# US 11,442,165 B2 · Methods and apparatus to measure and analyze vibration signatures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,165 B2 - Document ID: US11442165B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/534,593 - Filed: 2019-08-07 - Published: 2019-11-28 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-17 - Assignees: Texas Instruments Incorporated - Applicants: Texas Instruments Incorporated - Inventors: Leonardo William Estevez; Yuming Zhu; Sujeet Milind Patole - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442165B2 ## CPC - G01S 15/10: using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves (determination of distance by phase measurement G01S15/32) - G01N 29/07: by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves - G01N 29/075: {by measuring or comparing phase angle (measuring frequencies or phase angles per se G01R23/00, G01R25/00)} - G01N 29/11: by measuring attenuation of acoustic waves - G01N 29/12: by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves {(measuring frequency or resonant frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04, G01H13/00; acoustic resonators G10K11/04; vibration or shock testing of structures G01M7/00)} - G01N 29/14: using acoustic emission techniques {(echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00)} - G01S 7/539: using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section - G01S 15/582: {using transmission of interrupted pulse-modulated waves and based upon the Doppler effect resulting from movement of targets} - G01N 2291/011: Velocity or travel time - G01N 2291/014: Resonance or resonant frequency - G01N 2291/0258: Structural degradation, e.g. fatigue of composites, ageing of oils - G01S 15/003: {Bistatic sonar systems; Multistatic sonar systems} - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract Methods and apparatus to measure and analyze vibration signatures are disclosed. In some examples, a meter is provided comprising a waveform generator to generate a waveform based on first distance measurements of an object. In some examples, the meter includes a waveform generator to determine a first vibration characteristic of the object based on the waveform. In some examples, the meter includes a comparator to compare the first vibration characteristic to a signature vibration characteristic of the object, the signature vibration characteristic of the object indicative of normal characteristics of the object. In some examples, the meter includes a reporter to, in response to determining the first vibration characteristic does not match the signature vibration characteristic, generate an alert. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A meter comprising: an ultrasonic transceiver configured to obtain a set of two or more distance measurements of an object using an emission at a first frequency; and a controller coupled to the ultrasonic transceiver, wherein the controller is configured to: receive the set of two or more distance measurements from the ultrasonic transceiver; convert the set of two or more distance measurements into a signal; determine, based on the signal, a characteristic of vibration of the object at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency; and compare the characteristic of vibration to a database. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The meter of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: increment a counter associated with a signature characteristic in the database that is associated with the object in response to the characteristic of vibration matching the signature characteristic; and associate an identifier with the characteristic of vibration in response to the counter exceeding a threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The meter of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine that the counter does not exceed the threshold; and associate a known identifier with the characteristic of vibration in response to determining that the counter does not exceed the threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The meter of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a filter circuit configured to filter the signal prior to determining the characteristic of vibration by the controller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The meter of claim 4, wherein the filter circuit is configured to perform a Hilbert transform on the signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The meter of claim 1, wherein: the emission includes a set of ultrasound bursts; and each distance measurement of the set of two or more distance measurements is produced in response to a respective burst of the set of ultrasound bursts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The meter of claim 1, wherein the signal represents distance of the object over time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The meter of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to determine the characteristic of vibration of the object by: determining an envelope of the signal; determining a maximum amplitude of the envelope; determining a relationship between the envelope at a point in time and the maximum amplitude of the envelope; and determining the characteristic of vibration of the object based on the relationship between the envelope at the point in time and the maximum amplitude of the envelope. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The meter of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of vibration is from a group consisting of: a frequency of the vibration of the object, an amplitude of the vibration of the object, a height of the vibration of the object, a velocity associated with the vibration of the object, and an acceleration associated with the vibration of the object. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The meter of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to identify a walking pattern of a person based on the characteristic of vibration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The meter of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to identify a voice of a person reverberating off of the object based on the characteristic of vibration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The meter of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine that the characteristic of vibration does not exist in the database; and associate an unknown identifier with the characteristic of vibration in response to determining that the characteristic of vibration does not exist in the database. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The meter of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine that the characteristic of vibration conflicts with a stored characteristic of a same type as the characteristic of vibration; and associate an abnormal identifier with the characteristic of vibration in response to determining that the characteristic of vibration conflicts with the stored characteristic of the same type. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The meter of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to store, in the database, the characteristic of vibration as a signature characteristic of the object. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The meter of claim 1, further comprising a mass storage device configured to store the database. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The meter of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: determine that the characteristic of vibration exists in the database; determine that the characteristic of vibration does not conflict with a stored characteristic of a same type as the characteristic of vibration; determine that the characteristic of vibration has been measured a threshold amount of times; and associate a normal identifier with the characteristic of vibration in response to determining that the characteristic of vibration exists in the database, determining that the characteristic of vibration does not conflict with the stored characteristic of the same type, and determining that the characteristic of vibration has been measured the threshold amount of times. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The meter of claim 1, wherein to compare the characteristic of vibration to the database, the controller is configured to: determine that the characteristic of vibration exists in the database; determine that the characteristic of vibration does not conflict with a stored characteristic of a same type as the characteristic of vibration; and determine that the characteristic of vibration has not been measured a threshold amount of times, wherein the controller is further configured to associate a known identifier with the characteristic of vibration in response to determining that the characteristic of vibration exists in the database, determining that the characteristic of vibration does not conflict with the stored characteristic of the same type, and determining that the characteristic of vibration has not been measured the threshold amount of times. ### Claim 18 A device comprising: an ultrasonic transceiver configured to obtain a set of two or more distance measurements of an object over time; and a controller coupled to the ultrasonic transceiver, wherein the controller is configured to: receive the set of two or more distance measurements from the ultrasonic transceiver; generate a signal representing the set of two or more distance measurements as a waveform; and determine, based on the signal, a measurement of vibration of the object at a frequency that is less than an ultrasound frequency. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the signal represents distance of the object over time, and wherein the controller is configured to determine the measurement of vibration of the object by: determining an envelope of the signal; determining a maximum amplitude of the envelope; determining a relationship between the envelope at a point in time and the maximum amplitude of the envelope; and determining the measurement of vibration of the object based on the relationship between the envelope at the point in time and the maximum amplitude of the envelope. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the measurement of vibration comprises a frequency of the vibration of the object, an amplitude of the vibration of the object, a height of the vibration of the object, a velocity associated with the vibration of the object, or an acceleration associated with the vibration of the object.