Wireless Collection of Fastener Data
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for collecting data from a plurality of fasteners each including a sensor for measuring the stress on the fastener, comprising:
- a device adapted to be attached to each of the fasteners for wirelessly transmitting data related to the measured stress; and
a reader for wirelessly reading the data transmitted by the device.
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Abstract
Data is remotely collected from a plurality of fasteners in response to a query signal wirelessly transmitted by a reader. Each of the fasteners includes a sensor for measuring a parameter related to the stress on the fastener. A device adapted to be attached to each of the fasteners receives the query signal, activates the sensor to measure the parameter and wirelessly transmits the data including the parameter to the reader.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. Apparatus for collecting data from a plurality of fasteners each including a sensor for measuring the stress on the fastener, comprising:
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a device adapted to be attached to each of the fasteners for wirelessly transmitting data related to the measured stress; and a reader for wirelessly reading the data transmitted by the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of collecting data from a plurality of fasteners, comprising:
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attaching a cap to each of the fasteners; wirelessly transmitting a query signal from a reader to one of the fasteners; wirelessly receiving the query signal at a receiver within the cap; using a sensor on the fastener to measure the stress on the fastener; and using a wireless transmitter in the cap to wirelessly transmit the measured stress to the reader. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for collecting data from a plurality of fasteners each including a sensor for measuring the stress on the fastener, comprising:
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a reader for wirelessly transmitting a first signal along a relatively narrow path to the fastener; means on the fastener for receiving the first signal; and means on the fastener for wirelessly transmitting a second signal to the reader containing data related to the stress measured by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of collecting data from a plurality of fasteners, comprising:
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wirelessly transmitting a first signal from a reader along a relatively narrow path to the fastener; receiving the first signal at the fastener; sensing at least one parameter at the fastener; and wirelessly transmitting a second signal related to the parameter from the fastener to the reader. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. Apparatus for collecting data from a plurality of fasteners each including a sensor for measuring the stress on the fastener, comprising:
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a device adapted to be attached to each of the fasteners for sensing the temperature of the fastener and for wirelessly transmitting data related to the measured stress and the sensed temperature; and a reader for reading the data transmitted by the device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of collecting data related to the stress on a fastener, comprising:
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sensing at least one temperature varying parameter on the fastener related to the stress on the fastener; sensing the temperature of the fastener; and adjusting the parameter based on the sensed temperature. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. Apparatus for collecting data from a plurality of fasteners installed on a structure, wherein each of the fasteners includes a sensor for measuring the stress on the fastener, comprising:
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a device on each of the fasteners and coupled with the sensor for wirelessly transmitting an acoustic signal through the structure representing the measured stress; and a reader for reading the acoustic signal. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method of collecting data from a fastener on a structure, comprising:
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sensing at least one parameter at the fastener; transmitting an acoustic signal including the sensed parameter from the fastener through the structure; and reading the acoustic signal. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification