• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.6 no.5_6
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• pp.675-687
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• 2010

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is the science and technology of monitoring and assessing the condition of aerospace, civil and mechanical infrastructures using a sensing system integrated into the structure. Impedance-based SHM measures impedance of a structure using a PZT (Lead Zirconate Titanate) patch. This paper presents a low-power wireless autonomous and active SHM node called Autonomous SHM Sensor 2 (ASN-2), which is based on the impedance method. In this study, we incorporated three methods to save power. First, entire data processing is performed on-board, which minimizes radio transmission time. Considering that the radio of a wireless sensor node consumes the highest power among all modules, reduction of the transmission time saves substantial power. Second, a rectangular pulse train is used to excite a PZT patch instead of a sinusoidal wave. This eliminates a digital-to-analog converter and reduces the memory space. Third, ASN-2 senses the phase of the response signal instead of the magnitude. Sensing the phase of the signal eliminates an analog-to-digital converter and Fast Fourier Transform operation, which not only saves power, but also enables us to use a low-end low-power processor. Our SHM sensor node ASN-2 is implemented using a TI MSP430 microcontroller evaluation board. A cluster of ASN-2 nodes forms a wireless network. Each node wakes up at a predetermined interval, such as once in four hours, performs an SHM operation, reports the result to the central node wirelessly, and returns to sleep. The power consumption of our ASN-2 is 0.15 mW during the inactive mode and 18 mW during the active mode. Each SHM operation takes about 13 seconds to consume 236 mJ. When our ASN-2 operates once in every four hours, it is estimated to run for about 2.5 years with two AAA-size batteries ignoring the internal battery leakage.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.139-155
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• 2011

Polymeric thin-film assemblies whose bulk electrical conductivity and mechanical performance have been enhanced by single-walled carbon nanotubes are proposed for measuring strain and corrosion activity in metallic structural systems. Similar to the dermatological system found in animals, the proposed self-sensing thin-film assembly supports spatial strain and pH sensing via localized changes in electrical conductivity. Specifically, electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is used to create detailed mappings of film conductivity over its complete surface area using electrical measurements taken at the film boundary. While EIT is a powerful means of mapping the sensing skin's spatial response, it requires a data acquisition system capable of taking electrical impedance measurements on a large number of electrodes. A low-cost wireless impedance analyzer is proposed to fully automate EIT data acquisition. The key attribute of the device is a flexible sinusoidal waveform generator capable of generating regulated current signals with frequencies from near-DC to 20 MHz. Furthermore, a multiplexed sensing interface offers 32 addressable channels from which voltage measurements can be made. A wireless interface is included to eliminate the cumbersome wiring often required for data acquisition in a structure. The functionality of the wireless impedance analyzer is illustrated on an experimental setup with the system used for automated acquisition of electrical impedance measurements taken on the boundary of a bio-inspired sensing skin recently proposed for structural health monitoring.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.145-164
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• 2012

In this paper, solar-powered, multi-scale, vibration-impedance sensor node on Imote2 platform is presented for hybrid structural health monitoring (SHM) in cable-stayed bridge. In order to achieve the objective, the following approaches are proposed. Firstly, vibration- and impedance-based hybrid SHM methods are briefly described. Secondly, the multi-scale vibration and impedance sensor node on Imote2-platform is presented on the design of hardware components and embedded software for vibration- and impedance-based SHM. In this approach, a solar-powered energy harvesting is implemented for autonomous operation of the smart sensor nodes. Finally, the feasibility and practicality of the smart sensor-based SHM system is evaluated on a full-scale cable-stayed bridge, Hwamyung Bridge in Korea. Successful level of wireless communication and solar-power supply for smart sensor nodes are verified. Also, vibration and impedance responses measured from the target bridge which experiences various weather conditions are examined for the robust long-term monitoring capability of the smart sensor system.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.484-490
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• 2018

This paper describes an algorithm for calculating load impedance by measuring voltage and current components using a VI sensor in a 13.56 MHz impedance automatic matching system. We propose an algorithm that improves the error rate by using an arbitrary complex calibration load instead of the conventional $50{\Omega}$ calibration load. The error rate is targeted to attain average values of $R_{IN}$ and $X_{IN}$ at 1% and 20% or less, respectively. First, the IF frequency is calculated using a mixer to reduce the error rate. Second, when the arbitrary complex load is used as the calibration load, the error rate $R_{IN}$ decreased from 4.7 % to 0.3 % on average, and $X_{IN}$ decreased from 102 % to 18.3 % on average.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2012

This paper describes a compact and novel wireless vital sign sensor at 2.4 GHz that can detect heartbeat and respiration signals. The oscillator circuit incorporates a planar resonator, which functions as a series feedback element as well as a near-field radiator. The periodic movement of a human body during aerobic exercise could cause an input impedance variation of the radiator within near-field range. This variation results in a corresponding change in the oscillation frequency and this change has been utilized for the sensing of human vital signs. In addition, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter and power detector have been used to increase the system sensitivity and to transform the frequency variation into a voltage waveform. The experimental results show that the proposed sensor placed 20 mm away from a human body can detect the vital signs very accurately.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.6 no.5_6
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• pp.711-730
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• 2010

This study presents the design of autonomous smart sensor nodes for damage monitoring of tendons and girders in prestressed concrete (PSC) bridges. To achieve the objective, the following approaches are implemented. Firstly, acceleration-based and impedance-based smart sensor nodes are designed for global and local structural health monitoring (SHM). Secondly, global and local SHM methods which are suitable for damage monitoring of tendons and girders in PSC bridges are selected to alarm damage occurrence, to locate damage and to estimate severity of damage. Thirdly, an autonomous SHM scheme is designed for PSC bridges by implementing the selected SHM methods. Operation logics of the SHM methods are programmed based on the concept of the decentralized sensor network. Finally, the performance of the proposed system is experimentally evaluated for a lab-scaled PSC girder model for which a set of damage scenarios are experimentally monitored by the developed smart sensor nodes.

• Journal of electromagnetic engineering and science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.191-196
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• 2017

Microwave wireless power transmission (MWPT) is a promising technique for low and medium power applications such as wireless charging for sensor network or for biomedical chips in case with long ranges or in dispersive media such. A key factor of the MWPT technique is its efficiency, which includes the wireless power transmission efficiency and the radio frequency (RF) to direct current (DC) voltage efficiency of RF-DC converter (which transforms RF energy to DC supply voltage). The main problem in designing an RF-DC converter is the nonlinear characteristic of Schottky diodes; this characteristic causes low efficiency, higher harmonics frequency and a change in the input impedance value when the RF input power changes. In this paper, rather than using harmonic termination techniques of class E or class F power amplifiers, which are usually used to improve the efficiency of RF-DC converters, we propose a new method called "optimal input impedance" to enhance the performance of our design. The results of simulations and measurements are presented in this paper along with a discussion of our design concerning its practical applications.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.365-378
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• 2011

Piezo-based active structural health monitoring (SHM) requires amplifiers specifically designed for capacitive loads. Moreover, with the increase in number of applications of wireless SHM systems, energy efficiency and cost reduction for this type of amplifiers is becoming a requirement. General lab grade amplifiers are big and costly, and not built for outdoor environments. Although some piezoceramic power amplifiers are available in the market, none of them are specifically targeting the wireless constraints and low power requirements. In this paper, a piezoceramic transducer amplifier for wireless active SHM systems has been designed. Power requirements are met by two digital On/Off switches that set the amplifier in a standby state when not in use. It provides a stable ${\pm}180$ Volts output with a bandwidth of 7k Hz using a single 12 V battery. Additionally, both voltage and current outputs are provided for feedback control, impedance check, or actuator damage verification. Vibration control tests of an aluminum beam were conducted in the University of Houston lab, while wireless active SHM tests of a wind turbine blade were performed in the Harbin Institute of Technology wind tunnel. The results showed that the developed amplifier provided equivalent results to commercial solutions in suppressing structural vibrations, and that it allows researchers to perform active wireless SHM on moving objects with no power wires from the grid.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.07d
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• pp.3016-3018
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• 2005

The PSD(Position Sensitive Detector) is a sensor for detecting the position of incident light. Because of its various advantages, it is used for position and angle sensing, optical range finders, laser displacement sensing, and etc. In the previous study of the position finding system, the laser tracking robot is developed. Small data rate and unidirectionality is the characteristics of data communication both DSP-based pan/tilt control board and the robot. If we can transmit data to the target using PSD sensor and laser diode module, there is no need for communication devices such as the bluetooth and wireless module. For this reason, this paper presents the new method for data transmission. Transmit data using RS-232 is modulated by a VTF(Voltage To Frequency) converter The laser diode module transmits the modulated data. And then the PSD sensor receive that data. Demodulation process is accomplished by the system which is consisted with trans-impedance amplifier, FTV(Frequency To Voltage) converter, and etc.

• Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference
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• 2010.06d
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• pp.388-392
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• 2010

지하 배관 구조물은 국가 주요 자원의 수송망을 책임지는 핵심적인 기능을 수행하는 시설물로써, 배관구조물의 노후화와 부식, 균열, 조인트 풀림 등의 손상으로 인한 누출사고 발생 시 막대한 사회 경제적 손실을 초래할 우려가 있다. 특히, 지중배관 및 노출배관 경우에는, 현장 작업상황이 지속적으로 변화하고 있는 상황에서 24시간 안전관리에 대한 감시체계가 미흡한 것이 현실이다. 고가의 센서설치 및 배관의 유지관리 비용 등의 문제를 극복하려는 센서개발 연구 및 센서로부터 취득된 계측데이터를 현장에서 분석하여 실시간으로 배관의 이상상태를 판정하여 원격으로 그 판정결과를 알려주는 유비쿼터스 원격감시기법에 대한 연구 및 기술개발이 요구된다. 본 논문에서는 USN 기술을 활용한 배관안전진단 기술을 소개하고 임피던스 기반의 자가 감지 기법을 활용한 다양한 구조의 배관에 대해 진단 연구를 수행 하였다.