Device and System for Relative Motion Sensing

• US 20170038407A1
• Filed: 08/07/2015
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Structural Health Data Systems Co.
• Original Assignee: Structural Health Data Systems Co.
• Inventors: Langerman, Scott Miles, Foster, Ottis Charles, Fitch, John Edward
• Granted Patent: US 10,444,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 System for monitoring long term relative motions between surfaces or planes in one or more dimensions comprising a motion sensor, a control and data readout system, and a central processing system.

3. ) A method according to claim 1 using either wired or wireless data transmissions from the motion sensor to the central processing system.

4. ) A method according to claim 1 using either periodic transmissions of individual measurements or data logging of multiple measurements between transmissions.

5. ) A method according to claim 1 that uses a central processor to provide long term data storage and data analysis to end users.

2. ) A device for accurately measuring and reporting the long term relative motions between surfaces or planes in one or more dimensions based on a voltage being applied to one or more parallel conductors on a printed circuit board.

6. ) A device according to claim 2 that provides parallel conductors on one or both sides of a printed circuit board.

7. ) A device according to claim 2 that provides parallel conductors on either a stiff or flexible printed circuit board.

8. ) A device according to claim 2 that utilizes physical encoding of parallel conductors as part of the readout electronics.

9. ) A device according to claim 2 that utilizes isolation diodes and multiplexors as part of the readout electronics.

10. ) A device according to claim 2 that utilizes resistors between conductors to establish a voltage divider circuit as part of the readout electronics.

11. ) A device according to claim 2 that uses a system on a chip to control read out electronics and transmit decoded readout measurements to other devices.

12. ) A device according to claim 2 that is attached using a series of mechanical devices to the planes or surfaces being measured.

13. ) A device according to claim 2 that is attached to the planes or surfaces being measured using adhesives.

14. ) A device according to claim 2 that is attached to the planes or surfaces being measured using magnetic fixtures.

15. ) A device according to claim 2 that provides for a user selected mode to provide initialization and communications system checks.

16. ) A device according to claim 2 that provides for a user selected initial position calibration or current position recalibration.