Methods and apparatus to verify operation of acoustic emission sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017199162-A1
Application number	US-201615387341-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 21, 2016
Priority date	Jan 11, 2016
Publication date	Jul 13, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and apparatus verify operation of acoustic emission sensors are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes an acoustic source acoustically coupled to a device, where the acoustic source is to generate an acoustic signal, and a processor to determine an operational condition of an acoustic emission sensor associated with the device based on measuring the generated acoustic signal at the acoustic emission sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
an acoustic source acoustically coupled to a device, the acoustic source to generate an acoustic signal; and a processor to determine an operational condition of an acoustic emission sensor associated with the device based on measuring the generated acoustic signal at the acoustic emission sensor.

2 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the acoustic source includes a direct current (DC) motor.

3 . The apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein the acoustic source is mechanically coupled to the device.

4 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the processor is to compare a baseline signal to the acoustic signal to determine the operational condition of the acoustic emission sensor.

5 . The apparatus as defined in claim 4 , wherein the baseline signal is an expected waveform.

6 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the acoustic source is a speaker.

7 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the acoustic source is a tuning fork.

8 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the acoustic source is a haptic motor.

9 . The apparatus as defined in claim 8 , wherein the haptic motor is overmolded in a polymer.

10 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the acoustic source is overmolded in a polymer.

11 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the operational condition is a condition of a signal chain corresponding to the acoustic source.

12 . A method comprising:
generating an acoustic signal at an acoustic source that is acoustically coupled to a device; measuring, at an acoustic emission sensor that is operatively coupled to the device, the acoustic signal; and determining, using a processor, an operating condition of the acoustic emission sensor based on the acoustic signal.

13 . The method as defined in claim 12 , further including pulsing the acoustic source.

14 . The method as defined in claim 12 , further including varying a frequency or amplitude of the acoustic signal over time.

15 . The method as defined in claim 12 , wherein determining the operating condition of the acoustic emission sensor includes comparing the acoustic signal to a baseline signal.

16 . The method as defined in claim 12 , wherein determining the operating condition of the acoustic emission sensor includes comparing the acoustic signal to a threshold.

17 . The method as defined in claim 12 , wherein the acoustic source is a motor overmolded in a polymer.

18 . The apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the acoustic source is a tuning fork.

19 . A tangible machine readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed, cause a processor to at least:
cause an acoustic source to generate an acoustic signal; and compare a signal measured at an acoustic emission sensor that is acoustically coupled to the acoustic source to a baseline to determine a condition of the acoustic emission sensor, the measured signal corresponding to the generated acoustic signal.

20 . The machine readable medium as defined in claim 19 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to vary a frequency or amplitude of the acoustic signal.

21 . The machine readable medium as defined in claim 19 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to pulse the acoustic source.

22 . The machine readable medium as defined in claim 19 , wherein the baseline includes a signal that was previously measured at the acoustic emission sensor.

23 . The machine readable medium as defined in claim 19 , wherein the baseline includes an expected waveform.

24 . The machine readable medium as defined in claim 19 , wherein the acoustic source is caused to generate the acoustic signal based on an indication of at least one of an error or malfunction of the acoustic emission sensor.

25 . The machine readable medium as defined in claim 19 , wherein the acoustic source includes a speaker or a motor that is operatively coupled to the device.

26 . The machine readable medium as defined in claim 25 , wherein the speaker or the motor is encased in a polymer.

Assignees

• Fisher Controls Int Llc

Inventors

• Nordstrom Richard Allen
• Dahme Bret Anthony
• Jelken Shannon Eugene

Classifications

• G01N2291/101

  one transducer · CPC title

• G01N29/30 Primary

  Arrangements for calibrating or comparing, e.g. with standard objects · CPC title

• G01N29/4436

  with a reference signal (amplitude comparison G01N29/48) · CPC title

• G01N29/14

  using acoustic emission techniques {(echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00)} · CPC title