• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.6 no.5_6
• /
• pp.661-673
• /
• 2010

This paper presents recent developments in an extremely compact, wireless impedance sensor node (the WID3, $\underline{W}$ireless $\underline{I}$mpedance $\underline{D}$evice) for use in high-frequency impedance-based structural health monitoring (SHM), sensor diagnostics and validation, and low-frequency (< ~1 kHz) vibration data acquisition. The WID3 is equipped with an impedance chip that can resolve measurements up to 100 kHz, a frequency range ideal for many SHM applications. An integrated set of multiplexers allows the end user to monitor seven piezoelectric sensors from a single sensor node. The WID3 combines on-board processing using a microcontroller, data storage using flash memory, wireless communications capabilities, and a series of internal and external triggering options into a single package to realize a truly comprehensive, self-contained wireless active-sensor node for SHM applications. Furthermore, we recently extended the capability of this device by implementing low-frequency analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters so that the same device can measure structural vibration data. The compact sensor node collects relatively low-frequency acceleration measurements to estimate natural frequencies and operational deflection shapes, as well as relatively high-frequency impedance measurements to detect structural damage. Experimental results with application to SHM, sensor diagnostics and low-frequency vibration data acquisition are presented.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.397-405
• /
• 2008

In this study, we have measured temperature distribution using infrared optical fibers during radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Infrared radiations generated from the water around inserted electrode are transferred by silver halide optical fibers and are measured by a thermopile sensor. Also, the output voltages of a thermopile sensor are compared with those of the thermocouple recorder. It is expected that a noncontact temperature sensor using an infrared optical fiber can be developed for the temperature monitoring during RFA treatments based on the results of this study.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.365-371
• /
• 2009

In this study, we have fabricated a fiber-optic pH sensor which is composed of a light source, plastic optical fibers and a spectrometer. As an indicator, a phenol red is used, and a pH liquid solution is prepared by mixing of phenol red and various kinds of pH buffer solutions in these experiments. The emitting light from a light source is guided by plastic optical fibers to the pH liquid solution, and the optical characteristic of a light is changed in the pH liquid solution according to its color change. Therefore, we have measured the intensities and wavelength shifts of the modulated lights, which are changed due to the color variations of phenol red at different pH values, by using of a spectrometer for spectral analysis. Also, the relationships between the pH values of liquid solutions and the optical properties of modulated light according to the change of color of phenol red are obtained.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.279-293
• /
• 2019

To ensure high quality data being used for data mining or feature extraction in the bridge structural health monitoring (SHM) system, a practical sensor fault diagnosis methodology has been developed based on the similarity of symmetric structure responses. First, the similarity of symmetric response is discussed using field monitoring data from different sensor types. All the sensors are initially paired and sensor faults are then detected pair by pair to achieve the multi-fault diagnosis of sensor systems. To resolve the coupling response issue between structural damage and sensor fault, the similarity for the target zone (where the studied sensor pair is located) is assessed to determine whether the localized structural damage or sensor fault results in the dissimilarity of the studied sensor pair. If the suspected sensor pair is detected with at least one sensor being faulty, field test could be implemented to support the regression analysis based on the monitoring and field test data for sensor fault isolation and reconstruction. Finally, a case study is adopted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. As a result, Dasarathy's information fusion model is adopted for multi-sensor information fusion. Euclidean distance is selected as the index to assess the similarity. In conclusion, the proposed method is practical for actual engineering which ensures the reliability of further analysis based on monitoring data.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2007.04a
• /
• pp.436-438
• /
• 2007

As the sensors and communication technology get advance, the remote health diagnosis for patients and senior persons at home are possible now without visiting doctors in hospitals. A low-power ubiquitous health check device was developed adapting Real-Time Embedded Linux is developed. This ubiquitous device is consisted of three sensors. The wrist type health checking terminal acquires periodically the health data by using a blood pressure sensor, a pulse sensor and a body temperature sensor. It transmits the health data to the access point located at the home center through the ZigBee wireless communication modem. This health data collector or access point device sends the data again to the main server operated in a hospital or health care organization. The health server control continuously the input data and sends an alarm signal to the assigned. doctor and responsible persons using cellular SMS when any dangerous events occur. This wrist type health check device has an embedded linux OS using Intel PAX255 MPU. The developed U-Health system is applicable for checking patients health in remote at home. And their family or related persons in remote site can check the patients health status at any time. They can be assured by receiving SMS record and alarm of emergency case which is transmitted from the health server.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.271-298
• /
• 2012

Researchers have made significant progress in recent years towards realizing effective structural health monitoring (SHM) utilizing wireless smart sensor networks (WSSNs). These efforts have focused on improving the performance and robustness of such networks to achieve high quality data acquisition and distributed, in-network processing. One of the primary challenges still facing the use of smart sensors for long-term monitoring deployments is their limited power resources. Periodically accessing the sensor nodes to change batteries is not feasible or economical in many deployment cases. While energy harvesting techniques show promise for prolonging unattended network life, low power design and operation are still critically important. This research presents the WiSeMote: a new, fully integrated ultra-low power wireless smart sensor node and a flexible base station, both designed for long-term SHM deployments. The power consumption of the sensor nodes and base station has been minimized through careful hardware selection and the implementation of power-aware network software, without sacrificing flexibility and functionality.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.301-305
• /
• 2017

This paper presents a wearable human health-monitoring band. The band consists of a body temperature detector (BTD) and a hear rate detector (HRD). The BTD and HRD are realized using an inkjet-printed flexible temperature sensor and a commercial heart rate sensor module, respectively. The sensitivity of the fabricated BTD was found to be $-31/^{\circ}C$ with a linearity of 99.82%. The HRD using the commercial heart rate sensor module has a good performance with a standard deviation of 0.85 between the data of a commercial smart watch and the fabricated HRD.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.205-209
• /
• 2007

Today, there are research trends about the wearable sensor device that measures various bio-signals and provides healthcare services to user using e-Health technology. This study describes the wearable sensor glove using pulse-wave sensor, conducting fabric and embedded system. This wearable sensor glove is based on the pulse-wave measurement system which is able to measure the pulse wave signal in much use of oriental medicine on the basis of a research trend of e-Health system.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.121-140
• /
• 2005

This paper presents a systematic investigation of the effect of sensor location on the data quality and subsequently, on the effectiveness of machine health monitoring. Based on an analysis of the signal propagation process from the defect location to the sensor, numerical simulations using finite element modeling were conducted on a bearing test bed to determine the signal strength at several representative sensor locations. The results showed that placing sensors closely to the machine component being monitored is critical to achieving high signal-to-noise ratio, thus improving the data quality. Using millimeter-sized piezoceramic plates, the obtained results were evaluated experimentally. A comparison with a set of commercial vibration sensors verified the developed structural dynamics-based sensor placement strategy. It further demonstrated that the proposed shock wave-based sensing technique provided an effective alternative to vibration measurement, while requiring less space for sensor installation.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.364-371
• /
• 2015

In this study, we developed a feasible structure of a textile-based inductive sensor using a machine embroidery method, and applied it to a non-contact type vital sign sensing device based on the principle of magnetic-induced conductivity. The mechanical heart activity signals acquired through the inductive sensor embroidered with conductive textile on fabric were compared with the Lead II ECG signals and with respiration signals, which were simultaneously measured in every case with five subjects. The analysis result showed that the locations of the R-peak in the ECG signal were highly associated with sharp peaks in the signals obtained through the textile-based inductive sensor (r=0.9681). Based on the results, we determined the feasibility of the developed textile-based inductive sensor as a measurement device for the heart rate and respiration characteristics.