| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20100123583 | RFID-BASED CORROSION AND MOISTURE DETECTION - Structural health monitoring apparatuses and methods are disclosed. One or more structural health sensors may be used to disconnect and/or connect one or more RFID chips to an antenna such that wireless communication with the one or more RFID chips (or the absence of wireless communication) through the antenna indicates the structural health status. Example structural health sensors may be moisture detecting or fracture detecting. A remote reader may be used to establish the wireless communication with the one or more RFID chips to determine the structural health. The sensors and RFID chips may be passive and powered through the wireless communication from the remote reader. Such apparatuses and methods may be applied to any large structures requiring regular inspection, such as aircraft, ships, automobiles or buildings. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100127802 | SANDWICH VEHICLE STRUCTURE HAVING INTEGRATED ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION PATHWAYS - A sandwich vehicle structure may allow for confined propagation of electromagnetic radiation within the sandwich vehicle structure. The sandwich vehicle structure may include at least one upper conducting plate, at least one lower conducting plate, and a core extending between the upper and lower conducting plates. The core may comprise a core medium, and a plurality of spaced apart core members embedded in the core medium and extending between the upper and lower conducting plates. The core medium and the core members may allow for the propagation of electromagnetic radiation within the core. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100182023 | TRANSMISSION LINE MOISTURE SENSOR - A sensor device for monitoring and testing for potential corrosion of structural elements is disclosed comprising a soluble material disposed adjacent to at least one conductor in a transmission line that reacts to the presence of moisture causing a detectable change in an electrical property of the conductor. The conductor may comprise a conductive ink that is disrupted when the soluble material dissolves beneath it. Alternately, the nonconductive soluble membrane may separate two conductors and moisture causes a disruption in the soluble membrane allowing the two conductors to short. Detected changes in the electrical properties of the one or more conductors can be used to indicate potential corrosion or structural imparement in the structural element. Connection to the sensor device may be through a connector or using a wireless reader which remotely energizes the sensor device comprising one or more RFID chips. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100318243 | Method and Apparatus for Wireless Aircraft Communications and Power System Using Fuselage Stringers - A method and apparatus for transmitting wireless signals. An apparatus comprises a stringer having a channel and a waveguide located within the channel. The waveguide is capable of carrying a number of wireless signals. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110018686 | Method and Apparatus for Wireless Sensing with Power Harvesting of a Wireless Signal - A method and apparatus for operating a sensor system. A first wireless signal is transmitted from a base station to a sensor unit. At least a portion of the first wireless signal is changed into power for the sensor unit using a power harvesting unit in the sensor unit. Information is received from a number of sensors associated with the sensor unit. The information is transmitted to the base station using a second wireless signal. | 01-27-2011 |
