# US 2017/0285100 A1 · Systems and methods for detecting events that are sparse in time

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- Number: US 2017/0285100 A1
- Document ID: US20170285100A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/090,533
- Filed: 2016-04-04
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-04
- Assignees: The Aerospace Corporation
- Applicants: The Aerospace Corporation
- Inventors: Robert H. Nelson; George C. Valley; Susan H. Crain
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285100A1

## CPC

- H03M 7/3062: {Compressive sampling or sensing}
- H03M: CODING; DECODING; CODE CONVERSION IN GENERAL (using fluidic means F15C4/00; optical analogue/digital converters G02F7/00; coding, decoding or code conversion, specially adapted for particular applications, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. G01D, G01R, G06F, G06T, G09G, G10L, G11B, G11C, H04B, H04L, H04M, H04N; ciphering or deciphering for cryptography or other purposes involving the need for secrecy G09C)

## Abstract

Under one aspect, a method is provided for detecting events that are sparse in time. The method can include (a) receiving N analog input signals that are continuous and are independent from one another, wherein each one of the events causes a change in a corresponding one of the analog input signals, and N is 2 or greater. The method also can include (b) by a first analog circuit, for each of the N analog input signals, outputting products of that analog input signal and a plurality of gain factors. The method also can include (c) by a second analog circuit, outputting M sums of the products, wherein M is 2 or greater and is less than or equal to N. The method also can include (d) detecting a first one of the events based on the M sums of the products.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for detecting events that are sparse in time, the method comprising:
(a) receiving N analog input signals that are continuous and are independent from one another,
wherein each one of the events causes a change in a corresponding one of the analog input signals, and
wherein N is 2 or greater;
(b) by a first analog circuit, for each of the N analog input signals, outputting products of that analog input signal and a first plurality of gain factors;
(c) by a second analog circuit, outputting M sums of the products,
wherein M is 2 or greater, and
wherein M is less than or equal to N; and
(d) detecting a first one of the events based on the M sums of the products.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the N analog input signals include voltages, currents, frequencies, or phases from N corresponding electronic devices.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the first one of the events corresponds to a failure of a corresponding electronic device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising, responsive to the failure of the electronic device:
(e) by the first analog circuit, for each of the N analog input signals except for the analog input signal corresponding to the failed electronic device, outputting products of that analog input signal and a second plurality of gain factors,
wherein the second plurality of gain factors is different than the first plurality of gain factors;
(f) by the second analog circuit, outputting M sums of the products of step (e); and
(g) detecting another one of the events, corresponding to a failure of another electronic device, based on the M sums of the products of step (f).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising, responsive to the failure of another electronic device:
(h) by the first analog circuit, for each of the N analog input signals except for the analog input signals corresponding to any failed electronic devices, outputting products of that analog input signal and another plurality of gain factors that is different than any previously used plurality of gain factors;
(i) by the second analog circuit, outputting M sums of the products of step (h);
(j) detecting another one of the events, corresponding to a failure of another electronic device, based on the M sums of the products of step (i); and
(k) repeating steps (h)-(j) for up to a total of N events.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the first one of the events corresponds to a first one of the electronic devices detecting a particle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the gain factors of the first plurality of gain factors independently are +1 or −1.

### Claim 8

A system for detecting events that are sparse in time, the system comprising:
a first analog circuit configured so as to receive N analog input signals that are continuous and are independent from one another,
wherein each one of the events causes a change in a corresponding one of the analog input signals,
N is 2 or greater, and
wherein the first analog circuit further is configured, for each of the N analog input signals, so as to output products of that analog input signal and a first plurality of gain factors;
a second analog circuit configured so as to output M sums of the products,
wherein M is 2 or greater, and
wherein M is less than or equal to N; and
a processor configured so as to detect a first one of the events based on the M sums of the products.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the N analog input signals include voltages, currents, frequencies, or phases from N corresponding electronic devices.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the first one of the events corresponds to a failure of a corresponding electronic device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein:
the processor is further configured, responsive to the failure of the electronic device, to cause the first analog circuit, for each of the N analog input signals except for the analog input signal corresponding to the failed electronic device, to output products of those analog input signals and a second plurality of gain factors,
wherein the second plurality of gain factors is different than the first plurality of gain factors;
the second analog circuit is configured to output M sums of those products; and
the processor further is configured so as to detect another one of the events, corresponding to a failure of another electronic device, based on the M sums of those products.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein:
the processor is further configured, responsive to the failure of another electronic device, to cause the first analog circuit, for each of the N analog input signals except for the analog input signals corresponding to any failed electronic devices, to output products of those analog input signals and another plurality of gain factors that is different from any previously used plurality of gain factors;
the second analog circuit is configured to output M sums of those products;
the processor further is configured so as to detect another one of the events, corresponding to a failure of another electronic device, based on the M sums of those products; and
the system further is configured to cause the processor, the first analog circuit, and the second analog circuit to repeat such steps for up to a total of N events.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the first one of the events corresponds to a first one of the electronic devices detecting a particle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the gain factors of the first plurality of gain factors independently are +1 or −1.