Integrated electronic device for monitoring humidity and/or corrosion
First Claim
1. A device for detecting changes in an environmental parameter indicative of an environment surrounding the device, the device comprising:
- a first conductive element and a second conductive element;
a measurement circuit comprising a first measurement terminal and a second measurement terminal respectively coupled to the first conductive element and the second conductive element, the measurement circuit being configured to provide an electrical potential difference between the first conductive element and the second conductive element;
an insulating layer at least partially enclosing the first conductive element, the second conductive element, and the measurement circuit;
a first pad extending through the insulating layer and conductively coupled to the first conductive element;
a second pad extending through the insulating layer and conductively coupled to the second conductive element; and
an electrode assembly disposed over the insulating layer and conductively coupled to the first pad and the second pad and exposed to the environment, wherein;
the measurement circuit is configured to determine a change in an impedance of an electromagnetic circuit comprising the first conductive element and the second conductive element and formed between the first measurement terminal and the second measurement terminal;
the change in the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit is indicative of a change in the environmental parameter;
the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit is a complex number;
the device determines that an increase in a level of humidity of the environment has occurred in response to a decrease in an imaginary part of the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit;
the device determines that an increase in a presence of water within the environment has occurred in response to a decrease in a real part of the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit; and
the device determines that corrosion of a metal structure present within the environment has occurred in response to an increase in the real part of the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit.
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Abstract
An integrated electronic device, for detecting for detecting changes in an environmental parameter indicative of an environment surrounding the device, includes: a first conductive element and a second conductive element; a measurement circuit including a first measurement terminal and a second measurement terminal respectively coupled to the first conductive element and the second conductive element. The measurement circuit is configured to provide an electrical potential difference between the first conductive element and the second conductive element is configured to determine a change in an impedance of an electromagnetic circuit including the first conductive element and the second conductive element and formed between the first measurement terminal and the second measurement terminal. The device determines that an increase in a presence of water within the environment has occurred in response to a decrease in a real part of the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A device for detecting changes in an environmental parameter indicative of an environment surrounding the device, the device comprising:
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a first conductive element and a second conductive element; a measurement circuit comprising a first measurement terminal and a second measurement terminal respectively coupled to the first conductive element and the second conductive element, the measurement circuit being configured to provide an electrical potential difference between the first conductive element and the second conductive element; an insulating layer at least partially enclosing the first conductive element, the second conductive element, and the measurement circuit; a first pad extending through the insulating layer and conductively coupled to the first conductive element; a second pad extending through the insulating layer and conductively coupled to the second conductive element; and an electrode assembly disposed over the insulating layer and conductively coupled to the first pad and the second pad and exposed to the environment, wherein; the measurement circuit is configured to determine a change in an impedance of an electromagnetic circuit comprising the first conductive element and the second conductive element and formed between the first measurement terminal and the second measurement terminal; the change in the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit is indicative of a change in the environmental parameter; the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit is a complex number; the device determines that an increase in a level of humidity of the environment has occurred in response to a decrease in an imaginary part of the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit; the device determines that an increase in a presence of water within the environment has occurred in response to a decrease in a real part of the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit; and the device determines that corrosion of a metal structure present within the environment has occurred in response to an increase in the real part of the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for detecting changes in an environmental parameter indicative of an environment, the method comprising:
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placing a device in the environment, the device comprising; a first conductive element and a second conductive element; a measurement circuit comprising a first measurement terminal and a second measurement terminal respectively coupled to the first conductive element and the second conductive element, the measurement circuit being configured to provide an electrical potential difference between the first conductive element and the second conductive element; an insulating layer at least partially enclosing the first conductive element, the second conductive element, and the measurement circuit; a first pad extending through the insulating layer and conductively coupled to the first conductive element; a second pad extending through the insulating layer and conductively coupled to the second conductive element; and an electrode assembly disposed over the insulating layer and conductively coupled to the first pad and the second pad and exposed to the environment; correlating a change in an impedance of an electromagnetic circuit with changes in the environmental parameter, the electromagnetic circuit comprising the first conductive element and the second conductive element and formed between the first measurement terminal and the second measurement terminal, the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit being a complex number, wherein correlating the change in the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit with changes in the environmental parameter comprises; determining that an increase in a level of humidity of the environment has occurred in response to a decrease in an imaginary part of the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit; determining than an increase in a presence of water within the environment has occurred in response to a decrease in a real part of the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit; and determining than corrosion of a metal structure present within the environment has occurred in response to an increase in the real part of the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit, wherein the impedance of the electromagnetic circuit comprises an impedance of the electrode assembly exposed to the environment. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification