Wireless surface acoustic wave corrosion sensor and interrogation system for concrete structures
First Claim
1. A surface acoustic wave sensor disposed in or on a material, the sensor comprising;
- an antenna comprising at least one antenna element and a sacrificial link comprising a portion of the at least one antenna element, wherein the sacrificial link is exposed to degrading elements within or on a surface of the material, and wherein operating characteristics of the antenna are responsive to a condition of the sacrificial link;
a surface acoustic wave transducer responsive to an interrogation signal received by the antenna, the transducer for generating an incident surface acoustic wave responsive to the interrogation signal;
a reflector responsive to the incident surface acoustic wave for creating a reflected surface acoustic wave;
the reflected surface acoustic wave received by the transducer;
the transducer for creating a response signal responsive to the reflected surface acoustic wave; and
the response signal transmitted from the antenna, characteristics of the response signal dependent on a condition of the sacrificial link.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A SAW sensor disposed in on a material. The sensor comprises an antenna having a sacrificial link in at least one antenna element, wherein the sacrificial link is exposed to degrading elements within or on a surface of the material, a SAW transducer responsive to an interrogation signal for generating an incident acoustic wave, a reflector responsive to the incident SAW for creating a reflected SAW, the reflected SAW received by the transducer, the transducer for creating a response signal responsive to the reflected SAW, and the response signal transmitted from the antenna, characteristics of the response signal dependent on a condition of the sacrificial link.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A surface acoustic wave sensor disposed in or on a material, the sensor comprising;
-
an antenna comprising at least one antenna element and a sacrificial link comprising a portion of the at least one antenna element, wherein the sacrificial link is exposed to degrading elements within or on a surface of the material, and wherein operating characteristics of the antenna are responsive to a condition of the sacrificial link; a surface acoustic wave transducer responsive to an interrogation signal received by the antenna, the transducer for generating an incident surface acoustic wave responsive to the interrogation signal; a reflector responsive to the incident surface acoustic wave for creating a reflected surface acoustic wave; the reflected surface acoustic wave received by the transducer; the transducer for creating a response signal responsive to the reflected surface acoustic wave; and the response signal transmitted from the antenna, characteristics of the response signal dependent on a condition of the sacrificial link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A surface acoustic wave sensor for monitoring a condition of rebars within concrete, the sensor comprising;
-
an antenna comprising at least one antenna element and a sacrificial link comprising a portion of the at least one antenna element, wherein the sacrificial link is exposed to degrading elements within or on a surface of the concrete, and wherein operating characteristics of the antenna are responsive to a condition of the sacrificial link; a surface acoustic wave transducer responsive to an interrogation signal received by the antenna, the transducer for generating an incident surface acoustic wave responsive to the interrogation signal; a reflector responsive to the incident surface acoustic wave for creating a reflected surface acoustic wave; the reflected surface acoustic wave received by the transducer; the transducer for creating a response signal responsive to the reflected surface acoustic wave; the response signal transmitted from the antenna, characteristics of the response signal dependent on a condition of the sacrificial link and thereby dependent on a condition of the rebars; and an insulating layer over the surface acoustic wave sensor except for the sacrificial link.
-
Specification