# US 2017/0284892 A1 · Observation system and control method for observation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0284892 A1 - Document ID: US20170284892A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/470,037 - Filed: 2017-03-27 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-01 - Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation - Applicants: Seiko Epson Corporation - Inventors: Kazuyoshi TAKEDA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284892A1 ## CPC - G01M 7/025: {Measuring arrangements} - G01H 13/00: Measuring resonant frequency - G01M 5/0008: {of bridges} - G01M 5/0041: {by determining deflection or stress} - G01M 5/0066: {by exciting or detecting vibration or acceleration (vibration testing of structures G01M7/00)} - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES ## Abstract An observation system includes an information acquiring section configured to acquire sensor information from a sensor section set in a structure and configured to detect vibration of the structure and a processing section configured to calculate information concerning a peak vibration frequency of the vibration on the basis of the sensor information and determine a surface state of the structure on the basis of the information concerning the peak vibration frequency. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An observation system comprising: an information acquiring section configured to acquire sensor information from a sensor section set in a structure and configured to detect vibration of the structure; and a processing section configured to calculate information concerning a peak vibration frequency of the vibration on the basis of the sensor information and determine a surface state of the structure on the basis of the information concerning the peak vibration frequency. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The observation system according to claim 1, wherein the processing section determines the surface state of the structure on the basis of change information of the peak vibration frequency. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The observation system according to claim 2, wherein the processing section determines the surface state of the structure on the basis of a change width in a predetermined period of the peak vibration frequency. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The observation system according to claim 3, wherein the processing section determines that the surface state is a first surface state when the change width in the predetermined period is larger than a given threshold and determines that the surface state is a second surface state different from the first surface state when the change width in the predetermined period is equal to or smaller than the given threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The observation system according to claim 4, wherein the processing section variably sets the given threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The observation system according to claim 4, wherein the first surface state is at least one of a frozen state and a snow-covered state. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The observation system according to claim 1, wherein the information acquiring section acquires ambient temperature information of the structure, and the processing section determines the surface state of the structure on the basis of the ambient temperature information and the information concerning the peak vibration frequency. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The observation system according to claim 1, wherein the structure is a bridge, and the processing section performs monitoring processing of traffic volume information of the bridge on the basis of the sensor information acquired from the sensor section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The observation system according to claim 8, wherein the sensor section is set, in a bridge girder connected to a first bridge pier and a second bridge pier of the bridge, in a center portion between the first bridge pier and the second bridge pier. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The observation system according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying section configured to perform notification processing of the surface state of the structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The observation system according to claim 1, wherein the information acquiring section acquires weather information, and the processing section determines on the basis of the weather information whether the determination of the surface state of the structure is performed. ### Claim 12 The system comprising: a sensor section; a power supplying section including a battery; a charging section configured to perform charging of the battery with natural energy, an information acquiring section configured to acquire sensor information from the sensor section set in a structure and configured to detect vibration of the structure; and a processing section configured to calculate information concerning a peak vibration frequency of the vibration on the basis of the sensor information and determine a surface state of the structure on the basis of the information concerning the peak vibration frequency, wherein the processing section performs monitoring processing of a state of the structure on the basis of the sensor information acquired from the sensor section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, wherein the structure is a bridge, and the processing section performs monitoring processing of traffic volume information of the bridge on the basis of the sensor information acquired from the sensor section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor section is set, in a bridge girder connected to a first bridge pier and a second bridge pier of the bridge, in a center portion between the first bridge pier and the second bridge pier. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, further comprising a notifying section configured to perform notification processing of the surface state of the structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, wherein the information acquiring section acquires weather information, and the processing section determines on the basis of the weather information whether the determination of the surface state of the structure is performed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, wherein the processing section determines the surface state of the structure on the basis of change information of the peak vibration frequency. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The observation system according to claim 12, wherein the processing section determines the surface state of the structure on the basis of a change width in a predetermined period of the peak vibration frequency. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The observation system according to claim 18, wherein the processing section determines that the surface state is a first surface state when the change width in the predetermined period is larger than a given threshold and determines that the surface state is a second surface state different from the first surface state when the change width in the predetermined period is equal to or smaller than the given threshold. ### Claim 20 A control method for an observation system comprising: acquiring sensor information from a sensor section set in a structure and configured to detect vibration of the structure; calculating information concerning a peak vibration frequency of the vibration on the basis of the sensor information; and determining a surface state of the structure on the basis of the calculated information concerning the peak vibration frequency.