US 12,436,126 B2
Apparatuses and methods for detecting cracks
Yosef Stein, Sharon, MA (US); and Haim Primo, Ganei Tikva (IL)
Assigned to ANALOG DEVICES INTERNATIONAL UNLIMITED COMPANY, Limerick (IE)
Filed by Analog Devices International Unlimited Company, Limerick (IE)
Filed on Dec. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/088,257.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/376,700, filed on Sep. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/398,445, filed on Aug. 16, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0060925 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. G01N 27/20 (2006.01); G01N 27/14 (2006.01); G01R 27/14 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 27/20 (2013.01) [G01R 27/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fatigue sensing element, comprising:
a plurality of sectors disposed around a center hole, the plurality of sectors being arranged to have a radial symmetry around the center hole; and
a plurality of contacts configured to electrically coupled with one or more sectors of the plurality of sectors;
wherein at least one sector of the plurality of sectors is configured to detect a crack and remaining sectors of the plurality of sectors are configured to compensate for one or more of environmental factors, strain, or aging during the detection of the crack.
 
12. A fatigue sensing system, comprising:
a fatigue sensing element including a plurality of sectors disposed concentrically around a center hole within the crack detection sensor, the plurality of sectors being arranged to have a radial symmetry around the center hole;
a plurality of contacts configured to electrically connect to one or more sectors of the plurality of sectors; and
a fatigue sensing circuit including:
a current source configured to provide a source current to the crack detection sensor;
a switch configured to select two or more of the plurality of contacts for providing the source current; and
an analog-to-digital converter configured to:
measure a voltage difference between the two or more of the plurality of contacts; and
determine, based on the source current and the voltage difference, resistances of the one or more sectors of the plurality of sectors via the two or more of the plurality of contacts to detect a crack in the one or more sectors of the plurality of sectors.
 
17. A method of detecting fatigue, comprising:
selecting two or more contacts of a plurality of contacts of a fatigue sensing element including a plurality of sectors disposed around a center hole, the plurality of sectors being arranged to have a radial symmetry around the center hole;
providing a source current via the two or more contacts;
measuring a first resistance of a sector of the plurality of sectors and a second resistance of a remaining subset of the plurality of sectors; and
detecting a presence of a crack in the sector of the plurality of sectors based on the first resistance and the second resistance.