Damage Sensors
First Claim
1. A damage sensor for sensing damage to a structure, the damage sensor comprising a probe track, a sense track, and a signal generator operable to input a time-varying probe signal to the probe track, the probe track and the sense track being electromagnetically coupled by the structure such that the probe signal induces, in dependence on the degree of electromagnetic coupling between the probe track and the sense track, a sensed signal in the sense track, from which sensed signal an impedance map indicative of damage to the structure is derivable.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A damage sensor comprises a probe track, a sense track, and a signal generator operable to input a probe signal to the probe track. The probe track and the sense track are electromagnetically coupled by a structure on which they are provided, such that the probe signal induces, in dependence on the degree of electromagnetic coupling between the probe track and the sense track, a sensed signal in the sense track. The magnitude, phase and frequency of the sensed signal can be analysed in order to determine whether and where damage has occurred to the structure.
19 Citations
25 Claims
- 1. A damage sensor for sensing damage to a structure, the damage sensor comprising a probe track, a sense track, and a signal generator operable to input a time-varying probe signal to the probe track, the probe track and the sense track being electromagnetically coupled by the structure such that the probe signal induces, in dependence on the degree of electromagnetic coupling between the probe track and the sense track, a sensed signal in the sense track, from which sensed signal an impedance map indicative of damage to the structure is derivable.
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15. (canceled)
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16. A method for sensing damage to a structure, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a time-varying probe signal in a probe track, which probe track is electromagnetically coupled to a sense track by the structure; (b) measuring a sensed signal in the sense track, the sensed signal being induced, in dependence on the degree of electromagnetic coupling between a probe track and the sense track, in the sense track; (c) comparing the probe signal and the sensed signal to derive an impedance map of the structure; (d) comparing the impedance map to a characteristic map recorded earlier to determine whether the structure has been damaged between the recording of the characteristic map and the measuring of the impedance map. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. (canceled)
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21. A method of manufacturing a damage sensor for sensing damage to a structure, the damage sensor comprising a probe track, a sense track, and a signal generator operable to input a time-varying probe signal to the probe track, the probe track and the sense track being electromagnetically coupled by the structure such that the probe signal induces, in dependence on the degree of electromagnetic coupling between the probe track and the sense track, a sensed signal in the sense track, from which sensed signal an impedance map indicative of damage to the structure is derivable;
- the method comprising the step of direct-writing a probe track and a sense track onto a structure.
- View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. (canceled)
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25. A vehicle comprising a damage sensor for sensing damage to a structure, the damage sensor comprising a probe track, a sense track, and a signal generator operable to input a time-varying probe signal to the probe track, the probe track and the sense track being electromagnetically coupled by the structure such that the probe signal induces, in dependence on the degree of electromagnetic coupling between the probe track and the sense track, a sensed signal in the sense track, from which sensed signal an impedance map indicative of damage to the structure is derivable.
Specification