Sensor devices for structural health monitoring
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- an electrochemical cell that a) measures the potential difference between a reference electrode and an ion selective electrode and b) includes an electrolyte that provides a medium for movement of ions and maintains electrical connection between the reference electrode and the ion selective electrode;
an identification source that uniquely identifies the device; and
a transponder, in electrical communication with the electrochemical cell and in electrical communication with the identification source, that transmits a wireless signal indicating the potential difference and information from the identification source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are wireless interrogation systems and methods that rely on a complementary sensing device and interrogator. The sensing device is disposed to measure a parameter indicative of the health of a structure. A sensor reading from the sensor indicates the level of a parameter being monitored or whether one or more particular physical or chemical events have taken place. Using wireless techniques, the interrogator probes the device to determine its identity and its current sensor reading. This often includes transmission of a wireless signal through portions of the structure. When activated, the device responds with a wireless signal that identifies the device and contains information about the parameter being measured or a particular sensor state corresponding to the parameter. The identity of the device allows it to be distinguished from a number of similar devices. Thus this invention finds particular usefulness in the context of an array of devices that can be probed by a wireless interrogation unit. In one embodiment, the devices are passive and derive power from the interrogation signal.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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an electrochemical cell that a) measures the potential difference between a reference electrode and an ion selective electrode and b) includes an electrolyte that provides a medium for movement of ions and maintains electrical connection between the reference electrode and the ion selective electrode;
an identification source that uniquely identifies the device; and
a transponder, in electrical communication with the electrochemical cell and in electrical communication with the identification source, that transmits a wireless signal indicating the potential difference and information from the identification source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for reporting the health of a structure comprising concrete and a metal, the system comprising:
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(a) an array of devices, each device embedded in the structure and having;
a sensor that detects a parameter indicative of the health of a structure comprising a metal, a transponder in electrical communication with the sensor and that transmits a wireless signal through a portion of the concrete indicating the parameter status when triggered by a wireless interrogation signal, an encapsulation that seals internal components of the sensor from the surrounding structure, a port that permits passage of an ion from outside the device to the sensor, and an identification source, in electrical communication with the transponder, that uniquely identifies each device from the other devices; and
(b) an interrogator for externally probing a device in the array to determine the parameter status, wherein the interrogator is designed or configured to read the parameter status by (i) providing the wireless interrogation signal to the transponder and (ii) receiving a wireless response from the device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for monitoring the health of a structure comprising concrete and a metal, the method comprising:
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embedding a sensor device in the concrete before the concrete finishes curing, the sensor device comprising a sensor that detects a parameter indicative of the health of the structure, an identification source that can distinguish the device from the other similar devices, and a transponder;
detecting a level of the parameter using the sensor;
probing the device with an interrogator that produces a wireless signal that transmits through a portion of the concrete; and
returning a wireless signal from the device through a portion of the concrete, wherein the return wireless signal indicates the parameter status. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification