Accelerometer System

An accelerometer system comprising:

• a timer, the timer having a timer output with a first faster pulse rate, and a second slower pulse rate, the output pulse rate selectable by a timer input;
• an accelerometer, activated by the timer output, the accelerometer having an accelerometer output responsive to the acceleration of the accelerometer;
• a threshold system activated by the timer output, the threshold system connected to the accelerometer output, the threshold system having a threshold comparator output, the threshold comparator output active when the accelerometer output exceeds a threshold value, the threshold comparator output further operatively connected to the timer input to activate the first faster pulse rate when the threshold comparator output is active;
• and
• an annunciator, activated by the threshold comparator output.

A method for indicating acceleration comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an processor system, the processor system comprising a timer, a threshold comparator output, a power output, and an accelerometer input;
• (b) providing an accelerometer, the accelerometer having an accelerometer output connected to the processor system accelerometer input, the accelerometer further having a power input connected to processor system power output;
• (c) providing an annunciator, the annunciator operatively connected to the threshold comparator output;
• (d) initializing the processor system;
• (e) initializing the timer;
• (f) energizing the accelerometer;
• (g) acquiring a measurement from the accelerometer output;
• (h) turning off the accelerator;
• (i) comparing the measurement with a threshold value;
• (j) activating the annunciator if the measurement exceeds the threshold value;
• (k) setting the timer to a first value if the measurement exceeds the threshold value;
• (l) setting the timer to a second value if the measurement does not exceed the threshold value;
• (m) putting the processor system into a low power consumption state until the timer expires;
• (n) powering up the processor;
• and
• (o) iterating steps (f) through (n) when the timer expires.