System and method for monitoring piezoelectric material performance
AssigneeU.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsRobert Moses, Robert Fox, Richard Chattin, Qamar Shams, Christopher Fox, Melanie Fox
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Abstract
A system and method are provided for monitoring performance capacity of a piezoelectric material that may form part of an actuator or sensor device. A switch is used to selectively electrically couple an inductor to the piezoelectric material to form an inductor-capacitor circuit. Resonance is induced in the inductor-capacitor circuit when the switch is operated to create the circuit. The resonance of the inductor-capacitor circuit is monitored with the frequency of the resonance being indicative of performance capacity of the device's piezoelectric material.
Claims33
A system for monitoring performance capacity of a piezoelectric material, comprising:
- a piezoelectric material;
- an inductor;
- switch means coupled to said inductor and operable to selectively (i) electrically couple said inductor to said piezoelectric material wherein an inductor-capacitor circuit is formed with said piezoelectric material forming a capacitor in said inductor-capacitor circuit, and (ii) electrically decouple said inductor from said piezoelectric material;
- means for inducing resonance in said inductor-capacitor circuit;
- and
- means for monitoring said resonance wherein a frequency of said resonance is indicative of performance capacity of said piezoelectric material.
A method of monitoring performance capacity of a piezoelectric material, comprising the steps of:
- coupling an inductor to a piezoelectric material wherein an inductor-capacitor circuit is formed with said piezoelectric material forming a capacitor in said inductor-capacitor circuit;
- inducing resonance in said inductor-capacitor circuit;
- monitoring a frequency of said resonance;
- and
- repeating said steps of coupling, inducing and monitoring wherein changes in said frequency are indicative of changes in performance capacity of said piezoelectric material.
A system for monitoring performance capacity of a device that includes one of a power source and a signal conditioner coupled to a piezoelectric material, comprising:
- an inductor;
- first switch means coupled to said inductor and adapted to be coupled to said piezoelectric material, said first switch means operable to selectively (i) electrically couple said inductor to said piezoelectric material wherein an inductor-capacitor circuit is formed with said piezoelectric material forming a capacitor in said inductor-capacitor circuit, and (ii) electrically decouple said inductor from said piezoelectric material;
- second switch means adapted to be coupled between said piezoelectric material and one of said power source and said signal conditioner, said second switch means operable to electrically couple and decouple said piezoelectric material from said one of said power source and said signal conditioner;
- means for inducing resonance in said inductor-capacitor circuit;
- and
- means for monitoring said resonance when said second switch means is operated to decouple said piezoelectric material from said one of said power source and said signal conditioner, wherein a frequency of said resonance is indicative of performance capacity of said device.
A system for monitoring performance capacity of a piezoelectric device having one of a power source and a signal conditioner coupled thereto, comprising:
- a piezoelectric device that includes a piezoelectric material coupled to one of a power source and a signal conditioner;
- an inductor;
- first switch means coupled to said inductor and said piezoelectric material, said first switch means operable to selectively (i) electrically couple said inductor to said piezoelectric material wherein an inductor-capacitor circuit is formed with said piezoelectric material forming a capacitor in said inductor-capacitor circuit, and (ii) electrically decouple said inductor from said piezoelectric material;
- second switch means coupled between said piezoelectric material and one of said power source and said signal conditioner, said second switch means operable to electrically couple and decouple said piezoelectric material from said one of said power source and said signal conditioner;
- means for inducing resonance in said inductor-capacitor circuit;
- and
- means for monitoring said resonance when said second switch means is operated to decouple said piezoelectric material from said one of said power source and said signal conditioner, wherein a frequency of said resonance is indicative of performance capacity of said device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.