Structure as a sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022334010-A1
Application number	US-202217723253-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 18, 2022
Priority date	Apr 20, 2021
Publication date	Oct 20, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for using a structure as a sensor are disclosed. An apparatus in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure comprises an additively-manufactured component comprising a channel, a sensor including an connection point, wherein the sensor is arranged in the channel, and an adhesive arranged in the channel, the adhesive coupling the additively-manufactured component to the sensor, such that the connection point is accessible external to the adhesive, the sensor being configured to provide a signal at the connection point, wherein the signal provides information of an applied force on the additively-manufactured component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
an additively-manufactured component comprising a channel; a sensor including an connection point, wherein the sensor is arranged in the channel; and an adhesive arranged in the channel, the adhesive coupling the additively-manufactured component to the sensor, such that the connection point is accessible external to the adhesive, the sensor being configured to provide a signal at the connection point, wherein the signal provides information of an applied force on the additively-manufactured component.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second component, wherein the adhesive further couples the second component to the additively-manufactured component.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is placed in the channel after the additively-manufactured component is formed.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the channel in the additively-manufactured component is configured to transmit the applied force to the sensor.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is manufactured as part of the additively-manufactured component.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the sensor is additively-manufactured.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the sensor comprises a first material, and the additively-manufactured component comprises a second material different that the first material.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein sensor comprises a Wheatstone bridge.

9 . An apparatus, comprising:
an additively-manufactured component including a structure, the structure being configured to produce an indicator, the indicator corresponding to a force applied to the additively-manufactured component.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the structure includes a lattice structure.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the indicator further indicates a direction of the force applied to the additively-manufactured component.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising an adhesive coupled to the additively-manufactured component.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the adhesive includes a piezo-resistive adhesive.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the additively-manufactured component includes a junction for another component.

15 . A method comprising:
additively-manufacturing a first component including a channel; arranging a sensor in the channel, the sensor including a connection point; arranging a second component proximate to the first component; and applying an adhesive in the channel, such that the additively-manufactured component, the sensor, and the second component are joined, and the connection point is accessible external to the adhesive.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
measuring a signal applied to the sensor, wherein the signal provides information of an applied force on the additively-manufactured component.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the information indicates a force applied to the channel.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the second component is an additively-manufactured component.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the sensor includes a strain gauge.

Assignees

• Divergent Tech Inc

Inventors

• Czinger Lukas Philip
• Keller Matthew Cooper
• Issari Bahram

Classifications

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B22F7/08

  with one or more parts not made from powder {(B22F7/062 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B22F5/10

  of articles with cavities or holes, not otherwise provided for in the preceding subgroups · CPC title

• B22F3/1115

  comprising complex forms, e.g. honeycombs · CPC title

• B22F10/28

  Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM] · CPC title