US 12,385,881 B2
Integrated thermocouple waveguide sensor system and method to measure physical properties of waveguide material and surroundings
Krishnan Balasubramanian, Chennai (IN); and Suresh Periyannan, Warangal (IN)
Assigned to INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRAS (IIT MADRAS), Chennai (IN)
Appl. No. 17/634,511
Filed by INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRAS (IIT MADRAS), Chennai (IN)
PCT Filed Jul. 7, 2020, PCT No. PCT/IN2020/050592
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 10, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/028937, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 201941032842 (IN), filed on Aug. 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0291171 A1, Sep. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. G01N 29/22 (2006.01); G01K 7/02 (2021.01); G01N 29/02 (2006.01); G01N 29/024 (2006.01); G01N 29/032 (2006.01); G01N 29/07 (2006.01); G01N 29/11 (2006.01); G01N 29/24 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 29/222 (2013.01) [G01K 7/02 (2013.01); G01N 29/02 (2013.01); G01N 29/024 (2013.01); G01N 29/032 (2013.01); G01N 29/07 (2013.01); G01N 29/11 (2013.01); G01N 29/245 (2013.01); G01N 29/2468 (2013.01); G01N 2291/022 (2013.01); G01N 2291/02809 (2013.01); G01N 2291/02818 (2013.01); G01N 2291/02827 (2013.01); G01N 2291/02836 (2013.01); G01N 2291/101 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An integrated sensor system for simultaneously measuring wave propagation mediums for physical properties, measuring rheology, and conditions of surrounding media, the integrated sensor system comprising:
at least two wave propagation mediums, wherein each of the at least two wave propagation mediums:
(a) comprises a metal that is dissimilar from respective metals of another of the at least two wave propagation mediums;
(b) is linked to an ultrasonic energy transducer at a first end to form a cold junction;
(c) is joined together with another of the at least two wave propagation mediums at a second end to form a hot junction made by twisting, bending, bonding, extended welding, or spot welding to provide ultrasonic damping, electrical potential, and mechanical strength; and
(d) includes a reflector between the cold junction and the hot junction including one or more bends, notches, coatings, or gratings along a length of the metal to obtain ultrasonic reflections;
wherein a gage length associated with one or more of the at least two wave propagation mediums indicates physical properties of the at least two wave propagation mediums and a surrounding medium, wherein the physical properties comprise rheology and strain parameters and are measurable using a Seebeck effect to measure ultrasonic waves propagating in the at least two wave propagation mediums in addition to temperature.