Structural damage detection and analysis system

• US 20070144396A1
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: Hamel, Michael, Arms, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,290,747 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/472
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/01 Counting means indicating the number of shots fired

Abstract

A system for electronically recording an event that provides mechanical energy to a structure includes the structure and an event sensing and recording node. The event sensing and recording node is mounted on the structure and includes a sensor and a first electronic memory. The sensor includes a device for converting the mechanical energy into an electrical signal. The first electronic memory uses energy derived from the electrical signal for electronically recording the event. All energy for sensing the event and recording the event in the first electronic memory is derived from the mechanical energy.

Claims

1. A system for electronically recording an event, in which the event provides mechanical energy to a structure, comprising said structure and an event sensing and recording node, wherein said event sensing and recording node is mounted on said structure, wherein said event sensing and recording node includes a sensor and a first electronic memory, wherein said sensor includes a device for converting said mechanical energy into an electrical signal, wherein said first electronic memory is connected to use energy derived from said electrical signal for electronically recording said event, wherein all energy for sensing said event and recording said event in said first electronic memory is derived from said mechanical energy.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said event sensing and recording node further includes a communications circuit for communicating information about said event.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said communications circuit includes a wired communications circuit.

4. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said wired communications circuit includes at least one from the group including a USB and a CAN bus.

5. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said communications circuit includes a wireless communications circuit.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, further comprising a reader, wherein said wireless communications circuit communicates said information to said reader.

7. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein said wireless communications circuit includes at least one from the group including a switched reactance circuit and an RF transmitter.

8. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said communications circuit is powered from a source of energy other than said mechanical event.

9. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said communications circuit is powered from at least one from the group including strain, vibration, and electromagnetic radiation.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a device for converting at least one from the group including strain, vibration, and electromagnetic radiation into electricity for use in powering said communications circuit.

11. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an array of said event sensing and recording nodes.

12. A system as recited in claim 11, wherein different members of said array are tuned to be responsive to different frequencies.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein said different members of said array tuned to be responsive to different frequencies include vibrating members and proof masses.

14. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said event sensing and recording node further includes a reset device for automatically resetting said memory.

15. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said event sensing and recording node further includes a protect device for limiting voltage supplied to said memory.

16. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said event sensing and recording node further includes a processor, wherein said processor is connected to read said memory.

17. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein said processor includes a sleep mode.

18. A system as recited in claim 16, further comprising a second memory, wherein said processor is connected for transferring information from said first memory to said second memory.

19. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein said second memory includes at least one from the group including SRAM, DRAM, and non-volatile memory.

20. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein said non-volatile memory includes at least one from the group including flash memory and FRAM.

21. A system as recited in claim 16, further comprising a real time clock, wherein said real time clock is connected for providing a time stamp along with information stored in said second memory.

22. A system as recited in claim 21, further comprising an energy storage device connected for exclusively powering said real time clock.

23. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein said time stamp includes date and time.

24. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein said real time clock is programmable to provide a signal at a programmably determined interval.

25. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein said real time clock is connected for providing an interrupt signal to said processor to wake said processor.

26. A system as recited in claim 21, wherein power to said processor is turned off during a portion of time between said interrupt signals.

27. A system as recited in claim 16, further comprising an energy converting device for converting at least one from the group including strain, vibration, and electromagnetic radiation into electricity, wherein said processor receives all its power derived from said energy converting device.

28. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein said energy converting device includes at least one from the group consisting of a coil, a solar cell, and a piezoelectric transducer.

29. A system as recited in claim 27, further comprising a rechargeable energy storage device, wherein said rechargeable energy storage device is connected for recharging from energy derived from said energy converting device.

30. A system as recited in claim 16, wherein said processor is connected to provide compensation for data in said memory as temperature changes.

31. A system as recited in claim 16, further comprising a communications device, wherein said processor is connected for controlling operation of said communications device.

32. A system as recited in claim 31, wherein said communications device includes a wireless communications device, wherein said processor is connected for controlling operation of said wireless communications device.

33. A system as recited in claim 32, wherein said processor is connected for providing calculations for transmission by said wireless communications device.

34. A system as recited in claim 16, further comprising a network of event sensing and recording nodes, wherein each said node includes said processor, wherein each said processor includes a program to support network communications.

35. A system as recited in claim 16, further comprising a plurality of said sensors and a multiplexer, wherein said multiplexer is connected to provide data derived from said plurality of sensors to said processor.

36. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises at least one from the group including a piezoelectric sensor, a Weigand device, and a magnetoelectric effect device.

37. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first memory includes a capacitor.

38. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said event sensing and recording node includes a Zener diode.

39. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a circuit for reading said first memory, wherein said circuit for reading said first memory includes a processor.

40. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable energy storage device, wherein said rechargeable energy storage device is connected for recharging from energy derived from at least one from the group consisting of said event recording circuit and said device for converting electromagnetic radiation energy into electricity.

41. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a counter for counting events sensed by said sensor.

42. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein said mechanical event event recording circuit, said memory, and said communicating circuit, are included in said housing.

43. A system as recited in claim 41, wherein said housing is hermetically sealed.

44. A system as recited in claim 41, wherein said housing has a volume that is less than 1 cubic inch.

45. A system as recited in claim 41, wherein said sensor is external to said housing.

46. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said structure includes at least one from the group consisting of a vehicle, a bridge, a building, a machine, and a weapon.

47. A system as recited in claim 46, wherein said sensor is located within said weapon and converts energy from firing said weapon into said electrical signal.

48. A system as recited in claim 47, wherein said sensor comprises at least one from the group consisting of an accelerometer and a piezoelectric transducer.

49. A system as recited in claim 48, further comprising a second memory, wherein said second memory is arranged to accumulate a signal derived form said first memory for counting number of firings.

50. A system as recited in claim 46, further comprising a processor, wherein said processor is connected to determine at least one from the group consisting of number of firings and time between firings.

51. A system as recited in claim 46, further comprising a projectile fired by said weapon, wherein said event sensing and recording node is located to convert mechanical energy from said projectile into said electrical signal.

52. A system as recited in claim 51, further comprising a second structure, wherein said event sensing and recording node is located on said second structure.

53. A system as recited in claim 46, wherein said vehicle includes an aircraft.

54. A system as recited in claim 47, wherein said aircraft includes at least one from the group consisting of a helicopter, an airplane, and a space vehicle.

55. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said energy harvesting device is capable of converting energy from periodic motion into electricity.

56. A system as recited in claim 33, wherein said periodic motion includes at least one from the group consisting of vibration and rotational motion.

57. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, and accelerometer, a pressure sensor, a strain sensor, a load sensor, a force sensor, a moisture sensor, a location sensor, and a magnetic field sensor.

58. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said sensor is included in a Wheatstone bridge configuration.

59. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said sensor nodes configured in a communications network.

60. A system as recited in claim 41, wherein said communications network includes a wired network.

61. A sensing system as recited in claim 42, wherein said wired network includes a CAN bus.

62. A system as recited in claim 41, wherein said communications network includes a wireless multihop network.

63. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a second memory, wherein said second memory includes configuration and calibration data for said sensor.

64. A method of operating a system as recited in claim 1, wherein said event sensing and recording node further comprises an actuator.

65. A method of operating a system as recited in claim 64, wherein said actuator includes a piezoelectric transducer.

66. A method of operating a system as recited in claim 64, wherein said actuator is connected for providing a signal to said structure for material testing.

67. A system, comprising a first energy harvesting device and a second energy harvesting device, wherein said first energy harvesting device includes a device for converting mechanical energy into electricity, wherein said second energy harvesting device includes a device for converting electromagnetic radiation energy into electricity

68. A system as recited in claim 67, wherein said first load includes a first memory.

69. A system as recited in claim 71, wherein said first memory receives all its power derived from said first energy harvesting device.

