Multi-dimensional damage detection

• US 9,365,302 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Gibson, Tracy L., Williams, Martha K., Lewis, Mark E., Roberson, Luke B., Snyder, Sarah J., Medelius, Pedro J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BENEDIK, JUSTIN M
• Application Number:
  US14/982,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20160114911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 168 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/2227 Inflating
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/52 Protection, safety or emergency devices; Survival aids
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/56 Protection against meteoroids or space debris
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/20 Investigating the presence of flaws
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time

Abstract

Methods and systems may provide for a structure having a plurality of interconnected panels, wherein each panel has a plurality of detection layers separated from one another by one or more non-detection layers. The plurality of detection layers may form a grid of conductive traces. Additionally, a monitor may be coupled to each grid of conductive traces, wherein the monitor is configured to detect damage to the plurality of interconnected panels in response to an electrical property change with respect to one or more of the conductive traces. In one example, the structure is part of an inflatable space platform such as a spacecraft or habitat.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a platform structure including a plurality of interconnected panels, wherein each panel has a plurality of detection layers separated from one another by one or more non-detection layers, and wherein the plurality of detection layers form a grid of conductive traces and wherein each detection layer includes one or more known defect traces, and wherein the panel has a trace continuity signature that is defined by the known defect traces of the detection layers in the panel; and

a monitor coupled to each grid of conductive traces, wherein the monitor is configured to detect damage to the plurality of interconnected panels in response to an electrical property change with respect to one or more of the conductive traces.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each detection layer includes a substrate and a plurality of conductive traces coupled to the substrate.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein conductive traces of successive detection layers are substantially perpendicular to one another.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the grids have a non-uniform resolution.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitor is configured to selectively deactivate one or more of the plurality of detection layers or sensing lines based on a depth detection parameter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitor is configured to generate one or more of a diagnostic output and a prognostic output based on the electrical property change.

7. The system of claim 1, further including a circuit substrate coupled to an outside layer of each panel.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the circuit substrate includes a plurality of inside conductive pads and a plurality of outside conductive pads disposed adjacent to a perimeter of each panel, and wherein the plurality of inside conductive pads and the plurality of outside conductive pads are electrically connected to a grid of conductive traces corresponding to each panel.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each detection layer includes a plurality of known defect traces, and wherein each panel has a trace continuity signature that is defined by the known defect traces of the detection layers in the panel.