Experimental Verification of a Passive Sensing Node for Monitoring RF Connector-Coaxial Cable System Performance

Author

Chaware, Virag V. ; DeLisle, Jean-Jacques ; Kemp, Jeffrey T. ; Montena, Noah P. ; Vaughan, Ryan D. ; Ozbas, Murat ; Revelli, Joseph F. ; Bowman, Robert J.

Author_Institution

Allegro Microsyst., Hanover, NH, USA

Volume

14

Issue

6

fYear

2014

fDate

Jun-14

Firstpage

1754

Lastpage

1764

Abstract

The concept of a network of passive sensing node (PSN) devices for monitoring the integrity of radio frequency (RF) coaxial transmission lines and associated RF connectors in the UHF range of frequencies was introduced in a previous paper. This paper examines the performance characteristics of the subsystems of an individual PSN device. It provides experimental verification of S-parameters of the transmission line coupler model, which was described in the previous paper. Experimental verification is also provided for power monitoring, power harvesting, and backscatter telemetry subsystems. The PSN reports 8-bit precision data from each of its sensory inputs including connector tightness, relative humidity, temperature, propagating RF power, harvested voltage, and the system voltage reference. The communication protocol for this data exchange is also discussed. Based on the results of these experiments, it is shown that a PSN-based network for monitoring transmission systems should be feasible.

Keywords

S-parameters; backscatter; coaxial cables; coupled transmission lines; electric connectors; electric sensing devices; electronic data interchange; energy harvesting; power system measurement; power transmission lines; protocols; radiotelemetry; telecommunication cables; PSN device; RF coaxial transmission line; RF connector; RF connector-coaxial cable system performance; RF power propagation; S-parameter; backscatter telemetry subsystem; communication protocol; data exchange; passive sensing node device; power harvesting; power monitoring; radiofrequency coaxial transmission line coupler model; relative humidity; system voltage reference; voltage harvesting; word length 8 bit; Coaxial cables; Computational modeling; Connectors; Ports (Computers); Power transmission lines; Radio frequency; Sensors; Coaxial cable; RF connector; molded interconnect device (MID); passive sensing node (PSN); radio frequency (RF);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Sensors Journal, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1530-437X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSEN.2014.2302211

Filename

6719559