# US 10,312,733 B2 · Wireless sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,312,733 B2 - Document ID: US10312733B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/326,009 - Filed: 2015-06-30 - Published: 2017-07-27 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-15 - Assignees: The University of Bristol - Applicants: The University of Bristol - Inventors: ChengHuan Zhong; Anthony Croxford; Paul Wilcox - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312733B2 ## CPC - H02J 50/10: using inductive coupling - G01D 11/30: Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments - G01N 29/2475: {Embedded probes, i.e. probes incorporated in objects to be inspected} - G01N 29/2481: {Wireless probes, e.g. with transponders or radio links} - H01F 27/2804: {Printed windings} - H01F 27/2823: {Wires (H01F27/2866 takes precedence)} - H01F 27/2885: {with shields or electrodes (shields or electrodes for pancake coils H01F27/2871; construction of electric or magnetic shields or screens H01F27/36)} - H01F 38/14: Inductive couplings - H02J 50/90: involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES ## Abstract This application relates to a wireless sensor (10) suitable for non-destructive testing of a test object. The sensor comprises a transducer (12) and an electrically conductive transducer coil (16) configured to define an enclosure and being electrically coupled to the transducer to enable the transducer to be inductively operated by a remote device. The enclosure defined by the transducer coil has an internal width dimension that is wider than a corresponding width dimension of the transducer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wireless sensor suitable for non-destructive testing of a test object, the sensor comprising: a transducer; and an electrically conductive planar transducer coil arranged in a generally parallel relationship to an upper surface of the transducer and transversely spaced apart therefrom in a range from zero to no more than five times a thickness of the transducer, the transducer coil configured to define an enclosure and being electrically coupled to the transducer to enable the transducer to be inductively operated by a remote device, wherein the enclosure defined by the transducer coil has an internal width dimension that is wider than a corresponding width dimension of the transducer and a center of the transducer coil is axially aligned with a center of the transducer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure defined by the transducer coil has a plurality of distinct internal width dimensions each of which is wider than a corresponding width dimension of the transducer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A wireless sensor according to claim 2, wherein the enclosure defined by the transducer coil is sized to receive the transducer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A wireless sensor according to claim 3, wherein the transducer coil is mounted coplanar with the transducer, with transducer located within the enclosure defined by the transducer coil. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the transducer coil is mounted relative to the transducer in a generally coaxial, parallel relationship in which the transducer coil is spaced from the transducer by no more than five times the thickness of the transducer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the coil has one or more distinct inner width dimensions each of which is each between 1.01 and 20 times the corresponding outer width dimension of the transducer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the coil has one or more distinct inner width dimensions each of which is at least 1.1times the corresponding outer width dimension of the transducer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A wireless sensor according to claim 6, wherein an inner width dimension of the coil is a diameter and the corresponding outer width dimension of the transducer is a diameter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A wireless sensor according to claim 1 including a layer of electromagnetic interference (EMI) absorber provided between the transducer coil and a coupling face of the sensor, the coupling face being arranged to be coupled to the test object. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A wireless sensor according to claim 9, wherein the layer of EMI absorber is thinner than the transducer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A wireless sensor according to claim 9, wherein the EMI absorber is formed from a flexible material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the transducer coil is formed from a flexible material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises one of a thermal transducer, an ultrasound transducer, a strain gauge, an accelerometer, and an electromagnetic transducer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the coil is arranged as a planar coil. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A test object including one or more wireless sensors according to claim 1 coupled to the test object. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A test object according to claim 15 comprising a composite or metallic component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein a layer of electromagnetic interference (EMI) absorber is provided between the transducer coil and a coupling face of the sensor, the coupling face being arranged to be coupled to the test object, and wherein the layer of EMI absorber comprises a polymer containing metallic filler particles. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A wireless sensor according to claim 1, wherein the transducer coil and transducer are positioned to reduce cancellation of an incident magnetic field by an induced magnetic field without using any ferrite core.