Means to detect damage in composite material panels
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of panels;
comprising;
a first composite panel including a first optical fiber embedded therein, the first optical fiber being arranged in a first pattern; and
a second composite panel including a second optical fiber embedded therein, the second optical fiber being arranged in a second pattern; and
means for detecting continuously along the extent of at least said first optical fiber and said second optical fiber, an existence of and a location of physical impact caused broken or kinked portions of one of said first optical fiber and said second optical fiber, comprising;
a time domain reflectometer;
a switch coupled to said time domain reflectometer;
one or more optical transmitters and receivers coupled to said switch;
a first input port connected to a first end of the first optical fiber, the first input port configured to receive an optical signal from one of the one or more optical transmitters and receivers;
a second input port configured to connect to a first end of the second optical fiber and another one of the one or more optical transmitters and receivers; and
a first reflector connected to a second end of the first optical fiber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure describes an apparatus including a composite panel. The apparatus includes a first composite panel including a first optical fiber embedded therein, the first optical fiber being arranged in a pattern, and a first input port connected to a first end of the first optical fiber, the first input port configured to receive an optical signal from an optical time domain reflectometer. The optical time domain reflectometer is configured to send the optical signal through the first input port and measure a strength of a reflected optical signal that is reflected back from the first optical fiber, wherein the strength indicates a measured optical impedance of the first optical fiber. A measured optical impedance that is substantially the same as a baseline optical impedance for the fiber indicates no damage, while a measured optical impedance that differs from the baseline optical impedance by a predetermined threshold indicates damage.
30 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of panels;
comprising;a first composite panel including a first optical fiber embedded therein, the first optical fiber being arranged in a first pattern; and a second composite panel including a second optical fiber embedded therein, the second optical fiber being arranged in a second pattern; and means for detecting continuously along the extent of at least said first optical fiber and said second optical fiber, an existence of and a location of physical impact caused broken or kinked portions of one of said first optical fiber and said second optical fiber, comprising; a time domain reflectometer; a switch coupled to said time domain reflectometer; one or more optical transmitters and receivers coupled to said switch; a first input port connected to a first end of the first optical fiber, the first input port configured to receive an optical signal from one of the one or more optical transmitters and receivers; a second input port configured to connect to a first end of the second optical fiber and another one of the one or more optical transmitters and receivers; and a first reflector connected to a second end of the first optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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a first composite panel including a first optical fiber embedded therein, the first optical fiber being arranged in a pattern; a first input port connected to a first end of the first optical fiber, the first input port configured to receive an optical signal; a first optical transmitter and receiver connected to the first input port; a second composite panel including a second optical fiber embedded therein, the second optical fiber being arranged in a pattern; and a second input port connected to a first end of the second optical fiber, the second input port configured to receive an optical signal; a second optical transmitter and receiver connected to the second input port; an optical time domain reflectometer connected to the first optical transmitter and receiver; wherein the optical time domain reflectometer is connected to the first optical transmitter and receiver through a switch; and wherein the optical time domain reflectometer is configured to control the operation of the first optical transmitter and receiver and the second optical transmitter and receiver sequentially, and is further configured to measure a strength of a reflected optical signal that is reflected back from the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, wherein the strength of the reflected optical signal indicates a measured physical impact induced breakage or kinking characteristic of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, at any location along said first optical fiber and said second optical fiber.
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Specification