Resonant sensor
First Claim
1. A resonant sensor for determining structural property changes characterised by a structure (2) mounted to be capable of resonating, the structure (2) having a cyclically symmetrical configuration with two independent degenerative modes of vibration of a common natural frequency, and means (24,26,28,30,32,34,36,38) for exciting the structure (2) to resonate according to said two degenerate modes, regions (8,12,16,20) of the structure (2) being modified such that, on changes in the structural properties of the modified regions (8,12,16,20), the natural frequencies (f1,f2) of the two modes of vibration become different, the difference in frequencies (Δ
- f) being proportional to the change in structural properties.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A resonant sensor for determining structural property changes, in particular for detecting the presence of chemical or biological species, comprises a structure (2) mounted to be capable of resonating and having a cyclically symmetrical configuration with two independent degenerative modes of vibration of a common natural frequency (f), and means (24,26,28,30,32,34,36,38) for exciting the structure (2) to resonate according to the two degenerative modes, regions (8,12,16,20) of the structure (2) being modified such that, on changes in the structural properties of the modified regions (8,12,16,20), for example by the addition or subtraction of mass, the natural frequencies (f1, f2) of the two modes of vibration become different, the difference in frequencies (?f) being proportional to the change in structural properties.
7 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A resonant sensor for determining structural property changes characterised by a structure (2) mounted to be capable of resonating, the structure (2) having a cyclically symmetrical configuration with two independent degenerative modes of vibration of a common natural frequency, and means (24,26,28,30,32,34,36,38) for exciting the structure (2) to resonate according to said two degenerate modes, regions (8,12,16,20) of the structure (2) being modified such that, on changes in the structural properties of the modified regions (8,12,16,20), the natural frequencies (f1,f2) of the two modes of vibration become different, the difference in frequencies (Δ
- f) being proportional to the change in structural properties.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
Specification