# US 10,119,984 B2 · Apparatus for detecting and recording accelerations experienced by a structure, and a method of operating the apparatus

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- Number: US 10,119,984 B2
- Document ID: US10119984B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/121,431
- Filed: 2015-02-26
- Published: 2016-12-15
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-02-27
- Assignees: Seismo Holdings Limited
- Applicants: Seismo Holdings Limited
- Inventors: Clark William Keith Hyland; Benjamin Andrew Hyland
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119984B2

## CPC

- G01P 1/127: {for acceleration values}
- G01P 1/023: {for acceleration measuring devices}
- G01V 1/247: {Digital recording of seismic data, e.g. in acquisition units or nodes}
- G01V 1/01: Measuring or predicting earthquakes
- G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G})
- G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02)

## Abstract

An apparatus for detecting and recording accelerations experienced by a structure and a method for operating the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes an accelerometer, processor, and non-volatile computer memory device. The method includes operating the apparatus in a reduced power state, detecting an acceleration having a magnitude that is greater than a first preselected threshold magnitude, switching each of the accelerometer, processor, and non-volatile computer memory device to a fully operational state, storing accelerometer data in a buffer, switching the processor and computer memory device to a reduced power state until the accelerometer signals that further data is available, storing any further accelerometer data in the buffer, and repeating the steps until a predetermined time has elapsed since the accelerometer last detected an acceleration having a magnitude which is greater than a second preselected threshold magnitude.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating an apparatus for detecting and recording accelerations experienced by a building, the apparatus comprising an accelerometer, a processor and a non-volatile computer memory device, the method comprising the following steps:
i. operating the processor, accelerometer and computer memory device in a reduced power state;
ii. in response to detecting an acceleration experienced by the building having a magnitude which is greater than a first preselected threshold magnitude, switching the accelerometer to a fully operational state and storing accelerometer data in a buffer;
iii. switching the processor and computer memory device to a fully operational state;
iv. operating the processor to store the accelerometer data from the buffer in the computer memory device;
v. switching the processor and computer memory device to a reduced power state until the accelerometer signals that further data is available, and storing any further accelerometer data in the buffer;
vi. repeating steps iii) to v) until a predetermined time has elapsed since the accelerometer last detected an acceleration having a magnitude which is greater than a second preselected threshold magnitude.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of:
vii. switching the processor, accelerometer and computer memory device to the reduced power state.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 comprising repeating steps i) to vii).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein step iii) further comprises creating a new file on the computer memory device and step iv) further comprises storing the accelerometer data from the buffer in the new file.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first preselected threshold magnitude equals 0.02G.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first preselected threshold magnitude equals 0.001G.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second preselected threshold magnitude equals 0.02G.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second preselected threshold magnitude equals 0.001G.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time comprises 5 seconds.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises an additional sensor and step ii) further comprises switching the additional sensor to fully operational state and storing data from the additional sensor in the buffer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein step v) further includes the step of switching the additional sensor to a reduced power state or an off state.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the non-volatile computer memory device comprises a secure digital (SD) card.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector in communication with the processor, and wherein the processor sends data indicative of the output of the accelerometer to the USB connector.

### Claim 14

An apparatus for detecting and recording accelerations experienced by a building, the apparatus comprising a housing, a processor provided within the housing, an accelerometer connected to an interior of the housing an in communication with the processor, and non-volatile computer memory device connection means connected to the processor, the connection means adapted for releasable connection to at least one non-volatile computer memory device, wherein, in use:
i. the processor, accelerometer and computer memory device initially operate in a reduced power state;
ii. the accelerometer switches to a fully operational state and stores accelerometer data in a buffer in response to detecting an acceleration experienced by the building having a magnitude which is greater than a first preselected threshold magnitude;
iii. the processor and computer memory device switch to a fully operational state in response to the accelerometer detecting an acceleration having a magnitude which is greater than a first preselected threshold magnitude;
iv. the processor stores the accelerometer data from the buffer in a computer memory device which is coupled to the connection means;
v. the processor and computer memory device switch to a reduced power state until the accelerometer signals that further data is available, and stores any further accelerometer data in the buffer; and
vi. the apparatus repeats steps iii) to v) until a predetermined time has elapsed since the accelerometer last detected an acceleration having a magnitude which is greater than a second preselected threshold magnitude.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first and second preselected threshold magnitude comprise 0.02G.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first and second preselected threshold magnitude comprise 0.001G.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the non-volatile computer memory device connection means is configured for connection to a secure digital (SD) card.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector in communication with the processor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the processor sends data indicative of the output of the accelerometer to the USB connector.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a battery.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the apparatus is operable without connection to any apparatus external of the housing.

### Claim 22 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a wireless communication means.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the wireless communication means comprises one of a radio frequency transceiver, 3G transceiver or bluetooth module.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the wireless communication means is provided internally of the housing.