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US 11,456,408 B1Granted
Air-water-sediment interface detection sensors, systems, and methods
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJinHyeong Yoo, Nicholas J. Jones, Rachel N. Jacobs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Active-mode sensors are provided, and may be used to detect air, water, and sediment interfaces. Systems and methods for sensing air, water, and sediment are also provided. The sensors are robust and withstand forces due to moving or shifting water and sediment.
Claims20
A sensor, comprising:
- a magnetostrictive beam;
- a clamp provided on the magnetostrictive beam, configured so a first portion of the magnetostrictive beam on a first side of the clamp undergoes fixed-free vibration in response to changes in magnetic fields, and a second portion of the magnetostrictive beam on a second side of the clamp;
- a permanent magnet provided on the second portion of the magnetostrictive beam;
- and
- pickup and driver coils provided on either side of the clamp,
- where the driver coil generates a known magnetic field, and the pickup coil measures the magnetic field response of the first portion of the magnetostrictive beam to the known magnetic field.
3 more elements
A method for sensing, comprising:
- providing a volume that contains one more media comprising air, water, and sediment in varying amounts;
- providing two or more sensors within the volume, each sensor comprising a magnetostrictive beam configured to have a first portion of that undergoes fixed-free vibration in response to changes in magnetic fields, and a second portion having a permanent magnet affixed thereto;
- generating a known magnetic field around the magnetostrictive beam of each of the two or more sensors;
- detecting a magnetic field response in the first portion of the magnetostrictive beam of each of the two or more sensors;
- and
- where the magnetic field response varies in accordance with a medium surrounding each magnetostrictive beam.
3 more elements
A sensing system, comprising:
- an array of active-mode magnetostrictive sensors, each sensor comprising a magnetostrictive beam configured to have a first portion of that undergoes fixed-free vibration in response to changes in magnetic fields, and a second portion having a permanent magnet affixed thereto;
- and
- a computer comprising a processing apparatus programmed to
- generate a known magnetic field around each sensor,
- receive a signal comprising a magnetic field response from each sensor,
- compare the magnetic field response from each sensor with a calibration curve, and
- identify the environment surrounding each of the sensors based on the comparison between the magnetic field response and the calibration curve.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.