Accelerometer-Triggered Processor for Impact Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld electronic devices, particularly flat panel detectors used in x-ray diagnostic systems, face challenges in determining the cause and severity of impacts due to their portability, making it difficult to assess if they have exceeded their designed impact resistance specifications.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an accelerometer and a processor that activate in response to acceleration events, allowing the device to record and analyze the magnitude and duration of impacts, along with optional higher power accelerometers and sensors to determine the type of material and severity of impacts, and a controllable power supply to mitigate damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the processor remains in a low power state to conserve energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the device cannot detect or record impact events
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the processor into two operational modes: a low-power state for normal operation and a full-power state for impact detection and recording. The accelerometer acts as an independent monitoring component that can trigger the processor to wake up only when needed, segmenting the detection function from continuous processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The accelerometer continuously monitors acceleration events even when the processor is in low-power mode, preparing to trigger impact detection before the processor needs to analyze the data. This preliminary monitoring ensures no impact is missed while keeping the main processor dormant.
2Measurement precision
If higher power accelerometers and sensors are used to accurately determine impact severity and material type, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically activates high-power accelerometers and sensors only when impact events are detected by the accelerometer, rather than keeping them continuously active. This dynamic activation maintains high measurement precision for impact events while reducing overall device complexity and power consumption during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a low-cost, always-on accelerometer for continuous monitoring, and only activates more complex, high-power sensors temporarily when needed for detailed impact analysis. This approach replaces the need for continuously running complex sensor systems with a simpler permanent sensor plus temporary high-precision sensors.
3Reliability
If the processor continuously monitors acceleration events to detect impacts, then impact detection reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring function is segmented between the accelerometer (continuous low-power monitoring) and the processor (intermittent high-power analysis). The accelerometer handles continuous detection with minimal power consumption, while the processor only engages when impacts are detected, maintaining reliability while minimizing energy use.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate detection and analysis of impacts, determining if the device has exceeded its specified impact rating, aiding in diagnostics and future design improvements while reducing potential damage through power management.
Implementation Method 1
an accelerometer and a processor that activate in response to acceleration events
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments include a handheld detector, comprising: detector circuitry configured to convert incident radiation into electrical signals; a processor coupled to the detector circuits; and an accelerometer coupled to the processor; wherein the processor is configured to activate from a low power state in response to a first acceleration event detected by the accelerometer.