Composite structures with integral intelligent skin
AssigneeGeneral Atomics
InventorsThomas R. McGovern, Ronald N. Hubbard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Composite structures having an integral intelligent skin are made of one or more plies of a structural base material and an intelligent or smart film by molding one or more plies and the film into an integral unitary body with the intelligent film outermost. The intelligent or smart film contains or bears a functionally active or interactive component such as antennae, electronic sensors, electric and/or electronic circuitry, and/or spectrally tailored coatings. A method of making the composite structure in a very economical manner is disclosed.
Claims13
A method of making a composite structure with an integral intelligent skin comprising the steps of
- providing a mold,
- providing one or more plies of a structural base material,
- providing an intelligent film,
- laying the one or more plies and the film in the mold with the film so oriented as to constitute an outer surface of the structure,
- molding the one or more plies and the film to form a molded composite structure having an integral intelligent skin, and
- removing the composite structure from the mold.
A method of making a composite structure with an integral intelligent skin comprising the steps of
- providing a mold,
- providing one or more plies of a structural base material,
- providing an intelligent film,
- laying the one or more plies and the film in the mold with the film so oriented as to constitute an outer surface of the structure,
- molding the one or more plies and the film to form a molded composite structure having an integral intelligent skin, and
- removing the composite structure from the mold,
- wherein the intelligent film incorporates one or more electronic devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.