Environmental sensor with tensioned wire exhibiting varying transmission characteristics in response to environmental conditions
First Claim
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1. A sensor, comprising:
- a housing having a first end and a second end;
a diaphragm proximate the first end and coupled to the housing;
an attachment plate coupled to the housing such that an interior is defined within the housing and between the diaphragm and the attachment plate;
transmitting circuitry configured to generate an ultrasonic signal, the ultrasonic signal comprising an ultrasonic mechanical wave; and
a wire coupled in tension between the attachment plate and the diaphragm such that the wire exhibits a varying ultrasonic signal transmission characteristic as the tension between the attachment plate and the diaphragm changes, the wire coupled to receive the ultrasonic signal generated by the transmitting circuitry for use in measuring an environmental condition based on the varying ultrasonic signal transmission characteristic.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for measuring environmental conditions of a sensing location, where a sensor including a measuring surface and a wire coupled in tension to the measuring surface over which ultrasonic signals may be transmitted and sensed. Signal analysis of ultrasonic signals transmitted over the tensioned wire are analyzed to measure one or more environmental conditions acting on the measuring surface.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A sensor, comprising:
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a housing having a first end and a second end; a diaphragm proximate the first end and coupled to the housing; an attachment plate coupled to the housing such that an interior is defined within the housing and between the diaphragm and the attachment plate; transmitting circuitry configured to generate an ultrasonic signal, the ultrasonic signal comprising an ultrasonic mechanical wave; and a wire coupled in tension between the attachment plate and the diaphragm such that the wire exhibits a varying ultrasonic signal transmission characteristic as the tension between the attachment plate and the diaphragm changes, the wire coupled to receive the ultrasonic signal generated by the transmitting circuitry for use in measuring an environmental condition based on the varying ultrasonic signal transmission characteristic. - 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, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of measuring a force with a sensor of the type that includes a housing having a first end and a second end, a diaphragm proximate the first end and coupled to the housing, an attachment plate coupled to the housing such that an interior is defined within the housing and between the diaphragm and the attachment plate, and a wire coupled in tension between the attachment plate and the diaphragm, the method comprising:
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transmitting an ultrasonic signal through the wire, wherein the ultrasonic signal comprises an ultrasonic mechanical wave; and measuring a force on the diaphragm of the sensor by sensing a sensed ultrasonic signal from the wire and determining a tension on the wire based upon a varying ultrasonic signal transmission characteristic of the sensed ultrasonic signal. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method of measuring a force with a sensor of a type that includes a housing having a first end and a second end, a diaphragm proximate the first end and coupled to the housing, an attachment plate coupled to the housing such that an interior is defined within the housing and between the diaphragm and the attachment plate, and a wire coupled in tension between the attachment plate and the diaphragm, the method comprising:
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generating an ultrasonic signal at transmitting circuitry coupled to the wire; transmitting the ultrasonic signal through the wire as an ultrasonic mechanical wave with the transmitting circuitry; measuring the force on the diaphragm of the sensor by sensing the ultrasonic signal from the wire and determining a tension on the wire based upon a varying ultrasonic signal transmission characteristic of the sensed ultrasonic signal. - View Dependent Claims (60)
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61. A sensor comprising:
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a housing having a first end and a second end; a diaphragm proximate the first end and coupled to the housing; an attachment plate coupled to the housing such that an interior is defined within the housing and between the diaphragm and the attachment plate; transmitting circuitry configured to generate an ultrasonic signal, the ultrasonic signal comprising an ultrasonic mechanical wave; and a wire coupled in tension between the attachment plate and the diaphragm such that the wire exhibits a varying ultrasonic signal transmission characteristic as the tension between the attachment plate and the diaphragm changes, wherein the wire comprises a metal or alloy coupled to receive the ultrasonic signal generated by the transmitting circuitry for use in measuring an environmental condition based on the varying ultrasonic signal transmission characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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64. A method of measuring a force with a sensor of a type that includes a housing having a first end and a second end, a diaphragm proximate the first end and coupled to the housing, an attachment plate coupled to the housing such that an interior is defined within the housing and between the diaphragm and the attachment plate, and a wire comprising metal or alloy and coupled in tension between the attachment plate and the diaphragm, the method comprising:
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transmitting an ultrasonic signal through the wire, wherein the ultrasonic signal comprises an ultrasonic mechanical wave; and measuring the force on the diaphragm of the sensor by sensing a sensed ultrasonic signal from the wire and determining a tension on the wire based upon a varying ultrasonic signal transmission characteristic of the sensed ultrasonic signal. - View Dependent Claims (65)
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66. A sensor comprising:
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a housing having a first end and a second end; a diaphragm proximate the first end and coupled to the housing; an attachment plate coupled to the housing such that an interior is defined within the housing and between the diaphragm and the attachment plate; a wire coupled in tension between the attachment plate and the diaphragm such that the wire exhibits a varying ultrasonic signal transmission characteristic as the tension between the attachment plate and the diaphragm changes; and transmitting circuitry coupled to the wire and configured to generate an ultrasonic signal for transmission through the wire as an ultrasonic mechanical wave. - View Dependent Claims (67)
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Specification