Patent ID: 6026691
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A device for determining a fatigue status of a metallic specimen which comprises,(a) an array containing a plurality of cells being electrically connected to said specimen, each cell having a reference and a counter electrode;(b) a potentiostat for each cell, being connected to said electrodes of each cell, for controlling a voltage applied across each cell, and carrying a sensing current from each cell;(c) an amplifier for each potentiostat, being connected to each said potentiostat, for amplifying the sensing current;(d) a multiplexer, being connected to said amplifiers, for sequentially sensing the amplified sensing current from each of the plurality of cells;(e) an analog-to-digital converter, being connected to the multiplexer, for converting the amplified sensing current from each of the plurality of cells from an analog to a digital format;(f) a microcontroller, being connected to said converter, for recording and storing the digital form of the currents;wherein said currents being provided by the plurality of cells determine a relative fatigue status of the specimen;wherein the microcontroller produces digital control signals for controlling the potentiostats;(g) a digital-to-analog converter, being connected to said microcontroller, for converting the digital control signals from a digital to an analog format; and(h) a second multiplexer, being connected to the digital-to-analog converter, for applying the analog form of the control signals to each of the potentiostats.