Washer assembly and joint monitoring system employing the same
First Claim
1. A washer assembly for use with a fastener, the washer assembly comprising:
- a first conductive portion;
a second conductive portion;
an insulating portion disposed between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, wherein the first conductive portion, the second conductive portion, and the insulating portion form a variable capacitor having a capacitance based on an amount of force applied thereto by the fastener; and
a wireless transponder unit including a control unit electrically connected to said variable capacitor and an antenna electrically connected to said control unit, the control unit being configured to sense the capacitance of the variable capacitor, to generate information representing said capacitance, and to output said information to a wireless reader unit via said antenna,wherein one of the first conductive portion, the insulating portion, and the second conductive portion includes an extended portion that extends beyond the edges of the other of the first conductive portion, the insulating portion, and the second conductive portion; and
wherein said wireless transponder unit is disposed on said extended portion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A washer assembly is for use with a fastener. The washer assembly includes a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and an insulating portion disposed between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion. The first conductive portion, the second conductive portion, and the insulating portion form a variable capacitor having a capacitance based on an amount of force applied thereto by the fastener. A wireless transponder unit includes a control unit electrically connected to the variable capacitor and an antenna electrically connected to the control unit. The control unit is configured to sense the capacitance of the variable capacitor, to generate information representing the capacitance, and to output the information to a wireless reader unit via the antenna.
9 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A washer assembly for use with a fastener, the washer assembly comprising:
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a first conductive portion; a second conductive portion; an insulating portion disposed between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, wherein the first conductive portion, the second conductive portion, and the insulating portion form a variable capacitor having a capacitance based on an amount of force applied thereto by the fastener; and a wireless transponder unit including a control unit electrically connected to said variable capacitor and an antenna electrically connected to said control unit, the control unit being configured to sense the capacitance of the variable capacitor, to generate information representing said capacitance, and to output said information to a wireless reader unit via said antenna, wherein one of the first conductive portion, the insulating portion, and the second conductive portion includes an extended portion that extends beyond the edges of the other of the first conductive portion, the insulating portion, and the second conductive portion; and
wherein said wireless transponder unit is disposed on said extended portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A washer assembly for use with a fastener, the washer assembly comprising:
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a first conductive portion; a second conductive portion; an insulating portion disposed between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, wherein the first conductive portion, the second conductive portion, and the insulating portion form a variable capacitor having a capacitance based on an amount of force applied thereto by the fastener; and a wireless transponder unit including a control unit electrically connected to said variable capacitor and an antenna electrically connected to said variable capacitor, the control unit being configured to output information to a wireless reader unit via said antenna, wherein a change in the capacitance of the variable capacitor causes a change in a resonant frequency of the wireless transponder unit, and wherein when the force applied to the variable capacitor is within a predetermined range, the resonant frequency of the wireless transponder unit is within an operating frequency range of the wireless reader unit, and when the force applied to the variable capacitor is outside the predetermined range, the resonant frequency of the wireless transponder unit is outside the operating frequency range of the wireless reader unit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A washer assembly for use with a fastener, the washer assembly comprising:
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a first conductive portion; a second conductive portion; an insulating portion disposed between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, wherein the first conductive portion, the second conductive portion, and the insulating portion form a variable capacitor having a capacitance based on an amount of force applied thereto by the fastener, and a wireless transponder unit including a control unit electrically connected to said variable capacitor and an antenna electrically connected to said variable capacitor, the control unit being configured to output information to a wireless reader unit via said antenna, wherein a change in the capacitance of the variable capacitor causes a change in a resonant frequency of the wireless transponder unit, and wherein one of the first conductive portion, the insulating portion, and the second conductive portion includes an extended portion that extends beyond the edges of the other of the first conductive portion, the insulating portion, and the second conductive portion; and
wherein said wireless transponder unit is disposed on said extended portion.
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19. A joint monitoring system for monitoring a joint, the joint monitoring system comprising:
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a first member; a second member; a fastener structured to fasten the first member and the second member together to form the joint; a washer assembly disposed between a portion of the fastener and one of the first member and the second member, the washer assembly comprising; a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and an insulating portion disposed between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion, wherein the first conductive portion, the second conductive portion, and the insulating portion form a variable capacitor having a capacitance based on an amount of force applied thereto by the fastener; a wireless transponder unit including a control unit electrically connected to said variable capacitor and an antenna electrically connected to said control unit, the control unit being configured to sense the capacitance of the variable capacitor, to generate information representing said capacitance, and to output said information via said antenna; and a wireless reader unit configured to receive said outputted information, wherein one of the first conductive portion, the insulating portion, and the second conductive portion includes an extended portion that extends beyond the edges of the other of the first conductive portion, the insulating portion, and the second conductive portion; and
wherein said wireless transponder unit is disposed on said extended portion. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification