Integrated GNSS-Seismometer Displacement Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current earthquake detection technologies, such as seismometers and GNSS, face limitations like drift over time, clipping, and insufficient resolution, making them impractical for real-time, high-precision displacement measurements essential for earthquake early warning systems.
Innovation Solution
Integration of real-time, high-rate GNSS displacement information with acceleration and velocity data within a single device, utilizing a Kalman filter to combine sensor inputs and minimize latency, creating a high-rate displacement measurement system that leverages the strengths of both technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If seismometers or accelerometers are used to measure displacement over long time windows, then measurement coverage is improved, but drift over time creates imprecision and inaccuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines GNSS and seismometer/accelerometer into a single integrated device that simultaneously collects both types of data. The GNSS provides absolute position references over long time windows without drift, while the seismometer/accelerometer provides high-frequency measurements. The integration allows the system to maintain measurement precision across extended time windows by using GNSS to correct drift accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that fuses GNSS position data with seismometer/accelerometer measurements. This intermediary layer reconciles the complementary strengths and weaknesses of both sensors, using GNSS absolute references to correct drift in inertial measurements while maintaining high-frequency response capability.
2Speed
If seismometers or accelerometers are used to measure high dynamic events, then response capability is improved, but clipping or saturation prevents measurement of full displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges GNSS and seismometer/accelerometer capabilities into a single device, allowing the system to use the sensor best suited for each measurement condition. During high dynamic events, the system combines the fast response of seismometers/accelerometers with the extended measurement range of GNSS, preventing clipping and saturation by switching to or incorporating GNSS position data when displacement exceeds inertial sensor capabilities.
3Length of stationary object
If GNSS technology is used to measure displacement, then measurement range is improved, but insufficient resolution prevents detection with high precision over short time windows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines GNSS position data with high-frequency seismometer/accelerometer measurements in a single integrated device. This fusion allows the system to achieve both the extended measurement range of GNSS and the high precision of inertial sensors, with GNSS providing absolute position references and inertial sensors filling in high-frequency details that GNSS alone cannot capture.
4Measurement precision
If different data sets from different measurement devices are collected and correlated using post-processing techniques, then displacement estimation accuracy is improved, but latency is too high for earthquake early warning systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates GNSS and seismometer/accelerometer into a single device that collects both data types simultaneously, eliminating the need for post-processing correlation between separate devices. The integrated design enables real-time fusion of measurements with minimal latency, providing both high accuracy and the speed required for earthquake early warning applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs real-time data fusion and displacement estimation as measurements are being collected, rather than waiting for post-processing. This preliminary action approach enables the system to provide accurate displacement estimates with minimal delay, meeting the time-critical requirements of earthquake early warning systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
Novel solutions, which can include devices, systems, methods, than can measure earthquakes and other displacement events. Some solutions feature the integration of real-time, high-rate global navigation satellite system ("GNSS") displacement information with acceleration and/or velocity data within a single device to create very high-rate displacement records. The mating of these two instruments allows the creation of a new, very high-rate displacement measurement device that has the full-scale displacement characteristics of GNSS and high-precision dynamic motions of seismic technologies. Such a device can be used for earthquake early warning studies and other mission critical applications, such as volcano monitoring, building, bridge and dam monitoring systems.