Patch wireless test fixture

• US 7,000,461 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Eisenhower, Gary W. Jr., Marsh, Brian J., Larson, Roger L.
• Primary Examiner(s): OEN, WILLIAM L
• Application Number:
  US10/806,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 73 157- 172, 73 108- 115, 73715-727, 737/00, 737/02, 737/03, 731/46, 731/465, 340442-448, 310/313.R
• US Class Current: 73/146.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/485 using magnetostrictive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 27/007 Malfunction diagnosis, i.e. diagnosing a sensor defect
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0025 with acoustic surface waves

Abstract

In general, a pressure rail having a top surface and a bottom surface and one or more pressure inlets to a pressure channel can be located within the pressure rail. The pressure channel can be drilled into the pressure rail. A plurality of patch depressions can be formed into a plurality of sealing surfaces on the top surface of the pressure rail upon which a patch is positioned. A plurality of antenna blocks is generally disposed upon the pressure rail, wherein each antenna block thereof includes at least two antennas. Two antennas can be connected to a respective antenna block among the plurality of antenna blocks utilizing a silicone adhesive. Each antenna block is respectively located on the pressure rail in order to provide wireless data indicative of pressure and temperature conditions associated with each patch among the plurality of patches.

Claims

1. A sensor testing system, comprising:

a pressure rail having a top surface and a bottom surface and at least one pressure inlet to a pressure channel located within said pressure rail;

a plurality of patch depressions formed into a plurality of sealing surfaces on said top surface of said pressure rail upon which at least one patch among a plurality of patches is located;

a plurality of antenna blocks disposed upon said pressure rail, wherein each antenna block thereof includes at least two antennas and is respectively located on said pressure rail in order to provide wireless data indicative of pressure and temperature conditions associated with each patch among said plurality of patches.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said patches among said plurality of patches comprises a SAW patch.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said pressure rail comprises a SAW tire pressure measurement patch wireless test rail.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of BNC connectors respectively connected to said plurality of antenna blocks, wherein each BNC connector thereof is respectively connected to and protrudes from each antenna block thereof.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein each sealing surface among said plurality of sealing surfaces contains a groove that retains a respective O-ring in place.

6. The system of claims 5 wherein said groove comprises a dovetail groove.

7. A SAW sensor testing system, comprising:

a pressure rail having a top surface and a bottom surface and at least one pressure inlet to a pressure channel located within said pressure rail;

a plurality of SAW patch depressions formed into a plurality of sealing surfaces on said top surface of said pressure rail upon which at least one SAW patch among a plurality of SAW patches is located;

a plurality of antenna blocks disposed upon said pressure rail, wherein each antenna block thereof includes at least two antennas and is respectively located on said pressure rail; and

a plurality of BNC connectors respectively connected to said plurality of antenna blocks, wherein each BNC connector thereof is respectively connected to and protrudes from each antenna block thereof in order to provide wireless data indicative of pressure and temperature conditions associated with each SAW patch among said plurality of SAW patches.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein each sealing surface among said plurality of sealing surfaces contains a groove that retains a respective O-ring in place.

9. The system of claims 8 wherein said groove comprises a dovetail groove milled into said sealing surface for holding said respective O-ring in place.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said respective O-ring comprises a silicone O-ring.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said pressure channel is drilled into said pressure rail.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein said SAW patch reacts to both temperatures and pressure while being interrogated wireless as a fixed distance in order to collect test data indicative of said SAW patch.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of cap screws for holding in place an antenna block among said plurality of antenna blocks and for sealing said respective O-ring against a respective antenna block among said plurality of antenna blocks.

14. The system of 7 wherein said at least two antennas are connected to a respective antenna block among said plurality of antenna blocks utilizing a silicone adhesive.

15. A sensor testing method, comprising the steps of:

providing a pressure rail having a top surface and a bottom surface and at least one pressure inlet to a pressure channel located within said pressure rail;

forming a plurality of patch depressions into a plurality of sealing surfaces on said top surface of said pressure rail upon which at least one patch among a plurality of patches is located;

disposing a plurality of antenna blocks upon said pressure rail, wherein each antenna block thereof includes at least two antennas and is respectively located on said pressure rail; and

thereafter generating from said plurality of antenna blocks, wireless data indicative of pressure and temperature conditions associated with each patch among said plurality of patches.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of configuring each of said patches among said plurality of patches to comprise a SAW patch.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of configuring said pressure rail to comprise a SAW tire pressure measurement patch wireless test rail.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of respectively connecting a plurality of BNC connectors to said plurality of antenna blocks, wherein each BNC connector thereof is respectively connected to and protrudes from each antenna block thereof.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of configuring each sealing surface among said plurality of sealing surfaces to form a groove that retains a respective O-ring in place.

20. The method of claims 19 wherein said groove comprises a dovetail groove.