Method and system for multifield, multifunctional sensing

Inventors

Wang, Qian • Zhang, Xin

Assignees

Northwestern University

Abstract

A sensing system includes a sensor mounted on a surface that is subjected to a load. The sensor is configured to detect a first field value related to the surface. A memory is configured to store information regarding the surface. A processor is coupled to the memory and in communication with the sensor. The processor is configured to determine a second field value based on the detected first field value and the information regarding the surface.

Core Innovation

A machining tool system is configured to monitor a condition of a surface while the surface is subjected to a load by a tool tip. A sensor is mounted on the tool tip so that the sensor is adjacent to or in contact with the surface, and the sensor detects a first field value related to a condition of the surface that results from the load caused by the tool tip.

A memory stores information regarding the surface, and a processor coupled to the memory and in communication with the sensor determines a second field value based on the detected first field value and the stored information. The second field value also results from the load caused by the tool tip, enabling monitoring of the surface condition through determination of field values rather than direct measurement of every field.

The system and method extend the multifield, multifunctional sensing concept so that field values can include electric field potential, magnetic field potential, an amount of displacement, and diffused mass density, based on the detected first field value and surface information. Additional embodiments specify sensing and modeling using thermal and displacement relationships, constrain sensor placement relative to load distribution, use load symmetry to infer field values at another location, and compare modeled shapes to adjust a heat-flux coefficient.

Claims Coverage

The document includes two independent claims: an apparatus claim for a machining tool system and a method claim for multifield, multifunctional sensing. Across the independent claims, the inventive features are organized around tool-tip-adjacent surface sensing of a first field value caused by tool-tip load, using stored surface information in a processor to determine a second field value that also results from the tool-tip load, enabling multifunctional monitoring.

Claim coverage centers on detecting a first field value at or near the machining tool tip while a surface is under load, storing surface information, and computing a second field value from the detected first field value and stored information to monitor surface condition. Dependent claim directions further expand possible first/second field modalities and include geometric constraints, load-symmetry inference, and heat-flux coefficient adjustment connected to thermal and displacement sensing.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications