STRUCTURAL MONITORING

• US 20140067284A1
• Filed: 11/19/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Breed, David S.
• Application Number:
  US13/680,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20140067284A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01315 monitoring occupant displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0152 using strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0153 using field detection presence sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01536 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01542 detecting passenger motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01544 detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01548 sensing the amount of belt winded on retractor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 : Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/25 : using biometry
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/43 : responsive to disruption of energy beams, e.g. light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/431 : specially adapted for vehicle windows or roofs
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/433 : using reflection from the obstruction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/516 : for trucks or trailers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/542 : Roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 : Windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0008 : of bridges
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0033 : by determining damage, crack or wear
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/004 : Testing the effects of speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 : Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 : Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/06 : Systems determining the position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/42 : Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S15/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 : Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 : Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 : Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 : Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/417 : involving the use of neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4802 : using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/539 : using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3291 : mounted in or on other locations inside the vehicle or vehicle body

Abstract

System for monitoring a structure includes at least one monitoring arrangement attached at a respective location to the structure, each monitoring arrangement having at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) that measures acceleration and/or angular motion in any direction and rotation about any axis, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver that determines its location, and a wireless communication system that transmits information derived from acceleration and/or angular motion measured by the IMU and a location determination by the GNSS receiver. Further, each monitoring arrangement may include a microphone, chemical sensor, a visual or IR light sensor, a radiation sensor, a magnetic sensor, and/or a strain sensor. As an alternative, the monitoring arrangements may include only IMUs or only GNSS receivers.

Claims

1. A system of monitoring a structure, comprising:

at least one monitoring arrangement attached at a respective location to the structure, each of said at least one monitoring arrangement comprising;

at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) that measures acceleration and/or angular motion in any direction and rotation about any axis;

a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver that determines its location; and

a wireless communication system that transmits information derived from acceleration and/or angular motion measured by said at least one IMU and a location determination by said GNSS receiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one monitoring arrangement further comprises at least one sensor selected from a group consisting of a microphone, chemical sensor, a visual or IR light sensor, a radiation sensor, a magnetic sensor, and a strain sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wake-up sensor coupled to said at least one monitoring arrangement and that detects one of a predetermined number of conditions that relate to interaction of objects with the structure and for which monitoring of the structure is required, and when one of the predetermined number of conditions is detected, said wake-up sensor causing said at least one monitoring arrangement to go from an inactive phase in which data is not obtained to an active phase in which data is not obtained.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wake-up sensor coupled to said at least one monitoring arrangement and that monitors at least one property of a monitoring location or the structure, and when the monitored at least one property exceeds a predetermined level, is below a predetermined threshold, or is within a range of interest detected, said wake-up sensor causing said at least one monitoring arrangement to go from an inactive phase in which data is not obtained to an active phase in which data is not obtained.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication system comprises circuitry capable of providing high frequency radio frequency communications, a directional antenna configured to cover only a small angular slice in a vertical plane and a rotation mechanism that rotates said antenna, said communication system being configured to transmit the information after receiving a signal from said antenna.

6. An arrangement for determining relative motions between parts of a structure, comprising:

a plurality of monitoring arrangements each attached at a respective location to the structure, each of said monitoring arrangements comprising;

at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) that measures acceleration and/or angular motion in any direction and rotation about any axis; and

a wireless communication system that transmits information derived from acceleration and/or angular motion measured by said at least one IMU;

a processor that analyzes the acceleration and/or angular motion measured by said at least one IMU of said monitoring arrangements and a distance between said monitoring arrangements to determine relative displacement between the locations at which said monitoring arrangements are attached to the structure.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein said monitoring arrangements are attached to different parts of the structure.

8. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein each of said monitoring arrangements further comprises a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver that determines its location, said processor being further configured to analyze the location of said monitoring arrangements provided by said GNSS receivers to determine relative displacements between the locations at which said monitoring arrangements are attached to the structure.

9. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein each of said monitoring arrangements further comprises at least one sensor selected from a group consisting of a microphone, chemical sensor, a visual or IR light sensor, a radiation sensor, a magnetic sensor, and a strain sensor.

10. The arrangement of claim 6, further comprising a wake-up sensor coupled to said monitoring arrangements and that detects one of a predetermined number of conditions that relate to interaction of objects with the structure and for which monitoring of the structure is required, and when one of the predetermined number of conditions is detected, said wake-up sensor causing said monitoring arrangements to go from an inactive phase in which data is not obtained to an active phase in which data is not obtained.

11. The arrangement of claim 6, further comprising a wake-up sensor coupled to said monitoring arrangements and that monitors at least one property of a monitoring location or the structure, and when the monitored at least one property exceeds a predetermined level, is below a predetermined threshold, or is within a range of interest detected, said wake-up sensor causing said monitoring arrangements to go from an inactive phase in which data is not obtained to an active phase in which data is not obtained.

12. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein said communication system comprises circuitry capable of providing high frequency radio frequency communications, a directional antenna configured to cover only a small angular slice in a vertical plane and a rotation mechanism that rotates said antenna, said communication system being configured to transmit the information after receiving a signal from said antenna.

13. An arrangement for determining relative motions between parts of a structure, comprising:

a plurality of monitoring arrangements each attached at a respective location to the structure, each of said monitoring arrangements comprising;

a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver that determines its location; and

a wireless communication system that transmits information derived from a location determination by said GNSS receiver; and

a processor that analyzes the location of said monitoring arrangements provided by said GNSS receivers to determine relative displacements between the locations at which said monitoring arrangements are attached to the structure.

14. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein said monitoring arrangements are attached to different parts of the structure.

15. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein each of said monitoring arrangements further comprises at least one sensor selected from a group consisting of a microphone, chemical sensor, a visual or IR light sensor, a radiation sensor, a magnetic sensor, and a strain sensor.

16. The arrangement of claim 13, further comprising a wake-up sensor coupled to said monitoring arrangements and that detects one of a predetermined number of conditions that relate to interaction of objects with the structure and for which monitoring of the structure is required, and when one of the predetermined number of conditions is detected, said wake-up sensor causing said monitoring arrangements to go from an inactive phase in which data is not obtained to an active phase in which data is not obtained.

17. The arrangement of claim 13, further comprising a wake-up sensor coupled to said monitoring arrangements and that monitors at least one property of a monitoring location or the structure, and when the monitored at least one property exceeds a predetermined level, is below a predetermined threshold, or is within a range of interest detected, said wake-up sensor causing said monitoring arrangements to go from an inactive phase in which data is not obtained to an active phase in which data is not obtained.

18. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein said communication system comprises circuitry capable of providing high frequency radio frequency communications, a directional antenna configured to cover only a small angular slice in a vertical plane and a rotation mechanism that rotates said antenna, said communication system being configured to transmit the information after receiving a signal from said antenna.