System and method for sensing high-frequency vibrations
AssigneeVelvetwire LLC
InventorsEric Oleg Bodnar, Jacob Van Reenen Pretorius
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for reporting one or more events of interest in a structure, including an apparatus configured to be securely adhered to a surface of the structure, the apparatus having a flexible portion which conforms to a shape of the surface of the structure. The flexible portion containing a sensor to measure mechanical strain in the surface of the structure, and conductive traces to connect the sensor to electronics. The electronics to capture and buffer a signal output by the sensor, and a computational element to analyze the captured signal into a polynomial representing an event of interest. The system further including a wireless communication element to transmit the event of interest.
Claims20
A system for reporting one or more events of interest in a structure comprising:
- an apparatus configured to be securely adhered to a surface of the structure;
- a flexible portion of the apparatus which conforms to a shape of the surface of the structure;
- the flexible portion containing a single high frequency soft-polymer sensor to measure mechanical strain in the surface of the structure;
- the flexible portion further containing conductive traces to connect the sensor to electronics, the electronics to capture and buffer a signal output by the sensor;
- and
- a computational element to analyze the captured signal from the single high frequency soft-polymer sensor and calculate a polynomial representing an event of interest.
A method for monitoring events of interest in a structure using a securely adhered apparatus, the apparatus including a flexible portion and a processing portion, wherein the flexible portion of the apparatus conforms to an irregular shape of a surface of the structure, wherein the flexible portion contains a soft-polymer sensor, the method comprising:
- measuring mechanical strain in the surface of the structure using a single high frequency soft-polymer sensor;
- sending data from the sensor through conductive traces in the flexible portion to connect the processing portion;
- capturing and buffering an output signal of the sensor;
- analyzing the captured signal from the single high frequency soft-polymer sensor and calculating a polynomial representing an event of interest;
- transmitting one or more of the events of interest.
A system for detecting and reporting on an event of interest in a structure, the system comprising:
- a flexible portion adhered to a surface of the structure, the flexible portion conforming to a shape of the structure;
- a single soft-polymer sensor in the flexible portion configured to measure high frequency mechanical strain on the surface of the structure;
- an electronics portion to capture and buffer a signal output by the sensor;
- a computational element to analyze the buffered signal and calculate a polynomial representing an event of interest from the signal output by the single soft-polymer sensor;
- an encapsulation enclosing the flexible portion, the sensor, and the computational element into the system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.