Patent · US Expired

Parallel-plate capacitive element for monitoring environmental parameters in concrete

US7038470B1 · kind B1 · utility

76Cited by
6References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 28, 2004
Grant dateMay 2, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 28, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N27/226
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention provides a sensor for monitoring an environmental parameter in concrete including an enclosure; a detecting device connected to the enclosure for a detecting at least one environmental parameter in concrete, wherein the detecting device includes at least one capacitive element; an active material connected to the enclosure, wherein the active material is liable to respond to the environmental parameter and is operably connected to the capacitive element; a RFID chip mounted within the enclosure and operably connected to the detecting device; and an antenna operably connected to the RFID chip and the detecting device, wherein the antenna is part of an L-R-C circuit whose resonance frequency shifts within an assigned frequency band. The invention also provides a MEMS-based capacitive element that responds to an environmental parameter in concrete. The invention further provides a method of forming a MEMS-based capacitive element.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.