Picostrain engineering data acquisition system

• US 6,556,927 B1
• Filed: 08/26/1998
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Idaho Transportation Department
• Original Assignee: Idaho Transportation Department
• Inventors: Latta, Bernard Mitchel
• Primary Examiner(s): Wachsman, Hal
• Application Number:
  US09/140,819
• Time in Patent Office: 1,707 Days
• Field of Search: 702/41-44, 702/57, 702/89, 702/92-98, 702/101, 702/102, 702/104, 702/105, 702/113-116, 702/33-36, 702/38, 702/121-126, 702/138-142, 702/145-148, 702/156, 702/143, 702/150-153, 702/173-176, 702/178, 702/183-185, 702/189, 702/190, 702/197, 702/FOR.103, 702/FOR.104, 702/FOR.130, 702/FOR-123, 702/FOR-170, 702/FOR.143, 702/FOR.144, 702/FOR-149, 702/FOR.164, 340/936, 340/941, 340/933, 340/939, 340/665, 340/666, 340/934, 340/935, 340/938, 340/669, 340/670, 404/9-11, 404/13, 701/117-119, 701/124, 367/97, 367/91, 177/210.FP, 177/210.EM, 177/45, 177/136, 177/137, 177/25.14, 177/210.R, 177/132, 177/133, 177/211, 177/210.C, 177/1, 177/135, 177/185, 177/163, 324/655, 324/207.21, 324/207.23, 324/236, 324/207.11, 324/13-15, 324/244, 324/209, 324/256, 324/251, 324/242, 324/243, 324/245, 731/46, 73/11.3, 73/11.5, 734/88, 734/93--95, 735/10, 735/11, 738/620.46, 73/13.7, 735/73--82, 738/623.36, 331/65, 200/86.A, 200/85.R, 200/86.R
• US Class Current: 702/41
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/024 using electrical weight-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/035 using electrical weight-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors

Abstract

A sensing device for detecting and identifying vehicles or other events which apply force to a roadway or other structure. The force applied by a vehicle is interpreted to produce a force signature which is unique to a vehicle, and thus can be used to identify individual vehicles. Other force events which can detected and identified include pedestrians, motorcycles, avalanches, roadway deterioration, structural failure of bridges or other structures, avalanches, bicycles, and railroad trains.

Claims

1. An engineering data acquisition device for use in an un-referenced orthogonal axis system in space and time, represented by vectors X′

, Y′

, Z′

, and time T′

, which has a known relationship to a referenced orthogonal axis system defined by the axes X, Y, and Z, time T, and in which a known relationship is developed between said time T′ and

said time T, comprising;

one or more transducers laid substantially along said Y axis of said referenced orthogonal axis system, which have uni-axial sensitivity to an applied dynamic force applied parallel to said Z axis and normal to said Y axis, and which produce time referenced electric signals in response to forces applied at right angles to a physical displacement of structural material developed within a structural mass;

an amplifier, for amplifying said time referenced electric signals from said one or more transducers;

a filter, for discriminating against unwanted signal components from said time referenced electric signals; and

a computer for sensing said time referenced electric signals and for developing a proportional kinetic energy signature for said applied dynamic force;

wherein said one or more transducers are operatively connected to said structural mass, and produce said time referenced electric signals in response to rotation of said structural mass and said one or more transducers through a magnetic field.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said proportional kinetic energy signature for said applied dynamic force is further interpreted by said computer to yield a mass of said applied dynamic force.

3. The device of claim 1 in which said proportional kinetic energy signature for said applied dynamic force is further interpreted by said computer to yield a velocity of said applied dynamic force along a path of travel.

4. The device of claim 1 in which said proportional kinetic energy signature for said applied dynamic force is further interpreted by said computer to identify a force by a kinetic energy signature.

5. The device of claim 4 in which said proportional kinetic energy signature for said applied dynamic force is further interpreted by said computer to yield data relating to acceleration and/or deceleration of a vehicle.

6. The device of claim 1 in which said proportional kinetic energy signature for said applied dynamic force is further interpreted by said computer to yield roadway structural condition data.

7. The device of claim 1 which further includes a sensing unit for sensing a force in a range detectable by said device before or after said applied dynamic force passes over said one or more transducers, said sensing unit produces a signal for controlling said device and for resetting said device for repeat operation.

8. The device of claim 1 in which said one or more transducers further comprise passive conductive coils, which generate a signal by cutting across planetary magnetic lines of force.

9. The device of claim 8 in which said one or more transducers generate a signal by rotational movement generated by differential pressure gradients.

10. The device of claim 8 in which said one or more transducers generate a signal by rotational movement caused by physical displacement waves.

11. The device of claim 8 in which said one or more transducers generate a signal by movement generated by a change in dimension of said one or more transducers.

12. An engineering data acquisition device for use in an un-referenced orthogonal axis system in space and time, represented by vectors X′

, Y′

, Z′

, and time T′

, which has a known relationship to a referenced orthogonal axis system defined by the axes X, Y, and Z, time T, and in which a known relationship is developed between said time T′ and

said time T, comprising;

one or more passive transducers which are conductive coils, laid substantially along said Y axis of said referenced orthogonal axis system, which have uni-axial sensitivity to a dynamic force applied parallel to said Z axis and normal to said Y axis, and which produce time referenced electric signals in response to rotational movement caused by said applied dynamic force, wherein said rotational movement is caused by differential pressure gradients or a wave of surface deformation, and wherein said time referenced electric signals are generated by said one or more passive transducers which are conductive coils passing through planetary lines of magnetic force;

an amplifier, for amplifying said time referenced electric signals;

a filter, for discriminating against unwanted signal components from said time referenced electric signals;

a computer for sensing said time referenced electric signals; and

computing means to develop a proportional kinetic energy signature for said applied dynamic force, which is unique for any particular vehicle or force event, and which yields any or all of several types of data, including identification, a velocity, acceleration, deceleration, and/or roadway structural integrity for said vehicle or force event.

13. In a system for determining a classification of a force in motion, with an array comprised of two or more transducers which respond to at least one force event set, said at least one force event set comprised of one or more force events, said system having a microprocessor including a storage means, a method comprising the steps of:

installing in said storage means a table containing information about classification of said at least one force event set, including information about force event number and force event spacing;

determining a distance between each of said two or more transducers;

generating a first time referenced signal from a first transducer coil rotating in a magnetic field, said first time referenced signal corresponding to kinetic energy of said at least one force event set;

storing said first time referenced signal in said storage means as a first variable;

generating a second time referenced signal from a second transducer coil rotating in said magnetic field, said second time referenced signal corresponding to kinetic energy of said at least one force event set;

storing said second time referenced signal in said storage means as a second variable;

calculating by said microprocessor a third variable which is the velocity of said at least one force event set between said first transducer coil and said second transducer coil;

calculating by said microprocessor, a fourth variable from said first and second time referenced signals stored within said storage means, a value which corresponds to force event spacing and force event number; and

assigning a category to said force event by comparing said fourth variable which corresponds to said force event spacing and said force event number with said table containing information relating force event classification with force event spacing and force event number.

14. The method of claim 13 which further comprises the steps of:

generating said first and second time referenced signals from a plurality of spaced force elements;

sensing said plurality of spaced force elements individually;

generating respective first and second signals for each spaced force element;

generating individual timing values for each of said spaced force elements; and

combining said individual timing values.

15. The method of claim 13, which further comprises the steps of:

sensing said force in motion with a force presence sensor;

generating force timing values for said force in motion when said force in motion is sensed;

combining said force timing values while said force in motion is present;

obtaining a force classification from said force timing values; and

communicating said force classification to said storage means.

16. In a system for identifying and tracking a force in motion, said system having two or more transducers which respond to a force event and a microprocessor with permanent storage means having a plurality of stored force signatures, a method comprising the steps of:

generating a first signal from said two or more transducers non-tortionally rotating in the Earth'"'"'s magnetosphere, said first signal corresponding to kinetic energy of said force in motion;

storing said first signal as a first variable in a memory device;

generating a second signal from said two or more transducers non-tortionally rotating in said Earth'"'"'s magnetosphere, said second signal corresponding to velocity of said force in motion;

storing said second signal in said memory device as a second variable;

using said first and second signals to generate an identifying force signature;

comparing said generated identifying force signature and said plurality of stored force signatures to find a matching force signature; and

reading out of said memory device data which corresponds to said matching force signature, if said matching force signature is found.

17. The method of claim 16 which further comprises the steps of:

generating said first and second signals from a plurality of spaced force elements.

18. The method of claim 17, which further comprises the steps of:

establishing a tracking system with multiple sensing nodes;

sensing a presence of said force in motion with two or more force presence sensors located at two geographically separate sites;

generating time referenced force values for said plurality of spaced force elements when said force in motion is sensed;

combining said time referenced force values while said force in motion is present, and comparing said stored force signatures with said identifying force signature to form a recognized force in motion;

communicating location and time data of said recognized force in motion to sensing nodes of said tracking system; and

tracking a time referenced passage of said recognized force in motion through geographically separate sites.

19. The method of claim 16, which further comprises the steps of:

sensing a presence of said force in motion of claim 16 with a force presence sensor;

generating timing values for said force in motion when said force in motion is sensed;

combining said timing values while said force in motion is present, associating said force in motion with a time value to form a time referenced force; and

communicating said identified time referenced force to said permanent storage means.

20. An engineering data acquisition device for acquiring data on applied dynamic force generating objects comprising:

one or more passive transducers comprised of coils of conductive elements, mounted at or below grade in one or more channels made in a roadway structure and encased in a material with a similar modulus of elasticity as said roadway structure, and oriented generally horizontally along an X-Y plane and at an angle transecting a velocity vector along said roadway structure, in which each of said one or more passive transducers generates an electric signal by moving through planetary lines of magnetic force when physically displaced by an applied dynamic force from passage of said applied dynamic force generating objects over said one or more passive transducers;

a signal amplifier for amplifying said electric signal and for sending an amplified signal to a means of interpreting said amplified signal; and

a means of interpreting said amplified signal and converting said amplified signal into engineering data.

21. The data acquisition device of claim 20 in which said means of interpreting said amplified signal and converting said amplified signal into data further comprises:

a filter, for discriminating against unwanted signal components; and

a computer with computing means for developing a directly proportional kinetic energy signature for said applied dynamic force from said passage of applied dynamic force generating objects.

22. The data acquisition device of claim 21 in which each of said one or more passive transducers is configured with a first and a second transducer section, with said first transducer section mounted in a same vertical plane as said second transducer section, in a spaced apart relationship.

23. The data acquisition device of claim 21 in which each of said one or more passive transducers is configured generally in a plane with said roadway or other structure, with a first and a second transducer section, with said first transducer section mounted in a same horizontal plane as said second transducer section, in a spaced apart relationship.

24. The data acquisition device of claim 20 in which said one or more passive transducers transects said roadway structure generally normal to a flow of traffic.

25. An engineering data acquisition device for acquiring data from applied dynamic force generating objects acting on a roadway structure, comprising:

one or more passive transducers comprised of one or more loops of conductive elements, mounted below grade in one or more loops about a force transmitting element, and encased in a material with a similar modulus of elasticity as said roadway structure, and oriented generally horizontally along an X-Y plane, for generating an electric signal;

a signal amplifier for amplifying said electric signal and for sending an amplified electric signal to a means of interpreting said amplified signal;

converting said amplified electric signal into engineering data through use of said means of interpreting said amplified electric signal;

a filter, for discriminating against unwanted signals; and

a computer with computing means for developing a directly proportional kinetic energy signature for an applied dynamic force from said applied dynamic force generating objects;

wherein each of the one or more passive transducers generates a signal by a change of dimension and resultant differential movement through planetary lines of magnetic force when an applied dynamic force from a passing applied dynamic force generating object causes an expansion of said roadway structure beneath said force transmitting element.

26. A data acquisition method, comprising the steps of:

making a channel into a roadway structure generally normal to a direction of vehicular traffic on said roadway structure, for placement of electrically conductive loops;

placing one or more passive transducers comprised of electrically conductive loops in said channel in said roadway structure, from which position said electrically conductive loops will cut across lines of magnetic force when said electrically conductive loops encounter an applied dynamic force from a moving force generating object and generate a signal;

filling said channel which contains said electrically conductive loops with a material having the same approximate modulus of elasticity as said roadway structure;

connecting each of said electrically conductive loops to an amplifier, for amplifying said signal to create an amplified signal;

sending said amplified signal to a means of interpreting said amplified signal; and

using said amplified signal to generate data from said applied dynamic force from said moving force generating object.

27. The data acquisition method of claim 26 further comprising the steps of:

sending said amplified signal to a filter;

filtering said amplified signal through said filter, to discriminate against unwanted signals; and

produce a filtered amplified signal;

sending said filtered amplified signal to a computer with computing means for developing a directly proportional kinetic energy signal for said applied dynamic force from said moving force generating object.

28. The data acquisition method of claim 26 which further includes the step of installing a first and a second transducer section in said channel with said first transducer section mounted in a vertical plane and said second transducer section mounted in the same vertical plane as said first transducer section, said first transducer section and said second transducer section positioned in a parallel and spaced apart relationship.

29. The data acquisition method of claim 26 which further comprises a step of making at least two channels, and installing a first transducer in one channel, and a second transducer in a second channel, with said first transducer mounted in a same horizontal plane as said second transducer, in a spaced apart relationship.

30. The data acquisition method of claim 26 which further comprises generating a force signature which is unique to said applied dynamic force from said moving force generating object.

31. The data acquisition method of claim 26 which further includes a step of generating data which includes a mass specific to said moving force generating object.

32. The data acquisition method of claim 26 which further includes a step of generating data which includes acceleration and/or deceleration data for said moving force generating object.

33. The data acquisition method of claim 26 which further includes a step of generating data which includes data on velocity of said moving force generating object.

34. The data acquisition method of claim 26 which further includes a step of generating data which includes data on tracking said moving force generating object at geographically separate sites.

35. An engineering data acquisition device for use in an un-referenced orthogonal axis system in space and time, represented by vectors X′

, Y′

, Z′

, and time T′

, which has a known relationship to a referenced orthogonal axis system defined by the axes X, Y, and Z, time T, and in which a known relationship is developed between said time T′ and

said time T, comprising;

one or more transducers laid substantially along said Y axis of said referenced orthogonal axis system, which have uni-axial sensitivity to an applied dynamic force applied parallel to said Z axis and normal to said Y axis, and which produce time referenced electric signals in response to said applied dynamic force when applied at right angles to a physical displacement of structural material developed within a structural mass;

an amplifier, for amplifying said time referenced electric signals from said one or more transducers;

a filter, for discriminating against unwanted signal components from said time referenced electrical signals; and

a computer for sensing said time referenced electric signals and for developing a proportional kinetic energy signature for said applied dynamic force, for identifying said applied dynamic force, and for yielding a mass and a velocity of travel along a path of travel of said applied dynamic force, and to identify said applied dynamic force by a unique kinetic energy signature, acceleration and/or deceleration data, and roadway structural condition data.