The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 28, 2005
Filed:
May. 23, 2002
Christopher S. Brossia, San Antonio, TX (US);
Darrell S. Dunn, San Antonio, TX (US);
Christopher S. Brossia, San Antonio, TX (US);
Darrell S. Dunn, San Antonio, TX (US);
Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (US);
Abstract
A system and method for monitoring the effectiveness of a coating on a substrate surface and indicating the failure of the coating to adequately protect the surface from corrosion, degradation, and the like. The system includes a sensor array positioned in contact with the coating utilizing a number of sensor electrodes connected to a single integrated circuit or a number of separate individual sensor circuits. The electrodes of the sensor array make measurements of the electrochemical impedance characteristics of the coating and provide such data by way of telemetry to a data interrogation device that is periodically be placed in proximity to the sensor array. The interrogation device may serve to both power the sensor array and trigger it to acquire data. A nominal parameter N', which is the product of the impedance magnitude and the phase angle, is utilized as a direct indication of the resistance and capacitance characteristics of the coating and therefore a direct indication of the coatings effectiveness.