Systems and methods for contact microphones
AssigneeIntelligent Entry Machines LLC
InventorAndrew Parsadayan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A barrier operator system such as a residential or industrial access gate system comprises a plurality of components that are mechanically coupled to each other to so form an acoustic chain. Once or more contact microphones are coupled to one or more of the components and used to ascertain operation and functional status of the gate system, and to identify potential or actual modes of failure via determination of acoustic signatures that are indicative of the status and/or failure.
Claims20
A barrier operator system, comprising:
- a plurality of components mechanically coupled together to form an acoustic chain in the barrier operator system;
- a contact microphone coupled to at least one of the plurality of components and configured to transduce a vibration event within the acoustic chain into an electronic signal;
- a signal processor electronically coupled to the contact microphone and programmed to analyze the electronic signal to thereby determine
- (a) an operational status of the barrier operator system,
- (b) a functional status of at least one of the plurality of mechanically or structurally coupled components in the barrier operator system, and/or
- (c) an external event affecting at least one of the plurality of mechanically or structurally coupled components in the barrier operator system.
A method of monitoring or controlling operation of a barrier operator system, comprising:
- using a contact microphone to transduce a vibration event within an acoustic chain into an electronic signal;
- wherein the acoustic chain is formed by a plurality of mechanically or structurally coupled components of the barrier operator system, and wherein the contact microphone is coupled to at least one of the plurality of components;
- and
- analyzing the electronic signal in a signal processor to
- determine an operational status of the barrier operator system,
- determine a functional status of at least one of the plurality of mechanically or structurally coupled components in the barrier operator system, and/or
- determine an external event affecting at least one of the plurality of mechanically or structurally coupled components in the barrier operator system.
A method of retrofitting an existing barrier operator system, comprising:
- coupling a contact microphone to at least one of a plurality of components of the barrier operator system, wherein the components are mechanically coupled together to form an acoustic chain, and wherein the contact microphone transduces a vibration event within the acoustic chain into an electronic signal;
- and
- electronically coupling a signal processor to the contact microphone;
- wherein the signal processor is programmed to analyze the electronic signal to thereby determine
- (a) an operational status of the barrier operator system,
- (b) a functional status of at least one of the plurality of mechanically or structurally coupled components in the barrier operator system, and/or
- (c) an external event affecting at least one of the plurality of mechanically or structurally coupled components in the barrier operator system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.