System for assessing the effect of forces acting on a structure, and detectors and optical sensors for use in such systems

Claim 3

A structural information detector (410) for collecting and interpreting data indicative of the effect of at least one of a plurality of forces ( F ) acting on a structure (411)characterised in that said structural information detector (410) comprises, in combination: a) a housing (412) adapted to be attached to the surface of said structure (411); b) optical means (413) within said housing (412) for detecting the relative orientation (413a) of spaced surface coordinate vectors (16a) of said structure (411), and for generating primary signals (413b) in response to changes in said orientation; c) circuit means (414c) within said housing (412) for converting said primary signals (413b) to a form usable by signal-processing electronics; and d) signal-processing electronics means (415) within said housing (412), including computational software, for processing the converted primary signals (414b) to secondary signals (415a) which embody useful information which directly indicates the effect of at least one of a plurality of forces'(F) acting on said structure (411).

Claim 4

A structural information detector (410) for collecting and interpreting data indicative of the effect of at least one of a plurality of forces ( F ) acting on a structure (411)characterised in that said structural information detector (410) comprises, in combination: a) a housing (412) adapted to be attached to the surface of said structure (411); b) optical means (413) within said housing (412) for detecting the relative orientation (413a) of spaced surface coordinate vectors (16a) of said structure (411), and for generating primary signals (413b) in response to changes in said orientation; c) circuit means (414c) within said housing (412) for converting said primary signals (413b) to a form usable by signal-processing electronics; and d) signal-processing electronics means (415) within said housing (412), including computational software, for processing the converted primary signals (414b) to secondary signals (415a) which embody useful information which directly indicates the effect of at least one of a plurality of forces'(F) acting on said structure (411).

Claim 5

A structural information detector according to Claim 2, characterised in that said optical means (413), said circuit means (414c) and said signal-processing electronics means (415) are carried by a single-piece semiconductor substrate (451) received within said housing (412).

Claim 6

A structural information detector according to Claim 2, characterised in that said housing (412) comprises first and second housing sub-assemblies (440, 446) and in that: a) said first housing sub-assemblv (440) contains said circuit means (441 ),said signal- . processing electronics means (441), and those components of said optical means (413) which include a light source (442), a plurality of photovoltaic detectors (443), and a collimating lens (444); the light source (442) and photovoltaic detectors (443) being carried on the inner face of a hollow barrel portion (445) of said first housing sub-assembly (440) and said collimating lens (444) being carried proximate the open end of said barrel portion (445); b) said second housing sub-assembly (446) contains, as another component of said optical means (413), a plane surface mirror (447) carried on the inner end (448) of a barrel portion (449)of the second housing sub-assembly (446), the two said housing barrel portions (445, 449) being shaped and dimensioned to mate one within the other with an interference fit therebetween to form a unitary structurally-integrated device; and c) said first and second housing sub-assemblies (440,446) are mountable at spaced points on said structure (411).

Claim 7

An optical sensor adapted for use in a structural moment detector or as the said optical means (410) of the structural information detector of Claim 2, characterised in that the sensor comprises: a) an elongate light-transmission member (461) formed of a light-transmitting flexible material and having a light-transmitting/ receiving end (463) and a reflecting end; b) a concentrating lens (462) formed in the reflecting end of the member (461); c) a light source (464) carried by said light- transmitting/receivin g end (463) of the member, the light source (464) being positioned such as to direct light through the member (461) toward said reflecting end; d) light-receiving means (465) carried by the light-transmitting/receiving end (463) of the member, the light-receiving means (465) being arranged to receive light transmitted through said member from the light source (464) to the concentrating lens (462) and reflected thereby back through said member to the light-receiving means (465), and to generate electrical signals in response to the received light; and e) means for connecting the said ends of the light-transmission member (461) to spaced points on said structure (411) such that bending of the structure causes corresponding bending of the light-transmission member (461) and, in turn, causes a variation in the amount of light received by the light-receiving means (465).

Claim 8

A structural moment detector according to Claim 2, characterised in that said optical means (410) are constituted by an optical sensor in accordance with Claim 5.

Claim 9

A system according to Claim 1, characterised in that the or each structural moment detector (42) is constituted by an optical sensor in accordance with Claim 5.

Claim 10

A system according to Claim 1, characterised in that the or each said structural moment detector (42) is provided in the form of a structural information detector (410) in accordance with any one of Claims 2, 3, 4 or 6, the said circuit means (414c) and signal-processing electronic means (415) of the structural information detector (410) together constituting the processing means (44) and signal-manipulating means (48) associated with the structural moment detector (42).