Patent ID: 8810255
Filing Date: 2014-08-19
Classification: G01R,H01B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A damage detection system comprising: (a) a substrate; completely or partially covered with (b) a layer comprising an electrically conductive material forming a continuous or noncontinuous layer; wherein layer (b) is electrically connected to (c) an electrical signal generator adapted to deliver electrical signals to layer (b); and (d) a detector circuit electrically linked to layer (b) and adapted to detect the electrical signals in layer (b) and process data about the electrical signals in layer (b) to identify damage to the substrate (a) or electrically conductive material (b); wherein the electrically conductive material of layer (b) is (i) a composite material; (ii) a material comprising metalized carbon fibers; (iii) a thin metal coating; (iv) a conductive polymer; (v) carbon nanotubes; (vi) metal nanoparticles; or (vii) a combination thereof; wherein the substrate is not an electrically conductive wire core and is not an insulation layer over an electrically conductive wire core.