Drive, transmit & receive circuit for structural health monitoring systems
First Claim
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1. A transducer for use in a structural health monitoring system, comprising:
- a transducer element including a first side and a second side and configured to be coupled to a test structure;
a transmit assembly including a voltage driver coupled to the first side and the second side of the transducer element, the voltage driver configured to produce a drive signal to the first side and an inverse of the drive signal to the second side;
a receive assembly coupled to the transducer element, the receive assembly configured to receive mechanical pulses from the test structure; and
a transmit/receive switch coupled to the receive assembly and the transmit assembly, the transmit/receive switch open when the transmit assembly is providing the drive signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A transducer for use in a structural health monitoring system includes a single transducer element. The transducer includes a transmit assembly coupled to the single transducer element. This assembly is configured to produce a multi-cycle square wave drive signal for stimulating the transducer. Additionally, a transmit/receive switch coupled to the single transducer element is provided. This assembly is configured to isolate the drive signal from the receive assembly used to sense the electrical signal generated from any received elastic waves.
18 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A transducer for use in a structural health monitoring system, comprising:
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a transducer element including a first side and a second side and configured to be coupled to a test structure; a transmit assembly including a voltage driver coupled to the first side and the second side of the transducer element, the voltage driver configured to produce a drive signal to the first side and an inverse of the drive signal to the second side; a receive assembly coupled to the transducer element, the receive assembly configured to receive mechanical pulses from the test structure; and a transmit/receive switch coupled to the receive assembly and the transmit assembly, the transmit/receive switch open when the transmit assembly is providing the drive signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 26)
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11. A structural health monitoring system for use as an imbedded monitoring system comprising:
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a transducer element including a first side and a second side and configured to be coupled to a test material; a transmit assembly including a voltage driver coupled to the first side and the second side of the transducer element, the voltage driver configured to produce a drive pulse to the first side and an inverse of the drive pulse to the second side; a receive assembly coupled to the transducer element, the receive assembly configured to receive mechanical pulses from the test material and generate characteristic data relating to the test material in response thereto; a transmit/receive switch coupled between the receive assembly and the transmit assembly, the transmit/receive switch open when the transmit assembly is providing the drive pulse; and a processor coupled to the receive assembly, the processor configured to evaluate the characteristic data generated by the receive assembly. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A transducer having a single transducer element for use in a structural health monitoring system permanently mounted to a test material, the transducer comprising:
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a transmit assembly coupled to the single transducer element, the transmit assembly comprising; a voltage driver coupled to a first side of the transducer element and a second side of the transducer element, the voltage driver configured to provide a drive pulse comprising an alternate voltage to the first side of the transducer element and then to the second side of the transducer element; a receive assembly coupled to the single transducer element, the receive assembly configured to receive mechanical pulses from the test material; and a transmit/receive switch coupled to the receive assembly and the transmit assembly, the transmit/receive switch open when the transmit assembly is providing a drive pulse. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification