Device and system for relative motion sensing

• US 10,444,256 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2015
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Structural Health Data Systems Co.
• Original Assignee: Structural Health Data Systems Co.
• Inventors: Foster, Ottis Charles, Langerman, Scott Miles, Fitch, John Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghyka, Alexander G
• Application Number:
  US14/821,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20170038407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0098 Plants or trees wood G01N33/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00

Abstract

The invention pertains to a device and system which uses printed circuit board metrology to accurately measure relative motion between surfaces in one or more dimensions. The invention comprises a system on a chip (SOC) to periodically measure, log, and transmit relative motion data in an automated fashion either wired or wirelessly, allowing long term measurement of moving surfaces such as foundation movement, bridge movement, concrete movement, structural system movement, excavation movement, slope monitoring or tree growth monitoring.

Claims

1. A motion sensing device comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a first plurality of parallel conductors and a second plurality of parallel conductors, said first plurality of parallel conductors being positioned on a first face of said printed circuit board, said second plurality of parallel conductors being positioned on an opposite face of said printed circuit board relative to said first face;

a power source coupled to said PCB; and

a first pin board comprising a first pin, said first pin board being configured for movement relative to said first face, said first pin being configured for electrical connectivity with at least one conductor of said first plurality of parallel conductors when said movement of said first pin is to a first juxtaposed position relative to said at least one conductor of said first plurality of parallel conductors and electrical discontinuity with one or more other conductors of said first plurality of parallel conductors.

2. The motion sensing device of claim 1 further comprising first attachment means for engaging said first pin board with a first surface area and second attachment means for engaging said PCB to a second surface area, whereby a change of spatial position of said first surface area relative to said second surface area produces said movement.

3. The motion sensing device of claim 2 wherein said first attachment means utilizes an adhesive.

4. The motion sensing device of claim 2 wherein said first attachment means utilizes a magnetic fixture.

5. The motion sensing device of claim 1 further comprising a voltage measuring means operably coupled to said at least one conductor of said first plurality of parallel conductors for measuring voltage of said at least one conductor of said first plurality of parallel conductors.

6. The motion sensing device of claim 5 wherein said voltage measuring means is a multiplexer.

7. The motion sensing device of claim 5 further comprising a digital interface means operably connected to said voltage measuring means for receiving data from said voltage measuring means and transmitting it to data storage means for storing said data.

8. The motion sensing device of claim 7 wherein said digital interface means is a system on a chip (SOC).

9. The motion sensing device of claim 7 wherein said data storage means is a remote computing platform comprising internal memory.

10. The motion sensing device of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of parallel conductors is physically encoded utilizing diodes to isolate groups of conductors of said first plurality of parallel conductors.

11. The motion sensing device of claim 1 wherein each conductor of said first plurality of parallel conductors is configured for direct measurement through individual resistors on said each conductor.

12. A motion sensing device comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a first plurality of parallel conductors and a second plurality of parallel conductors, said first plurality of parallel conductors being positioned on a first face of said printed circuit board, said second plurality of parallel conductors being positioned on an opposite face of said printed circuit board relative to said first face;

a power source coupled to said PCB; and

a first pin board comprising a first pin, said first pin board being configured for movement relative to said first face, said first pin being configured for electrical connectivity with at least one conductor of said first plurality of parallel conductors when said movement of said first pin is to a first juxtaposed position relative to said at least one conductor of said first plurality of parallel conductors and electrical discontinuity with one or more other conductors of said first plurality of parallel conductors; and

a second pin board comprising a second pin, said second pin board being configured for movement relative to said opposite face, said second pin being configured for electrical connectivity with at least one conductor of said second plurality of parallel conductors when said movement of said second pin is to a first juxtaposed position relative to said at least one conductor of said second plurality of parallel conductors and electrical discontinuity with one or more other conductors of said second plurality of parallel conductors.