Microstrain, Inc.

Lord Corporation

Other

University of Vermont

Orthopaedic Designs, LLC

David Lawrence Churchill

Steven Willard Arms

Michael John Hamel

Christopher P Townsend

Steven Ward Mundell

James Marc Leas

Chris Townsend

Christoper P Townsend

Helene M Langevin

Richard Earle Gildersleeve

Jeremy J Nathanson

Stephen J Incavo

Dylann Ceriani

Jacob Henry Galbreath

Bruce D Beynnon

Daniel S Pflaster

John Chamberlain Robb

Frederic P Martin

Max B Fried

Thomas Moore Leamon

A method of obtaining data about a structure includes providing a plurality of sensor modules on the structure. Each of the sensor modules includes a sensor, a processor, a sensor module precision timekeeper, and a sensor module transceiver. One of the plurality of sensor modules includes an energy harvesting device. The processor and the sensor module transceiver of this one of the plurality of sensor modules are powered solely with electricity derived from the energy harvesting device. The method further includes providing a base station. The method further includes periodically wirelessly receiving a broadcast resynchronization timing packet with each of the sensor module transceivers, wherein the broadcast resynchronization timing packet received by each of the sensor module transceivers includes a common resynchronization time value. The method further includes periodically resynchronizing each of the sensor module precision timekeepers based on a signal derived from the resynchronization time value. The method further includes digital sampling of the sensor module sensor in each of the sensor modules to provide digital sensor data, and providing a time stamp to the digital sensor data wherein time in the time stamp is provided by the sensor module precision timekeeper. The method further includes wirelessly transmitting data from each of the plurality of sensor modules to the base station, wherein the data is derived from the time stamped digital sensor data. The method further includes receiving and aggregating the data from each of the plurality of sensor modules in the base station.

Wireless structural health monitoring system with synchronized timekeeper

A system comprises a sensing node that includes a sensor, a processor, an energy harvesting circuit, a time keeper, a first energy storage device, and a second energy storage device. The energy harvesting circuit is connected for recharging the first energy storage device. The processor is connected for receiving all its power derived from the energy harvesting circuit. The second energy storage device is connected for powering the time keeper.

Energy harvesting, wireless structural health monitoring system with time keeper and energy storage devices

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.

Cover for protecting component from shear force

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.

Component and circuit with moisture barrier, transmitter, and protective cover

Strain gauge with moisture barrier

One embodiment of an electronic system includes a network having a first sensing device with a first address and a second sensing device with a second address. The first sensing device includes first sensors, a first processor, a first memory, and a first communications device. The first sensors include a first dry bulb temperature sensor, a first relative humidity sensor, and a first radiant energy sensor. The second sensing device includes a second sensor, a second processor, a second memory, and a second communications device. The second processor includes a program to use the second communications device to communicate the second address and data derived from the second sensor to the first communications device.

Heat stress, plant stress and plant health monitor system

A device for harvesting an external source of energy includes an electricity generating device and a flexure. The piezoelectric flexure has a first stable bowl-shaped position and a second stable bowl-shaped position. The electricity generating device generates electricity based on movement of the flexure. The flexure remains in the first stable bowl-shaped position until a force provided by the external source of energy causes the flexure to move from the first stable bowl-shaped position toward the second stable bowl-shaped position.

Bowl-shaped wide-band vibration energy harvester

A device for harvesting an external source of energy includes an electricity generating device, a flexure, and a first stop. Displacement of the flexure is limited by the first stop. The flexure has a vibration amplitude, wherein the vibration amplitude is amplitude the flexure would have if unconstrained by the first stop. The first stop allows the flexure to oscillate with a vibration amplitude that is higher than displacement of the flexure as limited by the first stop. The electricity generating device generates electrical energy while the first stop allows the flexure to oscillate with the higher vibration amplitude.

Wide-band vibration energy harvester with stop

A device includes a structure, a strain sensor and a light curable adhesive. The structure has a structure surface. The light curable adhesive bonds the strain sensor to the structure surface.

Strain sensor mounted with light curable adhesive

A device for harvesting an external source of energy includes an electricity generating device, a flexure, and a restoring spring. The electricity generating device generates electricity based on movement of the flexure. The flexure has a first stable position. When disregarding presence of the restoring spring the flexure also has a second stable position different from the first stable position. The restoring spring is positioned so when the flexure snaps from the first stable position toward the second stable position the restoring spring provides a restoring spring force to restore the flexure toward the first stable position. Substantially greater force is needed to snap the flexure from the first stable position toward the second stable position to overcome the restoring spring force than is required to snap the flexure from the second stable position toward the first stable position.

Wide-band vibration energy harvester with restoring spring

A device includes a removable load element. The removable load element includes a pin portion and a housing portion. The pin portion extends from the housing portion. The pin portion includes a sensor. The housing portion includes an electronic circuit connected to the sensor.

Independently calibrated wireless structural load sensor

A device for providing displacement information includes a housing holding a displacement sensor. The displacement sensor includes a coil and a captive core. An electrical measurement of the coil provides information about displacement of the core. The coil has an axis extending in a first direction, wherein the housing has a minimum outside dimension that is less than 3.00 mm when measured perpendicular to that first direction. The housing has an inner surface having a housing inside dimension. The housing is for holding a displacement sensor and a guidance mechanism. The displacement sensor includes a coil and a captive core having a core outside dimension. The guidance mechanism includes a first part and a second part for guiding the core. The first part includes a bearing connected to the housing. The bearing has an axial hole having a hole dimension about equal to the core outside dimension. The core slidably extends through this axial hole. The second part has a second part outside dimension about equal to the housing inside dimension. The guidance mechanism is for resisting lateral movement and lateral rotation of the core while allowing axial movement of the core into and out of the coil.

Microminiature gauging displacement sensor

One embodiment of the present patent application is a method of monitoring a rotating part. The method includes providing a shaft, a sensor, a processor, an energy storage device, and a transmitter. The method further includes mounting the sensor directly on the shaft and mounting said processor, said energy storage device, and said transmitter to rotate with said shaft. The method further includes rotating the shaft and waking the processor for a period of time and drawing energy to the processor from the energy storage device to provide the processor in an active mode during the period of time. The method also includes sampling the sensor during the period of time. It also includes returning the processor to sleep mode. The method also includes transmitting data derived from the sensor.

Shaft mounted energy harvesting for wireless sensor operation and data transmission

A method of navigation includes providing an angular rate sensor and a direction-of-gravity reference. The method also includes determining bias error of the angular rate sensor about a vertical axis based on data substantially from the angular rate sensor and from the direction-of-gravity reference. In one embodiment, the first angular rate sensor is moved from a first position around a substantially horizontal axis to a second position around the substantially horizontal axis. The first angular rate sensor provides angular rate data for attitude at the first position and for compass heading at the second position. Data from the first angular rate sensor and from the direction-of-gravity reference is processed with a program for determining a bias error correction for the first angular rate sensor while the first angular rate sensor is in the first position. Bias error correction determined while the first angular rate sensor is in the first position is used to correct angular rate of the first angular rate sensor while the first angular rate sensor is in the second position.

Inertial measurement system with self correction

A system includes a measuring tool, a fixture, and a rotatable target. The measuring tool includes a light source, an imaging device, and an electronic circuit. The fixture allows the rotatable target to rotate about an axis. The rotatable target includes a surface having microscopic asperities. The imaging device is mounted to provide a sequence of images derived from said microscopic asperities. The electronic circuit is connected to the imaging device for measuring rotation of the rotatable target from the sequence of images.

Growing community of inventors

Burlington, VT, United States of America

David Lawrence Churchill