Non-powered impact recorder

• US 9,121,785 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SARCOS LC (Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp.)
• Original Assignee: SARCOS LC (Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp.)
• Inventors: Smith, Fraser M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shabman, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US13/454,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20130276538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/06 by measuring the permanent deformation of gauges, e.g. of compressed bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/183 by measuring variations of frequency of vibrating piezo-resistive material
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0052 measuring forces due to impact G01L5/0061, G01L5/14 take precedence; impact testing of structures G01M7/08; impact testing of material G01N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 7/08 Shock-testing

Abstract

A non-powered impact recorder is disclosed. The non-powered impact recorder includes a resonator tuned for a resonant response within a predetermined frequency range. A reduced cross-sectional area portion is formed within the resonator and configured to structurally fail when the resonator experiences the resonant response. Additionally, the non-powered impact recorder includes an electric circuit element disposed about the reduced cross-sectional area portion of the resonator. Upon structural failure of the resonator, the electric circuit element is broken to cause a discontinuity in the electric circuit element. Interrogation of the discontinuous electric circuit element facilitates approximation of impact frequency and/or impact energy.

Claims

1. A non-powered impact recorder, comprising:

a plurality of resonators, each resonator tuned for a resonant response within a predetermined frequency range,

a reduced cross-sectional area portion formed within each of the plurality of resonators, each resonator configured to structurally fail when the resonator experiences the resonant response at a predetermined amplitude, wherein at least two of the plurality of resonators are tuned for a resonant response within the same predetermined frequency range, the reduced cross-sectional area portions of each of the at least two resonators being configured to structurally fail at different amplitudes; and

an electric circuit element disposed about the reduced cross-sectional area portion of each resonator,

wherein upon structural failure of the resonator, the electric circuit element is broken to cause a discontinuity in the electric circuit element, and

wherein interrogation of the discontinuous electric circuit element facilitates approximation of at least one of an impact frequency and an impact energy.

2. The impact recorder of claim 1, wherein the reduced cross-sectional area portion is configured to structurally fail at a predetermined magnitude of the resonant response.

3. The impact recorder of claim 1, wherein the electric circuit element comprises a conductive trace.

4. The impact recorder of claim 1, further comprising terminals electrically coupled to opposite ends of the electric circuit element to electrically couple with leads from an interrogator.

5. The impact recorder of claim 1, further comprising a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) tag electrically coupled to the electric circuit element to receive a wireless signal from an interrogator.

6. The impact recorder of claim 5, wherein the discontinuous electric circuit element prevents the RFID tag from responding to interrogation.

7. The impact recorder of claim 5, wherein the RFID tag is configured to respond to interrogation with at least one of a first response and a second response, a continuous electric circuit element causing the first response and the discontinuous electric circuit element causing the second response.

8. The impact recorder of claim 5, wherein the RFID tag is configured to respond to interrogation with a continuity status of the electric circuit element.

9. The impact recorder of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the resonators is formed into a substrate.

10. The impact recorder of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the resonators comprises a cantilever beam.

11. The impact recorder of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of resonators are tuned for resonant responses within different predetermined frequency ranges.

12. The impact recorder of claim 11, wherein at least some of the resonators differ from one another in at least one of length, width, thickness, and material.

13. The impact recorder of claim 1, wherein the at least two resonators differ from one another in at least one of length, width, thickness, and material.

14. The impact recorder of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resonators comprises an array of cantilever beams of ascending length.

15. The impact recorder of claim 1, further comprising a pressure-sensing diaphragm, wherein the impact recorder is configured as a blast sensor that detects energy content and maxima of a blast pressure wave experienced over preselected frequency windows.

16. An impact recorder and retrieval system, comprising:

an interrogator; and

a non-powered impact recorder having

a plurality of resonators, each resonator tuned for a resonant response within a predetermined frequency range,

a reduced cross-sectional area portion formed within each resonator, configured to structurally fail when the respective resonator experiences the resonant response at a predetermined magnitude, wherein at least two of the plurality of resonators are tuned for a resonant response within the same predetermined frequency range, the reduced cross-sectional area portions of each of the at least two resonators being configured to structurally fail at different amplitudes, and

an electric circuit element disposed about the reduced cross-sectional area portion of each resonator,

wherein upon structural failure of the resonator, the electric circuit element is broken to cause a discontinuity in the electric circuit element, and

wherein interrogation of the discontinuous electric circuit element by the interrogator facilitates approximation of at least one of an impact frequency and an impact energy.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a database having at least one of an impact frequency failure threshold and an impact energy failure threshold for each resonator.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the interrogator applies at least one of a voltage and a current to determine continuity of one or more electric circuit elements.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the interrogator transmits a wireless signal to determine continuity of one or more electric circuit elements.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein at least two of the plurality of resonators are tuned for resonant responses within different predetermined frequency ranges.

20. A method for facilitating non-powered recording of an impact event, comprising:

providing a plurality of resonators, each resonator tuned for a resonant response within a predetermined frequency range;

facilitating structural failure of each resonator when the resonator experiences the resonant response, wherein at least two of the plurality of resonators are tuned for a resonant response within the same predetermined frequency range and are configured to structurally fail at different magnitudes;

facilitating a discontinuity in an electric circuit element due to the structural failure of the resonator; and

facilitating interrogation of the electric circuit element to approximate at least one of an impact frequency and an impact energy.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein facilitating structural failure of each resonator comprises forming a reduced cross-sectional area portion within each resonator.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein facilitating a discontinuity in an electric circuit element comprises disposing the electric circuit element about the reduced cross-sectional area portion of the resonator.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein structural failure of the resonator occurs when the resonator experiences resonant response at a predetermined magnitude.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the resonator comprises at least two resonators tuned for resonant responses within different predetermined frequency ranges.