System for monitoring and controlling physical movement

Claim 1

An aircraft system, comprising: an aircraft, said aircraft comprising an actuation system and a body member, said body member having an exterior surface, said actuation system comprising a piezoelectric actuator member and an optical fiber, said actuator member and said fiber being supported by said body member, said actuator member being adapted to be actuated in response to movement of said optical fiber.

Claim 6

A system for moving an aircraft airfoil during flight comprising: an aircraft, a light source, an optical fiber, a light detection means, a piezoelectric means, and a signal processing means, said aircraft comprising an airfoil said piezoelectric means and said optical fiber being connected to said airfoil, said light source being adapted to emit light into said optical fiber, said detector being adapted to detect at least a portion of said light, said light detection means being adapted to convey a signal to said signal processing means, and said piezoelectric means being adapted to be actuated in response to a signal from said signal processing means whereby said airfoil is adapted to be moved sufficiently by said piezoelectric means to control the direction of flight of said aircraft.

Claim 7

A system for moving an aircraft airfoil during flight comprising: an aircraft, a light source, an optical fiber, a light detection means, a piezoelectric means, and a signal processing means, said aircraft comprising an airfoil said piezoelectric means and said optical fiber being connected to said airfoil, said light source being adapted to emit light into said optical fiber, said detector being adapted to detect at least a portion of said light, said light detection means being adapted to convey a signal to said signal processing means, and said piezoelectric means being adapted to be actuated in response to a signal from said signal processing means whereby said airfoil is adapted to be moved sufficiently by said piezoelectric means to control the direction of flight of said aircraft.

Claim 10

A system for monitoring and controlling physical movement occurring at any point between spaced points on a structure including: (a) at least one piezoelectric means being embedded in said structure, (b) at least one optical fiber being embedded continuously in said structure said optical fiber extending from at least one of the spaced points to the other and thereby engage all points along the structure between said spaced points so that physical movement of the structure between said spaced points will result in physical movement of the optical fiber, said piezoelectric means not being in contact with said optical fiber; (c) said optical fiber being adapted to pass a light signal therethrough; (d) a detector being adapted to detect reflection changes in said light signal resulting from said physical movement to thereby provide an indication that a physical movement has taken place and an indication of the location and magnitude of said movement, and (e) said piezoelectric means being adapted to be activated to control said physical movement.

Claim 11

A system for monitoring and controlling physical movement occurring at any point between spaced points on a structure including: (a) at least one piezoelectric means being embedded in said structure, (b) at least one optical fiber being embedded continuously in said structure said optical fiber extending from at least one of the spaced points to the other and thereby engage all points along the structure between said spaced points so that physical movement of the structure between said spaced points will result in physical movement of the optical fiber, said piezoelectric means not being in contact with said optical fiber; (c) said optical fiber being adapted to pass a light signal therethrough; (d) a detector being adapted to detect reflection changes in said light signal resulting from said physical movement to thereby provide an indication that a physical movement has taken place and an indication of the location and magnitude of said movement, and (e) said piezoelectric means being adapted to be activated to control said physical movement.

Claim 16

A system for monitoring and control of physical movement occurring at any point between spaced points on an aircraft structure in flight including the steps of; (a) at least one piezoelectric means and at least one optical fiber attached continuously to said structure to extend from at least one of the spaced points to the other and thereby engage all points along the structure between said spaced points so that physical movement of the structure between said spaced points will result in physical movement of the optical fiber; (b) said optical fiber being adapted to pass a light signal; (c) a detector being adapted to detect reflection changes in said light signal resulting from said physical movement to thereby provide an indication that a physical movement has taken place and an indication of the location and magnitude of said movement and (d) said piezoelectric means being adapted to be activated to control said physical movement.

Claim 17

A system for monitoring and control of physical movement occurring at any point between spaced points on an aircraft structure in flight including the steps of; (a) at least one piezoelectric means and at least one optical fiber attached continuously to said structure to extend from at least one of the spaced points to the other and thereby engage all points along the structure between said spaced points so that physical movement of the structure between said spaced points will result in physical movement of the optical fiber; (b) said optical fiber being adapted to pass a light signal; (c) a detector being adapted to detect reflection changes in said light signal resulting from said physical movement to thereby provide an indication that a physical movement has taken place and an indication of the location and magnitude of said movement and (d) said piezoelectric means being adapted to be activated to control said physical movement.

Claim 20

A system for operating an actuator, comprising: an actuation system, said actuation system comprising an actuator member and an optical fiber, said actuator member being adapted to be actuated in response to movement of said optical fiber, said actuation system being connected to a structure whereby actuation of said actuator member causes movement of said structure, and said movement being detected by a detector adapted to monitoring changes in a property of light being propagated through said optical fiber.

Claim 21

A system for operating an actuator, comprising: an actuation system, said actuation system comprising an actuator member and an optical fiber, said actuator member being adapted to be actuated in response to movement of said optical fiber, said actuation system being connected to a structure whereby actuation of said actuator member causes movement of said structure, and said movement being detected by a detector adapted to monitoring changes in a property of light being propagated through said optical fiber.