Damage detection device

• US 20060081071A1
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metis Design Corporation
• Original Assignee: Metis Design Corporation
• Inventors: Dunn, Christopher T., Kessler, Seth S., Jugenheimer, Kristin A., Size, Aaron B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,469,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.391
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/162 using piezoelectric resonators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0033 by determining damage, crack or wear
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0066 by exciting or detecting vibration or acceleration vibration testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 30/302 Sensors

Abstract

A device for use in detecting structural damage comprises at least one piezoelectric wafer including a sensor, and an actuator in-plane with the sensor. At least one of the sensor and the actuator at least partially surrounds the other of the sensor and the actuator such that the piezoelectric wafer provides radial detection of structural occurrences in a material.

Claims

1. A device for use in detecting structural damage, the device comprising:

at least one piezoelectric wafer including;

a sensor;

an actuator in-plane with the sensor,

wherein at least one of the sensor and the actuator at least partially surrounds the other of the sensor and the actuator such that the piezoelectric wafer provides radial detection of structural occurrences.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a flexible circuit configured to provide power to the at least one piezoelectric wafer.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the flexible circuit is further configured to provide a communication connection to the sensor to collect data from the sensor.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the flexible circuit is further configured to provide shielding for the sensor and for the actuator.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a housing constructed and arranged to encapsulate the sensor and actuator.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the housing includes an outer cylindrical ring and a lid, and wherein the sensor and the actuator are positioned in the cylindrical ring.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising coaxial connectors constructed and arranged to provide a strain relief for the sensor and the actuator.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the coaxial connectors include miniature coaxial connectors that provide connection between the at least one piezoelectric wafer and at least one electronic component.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor is at least one of a geometry including triangular, circular, semi-circular, square, rectangular, octagonal, hexagonal, and pie-shaped.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the actuator is at least one of a geometry including triangular, circular, semi-circular, square, rectangular, octagonal, hexagonal, and pie-shaped.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the actuator substantially completely surrounds the sensor.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor substantially completely surrounds the actuator.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sensors co-located on the at least one piezoelectric wafer, wherein the plurality of sensors are collectively at least partially surrounded by the actuator.

14. The device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of actuators co-located on the at least one piezoelectric wafer, wherein the plurality of actuators are collectively at least partially surrounded by the sensor.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one piezoelectric wafer provides substantially a 360-degree radial detection of structural occurrences in a material.

16. A damage detection node for detecting structural damage, the node comprising:

a housing;

a flexible circuit positioned in the housing;

a piezoelectric wafer positioned in the housing and having a sensor and an actuator, at least one of the sensor and the actuator positioned to at least partially surround the other of the sensor and the actuator,

wherein the flexible circuit provides a communication connection to the piezoelectric wafer.