Patent ID: 8307715

Claim:
A digital strain encoder comprising: a gage-emitter including a plurality of active strain gage elements, the gage-emitter being affixable to a surface of a body to be measured and deformable on a one-to-one basis with the surface, wherein the strain gage elements emit a reference strain signal in the absence of strain and an altered strain signal when the surface is subjected to strain and the gage-emitter is deformed; a sensor-receiver including a plurality of active strain sensor elements, the sensor-receiver floating over the gage-emitter so as not to deform with the surface, the strain sensor elements detecting the reference and altered strain signals emitted by the strain gage elements; a transmitter for transmitting the detected reference and altered strain signals to a remote receiver; and a self-contained energy source for powering at least the strain sensor elements and the transmitter.