Method and apparatus for distance based detection of wear and the like in joints
AssigneeIntelliJoint Systems Ltd.
InventorsEmanuel Mendes, David Mendes, Ruth Beer, Gilad Barak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A distance measurement system, comprising at least one resonant circuit, at least one magnetic element with predetermined magnetic properties, a transmitter operable to transmit an electromagnetic pulse, a receiver operable to detect oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse, and an analyzer operable to analyze an amplitude envelope property of said oscillations, to thereby determine a distance between the resonant circuit and the magnetic element.
Claims26
A distance measurement system, comprising:
- at least one resonant circuit;
- at least one magnetic element with predetermined magnetic properties located remotely from said resonant circuit by a first distance;
- and
- a separate device, not connected to said resonant circuit, said separate device comprising:
- a transmitter operable to transmit an electromagnetic pulse;
- a receiver operable to detect oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse;
- and,
- an analyzer operable to analyze an amplitude envelope decay pattern of said oscillations following said electromagnetic pulse, therefrom to determine an eddy current factor effecting said decay pattern and therefrom to determine said first distance.
A method for assembling a distance measurement system, comprising the steps of:
- placing a resonant circuit at a first location;
- placing a magnetic element with predetermined magnetic properties at a second location remote from said first location by a first distance;
- separately from said resonant circuit providing:
- a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic pulse to said resonant circuit;
- a detector for detecting oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse;
- and,
- an analyzer for analyzing an amplitude envelope decay pattern, following said electromagnetic pulse, of said detected oscillations, therefrom to determine an eddy current factor effecting said decay pattern and therefrom to determine said first distance.
A method for measuring the distance between a first location comprising a resonant circuit and a second location comprising a magnetic element and having a first distance therebetween, comprising remotely from said first and said second locations carrying out the steps of:
- transmitting an electromagnetic pulse to said resonant circuit;
- detecting oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse;
- and,
- analyzing an amplitude envelope decay pattern of said detected oscillations following said electromagnetic pulse, therefrom to determine an eddy current factor effecting said decay pattern and therefrom to determine said distance.
A distance measurement system utilizing eddy currents for energy dissipation, the system comprising:
- at least one resonant circuit;
- at least one magnetic element with predetermined magnetic properties located at a first distance from said resonant circuit;
- a transmitter operable to transmit an electromagnetic pulse;
- and
- a separate device, not connected to said resonant circuit, said separate device comprising:
- a receiver operable to detect oscillations emitted by said resonant circuit in response to said electromagnetic pulse;
- and,
- an analyzer operable to analyze an amplitude envelope decay pattern of said oscillations following said electromagnetic pulse as an indicator of eddy current induced energy dissipation, to thereby determine said first distance between said resonant circuit and said magnetic element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.