COAXIAL CABLE BRAGG GRATING SENSOR
First Claim
1. A coaxial cable sensing device for detecting and measuring strain applied thereto comprising:
- an inner conductor extending a length of the coaxial cable sensing device;
an outer conductor extending the length of the coaxial cable sensing device; and
an insulating material disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, said insulating material electrically insulating the outer conductor from the inner conductor;
wherein at least one of the inner conductor, the insulating material, and the outer conductor includes one or more impedance discontinuities along its respective length.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A coaxial cable sensor device with periodic impedance discontinuities along the length of its cable. The cable comprises an inner conductor, insulating material disposed around the length of the inner conductor, and an outer conductor disposed around the insulating material. The periodic impedance discontinuities are created by physical deformations or material alterations to at least one of the inner conductor, the outer conductor, and the insulating material. The sensor device may be used to measure temperature, pressure, strain, and acoustic waves in building structures, and is well suited for down-hole or underwater applications.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A coaxial cable sensing device for detecting and measuring strain applied thereto comprising:
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an inner conductor extending a length of the coaxial cable sensing device; an outer conductor extending the length of the coaxial cable sensing device; and an insulating material disposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, said insulating material electrically insulating the outer conductor from the inner conductor; wherein at least one of the inner conductor, the insulating material, and the outer conductor includes one or more impedance discontinuities along its respective length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for detecting environmental properties of a target environment using a coaxial cable sensing device, said method comprising:
- identifying one or more environmental properties of the target enviroment for detection;
determining a calibration curve for the coaxial cable sensing device with respect to the target environment for each identified environmental property; positioning the coaxial cable sensing device in the target environment, said coaxial cable sensing device having periodic impedance discontinuities along its length; interrogating the coaxial cable sensing device to detect frequency changes of the coaxial cable sensing device; measuring said frequency changes of the coaxial cable sensing device; and analyzing the measured frequency changes against the each calibration curve. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
- identifying one or more environmental properties of the target enviroment for detection;
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14. An automated system for manufacturing a coaxial cable sensor having a plurality of impedance discontinuities periodically spaced along its length, with each adjacent discontinuity having the same predefined period distance between it and the next adjacent discontinuity, said coaxial cable sensor having an inner conductor, an insulating material disposed around the inner conductor, and an outer conductor disposed around the insulating material, said system comprising:
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a coaxial cable positioned on a platform by at least a first cable guide and a second cable guide, said coaxial cable introduced into the automated system by the first cable guide; a coaxial cable spooler for pulling the coaxial cable through the first cable guide and the second cable guide; a discontinuity creation device for creating periodic impedance discontinuities in the coaxial cable as the coaxial is pulled through the first cable guide and the second cable guide, said discontinuity creation device positioned between the first cable guide and the second cable guide; an imaging device for acquiring an image of each created discontinuity, said imaging device positioned between the discontinuity creation device and the second cable guide, said imaging device positioned at a predetermined distance from the discontinuity creation device; and a computing device for determining the distance between two adjacent discontinuities created by the discontinuity creation device and synchronizing the rate of spin of the cable spooler based on the determined distance between the two adjacent discontinuities and determined distance between the imaging device and the discontinuity creation device to move the coaxial cable a distance equal to the predefined period distance within an acceptable tolerance. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification