Carbon nanotube-based sensor and method for continually sensing changes in a structure
First Claim
1. A sensor for detecting changes experienced by a structure, comprising:
- a substrate adapted to be coupled to a portion of a structure;
a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based conductors operatively positioned on said substrate and arranged side-by-side to one another;
at least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes coupled to opposing ends of said plurality of CNT-based conductors with said plurality of CNT-based conductors electrically coupling each pair of said spaced-apart electrodes to one another;
a CNT attraction material deposited on said substrate, bonded to said plurality of CNT-based conductors, and spanning between said at least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes; and
a portion of each of said plurality of CNT-based conductors spanning between said at least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged end-to-end and substantially aligned along an axis, wherein upon said substrate being coupled to the portion of the structure, changes experienced by the portion of the structure induce a change in electrical properties of said plurality of CNT-based conductors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor has a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based conductors operatively positioned on a substrate. The conductors are arranged side-by-side, such as in a substantially parallel relationship to one another. At least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes is coupled to opposing ends of the conductors. A portion of each of the conductors spanning between each pair of electrodes comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged end-to-end and substantially aligned along an axis. Because a direct correlation exists between resistance of a carbon nanotube and carbon nanotube strain, changes experienced by the portion of the structure to which the sensor is coupled induce a change in electrical properties of the conductors.
63 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A sensor for detecting changes experienced by a structure, comprising:
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a substrate adapted to be coupled to a portion of a structure; a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based conductors operatively positioned on said substrate and arranged side-by-side to one another; at least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes coupled to opposing ends of said plurality of CNT-based conductors with said plurality of CNT-based conductors electrically coupling each pair of said spaced-apart electrodes to one another; a CNT attraction material deposited on said substrate, bonded to said plurality of CNT-based conductors, and spanning between said at least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes; and a portion of each of said plurality of CNT-based conductors spanning between said at least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged end-to-end and substantially aligned along an axis, wherein upon said substrate being coupled to the portion of the structure, changes experienced by the portion of the structure induce a change in electrical properties of said plurality of CNT-based conductors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A sensor for detecting changes experienced by a structure, comprising:
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a flexible substrate adapted to be coupled to a portion of a structure; a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based conductors and operatively positioned on said substrate and arranged side-by-side to one another; and at least one air of spaced-apart electrodes positioned on and across opposing ends of said plurality of CNT-based conductors, thereby anchoring said ends to said flexible substrate, with said plurality of CNT-based conductors electrically coupling each pair of said spaced-apart electrodes to one another; a portion of each of said plurality of CNT-based conductors spanning between said at least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged end-to-end and substantially aligned along an axis, wherein upon said flexible substrate being coupled to the portion of the structure, changes experienced by the portion of the structure induce a change in electrical properties of said plurality of CNT-based conductors; and wherein said at least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes comprises; a first pair of spaced-apart electrodes positioned on said substrate; and a second pair of spaced-apart electrodes positioned on and across the opposing ends of each of said plurality of CNT-based conductors.
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11. A method of detecting changes experienced by a structure, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling at least one sensor to a portion of the structure, each said sensor comprising (i) a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based conductors arranged side-by-side to one another, and (ii) at least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes electrically coupled to opposing ends of said plurality of CNT-based conductors with a portion of each of said plurality of CNT-based conductors spanning between each pair of said spaced-apart electrodes comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged end-to-end and substantially aligned along an axis; monitoring electrical properties of said plurality of CNT-based conductors when the portion of the structure is experiencing baseline levels of at least one of the parameters of strain, temperature, and pressure to establish a baseline response; and continually monitoring the electrical properties over time to identify any change from the baseline response, wherein a change in the electrical properties of said plurality of CNT-based conductors is indicative of changes in the at least one parameter experienced by the portion of the structure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of detecting changes experienced by a structure, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling at least one sensor to a portion of the structure, each said sensor comprising (i) a substrate adapted to be coupled to a portion of a structure, (ii) a plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT)- based conductors operatively positioned on said substrate and arranged side-by-side to one another, and (iii) at least one pair of spaced-apart electrodes electrically coupled to opposing ends of said plurality of CNT-based conductors with a portion of each of said plurality of CNT-based conductors spanning between each pair of said spaced-apart electrodes comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged end-to-end and substantially aligned along an axis; monitoring electrical properties of said plurality of CNT-based conductors when the portion of the structure is experiencing baseline levels of at least one of the parameters of strain, temperature, and pressure to establish a baseline response; and continually monitoring the electrical properties over time to identify any change in the electrical properties from the baseline response, wherein a change in the electrical properties of said plurality of CNT-based conductors is indicative of changes in the at least one parameter experienced by the portion of the structure. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification