Wireless vibrating strain gauge for smart civil structures
First Claim
1. A gauge, comprising a wire, a coil, a processor, and a power supply, wherein said wire is mounted to vibrate at a natural frequency, wherein said coil is magnetically coupled to said wire, wherein said processor is connected to provide a train of pulses to said coil, wherein said processor is further connected to receive a signal between pulses of said train of pulses indicating that said wire is vibrating.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gauge includes a wire, a housing, a coil, a processor, and a power supply. The wire is mounted in the housing to vibrate at a natural frequency. The coil is magnetically coupled to the wire. The processor is connected to provide a digital signal to the coil and the processor is further connected to detect when the wire is vibrating. An embodiment provides an efficient technique to excite the wire into vibration. Another embodiment enables long term operation from a small battery. Another embodiment enables wireless communications to be used, eliminating the need for cable runs.
54 Citations
62 Claims
- 1. A gauge, comprising a wire, a coil, a processor, and a power supply, wherein said wire is mounted to vibrate at a natural frequency, wherein said coil is magnetically coupled to said wire, wherein said processor is connected to provide a train of pulses to said coil, wherein said processor is further connected to receive a signal between pulses of said train of pulses indicating that said wire is vibrating.
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23. A gauge, comprising a housing, said housing including wire, a coil, and a processor, wherein said wire is mounted to vibrate at a natural frequency, wherein said coil is magnetically coupled to said wire, wherein said processor is connected to provide an excitation to said coil, wherein said processor is further connected to receive a signal indicating that said wire is vibrating.
- 27. A gauge for measuring a property of a structure, comprising a wire, a coil, a switch, a processor, and a power supply, wherein said wire is mounted to vibrate at a natural frequency, wherein said switch is connected to said power supply and to said coil to provide current to said coil when said switch is closed, wherein a control terminal of said switch is connected to said processor, wherein said coil is magnetically coupled to said wire, wherein timing of closing and opening said switch is controlled by a signal from said processor to provide a train of pulses to said coil, said train of pulses having a pulse frequency, wherein said coil emits a train of magnetic pulses at said pulse frequency for stimulating said wire to vibrate.
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33. A method of making a measurement, comprising:
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a. providing a wire, a coil, a processor, and a power supply, wherein said wire is mounted to vibrate at a natural frequency and wherein said coil is magnetically coupled to said wire;
b. providing a train of pulses to said coil, wherein said train of pulses is derived from said power supply under control of said processor; and
c. receiving a signal between pulses of said train of pulses, wherein said signal is derived from vibration of said wire. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A method of making a measurement, comprising:
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a. providing a housing, said housing including a wire, a coil, and a processor, wherein said wire is mounted in said housing to vibrate at a natural frequency and wherein said coil is magnetically coupled to said wire;
b. providing an excitation signal derived from said processor to said coil; and
c. receiving a signal derived from vibration of said wire. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. method of making a measurement, comprising:
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a. providing a wire, a coil, a processor, a switch, and a power supply, wherein said wire is mounted to vibrate at a natural frequency, wherein said coil is magnetically coupled to said wire, wherein said switch includes a control terminal, wherein said control terminal is connected to said processor, wherein said switch is connected to said power supply and to said coil to provide current to said coil when said switch is closed; and
b. providing a first signal from said processor to said control terminal to repeatedly close and to open said switch to provide a train of current pulses from said power supply to said coil, wherein said first signal has a first pulse frequency, wherein said train of current pulses has said first pulse frequency, and wherein said coil emits a train of magnetic pulses at said first pulse frequency for stimulating said wire to vibrate. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification