Wireless sensor

• US 10,361,587 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2015
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Bristol
• Original Assignee: University of Bristol
• Inventors: Zhong, ChengHuan, Croxford, Anthony, Wilcox, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Cavallari, Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US15/326,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20170214274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2475 Embedded probes, i.e. probes incorporated in objects to be inspected
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2481 Wireless probes, e.g. with transponders or radio links
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2804 Printed windings
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2823 Wires H01F27/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2885 with shields or electrodes shields or electrodes for pancake coils H01F27/2871; construction of electric or magnetic shields or screens H01F27/36
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

This application relates to a wireless sensor (10) suitable for non-destructive testing of a test object. The sensor comprises a transducer (12) and an electrically conductive transducer coil (16) configured to define an enclosure and being electrically coupled to the transducer to enable the transducer to be inductively operated by a remote device. The enclosure defined by the transducer coil has an internal width dimension that is wider than a corresponding width dimension of the transducer.

Claims

1. A wireless sensor suitable for non-destructive testing of a test object, the sensor comprising:

a transducer; and

an electrically conductive planar transducer coil arranged in a generally parallel relationship to an upper surface of the transducer and transversely spaced apart therefrom in a range from zero to no more than five times a thickness of the transducer, the transducer coil configured to define an enclosure and being electrically coupled to the transducer to enable the transducer to be inductively operated by a remote device,

wherein the enclosure defined by the transducer coil has an internal width dimension that is wider than a corresponding width dimension of the transducer and a center of the transducer coil is axially aligned with a center of the transducer.

2. A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure defined by the transducer coil has a plurality of distinct internal width dimensions each of which is wider than a corresponding width dimension of the transducer.

3. A wireless sensor according to claim 2, wherein the enclosure defined by the transducer coil is sized to receive the transducer.

4. A wireless sensor according to claim 3, wherein the transducer coil is mounted coplanar with the transducer, with transducer located within the enclosure defined by the transducer coil.

5. A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the transducer coil is mounted relative to the transducer in a generally coaxial, parallel relationship in which the transducer coil is spaced from the transducer by no more than five times the thickness of the transducer.

6. A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the coil has one or more distinct inner width dimensions each of which is each between 1.01 and 20 times the corresponding outer width dimension of the transducer.

7. A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the coil has one or more distinct inner width dimensions each of which is at least 1.1times the corresponding outer width dimension of the transducer.

8. A wireless sensor according to claim 6, wherein an inner width dimension of the coil is a diameter and the corresponding outer width dimension of the transducer is a diameter.

9. A wireless sensor according to claim 1 including a layer of electromagnetic interference (EMI) absorber provided between the transducer coil and a coupling face of the sensor, the coupling face being arranged to be coupled to the test object.

10. A wireless sensor according to claim 9, wherein the layer of EMI absorber is thinner than the transducer.

11. A wireless sensor according to claim 9, wherein the EMI absorber is formed from a flexible material.

12. A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the transducer coil is formed from a flexible material.

13. A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises one of a thermal transducer, an ultrasound transducer, a strain gauge, an accelerometer, and an electromagnetic transducer.

14. A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the coil is arranged as a planar coil.

15. A test object including one or more wireless sensors according to claim 1 coupled to the test object.

16. A test object according to claim 15 comprising a composite or metallic component.

17. A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein a layer of electromagnetic interference (EMI) absorber is provided between the transducer coil and a coupling face of the sensor, the coupling face being arranged to be coupled to the test object, and wherein the layer of EMI absorber comprises a polymer containing metallic filler particles.

18. A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the transducer coil and transducer are positioned to reduce cancellation of an incident magnetic field by an induced magnetic field without using any ferrite core.