Licensable Technologies : Engineering : Plasma

Method of Piezoelectric Active Sensor Self-Diagnostics

Abstract
This invention provides an efficient and unique method to check the functionality of piezoelectric sensors/actuators, not covered by existing patents.  While current Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems are not intelligent enough to differentiate signal changes caused by structural damage due to sensor failures.  This method is able to determine, through a self diagnostic algorithm, whether damage has actually occurred to the structure or to the sensor itself.  This is very important because most structures require large numbers of sensors to accurately assess the structural health of the structure and the possibility that any sensor/actuator might failure becomes increasingly high with larger, more complex structures, that necessarily warrant more sensors.  By using this method, precious time is saved because the operator will know the difference between a sensor failure and an actual structural health problem.

Application(s)

• Structural Health for:
• Bridges
• Buildings
• Machines
• Planes
• Cars
• Ships
• Towers
• Tunnels
• Etc.

Advantages

• Provides a method for determining whether actual damage has been done to structure or only damage to sensor
• Saves time for monitor of structural health
• Saves money
• Increases safety by allowing appropriate resources to address a real problem, rather than applying resources to a false positive signal

IP Status: Available both Exclusively and Non Exclusively

Reference Number: 604

S Number: DOE reference no.(s): 104,857

Patents & Applications:
Application(s) Filed

Posted: 04-11-2005

Contact
John Mott
Technology Transfer Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
P.O. Box 1663, MailStop C334
(505) 665-0883
jmott@lanl.gov