Waterproof Sensor Box for Barrier Accident Reconstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic barriers at level crossings, industrial sites, and parking lots often malfunction or are misused, leading to accidents involving vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, necessitating a reliable method to reconstruct accident scenarios for liability determination.
Innovation Solution
An electronic box is solidarized with the automatic barrier, equipped with sensors such as motion, shock, temperature, humidity, and vehicle passage detectors, along with a GPS for location tracking, to record and store physical and dynamic parameters leading up to and during accidents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are integrated into the electronic box to comprehensively detect accident scenarios, then the measurement precision and reliability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple different sensors (accelerometer, gyrometer, magnetometer, ultrasonic sensor, microphone) into a single integrated electronic box unit that attaches to the barrier. This merging approach allows comprehensive accident scenario detection while managing complexity through unified housing and centralized data processing architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic box serves multiple functions simultaneously: it detects barrier position, measures impact forces, detects vehicle presence, records audio, and timestamps events. This multi-functionality is achieved through integrating various sensors and processing units within a single device, improving measurement precision without requiring separate systems for each function.
2Reliability
If the electronic box is made compact and waterproof with tamper-proof case, then the reliability and protection are improved, but the ease of manufacture and assembly worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sealed waterproof case with tamper-evident design features. The case is designed to be compact yet protective, with sealed openings for sensor operation and a structure that shows visible damage if attempted to be opened. This provides reliable protection while maintaining manufacturability through standardized sealing techniques.
3Loss of information
If the electronic box continuously records data from multiple sensors, then the information completeness is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic box continuously timestamps events and records data only when triggered by specific conditions such as impact detection, barrier movement, or vehicle presence. This periodic recording approach ensures complete accident information is captured while minimizing energy consumption by avoiding continuous high-power operation of all sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensor triggers (accelerometer detecting impact, motion sensors detecting barrier movement) to activate recording functions. This feedback mechanism ensures data is recorded only when relevant events occur, maintaining information completeness while optimizing energy usage by keeping sensors in low-power states during normal operation.
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
The electronic box provides comprehensive data to reconstruct accident scenarios accurately, helping to establish responsibility and ensuring safety by providing precise and reliable information about barrier operations and environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the shock sensor comprises an accelerometer
Implementation Method 2
an ultrasonic sensor
Implementation Method 3
an infrared sensor
Implementation Method 4
a magnetometer
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to an electronic housing (1) intended to be attached to an automatic barrier in order to trace the history of said barrier. According to the invention, the housing comprises components including at least one motion sensor (8), at least one shock sensor (9), a clock (4), a microcontroller (6), a power source (5) and a memory (7) enabling, by means of said microcontroller (6), the storage of the measurements of said sensors (8, 9) as a function of time, said housing (1) comprising a waterproof case (2) enclosing all the aforementioned components.