EMBEDDED SENSOR SYSTEM

• US 20160326904A1
• Filed: 05/05/2015
• Published: 11/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Wu, Xin, Tokgoz, Cagatay, Soldner, Nicholas Charles, Mantese, Joseph V., Zacchio, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 10,107,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/02 Arrangement of sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/20 Devices dealing with sensing elements or final actuators or transmitting means between them, e.g. power-assisted sensing elements alone F01D17/02; final actuators alone F01D17/10
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/003 Arrangements for testing or measuring for measuring vibrations G01H
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/28 Selecting particular materials; Particular measures relating thereto; Measures against erosion or corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/507 Magnetic properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07771 the record carrier comprising means for minimising adverse effects on the data communication capability of the record carrier, e.g. minimising Eddy currents induced in a proximate metal or otherwise electromagnetically interfering object
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07777 the antenna being of the inductive type
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A magnetic communication system for a gas turbine engine may include a sensor coupled to a microcontroller. A low frequency radio-frequency identification integrated chip may be coupled to the microcontroller. A first coupling circuit may be coupled to the low frequency radio-frequency identification integrated chip and may include a first coil winding wound within a first core. The first coil winding operatively associated with a low frequency magnetic flux.

Claims

1. A magnetic communication system for a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:

a sensor coupled to a microcontroller;

a low frequency radio-frequency identification integrated chip coupled to the microcontroller; and

a first coupling circuit coupled to the low frequency radio-frequency identification integrated chip, the first coupling circuit including a first coil winding wound within a first core, the first coil winding operatively associated with a low frequency magnetic flux.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first core includes an inner pillar circumscribed by an outer wall, the first coil winding being wound around the inner pillar such that the first coil winding is between the inner pillar and the outer wall.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first core is manufactured from a ferromagnetic material.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first coil winding is a copper winding.

5. The system of claim 1, further including an external reader including a second coupling circuit, the second coupling circuit including a second coil winding wound within a second core, the second coupling circuit being wirelessly communicable with the first coupling circuit via a low frequency magnetic flux coupling.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is one of a digital sensor and an analog sensor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is one of an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a strain sensor.

8. A gas turbine engine, the engine comprising:

a conductive component operationally associated with the engine; and

a sensor system embedded in the conductive component, the sensor system including a sensor coupled to a microcontroller, a low frequency radio-frequency identification integrated chip coupled to the microcontroller, and a first coupling circuit coupled to the low frequency radio-frequency identification integrated chip, the first coupling circuit including a first coil winding wound within a first core, the first coil winding operatively associated with a low frequency magnetic flux.

9. The gas turbine engine of claim 8, wherein the conductive component is one of an airfoil, a blade, a nacelle, and a vane.

10. The gas turbine engine of claim 8, wherein the first core includes an inner pillar circumscribed by an outer wall, the first coil winding being wound around the inner pillar such that the first coil winding is between the inner pillar and the outer wall.

11. The gas turbine engine of claim 8, wherein the first core is manufactured from a ferromagnetic material.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 8, wherein the first coil winding is a copper winding.

13. The gas turbine engine of claim 8, further including an external reader including a second coupling circuit, the second coupling circuit including a second coil winding wound within a second core, the second coupling circuit being wirelessly communicable with the first coupling circuit via a low frequency magnetic flux coupling.

14. The gas turbine engine of claim 8, wherein the sensor is one of a digital sensor and an analog sensor.

15. The gas turbine engine of claim 8, wherein the sensor is one of an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a strain sensor.

16. A method of enabling magnetic wireless communication between a sensor system embedded in a conductive component of a gas turbine engine and an external reader by reducing eddy currents produced therefrom, the method comprising:

concentrating and directing a first low frequency magnetic flux produced by a first core of the sensor system for penetration through the conductive component;

generating a second low frequency magnetic flux via the external reader; and

concentrating and directing a second low frequency magnetic flux produced by a second core of the external reader to couple with the first low frequency magnetic flux to transfer power and communicate data between the external reader and the sensor system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second cores are manufactured from a ferromagnetic material.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the external reader includes a coupling circuit, the coupling circuit being wirelessly communicable with the first coil winding of the sensor system via a magnetic flux coupling.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensor system includes one of an acceleration sensor, a temperature sensor, and a strain sensor.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the sensor system includes one of a digital sensor and an analog sensor.