Passive hit locator system comprising carbon nanotube arrays
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsTimothy J. Imholt, Gary A. Frazier
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Abstract
A system for locating impacts comprises at least one array of a plurality of carbon nanotubes, each carbon nanotube operable to emit electrical activity when compressed. The system also comprises at least one sensor coupled to the at least one array configured to detect emitted electrical activity from the plurality of carbon nanotubes. Furthermore, a computer is configured to determine the location of an impact on the at least one array in response to the detected emitted electrical activity from the plurality of carbon nanotubes.
Claims17
A system for locating impacts, comprising:
- at least two passive arrays of a plurality of aligned single walled carbon nanotubes, each carbon nanotube operable to emit electrical activity when compressed;
- at least one sensor coupled to the at least two arrays configured to detect emitted electrical activity from the plurality of single walled carbon nanotubes;
- and
- a computer configured to determine the location of an impact on the at least two arrays in response to the detected emitted electrical activity from the plurality of single walled carbon nanotubes.
A method for locating impacts, comprising:
- detecting electrical emissions from more than one of a plurality of aligned single walled carbon nanotubes arranged in at least two passive arrays in response to an application of pressure on the at least two arrays;
- and
- computing the location of an impact upon the at least two arrays based on which of the plurality of single walled carbon nanotubes emitted electrical activity.
A system for use in locating impacts, comprising:
- a plurality of aligned single walled carbon nanotubes configured in a passive grid, each carbon nanotube operable to emit electrons when compressed;
- and
- a plurality of electrical sensors coupled to respective sets of the plurality of single walled carbon nanotubes, each electrical sensor configured to provide an electrical signal indicating that its respective set of single walled carbon nanotubes has been compressed, thereby allowing determining of a location of impact of an object on the grid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.