Monitoring Device with Jumper Cable Coupling and Related Methods

Abstract

A monitoring device is for a block of building material. The monitoring device may include an electric supply line configured to be buried in the block of building material and having a flexible main cable, and flexible jumper cables coupled to the flexible main cable and extending outwardly. The monitoring device may include sensor devices configured to be buried in the block of building material and coupled to respective ones of the flexible jumper cables. Each sensor device may include a primary inductor coupled to the electric supply line at a position based upon peaks of a stationary waveform when the electric supply line is alternating current (AC) powered, and a monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit may include an integrated sensor, and a secondary inductor magnetically coupled to the primary inductor and configured to supply the integrated sensor, and communicate through the electric supply line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A monitoring device comprising:
 an electric supply line disposed within a block of building material and configured to be supplied with a first alternating current, the first alternating current generating a stationary waveform in the electric supply line; and   a plurality of sensor devices coupled to the electric supply line, wherein each of the plurality of sensor devices is configured to receive power from the first alternating current, and communicate through the electric supply line, and wherein the plurality of sensor devices comprises
 a first sensor device disposed within the block of building material at a first location corresponding to a location of a first peak of the stationary waveform, and 
 a second sensor device disposed within the block of building material at a second location corresponding to a location of a second peak of the stationary waveform. 
   
     
     
         2 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the electric supply line comprises
 a main portion,   a plurality of flexible jumper cables configured to mechanically isolate the plurality of sensor devices from the electric supply line, wherein each of the plurality of flexible jumper cables is coupled to the main portion and a corresponding one of the plurality of sensor devices.   
     
     
         3 . The monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible jumper cables is coupled to the main portion of the electric supply line by a respective connector surrounded by an encapsulation layer. 
     
     
         4 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor device is electrically coupled in series with the electric supply line at the first location, and wherein the first peak is a peak of a current stationary waveform. 
     
     
         5 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor device is electrically coupled in parallel with the electric supply line at the first location, and wherein the first peak is a peak of a voltage stationary waveform. 
     
     
         6 . The monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sensor devices comprises a primary inductor coupled to the electric supply line within the block of building material. 
     
     
         7 . The monitoring device of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of sensor devices further comprises a monitoring circuit comprising
 an integrated sensor, and   a secondary inductor magnetically coupled to the primary inductor and configured to supply the integrated sensor with power from a second alternating current.   
     
     
         8 . A monitoring device comprising:
 an electric supply line disposed in a block of building material and configured to be supplied with a first alternating current, the first alternating current generating at least one stationary waveform in the electric supply line;   a plurality of sensor devices coupled to the electric supply line, wherein each of the plurality of sensor devices is configured to receive power from the first alternating current, and communicate through the electric supply line, and wherein the plurality of sensor devices comprises
 a first sensor device disposed within the block of building material at a first location corresponding to a location of a first peak of the stationary waveform, and 
 a second sensor device disposed within the block of building material at a second location corresponding to a location of a second peak of the stationary waveform; and 
   an antenna coupled to the electric supply line and configured to transmit sensed values from the plurality of sensor devices.   
     
     
         9 . The monitoring device of  claim 8 , wherein the electric supply line comprises
 a main portion,   a plurality of flexible jumper cables configured to mechanically isolate the plurality of sensor devices from the electric supply line, wherein each of the plurality of flexible jumper cables is coupled to the main portion and a corresponding one of the plurality of sensor devices.   
     
     
         10 . The monitoring device of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible jumper cables is coupled to the main portion of the electric supply line by a respective connector surrounded by an encapsulation layer. 
     
     
         11 . The monitoring device of  claim 8 , wherein the first sensor device is electrically coupled in series with the electric supply line at the first location, and wherein the first peak is a peak of a current stationary waveform. 
     
     
         12 . The monitoring device of  claim 8 , wherein the first sensor device is electrically coupled in parallel with the electric supply line at the first location, and wherein the first peak is a peak of a voltage stationary waveform. 
     
     
         13 . The monitoring device of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of sensor devices comprises a primary inductor coupled to the electric supply line within the block of building material. 
     
     
         14 . The monitoring device of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of sensor devices further comprises a monitoring circuit comprising
 an integrated sensor, and   a secondary inductor magnetically coupled to the primary inductor and configured to supply the integrated sensor with power from a second alternating current.   
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a monitoring device, the method comprising:
 generating a stationary waveform in an electric supply line within a block of building material by supplying a first alternating current to the electric supply line;   receiving, by a first sensor device and a second sensor device, power from the first alternating current, wherein the first sensor device is coupled to the electric supply line and disposed within the block of building material at a first location corresponding to a location of a first peak of the stationary waveform, and wherein the second sensor device is coupled to the electric supply line and disposed within the block of building material at a second location corresponding to a location of a second peak of the stationary waveform; and   communicating, by the first sensor device and the second sensor device, sensed values through the electric supply line.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving, by an antenna coupled to the electric supply line, an electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field supplying the first alternating current to the electric supply line. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising transmitting, by an antenna coupled to the electric supply line, the sensed values outside the block of building material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first sensor device is electrically coupled in series with the electric supply line at the first location, wherein the first peak is a peak of a current stationary waveform. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first sensor device is electrically coupled in parallel with the electric supply line at the first location, wherein the first peak is a peak of a voltage stationary waveform. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the receiving, by the first sensor device, the power from the first alternating current comprises:
 converting, by an inductor of the first sensor device, the first alternating current to a second alternating current, the inductor magnetically coupled to the electric supply line; and   receiving, at an integrated sensor of the first sensor device, power from the second alternating current.