Granted Patent B2

US 12,281,949 · App. 17/822,866 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Inventors: Roberto Aga (Beavercreek, OH); Emily Heckman (Oakwood, OH)

Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

G01L1/2287

Abstract

Claims (24)

1. A multi-junction resistance strain gauge, comprising:

a substrate;

a sinterable ink deposited directly on the substrate forming a non-conductive pattern;

a stripe pattern generated on the deposited sinterable ink by sintering, the stripe pattern having one or more non-conductive gaps, the stripe pattern having a first electrical conductivity; and

a sintered bridge across each of the one or more gaps and providing electrical continuity through the stripe and across the gaps, each bridge having a second electrical conductivity which is lower than the first electrical conductivity.

2. The multi-junction resistance strain gauge of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a non-conductive material or a conductive material coated with a thin insulator on which the stripe pattern is generated.

3. The multi-junction resistance strain gauge of claim 1 , wherein the sinterable ink is a silver ink.

4. The multi-junction resistance strain gauge of claim 1 , wherein the first electrical conductivity of the stripe is a factor of about 1.7 or more higher than the second electrical conductivity of the bridge.

5. A method of manufacturing a multi-junction resistance strain gauge, comprising:

providing a substrate;

depositing a sinterable ink directly on the substrate to form a non-conductive pattern;

generating a stripe pattern on the deposited sinterable ink by sintering, the stripe pattern having one or more non-conductive gaps, the stripe pattern having a first electrical conductivity; and

sintering a bridge across each of the one or more gaps and providing electrical continuity through the stripe and across the gaps, each bridge having a second electrical conductivity which is lower than the first electrical conductivity.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the substrate is a non-conductive material or a conductive material coated with a thin insulator on which the stripe pattern is generated.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the sinterable ink is a silver ink.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first electrical conductivity of the stripe is a factor of about 1.7 or more higher than the second electrical conductivity of the bridge.

9. An Apparatus for constructing a multi-junction resistance strain gauge system, comprising:

a substrate;

a sinterable ink deposited directly on the substrate forming a non-conductive pattern;

a stripe pattern generated on the deposited sinterable ink by sintering, the stripe pattern having one or more non-conductive gaps, the stripe pattern having a first electrical conductivity;

a sintered bridge across each of the one or more gaps and providing electrical continuity through the stripe and across the gaps, each bridge having a second electrical conductivity which is different than the first electrical conductivity; and

first and second contact pads formed on opposing ends of the substrate.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising wiring connected to each contact pad.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising an electronic system connected to the wiring to measure a change in electrical conductivity of the strain gauge and provide strain readouts during a specimen test.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (9)