Method and apparatus for switching among elements of a structural health monitoring system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A structural health monitoring system, comprising:
- a plurality of monitoring elements configured for coupling to a structure;
a plurality of switches each in electrical communication with an associated monitoring element of the plurality of monitoring elements, and each configured to switch the associated monitoring element to an on state and an off state;
a control line configured for coupling to the structure, and in electrical communication with each switch of the plurality of switches;
a signal line configured for coupling to the structure, and in electrical communication with each monitoring element of the plurality of monitoring elements; and
a controller configured to transmit a control signal along the control line so as to switch selected ones of the monitoring elements to the on state or the off state, and configured to perform at least one of transmitting a monitoring signal along the signal line to those monitoring elements switched to the on state so as to initiate a monitoring of the structure, or receiving a sensing signal along the signal line from those monitoring elements switched to the on state so as to facilitate the sensing of the structure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Use of a single line for switching multiple monitoring elements on/off, and a single line for sending signals to, or receiving signals from, those elements that are switched on. Monitoring elements each have an associated switching element, and each switching element is connected to a common switching line, or control line. A signal from the control line turns each switch on or off. Each monitoring element is also connected to a single signal line, and only those monitoring elements that are turned on can transmit/receive data signals along this signal line.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A structural health monitoring system, comprising:
-
a plurality of monitoring elements configured for coupling to a structure;
a plurality of switches each in electrical communication with an associated monitoring element of the plurality of monitoring elements, and each configured to switch the associated monitoring element to an on state and an off state;
a control line configured for coupling to the structure, and in electrical communication with each switch of the plurality of switches;
a signal line configured for coupling to the structure, and in electrical communication with each monitoring element of the plurality of monitoring elements; and
a controller configured to transmit a control signal along the control line so as to switch selected ones of the monitoring elements to the on state or the off state, and configured to perform at least one of transmitting a monitoring signal along the signal line to those monitoring elements switched to the on state so as to initiate a monitoring of the structure, or receiving a sensing signal along the signal line from those monitoring elements switched to the on state so as to facilitate the sensing of the structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. In a structural health monitoring system including a plurality of monitoring elements configured for coupling to a structure, the monitoring elements each having an on state and an off state, a method of monitoring the health of a structure, comprising:
-
selecting ones of the monitoring elements;
switching the selected ones of the monitoring elements to the on state; and
at least one of transmitting a monitoring signal to those monitoring elements switched to the on state so as to initiate a monitoring of the structure, or receiving a sensing signal from those monitoring elements switched to the on state so as to facilitate the sensing of the structure. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions thereon for a method of monitoring the health of a structure in a structural health monitoring system including a plurality of monitoring elements configured for coupling to the structure, the monitoring elements each having an on state and an off state, the method comprising:
-
selecting ones of the monitoring elements;
switching the selected ones of the monitoring elements to the on state; and
at least one of transmitting a monitoring signal to those monitoring elements switched to the on state so as to initiate a monitoring of the structure, or receiving a sensing signal from those monitoring elements switched to the on state so as to facilitate the sensing of the structure. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification