Structural damage detection and analysis system
First Claim
1. A system for electronically recording data about an energy producing event, comprising an event sensing and recording node, wherein said event sensing and recording node includes an energy converting device, a first electronic memory device, and a reading circuit, wherein said energy converting device provides a first voltage, wherein said first voltage varies over a continuous range of values, wherein said energy converting device is connected to record a second voltage in said first electronic memory device when an energy producing event occurs, wherein all energy for recording said second voltage is derived from energy provided by said energy converting device, wherein said reading circuit is connected to said first electronic memory device, wherein said reading circuit is powered from a source of energy other than said energy converting device, wherein when said reading circuit is powered, data having discrete voltage values is provided in said reading circuit determined by said recorded second voltage in said first electronic memory device.
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Abstract
A system for electronically recording an event that provides mechanical energy to a structure includes the structure and an event sensing and recording node. The event sensing and recording node is mounted on the structure and includes a sensor and a first electronic memory. The sensor includes a device for converting the mechanical energy into an electrical signal. The first electronic memory uses energy derived from the electrical signal for electronically recording the event. All energy for sensing the event and recording the event in the first electronic memory is derived from the mechanical energy.
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Citations
124 Claims
- 1. A system for electronically recording data about an energy producing event, comprising an event sensing and recording node, wherein said event sensing and recording node includes an energy converting device, a first electronic memory device, and a reading circuit, wherein said energy converting device provides a first voltage, wherein said first voltage varies over a continuous range of values, wherein said energy converting device is connected to record a second voltage in said first electronic memory device when an energy producing event occurs, wherein all energy for recording said second voltage is derived from energy provided by said energy converting device, wherein said reading circuit is connected to said first electronic memory device, wherein said reading circuit is powered from a source of energy other than said energy converting device, wherein when said reading circuit is powered, data having discrete voltage values is provided in said reading circuit determined by said recorded second voltage in said first electronic memory device.
- 76. A system, comprising a sensor, an energy harvesting device, a first load, and a reading circuit, wherein said sensor includes a device for converting mechanical energy into electricity, wherein said energy harvesting device includes a device for converting electromagnetic radiation energy into electricity, wherein said first load includes a first electronic memory device, wherein said device for converting mechanical energy into electricity provides a first voltage, wherein said first voltage varies over a continuous range of values, wherein said device for converting mechanical energy into electricity is connected to record a second voltage in said first electronic memory device when an energy producing event occurs, wherein all energy for recording said second voltage is derived from energy provided by said energy converting device, and wherein said reading circuit is connected to be powered from electricity derived by said energy harvesting device from said electromagnetic radiation energy, wherein said reading circuit is connected to said first electronic memory device, wherein when said reading circuit is powered, data having discrete voltage values is provided in said reading circuit determined by said recorded second voltage.
- 93. A sensing and memory device, comprising a transducer, a threshold setting circuit, a memory, and a reading circuit, wherein said transducer provides a first voltage, wherein said first voltage varies over a continuous range of values, wherein said threshold setting circuit is connected to set a voltage threshold of at least 2 volts, wherein said transducer and said memory are connected so that when a signal from said transducer exceeds said voltage threshold sufficient charge is provided by said transducer to said memory to record a second voltage in said memory, wherein all energy for recording said second voltage is derived from said transducer, wherein said reading circuit is connected to said memory, wherein said reading circuit is powered by a source other than said transducer, wherein when said reading circuit is powered, data having discrete voltage values is provided in said reading circuit determined by said recorded second voltage in said memory.
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106. A method of sensing and recording a potentially damaging event happening to a structure, comprising:
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a. providing an event sensing and recording node on the structure, wherein said event sensing and recording node includes an energy converting device, a memory, and a reading circuit, wherein said energy converting device provides a first voltage, wherein said first voltage varies over a continuous range of values, wherein said energy converting device is connected to record a second voltage in said memory when an event occurs, wherein said reading circuit is connected to said memory, wherein when said reading circuit is powered, data having discrete voltage values is provided in said reading circuit determined by said recorded second voltage; b. sensing the event with said energy converting device and converting energy of the event into said first voltage; c. recording said second voltage in said memory, wherein all energy for recording said second voltage in said memory is derived from energy provided by the event; and d. powering said reading circuit from a source of energy other than said energy converting device, and reading said memory to provide data having discrete voltage values in said reading circuit determined by said recorded second voltage in said memory. - View Dependent Claims (107, 108, 109, 110, 111)
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112. A system for electronically recording and reading data, comprising a sensor, a memory, a power supply, and a reading circuit, wherein said sensor provides a first voltage, wherein said first voltage varies over a continuous range of values, wherein said sensor is connected to provide a second voltage to said memory, wherein all energy for providing said second voltage to said memory is derived from energy provided by said sensor, wherein said reading circuit is connected to receive power derived from said power supply, wherein said power supply is powered by a source of energy independent of said sensor, wherein said sensor is connected to provide said first voltage during a time when said reading circuit is not receiving power from said power supply, wherein said reading circuit is connected to said memory, wherein when said power supply is providing power to said reading circuit, data having discrete voltage values is provided in said reading circuit determined by said recorded second voltage across said memory.
- 113. A system for electronically recording an energy producing event, comprising an energy converting device, a memory and a reading circuit, wherein said energy converting device provides a first voltage, wherein said first voltage varies over a continuous range of values, wherein said energy converting device is connected to record a second voltage in said memory when an energy producing event occurs, wherein all energy for recording said second voltage is derived from energy provided by said energy converting device, wherein said reading circuit is connected to said memory, wherein when said reading circuit is powered data having discrete voltage values is provided in said reading circuit determined by said recorded second voltage in said memory, wherein all energy for operating said reading device is provided by a source of energy other than said energy converting device.
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118. A method of measuring an energy producing event, comprising:
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a) providing an energy converting device, a memory and a reading device, wherein said energy converting device is mounted to receive energy from the energy producing event, wherein said energy converting device provides a first voltage, wherein said first voltage varies over a continuous range of values, wherein the energy converting device is connected to record a second voltage in said memory when the energy producing event occurs, wherein said reading circuit is connected to said memory, wherein when said reading circuit is powered data having discrete voltage values is provided in said reading circuit determined by said recorded second voltage; b) recording said second analog voltage from the energy producing event in said memory; c) providing said reading device in a sleep mode while recording said second voltage in said memory, wherein all energy for said recording is derived from the energy producing event; and d) waking said reading device and providing power to said reading device, reading said memory with said reading device, and determining magnitude of the energy producing event based on said recording in said memory wherein all energy for operating said reading device is provided by a source of energy other than the energy converting device. - View Dependent Claims (119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124)
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Specification