Patent ID: 7395189
Filing Date: 2008-07-01
Classification: A61B,G01N

Abstract:
1. A structural health monitoring system, comprising: a plurality of monitoring elements configured for coupling to a structure; a plurality of switches each in electrical communication with an associated monitoring element of the plurality of monitoring elements, and each configured to switch the associated monitoring element to an on state and an off state; a control line configured for coupling to the structure, and in electrical communication with each switch of the plurality of switches; a signal line configured for coupling to the structure, and in electrical communication with each monitoring element of the plurality of monitoring elements; and a controller configured to transmit a control signal along the control line so as to switch selected ones of the monitoring elements to the on state or the off state, and configured to perform at least one of transmitting a monitoring signal along the signal line to those monitoring elements switched to the on state so as to initiate a monitoring of the structure, or receiving a sensing signal along the signal line from those monitoring elements switched to the on state so as to facilitate the sensing of the structure.