processor circuit, for receiving the conditioned response signal and displaying information conveyed by the response signal.

Claim 22

A handheld display unit for operation with a remote sensor unit, the display unit comprising: a processor circuit having an input in remote communication with the sensor unit and being operable for remotely activating the sensor unit, to remotely receive a response signal from the sensor unit and condition the response signal for display; and a display having an input coupled to the processor circuit, for receiving the conditioned response signal and displaying information conveyed by the response signal.

Claim 23

The display unit of claim 18, wherein the processor circuit comprises: a switch manually actuated between an open state and a closed state; an amplifier circuit in remote communication with the sensor unit, for remotely receiving the response signal and conditioning the response signal for display; a processor coupled to the switch for generating a command reference signal in response to the switch being in the closed state and coupled to the amplifier circuit for further conditioning the response signal for display; a command generator coupled to the processor circuit and in remote communication with the sensor unit, for generating a command signal from the command reference signal and remotely transmitting the command signal to activate the sensor unit.

Claim 24

The display unit of claim 19 further comprising a battery circuit coupled to the switch for providing power to the display unit in response to the switch being in the closed state.

Claim 25

A user controlled, handheld display unit for operation with a sensor unit comprising: a transmitter circuit in remote communication with the sensor unit for remotely transmitting a control signal to the sensor unit, the control signal indicating a request for the sensor unit; a receiver circuit in remote communication with the sensor unit, for remotely receiving a response signal from the sensor unit and conditioning the response signal for display; and a computer circuit having a data entering device coupled to the transmitter circuit and having a display coupled to the receiver circuit, for generating the control signal in response to an indication from the user and for displaying information conveyed by the response signal.

Claim 26

A user controlled, handheld display unit for operation with a sensor unit comprising: a transmitter circuit in remote communication with the sensor unit for remotely transmitting a control signal to the sensor unit, the control signal indicating a request for the sensor unit; a receiver circuit in remote communication with the sensor unit, for remotely receiving a response signal from the sensor unit and conditioning the response signal for display; and a computer circuit having a data entering device coupled to the transmitter circuit and having a display coupled to the receiver circuit, for generating the control signal in response to an indication from the user and for displaying information conveyed by the response signal.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the display unit further comprises a power circuit coupled to the receiver circuit, the computer circuit, and the transmitter circuit and including a switch manually actuated by the user between an open state and a closed state, for providing power to the receiver circuit, the computer circuit, and the transmitter circuit in response to the switch being in the closed state.

Claim 28

A sensor unit in remote communication with a handheld display unit, the sensor unit comprising: a transducer having an input coupled to a vessel for sensing a parameter of the vessel and having an output indicating the parameter; a signal converter having an input coupled to the transducer output, for conditioning the transducer output for transmission; a transmitter circuit having an input coupled to the signal converter for producing the output indicative of the parameter; and a power circuit having an input receptive to a command signal from the display unit, a battery coupled to the input, and an output coupled to the transducer and the signal converter and the transmitter circuit, for remotely receiving the command signal and, in response to remotely receiving the command signal, the battery providing power to the transducer, the signal converter and the transmitter circuit.

Claim 29

A sensor unit in remote communication with a handheld display unit, the sensor unit comprising: a transducer having an input coupled to a vessel for sensing a parameter of the vessel and having an output indicating the parameter; a signal converter having an input coupled to the transducer output, for conditioning the transducer output for transmission; a transmitter circuit having an input coupled to the signal converter for producing the output indicative of the parameter; and a power circuit having an input receptive to a command signal from the display unit, a battery coupled to the input, and an output coupled to the transducer and the signal converter and the transmitter circuit, for remotely receiving the command signal and, in response to remotely receiving the command signal, the battery providing power to the transducer, the signal converter and the transmitter circuit.

Claim 30

The sensor unit of claim 23, wherein the signal converter comprises a voltage-to-frequency converter and the transmitter circuit output has a frequency indicative of the parameter.

Claim 31

A sensor unit for operation with a remote display unit, wherein the sensor unit receives one of a plurality of control signals from the display unit, the plurality of control signals including a write signal, a first read signal and a second read signal, the sensor unit comprising: a detector circuit in remote communication with the display unit for remotely receiving a control signal from the display unit and, in response to receiving the write signal, remotely receiving first data from the display unit; a parameter measurement circuit coupled to a vessel and the detector circuit, for sensing a parameter of the vessel in response to the detector circuit receiving the first read signal; a processor circuit coupled to the parameter measurement circuit and coupled to the detector circuit and having: a memory device coupled to the detector circuit, the processor circuit reading second data from the memory device in response to the second read signal and storing the first data in the memory device in response to the write signal; an output indicating the second data in response to the second read signal and indicating the parameter in response to the first read signal; an output circuit coupled to the processor circuit and in remote communication with the display unit, for generating a response signal from the processor circuit output and for remotely transmitting the response signal to the display unit.

Claim 32

A sensor unit for operation with a remote display unit, wherein the sensor unit receives one of a plurality of control signals from the display unit, the plurality of control signals including a write signal, a first read signal and a second read signal, the sensor unit comprising: a detector circuit in remote communication with the display unit for remotely receiving a control signal from the display unit and, in response to receiving the write signal, remotely receiving first data from the display unit; a parameter measurement circuit coupled to a vessel and the detector circuit, for sensing a parameter of the vessel in response to the detector circuit receiving the first read signal; a processor circuit coupled to the parameter measurement circuit and coupled to the detector circuit and having: a memory device coupled to the detector circuit, the processor circuit reading second data from the memory device in response to the second read signal and storing the first data in the memory device in response to the write signal; an output indicating the second data in response to the second read signal and indicating the parameter in response to the first read signal; an output circuit coupled to the processor circuit and in remote communication with the display unit, for generating a response signal from the processor circuit output and for remotely transmitting the response signal to the display unit.

Claim 33

The sensor unit of claim 25 further comprising: an activation circuit coupled to the detector circuit, the parameter measurement circuit, the processor circuit and the output circuit, for providing power to the detector circuit and, in response to the detector circuit receiving the control signal, providing power to the parameter measurement circuit, the processor circuit and the output circuit to perform functions indicated by the control signal.