Bonded To Specimen Patents (Class 73/775)
  • Patent number: 11333564
    Abstract: An embodiment is to provide a strain sensor fixing device and torque sensor using the same capable of preventing the sensor performance from being deteriorated, and preventing the device configuration from being upsized, and further capable of securely fixing the strain sensor to a structure. A fixing member includes a first end and a second end. The first end is provided with a projection which contacts a first structure and the second end contacts a first end of a strain body provided on the first structure. A screw is inserted into the first structure and screwed into a part of the fixing member between the first end and the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Endo, Takashi Kanai
  • Patent number: 11300462
    Abstract: An embodiment is to provide a strain sensor fixing device and torque sensor using the same capable of preventing the sensor performance from being deteriorated, and preventing the device configuration from being upsized, and further capable of securely fixing the strain sensor to a structure. A fixing member includes a first end and a second end. The first end is provided with a projection which contacts a first structure and the second end contacts a first end of a strain body provided on the first structure. A screw is inserted into the first structure and screwed into a part of the fixing member between the first end and the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Endo, Takashi Kanai
  • Patent number: 10629081
    Abstract: Accelerometer-based external sound monitoring for backup assistance in a vehicle. The vehicle includes an accelerometer mounted on an internal surface of a rear window of the vehicle, a rear view camera, and a processor. The processor identifies a source of a sound that causes vibrations on the rear window that are captured by the accelerometer. The processor also categorizes the sound and provides an alert based on a category of the sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Brian Bennie, Scott Andrew Amman, Joshua Wheeler, Doug B. Thornburg
  • Patent number: 10285637
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are described herein for obtaining medical diagnostic measurements from implanted sensors. In various embodiments, an apparatus may include two or more clamps to be rigidly clamped to the spinal fusion rod at a distance from one another, and a strain-sensing system that is removably mountable to the two or more clamps to span the distance. The strain-sensing system may include one or more strain-sensing elements. In various embodiments, the two or more clamps may be configured to transfer strain detected in the spinal fusion rod to the one or more strain-sensing elements of the strain-sensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Hnat, Michael J. Voor, Robert Louis Burden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10214222
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a system and method for determining a gross combined weight of a vehicle and its load is disclosed. A method includes: providing predetermined calibration settings relating force to engine speed for a specific vehicle travelling in a reverse direction, altering accelerometer data based on filtered vehicle pitch and roll data, determining that one or more vehicle performance parameters fall within a threshold range, storing a plurality of data pairs that include longitudinal acceleration and drive force, and determining a slope of a line that linearly approximates the plurality of data pairs, the slope indicating a total weight, the total weight comprising a weight of the vehicle and a weight being hauled by the vehicle; and transmitting the total weight to a remote system for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, Seth J. Myer
  • Patent number: 9965079
    Abstract: A pressure-sensitive touch screen comprises a substrate, first and second strain sensors and a detecting circuit electrically connected to the first and second strain sensors. The substrate is configured to at least laterally deform in response to a touch and has a peripheral area. The first and second strain sensors are disposed on the peripheral area of the substrate and are adjacent to one another. The first strain sensor changes resistance in response to touch-based lateral deformation of the substrate. The second strain sensor provides a reference resistance. The detecting circuit is configured to detect a touched location and measure a pressure, based on resistance of the first strain sensor, and to use the reference resistance of the second strain sensor to compensate for changes in environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SHENZHEN NEW DEGREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hao Li
  • Patent number: 9956965
    Abstract: In various example embodiments, a system and method for determining a tongue weight of a vehicle with a trailer and its load is disclosed. A method includes: providing predetermined calibration settings relating force to engine speed for a vehicle travelling at various speeds, altering accelerometer data based on filtered vehicle pitch and roll data, determining that one or more vehicle performance parameters fall within a threshold range, storing a plurality of data pairs that include longitudinal acceleration and drive force, and determining a slope of a line that linearly approximates the plurality of data pairs, the slope indicating a total weight, the total weight comprising a weight of the vehicle and a weight being hauled by the vehicle, determining tongue weight from vehicle weight, total weight and delta pitch, and transmitting the tongue weight to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Hall, Seth Myer
  • Patent number: 9864449
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a touch screen, and particularly to a pressure-sensitive touch screen and an electronic device. The present touch screen comprises a substrate which has an elastic deformation performance and is used by a user to operate and a strain sensor which is used for detecting lateral deformation of the substrate and is fixedly arranged at a peripheral location of a lower surface of the substrate, and further comprises a pressure bearing plate, wherein the pressure bearing plate is fixedly arranged at an upper surface of the substrate, and the location where the side edges of the pressure bearing plate are projected onto the strain sensor is located at a middle location of the strain sensor. Also provided is an electronic device containing the pressure-sensitive touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SHENZHEN NEW DEGREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hao Li
  • Patent number: 9587773
    Abstract: A unbonded flexible pipe with a length and a longitudinal axis is described. The pipe comprises an innermost sealing sheath defining a bore, at least one armor layer surrounding the inner sealing sheath and at least one optical fiber containing layer, wherein the optical fiber containing layer comprises at least one tape and at least one optical fiber arranged with a length of at least about 3 times the length of the flexible pipe. In an embodiment the optical fiber is incorporated into the at least one tape of said optical fiber containing layer to provide an integrated fiber tape where advantageously the optical fiber is arranged with S-shaped folds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO DENMARK I/S
    Inventors: Alexandros Nokkentved, Bo Asp Moller Andersen, Niels Juul, Nicky Weppenaar, Kristian Glejbol
  • Patent number: 9097600
    Abstract: A device is provided for monitoring strain and acoustic emission in an object. The device includes: a strain measurement portion operable to measure strain; an adhesive layer disposed on the strain measurement portion; and a peel-off mask disposed on the adhesive layer. In an example embodiment, the strain measurement portion includes a body, a transparent window portion, a strain measurement device and a signal processing portion. The body includes an attachment surface, wherein the adhesive layer is disposed on the attachment surface for attachment of the body to the object. The transparent window portion is arranged to enable viewing of a portion of the object through the body. The strain measurement device is disposed within the transparent window portion and is operable to generate a strain signal based on strain in the object. The signal processing portion is operable to generate a processed signal based on the strain signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Inventor: Mehdi Kalantari Khandani
  • Publication number: 20150047436
    Abstract: A strain and crack sensor senses an amount of strain induced in an object. A receiving planar antenna has a first resonant frequency and is configured to receive a querying signal at the first resonant frequency. A transmitting planar antenna has a second resonant frequency that is twice the first resonant frequency. At least one of the receiving planar antenna and the transmitting planar antenna is bonded to the object so that at least one of strain induced in the object or a crack formed in the object causes a shift in at least one of the first resonant frequency or the second resonant frequency. A matching element is in electrical communication with the first planar antenna and the second planar antenna. The matching element is configured to cause the transmitting planar antenna to radiate a response signal in response to the querying signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaohua Yi, Chunhee Cho, Benjamin Cook, Yang Wang, Manos Tentzeris, Roberto T. Leon
  • Patent number: 8896329
    Abstract: A device, a system and a method for detecting an irregularity in a structure of an aircraft are proposed. The device includes a resonant circuit with a resonance frequency and a probe for tuning the resonance frequency of the resonant circuit. The resonant circuit and the probe are operatively connected in such a way that the probe changes the resonance frequency of the resonant circuit if the structure changes due to a formation of an irregularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS France, EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Zimmerman, Jurgen Steinwandel, Sebastien Rolet, Didier Simonet
  • Patent number: 8720278
    Abstract: A coating system includes at least one polymeric coating layer comprising at least one fluorescent dye, wherein an optical behavior of the fluorescent dye changes as a function of a stress of the at least one polymeric coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ryan Toivola, Brian D. Flinn, Zhengwei Shi, Sei-Hum Jang, Gary E. Georgeson, Alex Kwan-yue Jen
  • Patent number: 8705245
    Abstract: A sensor device has a ceramic carrier substrate. At least two conductor tracks are arranged on the carrier substrate. The sensor device has at least one ceramic component that is in the form of a chip and is connected to the conductor tracks in an electrically conductive manner. The at least one ceramic component is mechanically connected to the conductor tracks by means of a screen printing paste which has been burnt in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: EPCOS AG
    Inventors: Gerald Kloiber, Heinz Strallhofer, Norbert Freiberger
  • Patent number: 8695433
    Abstract: A mechanical-quantity measuring device capable of measuring a strain component in a specific direction with high precision is provided. At least two or more pairs of bridge circuits are formed inside a semiconductor monocrystal substrate and a semiconductor chip, and one of these bridge circuits forms a n-type diffusion resistor in which a direction of a current flow and measuring variation of a resistor value are in parallel with a <100> direction of the semiconductor monocryastal silicon substrate, and an another bridge circuit is composed of combination of p-type diffusion resistors in parallel with a <110> direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi Shimazu, Hiroyuki Ohta, Yohei Tanno
  • Patent number: 8667844
    Abstract: Presented is a system and method for testing the adhesion of coatings to substrates using an ultrasonic scalar. The system comprises a body, a flexible scalpel extending from said body, and a source of ultrasonic waves. The flexible scalpel applies pressure and ultrasonic waves to a coating that is removed when the adhesion of the coating to the substrate is substandard. The method comprises applying an flexible scalpel extending from an ultrasonic adhesion test device to a coating, applying ultrasonic waves through the flexible scalpel to the coating while moving across the coating, removing the coating if there is less than an acceptable adhesion of the coating to the substrate, and inspecting the coating to determine if coating was removed from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher L. Broadbent, Michael P. Murphy, Randall Jahren
  • Patent number: 8499628
    Abstract: A system includes a structure and a component. The component including an energy providing device and a protective cover. The structure has a structure surface. The protective cover has a protective cover attachment surface mounted on the structure surface. The energy providing device is located within the protective cover. The protective cover has a protective cover outer surface. The protective cover outer surface is oriented to face a first direction from which an impact load may strike the protective cover outer surface and shear the protective cover from the structure surface. The protective cover outer surface has an outer surface shape facing the first direction. At least a portion of an impact load striking any region of the protective cover outer surface facing the first direction is transferred by the outer surface shape into a compression load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Arms, Christoper P. Townsend, Steven W. Mundell, David L. Churchill
  • Patent number: 8490481
    Abstract: A device for mounting on a structure surface includes a component, a circuit, a moisture barrier, and a protective cover. The moisture barrier is within the protective cover. The component and the circuit are within the moisture barrier. The component is for bonding to the structure surface with a bond susceptible to damage from moisture. The circuit includes a radio frequency transmitter. The circuit is for providing data derived from the component to the radio frequency transmitter for external transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Arms, Christopher P. Townsend, Steven W. Mundell, David L. Churchill
  • Patent number: 8490482
    Abstract: A device for mounting on a structure surface includes a component, a circuit, a moisture barrier, and a protective cover. The moisture barrier is within the protective cover. The component and the circuit are within the moisture barrier. The component is for bonding to the structure surface with a bond susceptible to damage from moisture. The circuit includes a radio frequency transmitter. The circuit is for providing data derived from the component to the radio frequency transmitter for external transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Arms, Christoper P. Townsend, Steven W. Mundell, David L. Churchill
  • Publication number: 20130118268
    Abstract: A mechanical-quantity measuring device capable of measuring a strain component in a specific direction with high precision is provided. At least two or more pairs of bridge circuits are formed inside a semiconductor monocrystal substrate and a semiconductor chip, and one of these bridge circuits forms a n-type diffusion resistor in which a direction of a current flow and measuring variation of a resistor value are in parallel with a <100> direction of the semiconductor monocryastal silicon substrate, and an another bridge circuit is composed of combination of p-type diffusion resistors in parallel with a <110> direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitachi, Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8365609
    Abstract: A mechanical-quantity measuring device capable of measuring a strain component in a specific direction with high precision is provided. At least two or more pairs of bridge circuits are formed inside a semiconductor monocrystal substrate and a semiconductor chip, and one of these bridge circuits forms a n-type diffusion resistor in which a direction of a current flow and measuring variation of a resistor value are in parallel with a <100> direction of the semiconductor monocryastal silicon substrate, and an another bridge circuit is composed of combination of p-type diffusion resistors in parallel with a <110> direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi Shimazu, Hiroyuki Ohta, Yohei Tanno
  • Patent number: 8297129
    Abstract: Provided is a strain gage mount, including an instrument carrier mount configured to secure a strain gage during use, a specimen mount configured to couple to a specimen during use, and a thermal insulating layer configured to be disposed between the instrument carrier mount and the specimen mount during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Brian A. Muskopf
  • Patent number: 8250927
    Abstract: Methods and systems for sensing strain are disclosed. A thin film sensor includes a thin film polymer matrix that has two electrical terminals, conductive nanoparticles dispersed within the polymer matrix, and carbon nanotubes dispersed within the polymer matrix. The thin film sensor has a resistivity across the two electrical terminals that varies with a magnitude of strain applied to the thin film sensor. Strain may be sensed by applying a voltage to the thin film sensor, and an electrical response of the thin film sensor may be detected due to a strain present across the sensor. A magnitude of the strain can be determined based on the electrical response. Methods and systems for a memristor are also disclosed. The memristor has a resistivity that varies with a time-varying voltage input and with a time-varying strain input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Indian Institute of Science
    Inventors: Sandeep Venkit Anand, Debiprosad Roy Mahapatra
  • Patent number: 8215178
    Abstract: A sensor device comprises a sensing component adapted to be connected to a monitoring system to send signals associated with deformation of a structural member. An adhesive is adapted to bond the sensing component to a surface of a structural member. A tape has at least one adhesive surface adapted to be adhered to the surface of a structural member to be monitored, with the sensing component being positioned between the tape and the surface of the structural member. The sensor device is used in combination with a monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Flexco Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Fathi Saigh
  • Patent number: 8186232
    Abstract: A displacement, strain, and/or force sensor assembly (10, 110) has a mounting structure (12) with an anisotropic stiffness to facilitate the measurement of displacements, strains, and/or forces along the X-axis, while minimizing errors due to undesired displacements, strains, and/or forces along the Y- and Z-axes, and rotations about the X-, Y-, and Z-axes. A pedestal (30, 130) configured to respond to axial displacements along the X-axis is centrally disposed on the X-axis of the mounting structure (12), and a displacement or strain sensor (38) is coupled to the pedestal (30) to provide a measure of the displacements, strains, and/or forces. Contact pads (14, 114) are formed on opposite ends of the X-axis of the mounting structure, to enable the displacement and/or strain sensor assembly to be secured to an application structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Graham McDearmon, Brent Mathie
  • Patent number: 8141431
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a load sensor including a load detection element and a support element is provided. The support element includes a base and a spring. The spring includes a support portion, a connection portion bonding to the base, and a connecting member coupling the support portion and the connection portion. The support element transmits a detection load to the load detection element via the base and the spring. The method includes: sandwiching the load detection element between the base and the support portion; bonding the connection portion on the base so that the connecting member is deformed beyond the elastic deformation region to reach the plastic deformation region; pressing the support portion so that a contact surface of the support portion is plastically deformed; and returning deformation of the connecting member to be in the elastic deformation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Morikawa, Hideyuki Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20110193363
    Abstract: A stress sensing device senses a shear force and a pressing force. The stress sensing device includes a support body, a support film, first and second piezoelectric parts and an elastic layer. The support body has an opening defined by a pair of straight parts perpendicular to a sensing direction of the shear force and parallel to each other. The support film having flexibility closes off the opening. The first piezoelectric part is disposed over the support film and straddling an inside portion and an outside portion of the opening along at least one of the straight parts of the opening as seen in plan view. The second piezoelectric part is disposed to the inside portion of the opening and set apart from the first piezoelectric part as seen in the plan view. The elastic layer covers the first piezoelectric part, the second piezoelectric part, and the support film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsutomu NISHIWAKI
  • Patent number: 7992448
    Abstract: A mechanical-quantity measuring device capable of measuring a strain component in a specific direction with high precision is provided. At least two or more pairs of bridge circuits are formed inside a semiconductor monocrystal substrate and a semiconductor chip, and one of these bridge circuits forms a n-type diffusion resistor in which a direction of a current flow and measuring variation of a resistor value are in parallel with a <100> direction of the semiconductor monocrystal silicon substrate, and an another bridge circuit is composed of combination of p-type diffusion resistors in parallel with a <110> direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi Shimazu, Hiroyuki Ohta, Yohei Tanno
  • Patent number: 7971489
    Abstract: A robust, stand-alone load cell comprises a block of aligned carbon nanotubes with parallel electrodes on opposing sides of the block and an electrical circuit connected between the electrodes for measuring the electrical resistance of the block. The nanotubes are preferably aligned perpendicular to the electrodes. Carbon nanotube-based load cells may be incorporated into a wafer assembly for characterizing semiconductor processing equipment. Such a wafer assembly includes two parallel wafers with a plurality of carbon nanotube load cells positioned between and attached to both wafers. The load cells are independently electrically connected to a device which monitors and records the resistivity of the load cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor L. Pushparaj, Omkaram Nalamasu, Manoocher Birang
  • Patent number: 7854174
    Abstract: A three-dimensional micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) capacitive bending and axial strain sensor capacitor is described. Two independent comb structures, incorporating suspended polysilicon interdigitated fingers, are fabricated simultaneously on a substrate that can displace independently of each other while attached to a substrate undergoing bending or axial deformation. A change in spacing between the interdigitated fingers will output a change in capacitance of the sensor and is the primary mode of operation of the device. On the bottom and to the end of each comb structure, a glass pad is attached to the comb structure to allow for ample surface area for affixing the sensor to a substrate. During fabrication, tethers are used to connect each comb structure to maintain equal spacing between the fingers before attachment to the substrate. After attachment, the tethers are broken to allow independent movement of each comb structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: OrthoData Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Julia W. Aebersold, Kevin Walsh, Mark Crain, Michael Voor
  • Publication number: 20100175484
    Abstract: A sensor device comprises a sensing component adapted to be connected to a monitoring system to send signals associated with deformation of a structural member. An adhesive is adapted to bond the sensing component to a surface of a structural member. A tape has at least one adhesive surface adapted to be adhered to the surface of a structural member to be monitored, with the sensing component being positioned between the tape and the surface of the structural member. The sensor device is used in combination with a monitoring system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: Fathi Saigh
  • Patent number: 7673521
    Abstract: A method of producing polymer/nanotube composites where the density and position of the nanotubes (11) within the composite ca be controlled. Carbon nanotubes (11) are grown from organometallic micropatterns. These periodic nanotube arrays are then incorporated into a polymer matrix (7) by deposing a curable polymer film on the as-grown tubes. This controlled method of producing free-standing nanotube/polymer composite films may be used to form nanosensor (3) which provide information regarding a physical condition of a material (20), such as an airplane chassis or wing, in contact with the nanosensor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Pulickel Ajayan, Emer Lahiff, Paul Stryjek, Chang Y. Ryu, Seamus Curran
  • Publication number: 20090211365
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a load sensor including a load detection element and a support element is provided. The support element includes a base and a spring. The spring includes a support portion, a connection portion bonding to the base, and a connecting member coupling the support portion and the connection portion. The support element transmits a detection load to the load detection element via the base and the spring. The method includes: sandwiching the load detection element between the base and the support portion; bonding the connection portion on the base so that the connecting member is deformed beyond the elastic deformation region to reach the plastic deformation region; pressing the support portion so that a contact surface of the support portion is plastically deformed; and returning deformation of the connecting member to be in the elastic deformation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Morikawa, Hideyuki Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20090164147
    Abstract: A stress wave sensor comprising a piezoelectric film and means therein for connection to sensor electronics. The piezoelectric film preferably comprises polyvinylidene fluoride. Also a stress wave sensor system and methods employing one or more such stress wave sensors, preferably attached to a vehicle transparent component, most preferably to the vehicle windshield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Philip W. Kithil, Jame L. Novak, Daniel J. Du Rocher
  • Publication number: 20090120197
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the kinematic characteristics of a golf club head are disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one piezoelectric component selectively positioned within or upon a club head. The piezoelectric component is preferably positioned to the rear of the center of gravity, and near the midpoint of the face of the club head. During a golf club swing, the piezoelectric component determines the acceleration and deceleration of the golf club head. When the club head impacts an object such as a golf ball, the piezoelectric component is also operable to determine the velocity of the club head. It may also be desirable for the piezoelectric component to determine the magnitude of vibration during impact. In this manner, the piezoelectric component may function determine the efficiency of a golf club swing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Charles Edward Golden, Peter J. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 7509870
    Abstract: A three-dimensional micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) capacitive bending and axial strain sensor capacitor is described. Two independent comb structures, incorporating suspended polysilicon interdigitated fingers, are fabricated simultaneously on a substrate that can displace independently of each other while attached to a substrate undergoing bending or axial deformation. A change in spacing between the interdigitated fingers will output a change in capacitance of the sensor and is the primary mode of operation of the device. On the bottom and to the end of each comb structure, a glass pad is attached to the comb structure to allow for ample surface area for affixing the sensor to a substrate. During fabrication, tethers are used to connect each comb structure to maintain equal spacing between the fingers before attachment to the substrate. After attachment, the tethers are broken to allow independent movement of each comb structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: OrthoData Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Julia W. Aebersold, Kevin Walsh, Mark Crain, Michael Voor
  • Publication number: 20080110274
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring material properties such as the relaxation modulus of a material in situ and a method of measuring material properties of a material are disclosed. The sensor may be substantially embedded in the material, and includes a deformable driver. When actuated, the deformable driver may create a stress in the adjacent material. The movement or deformation of the driver may be measured with a sensing device, for example a strain gage mounted on a surface thereof. The stress in the adjacent material may be measured with a second sensing device, for example a pressure sensor. The measured movement and stress over a predetermined period of time may he used to determine the relaxation modulus of the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Mont A. Johnson, John L. Shipley, Robert Graham, Lee H. Pearson
  • Publication number: 20080098821
    Abstract: A collision detection system for a vehicle includes a bumper reinforcement fixed to a side member of the vehicle, a pressure sensor placed in front of the bumper reinforcement and having at least one pressure-sensitive member, and a load plate placed in front of the pressure sensor. The load plate has a base member and at least one leg member extending from the base member toward the bumper reinforcement. The base member has a first portion facing the pressure sensitive member of the pressure sensor and a second portion fixed to the leg member. The pressure sensor can have a small pressure-sensitive range, because the leg member reduces pressure applied through the load plate to the pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Takatoshi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 7360439
    Abstract: In a circuit, as the bridge resistance of one side of a Wheatstone bridge circuit, a distortion gauge (fixed reference resistance) of which variation caused by environmental conditions is suppressed and a sample having a resistance component ?R varied by the environmental conditions are connected in series. A constant bridge input voltage Ei is applied from a constant-voltage power supply to the Wheatstone bridge circuit, a bridge output voltage Eo corresponding to resistance variation of the sample is input to a dynamic distortion amplifier, and a carrier wave signal of a predetermined frequency is output. A measured resistance computing unit samples peak levels of the carrier wave signal output from the dynamic distortion amplifier so as to detect the bridge output voltage Eo, and calculates the resistance of the sample based on the detected bridge output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yasuhide Kuroda, Kenichiro Tsubone
  • Patent number: 7334485
    Abstract: A method, system and computer product for detecting the location of a deformation of a structure includes baselining a defined energy transmitting characteristic for each of the plurality of laterally adjacent conductors attached to the structure. Each of the plurality of conductors includes a plurality of segments coupled in series and having an associated unit value representative of the defined energy transmitting characteristic. The plurality of laterally adjacent conductors includes a plurality of identity groups with each identity group including at least one of the plurality of segments from each of the plurality of conductors. Each of the plurality of conductors are monitored for a difference in the defined energy transmitting characteristic when compared with a baseline energy transmitting characteristic for each of the plurality of conductors. When the difference exceeds a threshold value, a location of the deformation along the structure is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew T. Weseman, David T. Rohrbaugh, John G. Richardson
  • Patent number: 7261005
    Abstract: A magneto-elastic torque sensor and system include a substrate and a magneto-elastic sensing component formed from or on the substrate. The magneto-elastic sensing component and the substrate together form a magneto-elastic torque sensor, which when subject to a stress associated with a torque, shifts a characteristic frequency thereof linearly in response to the torque, thereby inducing a pathway by which magneto-elastic energy is coupled to excite vibrations in a basal plane of the magneto-elastic sensor, thereby generating torque-based information based on a resonant frequency thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Scott L. Bunyer, Richard M. Andrews, Fred W. Hintz, James ZT Liu, Steven J. Magee
  • Patent number: 7191662
    Abstract: A strain sensor (10) includes a flexible substrate (11) having one or more polymer-based resistive elements (12) at least partially conformably disposed thereon. Two or more conductive leads (13, 14) are electrically coupled to the resistive element. Flexure of the resistive element causes a corresponding alteration in a measurable electrical property of the resistive element, such as its characteristic impedance. User interfaces of various kinds can be fabricated with such strain sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Weber, William L. Olson
  • Patent number: 7185545
    Abstract: Instrumentation for monitoring crack growth using a change in electric potential across a starter crack as the crack propagates is disclosed. The instrumentation includes a specimen of a material to be analyzed for crack growth propagation having a surface with a starter crack formed therein, a plurality of current leads to pass electric current through the specimen, a layer of insulating material disposed on each of opposite sides of the crack, a layer of conductive material disposed on each layer of insulating material, where a portion of each layer of conductive material is in electrical contact with the first specimen surface, and a pair of sensing leads, one sensing lead attached to each layer of conductive material. A method for using the instrumentation to monitor crack growth by measuring is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Philemon Kennard Wright, III
  • Patent number: 7111577
    Abstract: An apparatus for effecting propagation of electromagnetic waves, comprising a hull outer surface, a dielectric material disposed over the hull outer surface, and an electrically conductive member embedded within the dielectric material. When a liquid medium contacts the dielectric material, the liquid medium, the hull outer surface, the dielectric material and the electrically conductive member cooperate to provide a waveguide through which electromagnetic waves can propagate wherein the boundaries of the waveguide are defined by the liquid medium and the hull outer surface. A sensor network can be provided within the dielectric material for receiving power and transmitting information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretaryof the Navy
    Inventor: Anthony B. Bruno
  • Patent number: 7024941
    Abstract: For use in the monitoring of a tubular member (1) having at least a helically wound reinforcement layer (10), the invention provides a method of mounting a sensor arrangement (17, 18), wherein the reinforcement layer is formed with a groove (16) which is filled with a liquid material (19), such as an epoxy type, and wherein the sensor arrangement is passed into the liquid material by means of a pressure applied by a roller prior to the solidification of the liquid material. In a preferred embodiment, the groove is formed in the reinforcement layer before this is helically wound on the tubular member. Hereby, the sensor arrangement is arranged well-protected without any risk of damage, which may e.g. occur if the tubular member is of the unbonded type, where the reinforcement layer may consist of two layers that may move relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: NKT Flexibles I/S
    Inventor: Martin Andersen
  • Patent number: 6997060
    Abstract: A load-detecting device includes a supporting member, a load transfer member, a load sensor, and a load sensor supporting member. The load transfer member is supported by the supporting member and includes an elastic displacement area in which an elastic displacement is generated upon receiving a force from a predetermined direction. The load sensor contacts the elastic displacement area of the load transfer member. The load sensor detects a load based on the elastic displacement. The load sensor supporting member supports the load sensor and is connected to the supporting member. The load transfer member, the load sensor, and the load sensor supporting member are provided in this order along the predetermined direction. The supporting member is provided so as not to be in contact with the load sensor. The load transfer member has a lower stiffness in the predetermined direction than the load sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Morikawa
  • Patent number: 6987229
    Abstract: A frame-based occupant weight estimation apparatus for a vehicle seat includes a compliant linkage assembly that translates vertically applied seat loads to a horizontal plane, where the horizontal forces are measured by a set of force sensors. A compliant member, which may be a spring or a linkage arm, preloads the force sensors to enable off-loading detection, and an overload device securely anchors the seat to the vehicle floor without interfering with normal load measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Morgan D. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20040244495
    Abstract: A strain sensor (10) includes a flexible substrate (11) having one or more polymer-based resistive elements (12) at least partially conformably disposed thereon. Two or more conductive leads (13, 14) are electrically coupled to the resistive element. Flexure of the resistive element causes a corresponding alteration in a measurable electrical property of the resistive element, such as its characteristic impedance. User interfaces of various kinds can be fabricated with such strain sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Weber, William L. Olson
  • Patent number: 6684713
    Abstract: A bicycle which comprises as force transmission equipment a chain for transmitting the muscular strength of a person pedaling the bicycle from the person to the bicycle for the purpose of moving the bicycle, characterized in that the chain has a vibration transducer which is arranged to vibrate at a resonance frequency proportional to the force transmitted by the chain, and the bicycle comprises a reading device separate from the chain for reading the resonance frequency of the vibration transducer, to which reading device calculation means are connected for calculating the force affecting the chain on the basis of the resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventor: Seppo Nissilä
  • Patent number: 6550341
    Abstract: An article and method for measuring strain using a strain gauge made of a shape memory y alloy, and preferably a pseudoelastic alloy, is disclosed. The strain gauge includes an element that preferably is attached to a substrate and mounted on an object, or is woven or stitched to a fabric to measure the strain experienced under an applied stress. The preferred pseudoelastic alloy is Nitinol, which in pseudoelastic form can elongate by up to approximately 8% to accommodate strain in an object or fabric. When woven into a fabric, a Nitinol-based strain gauge can measure strains of up to approximately 20% in the fabric. The strain gauge can be used in such applications as automotive and aircraft seatbelts, parachute canopies and static lines, and commercial cargo nets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Mide Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Marthinus Cornelius van Schoor, Attila Lengyel, Gert Johannes Muller, Andries Jacobus du Plessis