Smart structure with non-contact power and data interface

• US 5,440,300 A
• Filed: 11/28/1994
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Spillman, William B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Tod R.
• Application Number:
  US08/345,205
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 250/227.14, 73/146.4, 73/146.5, 73/598, 73/599, 73/601, 73/781, 73/782, 340/445, 340/446, 340/447, 340/448, 340/449, 340/668, 340/683, 340/825.54, 340/870.15, 340/870.16, 340/870.31, 623/3, 606/15, 606/16, 128/660.02, 128/666, 128/667, 128/670, 128/672, 128/673, 128/674, 128/675, 128/697, 128/903
• US Class Current: 340/10.34
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0444 Antenna structures, control or arrangements thereof, e.g. for directional antennas, diversity antenna, antenna multiplexing or antennas integrated in fenders
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/043 in the interior, e.g. by shear waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2475 Embedded probes, i.e. probes incorporated in objects to be inspected
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2481 Wireless probes, e.g. with transponders or radio links
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2493 Wheel shaped probes
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/04 using magnetically coupled devices

Abstract

Embedded smart structures include active electronics which control and collect data from sensors and actuators and transmit data to the exterior of a body by electromagnetic antenna radiation to a conformal power and data interrogation interface. Multiple embedded smart structures are powered and interrogated by a network of conformal powering and interrogation units. Multiple embedded sensors each having an antenna with a defined narrow band resonant frequency are powered and interrogated by a single external powering and data interrogation antenna.

Claims

1. A smart structure, comprising:

structural material forming a body,

sensing means including at least one sensor embedded in the material of the body, wherein the sensor detects a physical condition of the body,

a first antenna means embedded in the material of the body and connected to said embedded sensing means,

a second antenna means exterior the body for transmitting power to said sensing means; and

means exterior to the body for receiving data transmitted from said sensing means;

wherein said embedded sensing means comprises data control means connected to said sensor and said first antenna means for transmitting said data to said exterior receiving means.

2. The structure of claim 1, including a second body;

wherein said means for receiving data and said second antenna means for transmitting power are embedded in the second body that is conformal to a surface of the first stated body;

said second body being disposed adjacent said first body such that said first and second antenna means are inductively coupled.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises multiple embedded sensors connected to said data control means.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein said embedded sensing means includes data collection, processing and conditioning electronics.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein said embedded sensing means includes at least one sensing element connected to said data collection processing and conditioning electronics.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein said embedded sensing means includes at least one actuator connected to said data collection processing and conditioning electronics.

7. The structure of claim 4, wherein said embedded sensing means includes an optical source and an optical sensor connected to said optical source.

8. The structure of claim 7, wherein said optical sensor includes an optic fiber.

9. The structure of claim 1, wherein said first antenna means is in a looped concentric configuration.

10. The structure of claim 9 further comprising multiple embedded sensing means receiving power via said first antenna means and further wherein each said sensing means produces data that is transmitted to said receiving means within a predetermined frequency band.

11. The structure of claim 2, wherein said exterior means for receiving data comprises said second antenna means that is also used for transmitting power to said sensing means;

and further wherein said receiving means and second antenna means are embedded in said second body which is fixedly attached to the first body in which said sensing means is embedded.

12. The smart structure of claim 1 wherein said body comprises composite materials with each sensor embedded therein.

13. The smart structure of claim 12 wherein said body is a structural member of an aircraft.

14. An embedded smart structure system comprising:

structural material forming a body,

at least two sensors embedded in the material of the body wherein each sensor operates on a physical condition of the body,

said sensors being connected to an antenna means embedded in the material of the body and which receives a power signal for powering said sensors and which transmits data signals from each said sensor in a respective predetermined frequency band, and

an antenna exterior to said body and positioned for electromagnetic coupling with said embedded antenna connected to said sensors,

wherein said exterior antenna emits a broad frequency band power signal and receives transmitted data signals from said embedded antenna.

15. The system of claim 14 comprising multiple embedded sensors and respective antennae wherein said embedded antennae are concentrically arranged.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said exterior antenna is of a configuration which physically overlaps said embedded antennae and transmits power to all said embedded sensors.

17. The system of claim 14 comprising multiple sensors each operating with respective predetermined frequency bands for data transmission, said exterior antenna emitting a broad band power signal that includes all of said predetermined frequency bands.

18. The system of claim 14 comprising a plurality of composite matrix bodies, each body having embedded sensors and a respective antenna means embedded therein;

and a corresponding plurality of exterior antennas, each exterior antenna being in fixed spatial position with respect to its corresponding embedded antenna means;

all said exterior antennas being connected to a control means for powering said sensors and receiving data therefrom.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein each embedded antenna means comprises a plurality of antennas in a looped and generally concentric configuration, with each looped antenna being connected to respective embedded sensors so as to transmit data to its corresponding exterior antenna for each sensor connected thereto at a predetermined frequency band.