System and method of surface wave imaging to map pressure on a surface

A method of forming a surface pressure detection system on a surface, comprising:

• locating a plurality of transponders on the surface for transmitting electromagnetic surface waves and for receiving the electromagnetic surface waves upon being reflected, diffracted, refracted, scattered, or otherwise altered by pressure variations on the surface;
• and
• coupling the plurality of transponders to a controller, the controller being adapted to coordinate the plurality of transponders for imaging the pressure variations on the surface,
• wherein the surface includes a surface-wave medium and the surface-wave medium is pressure-sensitive.

A method of forming a surface pressure detection system on a surface, comprising:

• laminating a surface-wave medium to the surface, the surface-wave medium including a conductive ground plane, a compressible dielectric or a pressure-sensitive dielectric on the ground plane, and a metallic pattern on the dielectric for increasing an inductive reactance of the surface-wave medium;
• locating a plurality of transponders at a perimeter of the surface for transmitting electromagnetic surface waves and for receiving the electromagnetic surface waves upon being reflected, diffracted, refracted, scattered, or otherwise altered by pressure variations on the surface;
• and
• coupling the plurality of transponders to a controller, the controller being adapted to coordinate the plurality of transponders for imaging the pressure variations on the surface.

A system for detecting surface pressure on a surface, comprising:

• a plurality of transponders on the surface for transmitting electromagnetic surface waves and for receiving the electromagnetic surface waves upon being reflected, diffracted, refracted, scattered, or otherwise altered by pressure variations on the surface;
• and
• a controller coupled to the plurality of transponders, the controller being adapted to coordinate the plurality of transponders for imaging the pressure variations on the surface,
• wherein the surface includes a surface-wave medium and the surface-wave medium is pressure-sensitive.

A system for detecting surface pressure on a surface, comprising:

• a surface-wave medium laminated to the surface, the surface-wave medium including a conductive ground plane, a compressible dielectric or a pressure-sensitive dielectric on the ground plane, and a metallic pattern on the dielectric for increasing an inductive reactance of the surface-wave medium;
• a plurality of transponders located at a perimeter of the surface for transmitting electromagnetic surface waves and for receiving the electromagnetic surface waves upon being reflected, diffracted, refracted, scattered, or otherwise altered by pressure variations on the surface;
• and
• a controller coupled to the plurality of transponders, the controller being adapted to coordinate the plurality of transponders, to analyze the received electromagnetic surface waves, and to compare the received electromagnetic surface waves to baseline signals for imaging the pressure variations on the surface.