70. A system as recited in claim 67, wherein said second load includes at least one from the group consisting of a processor and a communications device.

71. A system as recited in claim 73, wherein said at least one receives all its power derived from said second energy harvesting device.

72. A system as recited in claim 67, wherein said first energy harvesting device is connected to a first load and wherein said second energy harvesting device is connected to a second load.

73. A system as recited in claim 67, wherein said first energy harvesting device includes a piezoelectric transducer.

74. A system as recited in claim 67, wherein said first energy harvesting device is capable of converting energy of an impact into electricity.

75. A system as recited in claim 74, further comprising a weapon, wherein said impact arises as a result of firing said weapon.

76. A system as recited in claim 75, wherein said impact arises within said weapon.

77. A system as recited in claim 75, further comprising a projectile fired by said weapon, wherein said impact arises from a collision with said projectile.

78. A system as recited in claim 67, wherein said second energy harvesting device includes at least one from the group consisting of a coil, a solar cell, and a piezoelectric transducer.

79. A system as recited in claim 67, wherein said first energy harvesting device is capable of converting energy from periodic motion into electricity.

80. A system as recited in claim 79, wherein said periodic motion includes, vibration and rotational motion.

81. A system as recited in claim 67, wherein said device for converting electromagnetic radiation into electricity includes a coil.

82. A system as recited in claim 67, wherein said electromagnetic radiation includes light, wherein said device for converting electromagnetic radiation into electricity includes a photovoltaic cell.

83. A system as recited in claim 82, further comprising a source of light.

85. A sensing and memory device as recited in claim 81, wherein said memory includes a capacitance, wherein said capacitance is charged exclusively with charge derived from said signal.

86. A sensing and memory device as recited in claim 82, wherein said memory includes a transistor.

87. A sensing and memory device as recited in claim 83, wherein said capacitance is intrinsic to said transistor.

88. A sensing and memory device as recited in claim 83, wherein said capacitance is external to said transistor.

89. A sensing and memory device as recited in claim 83, wherein said transistor includes a gate, wherein said capacitance is in parallel with said gate.

90. A sensing and memory device as recited in claim 83, wherein said transistor is a MOSFET.

91. A sensing and memory device as recited in claim 81, further comprising a threshold setting circuit for setting said threshold.

92. A sensing and memory device as recited in claim 88, wherein said threshold setting circuit includes a Zener diode.

93. A sensing and memory device as recited in claim 81, further comprising a processor connected for detecting state of said memory.

94. A sensing and memory device as recited in claim 90, further comprising a timing device, wherein said processor is connected for waking up and periodically detecting state of said memory based on a signal from said timing device.

95. A sensing and memory device as recited in claim 81, further comprising a circuit for actuating said piezoelectric transducer and a circuit for acquiring a signal from said piezoelectric transducer.

96. A sensing and memory device as recited in claim 81, further comprising a plurality of piezoelectric transducers connected so any of said piezoelectric transducers can change state of said memory.

97. A sensing and memory device as recited in claim 93, further comprising a circuit for actuating each said piezoelectric transducer and a circuit for acquiring a signal from each said piezoelectric transducer.

84. A sensing and memory device, comprising a piezoelectric transducer and a memory, wherein a signal from said piezoelectric transducer that exceeds a threshold changes state of said memory, wherein all energy for changing state of said memory is derived from said signal.

98. A method of sensing and recording a potentially damaging event and using data derived from the potentially damaging event, comprising:

a. providing an event sensing and recording node on a structure, wherein said event sensing and recording node includes a device for converting mechanical energy of the event into an electrical signal;

b. sensing an event and converting mechanical energy of the event into an electrical signal;

c. recording data regarding said event in an electronic memory using energy in said electrical signal, wherein all energy for recording said event is derived from said mechanical energy;

d. communicating data in said electronic memory; and

e. directing inspection of said structure based on said data recorded in said electronic memory.