Wireless Sensing System Using Open-Circuit, Electrically-Conductive Spiral-Trace Sensor
AssigneeAdministrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsStanley E. Woodard, Bryant D. Taylor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wireless sensing system includes a sensor made from an electrical conductor shaped to form an open-circuit, electrically-conductive spiral trace having inductance and capacitance. In the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, the sensor resonates to generate a harmonic response having a frequency, amplitude and bandwidth. A magnetic field response recorder wirelessly transmits the time-varying magnetic field to the sensor and wirelessly detects the sensor's response frequency, amplitude and bandwidth.
Claims35
A wireless sensing system, comprising:
- an electrical conductor having first and second ends and shaped to form a spiral between said first and second ends, said conductor so-shaped defining an open-circuit having inductance and capacitance wherein, in the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, said conductor so-shaped resonates to generate a harmonic magnetic field response having a frequency, amplitude and bandwidth;
- and
- a magnetic field response recorder for wirelessly transmitting said time-varying magnetic field to said conductor so-shaped and for wirelessly detecting said frequency, amplitude and bandwidth.
A wireless sensing system, comprising:
- a non-conductive substrate;
- an open-circuit electrically-conductive spiral trace deposited on said substrate, said spiral trace having inductance and capacitance that (i) allows said spiral trace to generate a harmonic magnetic field response having a frequency, amplitude and bandwidth in the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, and (ii) causes said amplitude to be at least 10 dB more than ambient noise;
- and
- a magnetic field response recorder for wirelessly transmitting said time-varying magnetic field to said spiral trace and for wirelessly detecting said frequency, amplitude and bandwidth.
A wireless sensing system, comprising:
- a non-conductive, flexible substrate;
- an open-circuit electrically-conductive spiral trace deposited on said substrate, said spiral trace having inductance and capacitance that (i) allows said spiral trace to generate a harmonic magnetic field response having a frequency, amplitude and bandwidth in the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, and (ii) causes said amplitude to be at least 10dB more than ambient noise;
- a dielectric material disposed between adjacent portions of said spiral trace and on said spiral trace wherein said spiral trace is encased by said substrate and said dielectric material;
- and
- a magnetic field response recorder for wirelessly transmitting said time-varying magnetic field to said spiral trace and for wirelessly detecting said frequency, amplitude and bandwidth.
A wireless sensing system, comprising:
- an arrangement of inductively, wherein said arrangement is fixed;
- each said sensor being an electrical conductor having first and second ends, said conductor shaped to form a spiral between said first and second ends and further shaped to define an open-circuit having inductance and capacitance;
- at least one said sensor directly powered and interrogated by a magnetic field response recorder wherein, in the presence of a time-varying magnetic field, said sensor resonates to generate one or more harmonic responses each having a frequency, amplitude, and bandwidth resulting from resonant responses of said inductively coupled arrangement of sensors;
- said responses of said arrangement of sensors correlated to the magnitude of one or more physical quantities;
- and
- a magnetic field response recorder for (i) wirelessly transmitting said time-varying magnetic field to said sensor directly powered and interrogated and (ii) for wirelessly detecting said frequencies, amplitudes and bandwidths of all said arranged sensors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.