Interrogation network patches for active monitoring of structural health conditions
First Claim
1. A device for monitoring structural health conditions of an object, comprising:
- a piezoelectric device including;
a bottom cover plate;
a plurality of piezoelectric rings concentrically disposed with respect to an axis and positioned on said bottom cover plate;
a plurality of concentric filler rings made from an electrically insulating material, each of said piezoelectric rings being interposed between two adjacent ones of said filler rings;
electrical connection means for communicating electrical signals to said piezoelectric rings;
and a top cover plate positioned over said piezoelectric rings and filler rings, said bottom and top cover plates being adapted to hold said piezoelectric rings and filler rings in place,wherein said electrical connection means are operative to transmit electrical signals that cause one or more of said piezoelectric rings to generate waves or transmit electrical signals developed by one or more of said piezoelectric rings in response to the waves,wherein each of said piezoelectric rings has flat top and bottom surfaces that are perpendicular to said axis and covered with conductive flakes;
and wherein each of said top and bottom cover plates includes a plurality of conductive rings concentrically disposed with respect to said axis, each said conductive ring being in contact with one of said conductive flakes and being electrically insulated from the other conductive rings.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for monitoring structural health conditions of structures. The apparatus includes a piezoelectric device that has a bottom cover plate, piezoelectric rings concentrically disposed with respect to an axis and positioned on the bottom cover plate, and concentric filler rings made from an electrically insulating material. Each of the piezoelectric rings is interposed between two adjacent filler rings. The piezoelectric device also includes electrical connection means for communicating electrical signals to the piezoelectric rings and a top cover plate that is positioned over the piezoelectric rings and filler rings. The electrical connection means are operative to transmit electrical signals that cause one or more of the piezoelectric rings to generate waves or transmit electrical signals developed by one or more of the piezoelectric rings in response to the waves.
50 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A device for monitoring structural health conditions of an object, comprising:
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a piezoelectric device including; a bottom cover plate; a plurality of piezoelectric rings concentrically disposed with respect to an axis and positioned on said bottom cover plate; a plurality of concentric filler rings made from an electrically insulating material, each of said piezoelectric rings being interposed between two adjacent ones of said filler rings; electrical connection means for communicating electrical signals to said piezoelectric rings; and a top cover plate positioned over said piezoelectric rings and filler rings, said bottom and top cover plates being adapted to hold said piezoelectric rings and filler rings in place, wherein said electrical connection means are operative to transmit electrical signals that cause one or more of said piezoelectric rings to generate waves or transmit electrical signals developed by one or more of said piezoelectric rings in response to the waves, wherein each of said piezoelectric rings has flat top and bottom surfaces that are perpendicular to said axis and covered with conductive flakes; and wherein each of said top and bottom cover plates includes a plurality of conductive rings concentrically disposed with respect to said axis, each said conductive ring being in contact with one of said conductive flakes and being electrically insulated from the other conductive rings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A device for monitoring structural health conditions of an object, comprising:
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a piezoelectric device including; a plurality of filler rings concentrically disposed with respect to an axis and formed from an electrically insulating material; a plurality of piezoelectric rings, each said ring being concentrically interposed between two adjacent ones of said filler rings and having flat top and bottom surfaces that are perpendicular to said axis and covered with top and bottom conductive flakes, respectively; a plurality of top conductive rings concentrically disposed with respect to said axis, each said top conductive ring having a flat bottom surface in contact with one of said top conductive flakes and being electrically insulated from the other top conductive rings; one or more top covering layers and top base layers alternatively stacked on said filler rings and configured to cover at least one of said plurality of top conductive rings; top electrical connection means for communicating electric signals to said top conductive rings; a plurality of bottom conductive rings concentrically disposed with respect to said axis, each said bottom conductive ring having a flat top surface in contact with one of said bottom conductive flakes and being electrically insulated from the other bottom conductive rings; one or more bottom covering layers and bottom base layers alternatively stacked beneath said filler rings and configured to cover at least one of said plurality of bottom conductive rings; and bottom electrical connection means for communicating electric signals to said bottom conductive rings; wherein said top and bottom electrical connection means are operative to transmit electrical signals that cause one or more of said piezoelectric rings to generate the waves or transmit electrical signals developed by one or more of said piezoelectric rings in response to the waves. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification