Accelerometer Embedded in Flooring for Impact Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart-home devices lack an effective means to detect human activity in building spaces without specifying the type of activity, which is crucial for security and monitoring purposes, such as detecting unauthorized presence or arrival of guests.
Innovation Solution
An accelerometer embedded in flooring materials to detect mechanical impacts and vibrations, combined with humidity and temperature sensors, which transmit data via radio signals for remote monitoring, enabling detection of movement and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If an accelerometer is embedded in flooring material to detect mechanical impacts, then the ability to detect human activity is improved, but the complexity of the flooring system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The accelerometer, circuit board, and housing are nested within a cavity in the flooring material. The housing is inserted into the cavity and secured with adhesive, creating a compact integrated unit that embeds the sensing technology within the flooring structure without adding external complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flooring system integrates multiple functions: structural support, aesthetic appearance, and human activity detection. The same flooring material serves both as the building structure and as the mounting platform for the accelerometer-based detection system, eliminating the need for separate detection devices.
2Area of stationary object
If vibration sensors are installed to detect impacts across a substantial region, then the monitoring coverage is improved, but the installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flooring is divided into multiple sections, each containing its own accelerometer and housing unit. Each section can be independently installed and detected, allowing the system to cover large areas while maintaining manageable installation complexity through modular deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
Vibrations caused by human activity propagate through the flooring material as mechanical waves to the accelerometer sensor. The flooring material itself acts as an intermediary that transmits the impact signals from the point of contact to the sensor, enabling detection across substantial regions without direct line-of-sight requirements.
3Measurement precision
If the accelerometer detects vertical acceleration, then the sensitivity to impact is improved, but the risk of false alarms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the accelerometer to detect vertical acceleration patterns and analyzes these patterns to distinguish between legitimate human activity and false alarm conditions. By continuously monitoring and comparing acceleration data against established thresholds and patterns, the system provides feedback to reduce false alarms while maintaining sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors multiple parameters including acceleration magnitude, frequency, duration, and pattern recognition to differentiate between normal and abnormal conditions. By analyzing changes in these parameters over time and comparing them against baseline data, the system improves reliability while maintaining detection sensitivity.
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
Provides a reliable and remote indication of human activity and environmental conditions, enhancing security and monitoring capabilities while maintaining the quality of flooring.
Implementation Method 1
the mechanical impact of activity on the floor over a substantial region of the floor can be detected by vibrations which travel in the flooring material
Implementation Method 2
an accelerometer embedded in flooring materials to detect mechanical impacts and vibrations
Implementation Method 3
a radio transmitter configured to receive acceleration data from the accelerometer and transmit the data from there
Implementation Method 4
apparatus including humidity and temperature sensors for embedding in flooring
Implementation Method 5
apparatus including humidity and temperature sensors for embedding in flooring
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for detecting mechanical impact on flooring material including (1) a case configured to be embedded and securely attached in an underside cavity of a piece of the flooring material and (2) a circuit board securely mounted in the case, the circuit board including (i) an accelerometer mounted on the circuit board, configured to measure acceleration of the piece of flooring material and (ii) a radio transmitter configured to receive acceleration data from the accelerometer and transmit the data therefrom, thereby detecting movement of the flooring material and providing remote indication of the movement.