WIRELESS CONVEYOR BELT CONDITION MONITORING SYSTEM AND RELATED APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- transmitting first wireless signals towards a conveyor belt comprising multiple layers of material, the first wireless signals penetrating one or more layers in the conveyor belt;
receiving second wireless signals that have interacted with the conveyor belt;
identifying a condition of the conveyor belt using the second wireless signals; and
outputting an indicator identifying the condition of the conveyor belt.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes transmitting first wireless signals towards a conveyor belt having multiple layers of material. The first wireless signals penetrate one or more layers in the conveyor belt. The method also includes receiving second wireless signals that have interacted with the conveyor belt. The method further includes identifying a condition of the conveyor belt using the second wireless signals and outputting an indicator identifying the condition of the conveyor belt. Identifying the condition of the conveyor belt could include identifying a thickness of at least one of the layers in the conveyor belt. This could be done by identifying pulses in the second wireless signals and using time of flight calculations.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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transmitting first wireless signals towards a conveyor belt comprising multiple layers of material, the first wireless signals penetrating one or more layers in the conveyor belt; receiving second wireless signals that have interacted with the conveyor belt; identifying a condition of the conveyor belt using the second wireless signals; and outputting an indicator identifying the condition of the conveyor belt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system comprising:
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a transmitter configured to generate first wireless signals for communication towards a conveyor belt via at least one antenna so that the first wireless signals penetrate one or more layers in the conveyor belt; a receiver configured to receive via the at least one antenna second wireless signals that have interacted with the conveyor belt; and a signal processing unit configured to identify a condition of the conveyor belt using the second wireless signals. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one interface configured to receive wireless signals that have interacted with a conveyor belt; and at least one processing device configured to identify a condition of the conveyor belt using the wireless signals. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification