Microstrain, Inc.

Lord Corporation

Michael John Hamel

Steven Willard Arms

David Lawrence Churchill

Christopher P Townsend

James Marc Leas

Chris Townsend

Daniel O'Neil

Mark R Jolly

Russell E Altieri

Steven Ward Mundell

Stephen C Southward

Charles Jeff Allred

Jeffrey Tonn

Harrison Sprague

Frederic P Martin

John Chamberlain Robb

Christophor Pruyn Townsend

A torque monitoring system includes a rotatable measurement interface and a stationary data receiver. The measurement interface is configured to be attached to a rotatable shaft. The measurement interface includes a strain gauge, a processor, and a near field communication (NFC) transceiver coil. The stationary data receiver is stationary with respect to the rotating shaft. The stationary data receiver includes a processor and an NFC transceiver coil. The rotatable measurement interface receives operating power via its NFC transceiver coil that is derived from a radio signal wirelessly transmitted by the NFC transceiver coil in the stationary data receiver. The processor in the rotatable measurement interface is configured to receive strain gauge signals from the strain gauge indicative of torque on the rotatable shaft and wirelessly transmit digital data indicative of the strain gauge signals through the NFC transceiver coils to the processor in the stationary data receiver.

Torque monitoring system for a rotatable shaft

Torque measurement devices, systems, and methods are provided. Exemplary torque measurement devices, systems, and methods include providing rotating electronics and non-rotating electronics configured for remote power transmission and remote interrogation via near field and switched reactance communications. The rotating electronics and the non-rotating electronics can communicate analog information without batteries or a physical connection therebetween.

Remotely powered and remotely interrogated torque measurement devices, systems, and methods

A non-contacting torquemeter capable of measuring torque in a rotating shaft with improved accuracy in the presence of relative motion between a rotating shaft and a transducer assembly is provided. The non-contacting torquemeter has improved robustness and reliability, and is able to self-calibrate. The non-contacting torquemeter is able to provide accurate torque measurements using a single transducer assembly positioned at a single azimuthal position on a rotating shaft.

Torquemeter with improved accuracy and method of use

A device includes a plurality of energy harvesting circuits, an energy storage device, a first diode and a second diode. The plurality of energy harvesting circuits includes a first energy harvesting circuit and a second energy harvesting circuit. The first energy harvesting circuit includes a first transducer and the second energy harvesting circuit includes a second transducer. The first transducer is structured for converting a different kind of energy into electricity than is the second transducer. The first diode is electrically connected between the first energy harvesting circuit and the energy storage device and the second diode is electrically connected between the second energy harvesting circuit and the energy storage device. The first diode is oriented to prevent energy from the second energy harvesting circuit from being dissipated in the first energy harvesting circuit and the second diode is oriented to prevent energy from the first energy harvesting circuit from being dissipated in the second energy harvesting circuit.

Harvesting power from multiple energy sources

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 corrosion sensing system includes a reader, a radiation receiving device, a sensing transponder, and a member. The sensing transponder includes a communications device, a processor, and a sensor. The member is subject to corrosion. The sensor is located to detect corrosion of the member. The communications device is connected for transmitting sensor data. The transponder is powered by electricity derived from electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the reader that is received by the radiation receiving device.

Remotely powered and remotely interrogated wireless digital sensor telemetry system to detect corrosion

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 system for electronically recording an event that provides mechanical energy to a structure includes the structure and an event sensing and recording node. The event sensing and recording node is mounted on the structure and includes a sensor and a first electronic memory. The sensor includes a device for converting the mechanical energy into an electrical signal. The first electronic memory uses energy derived from the electrical signal for electronically recording the event. All energy for sensing the event and recording the event in the first electronic memory is derived from the mechanical energy.

Structural damage detection and analysis system

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 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

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 mobile system powers, charges, and communicates with separate devices, such as sensors and actuators. The mobile system includes an unmanned vehicle for approaching and wirelessly electromagnetically powering the separate device.

Robotic system for powering and interrogating sensors

In one embodiment a device comprises a composite structure that includes a piezoelectric flexure and a length-constraining element. The length-constraining element provides the piezoelectric flexure with a bowed shape. The piezoelectric flexure has a first stable bowed position and a second stable bowed position. The length-constraining element is one from the group consisting of a planar sheet and a columnar rod. In another embodiment a device comprises a piezoelectric flexure having a bowl shape. The piezoelectric flexure has a first stable bowl-shaped position and a second stable bowl-shaped position.

Wideband vibration energy harvester

An electronic system includes a reader and a remotely powered and remotely interrogated sensor transponder. The sensor transponder includes a reader and a remotely powered and remotely interrogated sensor transponder. The sensor transponder includes a sensor and a radiation receiving device. Data from the sensor is conditioned to provide sensor data ratiometric with magnitude of excitation voltage provided by the radiation receiving device.

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Williston, VT, United States of America

Michael John Hamel