Method and system for wear monitoring using rf reflections

Abstract

In an embodiment, a system for wear monitoring, includes a wear surface, a metallic reflector embedded in the wear surface, a radio-wave transmitter, and a radio-wave receiver. The metallic reflector reflects radio waves transmitted by the radio-wave transmitter for detection by the radio wave receiver. Attenuation of the radio waves between transmission by the radio-wave transmitter and detection by the radio-wave receiver indicates a degree of wear of the wear surface.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A system for wear monitoring, comprising:
 A non-metallic wear surface;   a redundant transceiver wear sensor in the wear surface;   a recessed reflector antenna;   wherein the change in resistance of the redundant transceiver wear sensor indicates the degree of wear of the non-metallic wear surface, and the connected recessed reflector antenna transmits the resistance information as an assessment of wear as a function of time.   
     
     
         15 . The system for wear monitoring of  claim 14 , wherein the wear surface is a tire. 
     
     
         16 . The system for wear monitoring of  claim 14 , wherein the wear surface is a non-metallic liner. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the recessed reflector antenna is a parabolic reflector.