Sensor system for a conveyor belt

1. A monitoring system for a moving conveyor belt having a plurality of embedded reinforcing cords and a plurality of identification tags spaced along a length of the conveyor belt, the system comprising:

a tag reader for detecting and identifying the presence of an identification tag from among the plurality of identification tags passing by the tag reader, wherein the identification tags include (a) an antenna for receiving and transmitting a signal and (b) an integrated circuit;

a belt monitor configured to detect a plurality of magnetic reference points and a damage event in the conveyor belt; and

a control unit in communication with the belt monitor and the tag reader, the control unit operable to assess the damage event as well as detect a location of the damage event relative to a magnetic reference point from among the plurality of magnetic reference points and based on the detected and identified identification tag and wherein the control unit is further operable to determine severity of the damage event.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor belt includes a pulley layer, a carcass layer, and a carry layer, the plurality of cords are disposed within the carcass layer, and the plurality of identification tags are embedded within the conveyor belt.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic reference point from among the plurality of magnetic reference points is a splice from among a plurality of splices.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the control unit is further operable to determine that the damage event is not a critical damage event, and the system further comprises:

an alarm provided in response to identifying the damage event; and

an display to notify an operator of the monitoring system of recommended actions and the location of the damage event.

5. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further operable to identify that the damage event is a critical damage event and, in response, immobilize the movement of the conveyor belt, and the system further comprises:

an alarm provided in response to identifying that the damage event is a critical damage event; and

an display to notify an operator of the system of the location of the damage event.

6. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the belt monitor includes a magnet to magnetize the at least one cord of the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt moves and a sensor array longitudinally spaced from the magnet and configured to measure a magnetic field of the at least one cord, and wherein the control unit is further operable to identify the damage event based on the measured magnetic field of the at least one cord.

7. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the damage event is a break in the at least one cord.

8. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the damage event is a partial damage of the at least one cord.

9. The monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the tag reader generates a radio frequency signal.

10. The monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency signal generated by the tag reader provides enough power for the integrated circuit in the tag to power up and transmit a response.

11. The monitoring system of claim 9 wherein the radio frequency signal generated by the tag reader includes a carrier wave.

12. The monitoring system of claim 11 wherein the antenna collects power from the incoming carrier wave and transmits an outbound backscatter signal.

13. The monitoring system of claim 9 wherein the integrated circuit stores and processes information.

14. The monitoring system of claim 13 wherein the integrated circuit modulates and demodulates the radio frequency signal.