# US 11,113,594 B2 · Microwave diagnostics and passive sensors for pipeline, well-bore, and boiler-tube monitoring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,113,594 B2 - Document ID: US11113594B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/504,774 - Filed: 2019-07-08 - Published: 2020-01-09 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-08 - Assignees: U.S. Department of Energy - Applicants: United States Department of Energy - Inventors: Paul Ohodnicki; Jagannath Devkota; David W Greve - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11113594B2 ## CPC - G06K 19/07786: {the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole} - G06K 7/10346: {the antenna being of the far field type, e.g. HF types or dipoles} - H01Q 1/2216: {used in interrogator/reader equipment} - H01Q 1/2225: {used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal} - H01Q 1/247: {with frequency mixer, e.g. for direct satellite reception or Doppler radar} - H01Q 9/0407: {Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna (dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40)} - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract Materials, methods of making, and methods of using an integrated wireless detector for real time interrogating metallic tubular structures comprising: an RF patch antenna; a passive surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor; and data analytic methodologies. An embodiment relates to interrogating a metallic structure having a uniform cross section using an antenna which launches electromagnetic radiation. A sensor may be located within the structure is configured to re-emit electromagnetic radiation modified depending on parameters for which the sensor has been functionalized. An antenna may receive radiation as modified by the sensor, or may receive the transmitted or backscattered radiation directly, without use of a sensor. The antenna then communicates wirelessly with an interrogator providing data which may be used to understand the operational status of the structure in real-time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An integrated wireless detector for interrogating one or more metallic tubular structures, said integrated wireless detector comprising: a metallic tubular structure, wherein the cross section of said metallic tubular structure is approximately uniform; an antenna, wherein said antenna is configured to operate in a radio or microwave frequency range, wherein said antenna propagates electromagnetic radiation within said metallic tubular structure; a sensor comprising a surface acoustic wave sensor at the interior of said metallic tubular structure wherein said sensor is passive and wireless, wherein said electromagnetic radiation excites and interrogates said sensor, wherein said sensor re-emits electromagnetic radiation, wherein said antenna receives said re-emitted electromagnetic radiation; and an interrogator, wherein said interrogator receives data from said antenna, wherein said interrogator processes said data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The integrated wireless detector of claim 1, wherein said metallic tubular structure is a pipe. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The integrated wireless detector of claim 1, wherein said metallic tubular structure is a boiler tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The integrated wireless detector of claim 1, wherein said metallic tubular structure is a wellbore. ### Claim 5 An integrated wireless detector for interrogating metallic tubular structures, said integrated wireless detector comprising: a metallic tubular structure; a patch antenna, wherein said patch antenna is configured to operate in a radio or microwave frequency range, wherein said patch antenna propagates electromagnetic radiation within said metallic tubular structure and receives electromagnetic radiation; a sensor comprising a surface acoustic wave sensor integrated at the interior of said metallic tubular structure, wherein said sensor is passive and wireless, wherein said electromagnetic radiation excites and interrogates said sensor, wherein said patch antenna receives said electromagnetic radiation; and an interrogator, wherein said interrogator receives data from said patch antenna, wherein said interrogator processes said data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The integrated wireless detector of claim 5, wherein said patch antenna launches said electromagnetic radiation in a transmitted configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The integrated wireless detector of claim 5, wherein said patch antenna launches said electromagnetic radiation in a backscattered configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The integrated wireless detector of claim 5, wherein said metallic tubular structure is a pipe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The integrated wireless detector of claim 5, wherein said metallic tubular structure is a boiler tube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The integrated wireless detector of claim 5, wherein said metallic tubular structure is a wellbore. ### Claim 11 A method of interrogating metallic tubular structures, said method comprising: providing a sensor, wherein said sensor is passive, wireless, and configured to monitor a parameter of a metallic tubular structure; integrating said sensor at the interior of said metallic tubular structure; propagating electromagnetic radiation within the guided modes of said metallic tubular structure using an integrated antenna; exciting and interrogating said sensor with said propagating electromagnetic radiation; and receiving electromagnetic radiation emitted by said sensor at an integrated antenna. ### Claim 12 An integrated wireless detector for interrogating one or more metallic tubular structures, said integrated wireless detector comprising: a metallic tubular structure, wherein the cross section of said metallic tubular structure is approximately uniform; a patch antenna, wherein said patch antenna is configured to operate in a radio or microwave frequency range, wherein said patch antenna propagates electromagnetic radiation within said metallic tubular structure; a detector at the interior of said metallic tubular structure wherein said detector is passive and wireless, wherein said electromagnetic radiation excites and interrogates said detector, wherein said detector re-emits electromagnetic radiation, wherein said patch antenna receives said re-emitted electromagnetic radiation; and an interrogator, wherein said interrogator receives data from said patch antenna, wherein said interrogator processes said data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The integrated wireless detector of claim 12, wherein said patch antenna launches said electromagnetic radiation in a transmitted configuration. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The integrated wireless detector of claim 12, wherein said patch antenna launches said electromagnetic radiation in a backscattered configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The integrated wireless detector of claim 12, wherein said metallic tubular structure is a pipe. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The integrated wireless detector of claim 12, wherein said metallic tubular structure is a boiler tube. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The integrated wireless detector of claim 12, wherein said metallic tubular structure is a wellbore.