Passive wireless microphone array
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJohn E. Rogers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring pressure is disclosed. The apparatus can be used to measure static pressures or dynamic pressures as would a conventional microphone, but can be integrated with antenna elements, and can be implemented without need for conductive elements in the array itself to provide the sensed pressure signal for processing. Instead, diaphragm movement is remotely and wirelessly sensed and used to determine pressure.
Claims22
An apparatus for measuring a pressure, comprising:
- a pressure sensor, comprising a circuit board that includes:
- a composite dielectric, comprising:
- a first dielectric layer, having at least one conductive radio frequency (RF) element disposed thereon;
- a third dielectric layer, having a conductive ground plane disposed thereon;
- a second dielectric layer, disposed between the first dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer;
- wherein:
- the second dielectric layer comprises a void at least partially forming a cavity between the first dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer between the conductive RF element and the conductive ground plane;
- and
- the first dielectric layer forms a pressure sensitive diaphragm with the cavity.
A method of measuring a pressure, comprising:
- transmitting an incident electromagnetic wave to interrogate an integrated antenna and pressure sensor, the pressure sensor comprising a circuit board having a composite dielectric comprising:
- a first dielectric layer, having at least one conductive RF element disposed thereon;
- a third dielectric layer, having a conductive ground plane disposed thereon;
- a second dielectric layer, disposed between the first dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer;
- wherein:
- the second dielectric layer comprises a void at least partially forming a cavity between the first dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer between the conductive RF element and the conductive ground plane;
- the first dielectric layer forms a pressure sensitive diaphragm with the cavity;
- wirelessly receiving a reflected electromagnetic wave, the reflected electromagnetic wave having a portion of the incident electromagnetic wave reflected from the conductive RF element displaced by diaphragm movement due to the pressure;
- and
- processing the received reflected electromagnetic wave to determine the measured pressure.
A method of forming an integrated antenna and pressure sensor, comprising:
- disposing a conductive RF element on a top surface of a first dielectric layer;
- disposing a conductive ground plane on a top surface of a third dielectric layer;
- processing a second dielectric layer to create a void therein;
- and
- laminating the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer, wherein upon lamination, the void is disposed between the conductive RF element and the conductive ground plane and forms a cavity disposed between the conductive RF element and the conductive ground plane.
An integrated antenna and pressure sensor, formed by performing steps comprising the steps of:
- disposing a conductive RF element on a top surface of a first dielectric layer;
- disposing a conductive ground plane on a top surface of a third dielectric layer;
- processing a second dielectric layer to create a void therein;
- and
- laminating the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer, and a third dielectric layer, wherein upon lamination, the void is disposed between the conductive RF element and the conductive ground plane and forms a cavity disposed between the conductive RF element and the conductive ground plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.